Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Estimated Minimum Purchases Under Fuel Contracts

The estimated minimum purchases for SPS under these contracts as of Dec. 31, 2013, are as follows:

(Millions of Dollars)	Coal		Natural gas supply		Natural gas storage and transportation
2014	$	273.8	$	20.6	$	23.7
2015	241.5		—		22.1
2016	143.8		—		22.1
2017	36.7		—		21.3
2018	—		—		15.9
Thereafter	—		—		96.1
Total	$	695.8	$	20.6	$	201.2

Estimated Future Payments for Capacity Pursuant to Purchased Power Agreements

At Dec. 31, 2013, the estimated future payments for capacity that SPS is obligated to purchase pursuant to these executory contracts, subject to availability, are as follows:

(Millions of Dollars)
2014	$	52.3
2015	56.5
2016	57.0
2017	58.2
2018	57.2
Thereafter	72.2
Total (a)	$	353.4

^(a)  Excludes contingent energy payments for renewable energy PPAs.

Future Commitments Under Operating Leases

Included in the future commitments under operating leases are estimated future capacity payments under PPAs that have been accounted for as operating leases in accordance with the applicable accounting guidance.  Future commitments under operating leases are:

	Operating		PPA		Total Operating
(Millions of Dollars)	Leases		Operating Leases (a) (b)		Leases
2014	$	3.1	$	58.3	$	61.4
2015	3.2		49.9		53.1
2016	3.2		49.9		53.1
2017	2.3		49.9		52.2
2018	1.9		49.9		51.8
Thereafter	12.7		734.1		746.8

^(a)  Amounts do not include PPAs accounted for as executory contracts.

^(b)  PPA operating leases contractually expire through 2033.

Asset Retirement Obligations

A reconciliation of SPS’ AROs is shown in the tables below for the years ended Dec. 31, 2013 and 2012:

(Thousands of Dollars)	Beginning Balance Jan. 1, 2013		Liabilities Settled			Accretion		Revisions to Prior Estimates			Ending Balance Dec. 31, 2013
Electric plant
Steam production asbestos	$	10,979	$	(118	)	$	747	$	—		$	11,608
Steam production ash containment	764		—			48		(3		)	809
Electric distribution	5,303		—			171		630			6,104
Other	561		—			42		251			854
Total liability	$	17,607	$	(118	)	$	1,008	$	878		$	19,375

(Thousands of Dollars)	Beginning Balance Jan. 1, 2012		Liabilities Settled		Accretion		Revisions to Prior Estimates			Ending Balance Dec. 31, 2012
Electric plant
Steam production asbestos	$	20,803	$	—	$	1,422	$	(11,246	)	$	10,979
Steam production ash containment	719		—		45		—			764
Electric distribution	5,202		—		188		(87		)	5,303
Other	542		—		20		(1		)	561
Total liability	$	27,266	$	—	$	1,675	$	(11,334	)	$	17,607