Sierra Pacific Power 10-Q 7 Nov 14 2014 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'Sierra Pacific Power Company	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000090144	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'No	'
Entity Voluntary Filers	'No	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'
Entity Filer Category	'Non-accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	1,000
Entity Public Float	$0	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-14	'

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$131	$67
Accounts receivable, net	122	156
Inventories	43	43
Regulatory assets	44	15
Deferred income taxes	35	48
Other current assets	23	23
Total current assets	398	352
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,587	2,552
Regulatory assets	409	427
Other assets	49	38
Total assets	3,443	3,369
Current liabilities:	'	'
Accounts payable	125	151
Accrued interest	15	15
Accrued property, income and other taxes	12	12
Accrued employee expenses	11	7
Regulatory liabilities	46	37
Current portion of long-term debt	1	1
Customer deposits and other	23	16
Total current liabilities	233	239
Long-term debt	1,199	1,199
Regulatory liabilities	252	243
Deferred income taxes	549	525
Other long-term liabilities	127	147
Total liabilities	2,360	2,353
Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)	'	'
Shareholder's Equity:	'	'
Common stock - $3.75 stated value, 20,000,000 shares authorized and 1,000 issued and outstanding	0	0
Other paid-in capital	1,111	1,111
Accumulated deficit	-26	-93
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	-2	-2
Total shareholder's equity	1,083	1,016
Total liabilities and shareholder's equity	$3,443	$3,369

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]	'	'
Common stock, stated value per share	$3.75	$3.75
Common stock, shares authorized	20,000,000	20,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	1,000	1,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	1,000	1,000

Consolidated_Statements_of_Ope

Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Operating revenue:	'	'	'	'
Electric	$233	$213	$589	$559
Natural gas	18	12	83	61
Total operating revenue	251	225	672	620
Operating costs and expenses:	'	'	'	'
Cost of fuel, energy and capacity	103	80	269	212
Natural gas purchased for resale	7	4	48	28
Operating and maintenance expense	47	52	120	148
Depreciation and amortization	27	26	79	78
Property and other taxes	7	6	19	19
Merger-related expenses	0	2	0	6
Total operating costs and expenses	191	170	535	491
Operating income	60	55	137	129
Other income (expense):	'	'	'	'
Interest expense, net of allowance for debt funds	-15	-15	-44	-47
Allowance for equity funds	1	1	3	2
Other, net	3	1	8	8
Total other income (expense)	-11	-13	-33	-37
Income before income tax expense	49	42	104	92
Income tax expense	18	13	37	30
Net income	$31	$29	$67	$62

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cha

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholder's Equity (USD $)	Total	Common Stock	Other Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$1,039	$0	$1,111	($71)	($1)
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	'	1,000	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'
Net income	62	'	'	62	'
Dividends declared	-40	'	'	-40	'
Balance at Sep. 30, 2013	1,061	0	1,111	-49	-1
Balance (shares) at Sep. 30, 2013	'	1,000	'	'	'
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	1,016	0	1,111	-93	-2
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	1,000	1,000	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'
Net income	67	'	'	67	'
Balance at Sep. 30, 2014	$1,083	$0	$1,111	($26)	($2)
Balance (shares) at Sep. 30, 2014	1,000	1,000	'	'	'

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'
Net income	$67	$62
Loss on nonrecurring items	14	0
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	79	78
Allowance for equity funds	-3	-2
Deferred income taxes and amortization of investment tax credits	37	33
Amortization of other regulatory assets	43	16
Other, net	-19	10
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities:	'	'
Accounts receivable and other assets	-10	-11
Inventories	0	10
Accounts payable and other liabilities	-27	-40
Net cash flows from operating activities	181	156
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Capital expenditures	-117	-90
Net cash flows from investing activities	-117	-90
Cash flows from financing activities: [Abstract]	'	'
Dividends paid	0	-40
Repayments of Long-term Debt	0	251
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt	0	248
Net cash flows from financing activities	0	-43
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	64	23
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	67	61
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$131	$84

Organization_and_Operations_No

Organization and Operations (Notes)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Organization and Operations	'
	Organization and Operations
	Sierra Pacific Power Company, together with its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company"), is a wholly owned subsidiary of NV Energy, Inc. ("NV Energy"), a holding company that also owns Nevada Power Company ("Nevada Power") and certain other subsidiaries. The Company is a United States utility company serving electric retail customers, including residential, commercial and industrial customers, primarily in northern Nevada and retail natural gas customers in Nevada. NV Energy is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company ("BHE"). BHE is a holding company based in Des Moines, Iowa that owns subsidiaries principally engaged in energy businesses. BHE is a consolidated subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
	The unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") for interim financial information and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and regulations for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the disclosures required by GAAP for annual financial statements. Management believes the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements contain all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for the fair presentation of the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements as of September 30, 2014 and for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013. Certain amounts in the prior periods Consolidated Statement of Operations have been reclassified to conform to the current period's presentation. Such reclassifications did not impact previously reported net income. The results of operations for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.
	The preparation of the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. Actual results may differ from the estimates used in preparing the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements. Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 describes the most significant accounting policies used in the preparation of the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements. There have been no significant changes in the Company's assumptions regarding significant accounting estimates and policies during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014.

New_Accounting_Pronouncements_

New Accounting Pronouncements (Notes)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]	'
Accounting Changes [Text Block]	'
	New Accounting Pronouncements
	In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-09, which creates FASB Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 606, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" and supersedes ASC Topic 605, "Revenue Recognition." The guidance replaces industry-specific guidance and establishes a single five-step model to identify and recognize revenue. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue upon transfer of control of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Additionally, the guidance requires the entity to disclose further quantitative and qualitative information regarding the nature and amount of revenues arising from contracts with customers, as well as other information about the significant judgments and estimates used in recognizing revenues from contracts with customers. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early application is not permitted. This guidance may be adopted retrospectively or under a modified retrospective method where the cumulative effect is recognized at the date of initial application. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance on its Consolidated Financial Statements and disclosures included within Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
	In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-04, which amends FASB ASC Topic 405, "Liabilities." The amendments in this guidance require an entity to measure obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements for which the total amount of the obligation is fixed at the reporting date as the amount the reporting entity agreed to pay plus any additional amounts the reporting entity expects to pay on behalf of its co-obligor. Additionally, the guidance requires the entity to disclose the nature and amount of the obligation, as well as other information about those obligations. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2014. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's disclosures included within Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_N

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net (Notes)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	'
	Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
	Property, plant and equipment, net consists of the following (in millions):
		As of
		September 30,			December 31,
		2014			2013
	Utility plant in-service:
	Electric generation	$	1,054		$	1,070
	Electric distribution	1,314			1,289
	Electric transmission	718			685
	Electric intangible plant	127			138
	Natural gas distribution	361			357
	Natural gas intangible plant	13			13
	Common general	235			212
	Utility plant in-service	3,822			3,764
	Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(1,334		)	(1,301		)
	Utility plant in-service, net	2,488			2,463
	Construction work-in-progress	99			89
	Property, plant and equipment, net	$	2,587		$	2,552

Regulatory_Matters_Notes

Regulatory Matters (Notes)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Regulatory Matters	'
	Regulatory Matters
	Energy Efficiency Implementation Rates
	The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada's ("PUCN") final order approving the merger between BHE and NV Energy stipulated that the Company will not seek recovery of any lost revenue for calendar year 2014 in an amount that exceeds 50% of the lost revenue that the Company could otherwise request. In February 2014, the Company filed an application with the PUCN to reset the energy efficiency implementation rate. In June 2014, the PUCN accepted a stipulation to adjust the energy efficiency implementation rate, as of July 1, 2014, to collect 50% of the estimated lost revenue that the Company would otherwise be allowed to recover for the 2014 calendar year. The energy efficiency implementation rate will be effective from July through December 2014 and will reset on January 1, 2015 and remain in effect through September 2015. To the extent the Company's earned rate of return exceeds the rate of return used to set base general rates, the Company is required to refund to customers energy efficiency implementation rate revenue collected. As a result, the Company has deferred recognition of energy efficiency implementation rate revenue collected and has recorded a liability of $3 million on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2014.
	General Rate Case
	In connection with Nevada Power's general rate case filing in May 2014, as required by the PUCN, the Company made a "companion filing" for the purpose of documenting the costs and benefits of the Company's investment in the advanced service delivery program. In October 2014, the PUCN issued an order in the companion filing issued with the general rate case order that, among other things, provided for the implementation of new rates effective January 1, 2015 to begin recovery of costs associated with advance service delivery. The recovery costs will increase annual revenue approximately $10 million. As a result of the PUCN order in the companion filing issued with the Nevada Power general rate case order, the Company recorded $7 million in asset impairments related to property, plant and equipment and $1 million of regulatory asset impairments, which are included in operating and maintenance expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014.
	2013 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Transmission Rate Case
	In May 2013, the Company, along with Nevada Power, filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") to establish single system transmission and ancillary service rates. The combined filing requested incremental rate relief of $17 million annually to be effective January 1, 2014. In August 2013, the FERC granted the companies' request for a rate effective date of January 1, 2014 subject to refund, and set the case for hearing or settlement discussions. On January 1, 2014, the Company implemented the filed rates in this case subject to refund as set forth in the FERC's order.
	In September 2014, the Company, along with Nevada Power, filed an unopposed settlement offer with the FERC on behalf of NV Energy and the intervening parties providing rate relief of $4 million. The settlement offer would resolve all outstanding issues related to this case. In addition, a preliminary order from the administrative law judge granting the motion for interim rate relief was issued, which authorizes the Company to institute the interim rates effective September 1, 2014, and begin billing transmission customers under the settlement rates for service provided on and after that date. These will remain in effect pending the FERC's approval. As of September 30, 2014, the Company accrued $2 million for amounts subject to rate refund, which is included in customer deposits and other on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. In October 2014, the FERC judge certified the settlement and referred to the FERC for final approval. Once the FERC approves the Offer of Settlement, the Company will refund amounts that were billed to the FERC transmission customers subject to refund.

Recent_Financing_Activities_No

Recent Financing Activities (Notes)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Debt Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Recent Financing Transactions
	Credit Facility
	In June 2014, the Company amended its $250 million secured credit facility expiring in March 2017, extending the maturity date to March 2018. The amended facility has a variable interest rate based on the London Interbank Offered Rate or a base rate, at the Company's option, plus a spread that varies based upon the Company's secured debt credit rating. The amended facility requires that the Company's ratio of consolidated debt, including current maturities, to total capitalization not exceed 0.68 to 1.0 as of the last day of each quarter.

Employee_Benefit_plans_Notes

Employee Benefit plans (Notes)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Employee Benefit Plans	'
	The Company is a participant in benefit plans sponsored by NV Energy. The NV Energy Retirement Plan includes a qualified pension plan ("Qualified Pension Plan") and a supplemental executive retirement plan and a restoration plan (collectively, "Non-Qualified Pension Plans") that provide pension benefits for eligible employees. The NV Energy Comprehensive Welfare Benefit and Cafeteria Plan provides certain postretirement health care and life insurance benefits for eligible retirees ("Other Postretirement Plans") on behalf of the Company. Amounts attributable to the Company were allocated from NV Energy based upon the current, or in the case of retirees, previous, employment location. Offsetting regulatory assets and liabilities have been recorded related to the amounts not yet recognized as a component of net periodic benefit costs that will be included in regulated rates. Net periodic benefit costs not included in regulated rates are included in accumulated other comprehensive income.
	Amounts receivable from (payable to) NV Energy are included on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and consist of the following (in millions):
		As of
		September 30,			December 31,
		2014			2013
	Qualified Pension Plan:
	Other assets	$	15		$	18
	Non-Qualified Pension Plans:
	Accrued employee expenses	(1		)	(1		)
	Other long-term liabilities	(10		)	(11		)
	Other Postretirement Plans:
	Other long-term liabilities	(39		)	(38		)

Fair_Value_Measurements_Notes

Fair Value Measurements (Notes)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Measurements	'
	Fair Value Measurements
	The carrying value of the Company's cash, certain cash equivalents, receivables, investments held in Rabbi trusts, payables, accrued liabilities and short-term borrowings approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of these instruments. A financial asset or liability classification within the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The three levels are as follows:
	•	Level 1 - Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.
	•	Level 2 - Inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means (market corroborated inputs).
	•	Level 3 - Unobservable inputs reflect the Company's judgments about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability since limited market data exists. The Company develops these inputs based on the best information available, including its own data.
	The Company's long-term debt is carried at cost on the Consolidated Financial Statements. The fair value of the Company's long-term debt is a Level 2 fair value measurement and has been estimated based upon quoted market prices, where available, or at the present value of future cash flows discounted at rates consistent with comparable maturities with similar credit risks. The carrying value of the Company's variable-rate long-term debt approximates fair value because of the frequent repricing of these instruments at market rates. The following table presents the carrying value and estimated fair value of the Company's long-term debt (in millions):
		As of September 30, 2014				As of December 31, 2013
		Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair
		Value		Value		Value		Value
	Long-term debt	$	1,174	$	1,293	$	1,176	$	1,270

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies (Notes)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	Commitments and Contingencies
	Environmental Laws and Regulations
	The Company is subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding air and water quality, renewable portfolio standards, emissions performance standards, climate change, coal combustion byproduct disposal, hazardous and solid waste disposal, protected species and other environmental matters that have the potential to impact the Company's current and future operations. The Company believes it is in material compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
	Valmy Generating Station
	In June 2009, the Company received a request for information from the Environmental Protection Agency Region 9 under Section 114 of the Clean Air Act requesting current and historical operations and capital project information for the Company's Valmy Generating Station, a 522-megawatt generating facility located in Valmy, Nevada. The Company owns 50% and operates this coal-fueled generating facility while Idaho Power Company owns the other 50% interest. The Environmental Protection Agency's Section 114 information request does not allege any incidents of non-compliance at the plant, and there have been no other new enforcement-related proceedings that have been initiated by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to the plant. The Company completed its response to the Environmental Protection Agency in December 2009 and will continue to monitor developments relating to this Section 114 request. At this time, the Company cannot predict the impact, if any, associated with this information request.
	Legal Matters
	The Company is party to a variety of legal actions arising out of the normal course of business. Plaintiffs occasionally seek punitive or exemplary damages. The Company does not believe that such normal and routine litigation will have a material impact on its consolidated financial results. The Company is also involved in other kinds of legal actions, some of which assert or may assert claims or seek to impose fines, penalties and other costs in substantial amounts and are described below.
	Newmont Nevada Energy Investment - TS Power Plant
	Newmont Nevada Energy Investment, LLC ("Newmont") owns a 203 megawatt coal-fueled power plant facility located in Eureka County, Nevada (the "TS Power Plant") that is interconnected to the Company's transmission system. As a result of system modifications required for a 500-kilovolt transmission line connecting the Company and Nevada Power ("ON Line"), Newmont will need to install certain protection equipment at its TS Power Plant. Newmont brought suit against the Company in the Second Judicial District of Nevada seeking declaratory relief and to enjoin the operation at full capacity of certain equipment to be installed by the Company for the ON Line project, until such time as Newmont completes the design, fabrication and installation of protection equipment at its power plant to protect its generator from potential adverse effects caused by the operation of the Company's equipment at full capacity. In addition, Newmont's complaint asserted a claim under the parties' interconnection agreement seeking to recover the cost of making the necessary modifications to the TS Power Plant.
	A hearing on Newmont's motion for a preliminary injunction was held during the week of August 12, 2013, after which the trial court concluded that it would enter an order enjoining the Company from operating its equipment at full capacity from January 1, 2014 until approximately April 8, 2014, and from approximately June 1, 2014 to June 30, 2014 (or the time Newmont has completed the installation of its protection equipment), so as to allow installation and testing of protection equipment at the TS Power Plant. The district court issued the order in December 2013. Newmont posted the required $1 million bond and subsequently filed a complaint with the FERC to address the issue of who will pay for the protection equipment and its installation at the TS Power Plant. In April 2014, the FERC issued an order directing the Company to pay the costs of studies relating to subsynchronous resonance conducted by Newmont and the installation of the protection equipment at the TS Power Plant. The costs are a component of the ON Line construction costs and are shared between the Company and Nevada Power at 5% and 95%, respectively. The protection equipment has been installed at the TS Power Plant and the Sierra Pacific facilities are now operating at full capacity. Accordingly, the $1 million bond posted by Newmont has been released. Newmont is also seeking recovery of legal fees associated with litigating this matter. The parties have finalized a settlement in this matter and final documents dismissing the claims are being filed with the court. The terms of the settlement will not have a material impact to the Company.
	Caughlin Fire
	On November 18, 2011, a fire was reported in the hills near Reno, Nevada (the "Caughlin Fire"). In January 2012, the Reno Fire Department issued a report in which they opined that "this fire was most likely the result of an electrical event in the area," and that "something such as a tree branch hitting the power-line" was a likely cause of the fire. The Company is continuing its investigation in the matter.
	To date, six subrogation lawsuits and two individual claimant lawsuits have been filed against the Company in relation to the Caughlin Fire. The subrogation lawsuits have been brought by various insurance companies, and involve similar causes of action (negligence, inverse condemnation, trespass, nuisance, subrogation and strict liability). One of the individual claimant lawsuits identifies six plaintiffs, while the other individual claimant lawsuit purports to be brought on behalf of a class of similarly affected individuals within the fire perimeter who suffered damage or loss of use of their property as a result of the Caughlin Fire and the evacuation order associated with it.
	All of the remaining cases have been consolidated before a single judge in Washoe County, Nevada. In July 2014, the Company reached a settlement with the plaintiffs in the six subrogation lawsuits identified above, which did not have a material impact to the Company. At this time, management cannot assess or predict what the impact or outcome of the two individual claimant lawsuits may be, or what, if any, other litigation may be brought on this matter.

