Rate Matters Rate Matters (Details) $ in Thousands | Jun. 30, 2016 | Jan. 06, 2015 | Jul. 31, 2016USD ($) | Apr. 30, 2016USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2015USD ($) | Feb. 28, 2015 | Nov. 30, 2013 | Jun. 30, 2016USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2015USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2015USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2016USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2015USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015MW | Dec. 31, 2013USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2008USD ($) |
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss on Monticello life cycle management/extended power uprate project | | | | | | | | | $ 0 | $ 0 | | $ 0 | $ 5,237 | | | |
NSP-Wisconsin | PSCW Proceeding - Wisconsin 2017 Electric and Gas Rate Case - Electric Rates 2017 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, Requested Rate Increase (Decrease), Amount | | | | $ 17,400 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, Requested Rate Increase (Decrease), Percentage | | | | 2.40% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, Requested Increase Related to Rate Base Investments | | | | $ 11,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, Requested Increase Related to Generation and Transmission Expenses | | | | 6,800 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, Requested Increase Related to Fuel and Purchased Power Expenses | | | | 11,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, Total Requested Rate Increase Excluding Refunds | | | | 28,800 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, Requested Decrease Related to Fuel Refunds | | | | (9,500) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, Requested Decrease Related to Settlement Refund | | | | (1,900) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, Requested Rate Base, Amount | | | | 1,188,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NSP-Wisconsin | PSCW Proceeding - Wisconsin 2017 Electric and Gas Rate Case - Gas Rates 2017 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, Requested Rate Increase (Decrease), Amount | | | | $ 4,800 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, Requested Rate Increase (Decrease), Percentage | | | | 3.90% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NSP-Wisconsin | PSCW Proceeding - Wisconsin 2017 Electric and Gas Rate Case | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, Requested Return on Equity, Percentage | | | | 10.00% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, Percentage of Excess Earnings to be Refunded due to Earnings Cap | | | | 100.00% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NSP-Wisconsin | MPUC Proceeding - Nuclear Project Prudency Investigation | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss on Monticello life cycle management/extended power uprate project | | | | | | | | | | | $ 5,000 | | | | | |
NSP-Minnesota | MPUC Proceeding - Nuclear Project Prudency Investigation | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Nuclear Project Expenditures, Amount | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ 665,000 | |
Total Capitalized Nuclear Project Costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ 748,000 | |
Initial Estimated Nuclear Project Expenditures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ 320,000 |
NSP-Minnesota | MPUC Proceeding - Nuclear Project Prudency Investigation | Minnesota Public Utilities Commission | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, Amount Of Recoverable Investment, With Return | | | | | | $ 415,000 | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, Amount Of Recoverable Investment, Without A Return | | | | | | $ 333,000 | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, Percentage Of Investment Considered Used And Useful | | | | | | 50.00% | | | | | | | | | | |
NSP-Minnesota | FERC Proceeding, MISO ROE Complaint | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, Base Return On Equity Charged To Customers Through Transmission Formula Rates | | | | | | | 12.38% | 12.38% | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, ROE Applicable To Transmission Formula Rates In The Regional Transmission Operator's Region, Recommended By Third Parties | | | | | | | 8.67% | 9.15% | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, Maximum Equity Capital Structure Percentage Allowed Per The Complaint | | | | | | | | 50.00% | | | | | | | | |
NSP-Minnesota | FERC Proceeding, MISO ROE Complaint | Administrative Law Judge | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, ROE Applicable To Transmission Formula Rates In The Regional Transmission Operator's Region, Recommended By Third Parties | 9.70% | | | | 10.32% | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, Length of Refund Period, Recommended by Third Parties | 15 months | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NSP-Minnesota | FERC Proceeding, MISO ROE Complaint | MPUC, NDPSC, SDPUC, and DOC | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, ROE Applicable To Transmission Formula Rates In The MISO Region, Upper Bound, Percentage | | | | | | | | | | | | 8.82% | | | | |
Public Utilities, ROE Applicable To Transmission Formula Rates In The MISO Region, Lower Bound, Percentage | | | | | | | | | | | | 8.81% | | | | |
NSP-Minnesota | FERC Proceeding, MISO ROE Complaint | FERC Staff | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, ROE Applicable To Transmission Formula Rates In The Regional Transmission Operator's Region, Recommended By Third Parties | | | | | | | | | | | | 8.78% | | | | |
NSP-Minnesota | FERC Proceeding, MISO ROE Complaint | MISO TOs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, ROE Applicable To Transmission Formula Rates In The Regional Transmission Operator's Region, Recommended By Third Parties | | | | | | | | | | | | 10.92% | | | | |
NSP-Minnesota | FERC Proceeding, MISO ROE Complaint | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, ROE Basis Point Adder Requested By Third Parties | | 50 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Xcel Energy Inc. | MPUC Proceeding - Nuclear Project Prudency Investigation | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss on Monticello life cycle management/extended power uprate project | | | | | | | | | | | $ 129,000 | | | | | |
Minimum | NSP-Minnesota | MPUC Proceeding - Nuclear Project Prudency Investigation | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, Facility Generating Capacity, In MW | MW | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 600 | | |
Minimum | NSP-Minnesota | FERC Proceeding, MISO ROE Complaint | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, Decrease In Transmission Revenue, Net Of Expense, Due To New ROE Methodology | | | | | | | | | | | | $ 8,000 | | | | |
Maximum | NSP-Minnesota | MPUC Proceeding - Nuclear Project Prudency Investigation | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, Facility Generating Capacity, In MW | MW | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 671 | | |
Maximum | NSP-Minnesota | FERC Proceeding, MISO ROE Complaint | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, Decrease In Transmission Revenue, Net Of Expense, Due To New ROE Methodology | | | | | | | | | | | | $ 10,000 | | | | |
Subsequent Event [Member] | NSP-Wisconsin | PSCW Proceeding - Wisconsin 2017 Electric and Gas Rate Case - Electric Rates 2017 | Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, Revised Requested Rate Increase, Amount | | | $ 26,900 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Utilities, Revised Requested Rate Increase, Percentage | | | 3.80% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |