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Commitments Contingencies and Proposed Environmental Matters (Tables)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Commitments Contingencies and Proposed Environmental Matters [Abstract] 
Long term purchase of commitments
                                                         
    Purchase Commitments  
    2011     2012     2013     2014     2015     Thereafter     Total  
    -Millions of Dollars-  
Coal(1)
  $ 34     $ 40     $ 14     $ 14     $ —     $ —     $ 102  
Transportation(2)
    3       4       4       4       4       8       27  
Purchased Power(3)
    3       23       20       21       12       196       275  
Solar Equipment(4)
    12       12       12       —       —       —       36  
 
                                         
Total
  $ 52     $ 79     $ 50     $ 39     $ 16     $ 204     $ 440  
 
                                         
     
(1)   TEP executed a new coal supply agreement and amended an existing coal supply agreement in March 2011, incurring minimum purchase obligations.
 
(2)   TEP executed a new transportation agreement requiring minimum annual transport quantities of 2.4 million tons of coal to its Springerville Generating Station from July 1, 2011 through December 2017.
 
(3)   Purchased Power includes contracts that will settle in June 2012 through September 2014 with prices per MWh that are indexed to natural gas prices. TEP’s estimated minimum payment obligation for these purchases is based on projected market prices as of September 30, 2011. Additionally, Purchased Power includes two long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with renewable energy generation facilities that achieved commercial operation in 2011. TEP is obligated to purchase 100% of the output from these facilities. The table above includes estimated future payments based on expected power deliveries through 2031. TEP has entered into additional long-term renewable PPAs to comply with the RES requirements; however, TEP’s obligation to accept and pay for electric power under these agreements does not begin until the facilities are constructed and operational.
 
(4)   TEP has a commitment to purchase 9 MW of photovoltaic equipment through December 2013. 3 MW were approved by the ACC, and 6 MW remain subject to ACC approval, which is expected in the fourth quarter of 2011.
                                                         
    2011     2012     2013     2014     2015     Thereafter     Total  
    -Millions of Dollars-  
Purchased Power(1)
  $ 1     $ 20     $ 24     $ 35     $ 3     $ 46     $ 129  
 
                                         
     
(1)   Purchased power includes contracts that will settle in October 2011 through December 2014 at fixed prices per MWh or at prices indexed to natural gas prices. UNS Electric’s estimated minimum payment obligation for these purchases is based on projected market prices as of September 30, 2011. Purchased power commitments also include one long-term PPA with a renewable energy generation facility that achieved commercial operation in September 2011. UNS Electric is obligated to purchase 100% of the output from this facility. The table above includes estimated future payments based on expected power deliveries through 2031.