Segment_Information_Notes

Segment Information (Notes)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment Information	'
	Segment Information
	The Company has identified two reportable operating segments: electric and natural gas. The electric segment derives most of its revenue from retail sales of electricity to residential, commercial, and industrial customers and from wholesale sales. The natural gas segment derives most of its revenue from retail sales of natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers and also obtains revenue by transporting natural gas owned by others through its distribution system. Pricing for electric and natural gas sales are established separately by the PUCN; therefore, management also reviews each segment separately to make decisions regarding allocation of resources and in evaluating performance.
	Operating revenue, cost of fuel, energy and capacity and natural gas purchased for resale are key drivers of the Company's results of operations as they encompass retail and wholesale electricity and natural gas revenue and the direct costs associated with providing electricity and natural gas to customers. The Company believes that a discussion of gross margin, representing operating revenue less cost of fuel, energy and capacity and natural gas purchased for resale, is therefore meaningful.
	The following tables provide information on a reportable segment basis (in millions):
			Three-Month Period								Nine-Month Period
			Ended September 30, 2014								Ended September 30, 2014
						Natural							Natural
			Electric			Gas		Total			Electric		Gas		Total
	Operating revenue		$	233		$	18	$	251		$	589	$	83	$	672
	Cost of fuel, energy and capacity		103			—		103			269		—		269
	Natural gas purchased for resale		—			7		7			—		48		48
	Gross margin		$	130		$	11	141			$	320	$	35	355
	Operating and maintenance expense							47							120
	Depreciation and amortization							27							79
	Property and other taxes							7							19
	Interest expense, net of allowance for debt funds							15							44
	Allowance for equity funds							(1		)					(3		)
	Other, net							(3		)					(8		)
	Income before income tax expense							$	49						$	104
			Three-Month Period								Nine-Month Period
			Ended September 30, 2013								Ended September 30, 2013
						Natural							Natural
			Electric			Gas		Total			Electric		Gas		Total
	Operating revenue		$	213		$	12	$	225		$	559	$	61	$	620
	Cost of fuel, energy and capacity		80			—		80			212		—		212
	Natural gas purchased for resale		—			4		4			—		28		28
	Gross margin(1)		$	133		$	8	141			$	347	$	33	380
	Operating and maintenance expenses							52							148
	Depreciation and amortization							26							78
	Property and other taxes							6							19
	Merger-related expenses							2							6
	Interest expense, net of allowance for debt funds							15							47
	Allowance for equity funds							(1		)					(2		)
	Other, net							(1		)					(8		)
	Income before income tax expense							$	42						$	92
	-1	Energy efficiency program costs were reclassified from gross margin to operating and maintenance expenses for presentation purposes.
		As of
		September 30,			December 31,
		2014			2013
	Total assets:
	Electric	$	2,976		$	2,957
	Natural gas	329			335
	Other(1)	138			77
	Total assets	$	3,443		$	3,369
	-1	Consists principally of cash and cash equivalents.

