2.2.0.25falsefalse006100 - Disclosure - ASSETS HELD FOR SALEtruefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2011 - 3/31/2011 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $c00005http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000741508duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-03-31T00:00:00u000Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170u001Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0u002Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2true0nve_NotesToFinancialStatementsAbstractnvefalsenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalseNotes to Financial Statements [Abstract]3false0us-gaap_DisclosureOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleTextBlockus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">NOTE 10.                      ASSETS HELD FOR SALE</font></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Sale of California Electric Distribution and Generation Assets</font></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff; DISPLAY: inline">On January 1, 2011, SPPC completed the sale of its California electric distribution and generation assets to CalPeco, d/b/a Liberty Energy-CalPeco.  Cash proceeds from the sale were approximately $132 million, resulting in an immaterial after tax gain, which is subject to certain closing adjustments until mid-2011.  Refer to Note 16, </font><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff; FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline">Assets Held for Sale</font><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff; DISPLAY: inline">, of the Notes to Financial Statements of the 2010 Form 10-K for more information.</font></font></div></div>NOTE 10.                      ASSETS HELD FORfalsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:textBlockItemTypestringDescription and amounts of long lived assets held for sale. Disclosure may include the description of the facts and circumstances leading to the expected disposal, manner and timing of disposal, the carrying value of the assets held for sale, the gain or loss recognized in the income statement and the income statement caption that includes that gain or loss.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 144 -Paragraph 33, 47 falsefalseAssets Held For Sale12ASSETS HELD FOR SALEUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue