DEBT, Long-Term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Long term debt	$ 180,542	$ 177,622
Less: current maturities (principal amount)	2,235	2,003
Total long-term debt	178,307	175,619
Payments of principal amounts due during the next five years and thereafter [Abstract]
2024	2,235
2025	2,246
2026	2,213
2027	2,258
2028	26,993
Thereafter	144,597
Asset Purchase-Contractual Obligation [Member]
Payments of principal amounts due during the next five years and thereafter [Abstract]
2024	314
2025	314
2026	314
2027	313
2028	0
Thereafter	0
First Mortgage Bonds [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Long term debt	156,000	156,600
Payments of principal amounts due during the next five years and thereafter [Abstract]
2024	600
2025	600
2026	600
2027	600
2028	25,600
Thereafter	128,000
First Mortgage Bonds [Member] | Series R [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Long term debt	$ 25,000	25,000
Interest rate, stated percentage	5.96%
Maturity date	Dec. 31, 2028
First Mortgage Bonds [Member] | Series S [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Long term debt	$ 6,000	6,600
Interest rate, stated percentage	4.45%
Maturity date	Dec. 31, 2033
First Mortgage Bonds [Member] | Series T [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Long term debt	$ 40,000	40,000
Interest rate, stated percentage	4.24%
Maturity date	Dec. 20, 2036
First Mortgage Bonds [Member] | Series U [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Long term debt	$ 25,000	25,000
Interest rate, stated percentage	4.71%
Maturity date	Jan. 31, 2038
First Mortgage Bonds [Member] | Series V [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Long term debt	$ 30,000	30,000
Interest rate, stated percentage	4.42%
Maturity date	Oct. 31, 2049
First Mortgage Bonds [Member] | Series W [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Long term debt	$ 30,000	30,000
Interest rate, stated percentage	4.43%
Maturity date	Apr. 30, 2047
State Revolving Fund Loans [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Long term debt	$ 13,132	8,975
Payments of principal amounts due during the next five years and thereafter [Abstract]
2024	756
2025	852
2026	794
2027	813
2028	834
Thereafter	9,083
State Revolving Fund Loans [Member] | 3.57%, due 09/01/2023 [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Long term debt	$ 0	102
Interest rate, stated percentage	3.57%
Maturity date	Sep. 01, 2023
State Revolving Fund Loans [Member] | 3.64%, due 05/01/2025 [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Long term debt	$ 228	373
Interest rate, stated percentage	3.64%
Maturity date	May 01, 2025
State Revolving Fund Loans [Member] | 3.41%, due 02/01/2031 [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Long term debt	$ 1,415	1,577
Interest rate, stated percentage	3.41%
Maturity date	Feb. 01, 2031
State Revolving Fund Loans [Member] | 3.40%, due 07/01/2032 [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Long term debt	$ 1,445	1,590
Interest rate, stated percentage	3.40%
Maturity date	Jul. 01, 2032
State Revolving Fund Loans [Member] | 1.187% due 11/01/2041 [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Long term debt	$ 588	617
Interest rate, stated percentage	1.187%
Maturity date	Nov. 01, 2041
State Revolving Fund Loans [Member] | 1.187% due 11/01/2041 [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Long term debt	$ 690	724
Interest rate, stated percentage	1.187%
Maturity date	Nov. 01, 2041
State Revolving Fund Loans [Member] | 1.187% due 11/01/2041 [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Long term debt	$ 1,075	1,128
Interest rate, stated percentage	1.187%
Maturity date	Nov. 01, 2041
State Revolving Fund Loans [Member] | 2.00% Due 02/01/2043 [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Long term debt	$ 828	846
Interest rate, stated percentage	2.00%
Maturity date	Feb. 01, 2043
State Revolving Fund Loans [Member] | 2.00% Due 02/01/2043 [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Long term debt	$ 1,143	974
Interest rate, stated percentage	2.00%
Maturity date	Feb. 01, 2043
State Revolving Fund Loans [Member] | 2.00% Due 06/01/2043 [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Long term debt	$ 1,002	1,044
Interest rate, stated percentage	2.00%
Maturity date	Jun. 01, 2043
State Revolving Fund Loans [Member] | 2.00% Due 06/01/2043 [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Long term debt	$ 1,022	0
Interest rate, stated percentage	2.00%
Maturity date	Jun. 01, 2043
State Revolving Fund Loans [Member] | 2.00% Due 02/01/2044 [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Long term debt	$ 2,696	0
Interest rate, stated percentage	2.00%
Maturity date	Feb. 01, 2044
State Revolving Fund Loans [Member] | 2.00% Due 01/01/2043 [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Long term debt	$ 1,000	0
Interest rate, stated percentage	2.00%
Maturity date	Jan. 01, 2043
State Revolving Fund Loans [Member] | Promissory Note [Member]
Payments of principal amounts due during the next five years and thereafter [Abstract]
2024	$ 565
2025	480
2026	505
2027	532
2028	559
Thereafter	7,514
Notes Payable [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Long term debt	11,410	12,047
Notes Payable [Member] | Promissory Note [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Long term debt	$ 10,155	10,478
Interest rate, stated percentage	5.12%
Maturity date	Dec. 30, 2028
Notes Payable [Member] | Asset Purchase-Contractual Obligation [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Long term debt	$ 1,255	$ 1,569
Interest rate, stated percentage	2.00%
Maturity date	May 26, 2027