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_N1

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract]	'
Property, Plant, and Equipment, Net	'
	Property, plant and equipment, net consists of the following (in millions):
		As of
		September 30,			December 31,
		2014			2013
	Utility plant in-service:
	Electric generation	$	1,054		$	1,070
	Electric distribution	1,314			1,289
	Electric transmission	718			685
	Electric intangible plant	127			138
	Natural gas distribution	361			357
	Natural gas intangible plant	13			13
	Common general	235			212
	Utility plant in-service	3,822			3,764
	Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(1,334		)	(1,301		)
	Utility plant in-service, net	2,488			2,463
	Construction work-in-progress	99			89
	Property, plant and equipment, net	$	2,587		$	2,552

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Tables

Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet	'
	Amounts receivable from (payable to) NV Energy are included on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and consist of the following (in millions):
		As of
		September 30,			December 31,
		2014			2013
	Qualified Pension Plan:
	Other assets	$	15		$	18
	Non-Qualified Pension Plans:
	Accrued employee expenses	(1		)	(1		)
	Other long-term liabilities	(10		)	(11		)
	Other Postretirement Plans:
	Other long-term liabilities	(39		)	(38		)

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping	'
	The following table presents the carrying value and estimated fair value of the Company's long-term debt (in millions):
		As of September 30, 2014				As of December 31, 2013
		Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair
		Value		Value		Value		Value
	Long-term debt	$	1,174	$	1,293	$	1,176	$	1,270

Segment_Information_Tables

Segment Information (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment	'
	The following tables provide information on a reportable segment basis (in millions):
			Three-Month Period								Nine-Month Period
			Ended September 30, 2014								Ended September 30, 2014
						Natural							Natural
			Electric			Gas		Total			Electric		Gas		Total
	Operating revenue		$	233		$	18	$	251		$	589	$	83	$	672
	Cost of fuel, energy and capacity		103			—		103			269		—		269
	Natural gas purchased for resale		—			7		7			—		48		48
	Gross margin		$	130		$	11	141			$	320	$	35	355
	Operating and maintenance expense							47							120
	Depreciation and amortization							27							79
	Property and other taxes							7							19
	Interest expense, net of allowance for debt funds							15							44
	Allowance for equity funds							(1		)					(3		)
	Other, net							(3		)					(8		)
	Income before income tax expense							$	49						$	104
			Three-Month Period								Nine-Month Period
			Ended September 30, 2013								Ended September 30, 2013
						Natural							Natural
			Electric			Gas		Total			Electric		Gas		Total
	Operating revenue		$	213		$	12	$	225		$	559	$	61	$	620
	Cost of fuel, energy and capacity		80			—		80			212		—		212
	Natural gas purchased for resale		—			4		4			—		28		28
	Gross margin(1)		$	133		$	8	141			$	347	$	33	380
	Operating and maintenance expenses							52							148
	Depreciation and amortization							26							78
	Property and other taxes							6							19
	Merger-related expenses							2							6
	Interest expense, net of allowance for debt funds							15							47
	Allowance for equity funds							(1		)					(2		)
	Other, net							(1		)					(8		)
	Income before income tax expense							$	42						$	92
	-1	Energy efficiency program costs were reclassified from gross margin to operating and maintenance expenses for presentation purposes.
		As of
		September 30,			December 31,
		2014			2013
	Total assets:
	Electric	$	2,976		$	2,957
	Natural gas	329			335
	Other(1)	138			77
	Total assets	$	3,443		$	3,369
	-1	Consists principally of cash and cash equivalents.

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_N2

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Utility plant in-service:	'	'
Common general	$235	$212
Utility plant in-service	3,822	3,764
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	-1,334	-1,301
Utility plant in-service, net	2,488	2,463
Construction work-in-progress	99	89
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,587	2,552
Electric Plant [Member]	'	'
Utility plant in-service:	'	'
Generation	1,054	1,070
Distribution	1,314	1,289
Transmission	718	685
Intangible plant	127	138
Gas Plant [Member]	'	'
Utility plant in-service:	'	'
Distribution	361	357
Intangible plant	$13	$13

Regulatory_Matters_General_Dis

Regulatory Matters - General Disclosures (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014
Public Utilities Commission, Nevada [Member] | Energy Efficiency Rate Case [Member]	'
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]	'
Customer refund liability, current	$3
Public Utilities Commission, Nevada [Member] | General Rate Case Companion [Member]	'
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]	'
Public Utilities, Requested Rate Increase (Decrease), Amount	10
Public Utilities, Property, Plant and Equipment, Amount of Disallowed Costs for Recently Completed Plant	7
Utilities Operating Expense, Impairments	1
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Member]	'
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]	'
Public Utilities, Requested Rate Increase (Decrease), Amount	17
Public Utilities, Approved Rate Increase (Decrease), Amount	4
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Member] | Customer Deposits and Other [Member]	'
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]	'
Customer refund liability, current	$2
MEHC Merger | Public Utilities Commission, Nevada [Member] | Energy Efficiency Rate Case [Member]	'
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]	'
Recovery of loss on revenues	50.00%

Recent_Financing_Activities_De

Recent Financing Activities (Details) (Line of Credit [Member], Senior unsecured credit facility, $250 million, expiring March 2018 [Member], USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Line of Credit [Member] | Senior unsecured credit facility, $250 million, expiring March 2018 [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	$250
Debt to capitalization ratio	0.68

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Details

Employee Benefit Plans (Details) (NV Energy [Member], USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Other assets [Member]	'	'
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet [Abstract]	'	'
Other assets	$15	$18
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Other long-term liabilities [Member]	'	'
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet [Abstract]	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	-10	-11
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Accrued employee expense [Member]	'	'
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet [Abstract]	'	'
Accrued employee expenses	-1	-1
Other Postretirement Plans [Member] | Other long-term liabilities [Member]	'	'
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet [Abstract]	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	($39)	($38)

Fair_Value_Measurements_Debt_D

Fair Value Measurements - Debt (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	$1,174	$1,176
Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt, fair value	$1,293	$1,270

Commitments_and_Contingencies_1

Commitments and Contingencies - Narrative (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 17, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Subrogation Lawsuit [Member]	Individual Claimant [Member]	One Of Individual Claimants [Member]	Valmy Generating Station [Member]	Newmont Nevada Energy Investment, LLC [Member]	Newmont Nevada Energy Investment, LLC [Member]	Valmy Generating Station [Member]	Valmy Generating Station [Member]	ON Line Transmission Line [Member]	ON Line Transmission Line [Member]
	Caughlin Fire [Member]	Caughlin Fire [Member]	Caughlin Fire [Member]	MW		TS Power Plant [Member]		Idaho Power Company [Member]	Nevada Power Company [Member]	Sierra Pacific Power Company [Member]
	Claims	Claims	plaintiff			MW
			Claims
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Company share	'	'	'	'	'	'	50.00%	50.00%	'	'
Coal-fired power plant capacity	'	'	'	522	'	203	'	'	'	'
Amount of bond posted	'	'	'	'	$1	'	'	'	'	'
Utilities Aggregate Share Transmission Line Project	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	95.00%	5.00%
Number of lawsuits	6	2	1	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Loss Contingency, Number of Plaintiffs	'	'	6	'	'	'	'	'	'	'

Segment_Information_Details

Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
				TheNumberOfReportableSegments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'		'	'		'	'
Number of reportable segments	'		'	2		'	'
Electric	$233		$213	$589		$559	'
Natural gas	18		12	83		61	'
Revenues	251		225	672		620	'
Cost of fuel, energy and capacity	103		80	269		212	'
Natural gas purchased for resale	7		4	48		28	'
Gross margin	141		141	355		380	'
Operating and maintenance expense	47		52	120		148	'
Depreciation and amortization	27		26	79		78	'
Property and other taxes	7		6	19		19	'
Merger-related expenses	0		2	0		6	'
Interest expense, net of allowance for debt funds	15		15	44		47	'
Allowance for equity funds	-1		-1	-3		-2	'
Other, net	-3		-1	-8		-8	'
Income before income tax expense	49		42	104		92	'
Assets	3,443		'	3,443		'	3,369
Electric [Member]	'		'	'		'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'		'	'		'	'
Gross margin	130		133	320		347	'
Assets	2,976		'	2,976		'	2,957
Natural Gas [Member]	'		'	'		'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'		'	'		'	'
Gross margin	11		8	35		33	'
Assets	329		'	329		'	335
Other [Member]	'		'	'		'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'		'	'		'	'
Assets	$138	[1]	'	$138	[1]	'	$77	[1]
[1]	Consists principally of cash and cash equivalents.