v2.4.0.6
Consolidating financial information (Details 2) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Current assets:        
Cash and cash equivalents $ 60,191 $ 60,651 $ 45,497 $ 49,850
Restricted cash 28,618 21,412    
Accounts receivable 58,531 79,008    
Prepayments, supplies, and other 62,990 39,696    
Assets held for sale 351,379      
Total current assets 561,709 200,767    
Property, plant, and equipment, net 2,055,510 1,388,254    
Transmission system rights   180,282    
Equity investments in unconsolidated affiliates 428,690 474,351    
Other intangible assets, net 524,883 584,274    
Goodwill 334,668 343,586 12,453  
Other assets 97,192 76,913    
Total assets 4,002,652 3,248,427 1,013,012  
Current Liabilities:        
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 110,424 80,298    
Revolving credit facility 67,000 58,000    
Current portion of long-term debt 121,203 20,958    
Liabilities held for sale 189,038      
Other current liabilities 47,807 33,198    
Total current liabilities 535,472 192,454    
Total long-term debt 1,459,138 1,404,900    
Convertible debentures 424,246 189,563 220,616  
Other non-current, liabilities 397,471 345,729    
Equity        
Preferred shares issued by a subsidiary company 221,304 221,304    
Common stock 1,285,487 1,217,265    
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 9,383 (5,193)    
Retained earnings (deficit) (565,229) (320,622)    
Total Atlantic Power Corporation shareholders' equity 950,945 1,112,754    
Noncontrolling interest 235,380 3,027    
Total equity 1,186,325 1,115,781 433,376 414,117
Total liabilities and equity 4,002,652 3,248,427    
Guarantor Subsidiaries
        
Current assets:        
Cash and cash equivalents 43,221 58,370 32,987  
Restricted cash 28,618 21,412    
Accounts receivable 138,836 93,855    
Prepayments, supplies, and other 53,368 30,967    
Assets held for sale 351,379      
Total current assets 615,422 204,604    
Property, plant, and equipment, net 1,883,627 1,213,080    
Transmission system rights   180,282    
Equity investments in unconsolidated affiliates 5,109,285 5,109,196    
Other intangible assets, net 367,073 415,454    
Goodwill 276,440 285,358    
Other assets 499,659 478,600    
Total assets 8,751,506 7,886,574    
Current Liabilities:        
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 169,730 97,129    
Revolving credit facility 47,000 8,000    
Current portion of long-term debt 121,203 20,958    
Liabilities held for sale 189,038      
Other current liabilities 37,302 20,793    
Total current liabilities 564,273 146,880    
Total long-term debt 809,138 754,900    
Other non-current, liabilities 1,230,747 1,177,994    
Equity        
Preferred shares issued by a subsidiary company 221,304 221,304    
Common stock 5,103,843 5,156,644    
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 9,383 (5,193)    
Retained earnings (deficit) 577,438 431,018    
Total Atlantic Power Corporation shareholders' equity 5,911,968 5,803,773    
Noncontrolling interest 235,380 3,027    
Total equity 6,147,348 5,806,800    
Total liabilities and equity 8,751,506 7,886,574    
Curtis Palmer
        
Current assets:        
Cash and cash equivalents   (15)    
Accounts receivable 35,774 13,637    
Prepayments, supplies, and other 1,285 1,225    
Total current assets 37,059 14,847    
Property, plant, and equipment, net 173,100 176,017    
Other intangible assets, net 157,810 168,820    
Goodwill 58,228 58,228    
Total assets 426,197 417,912    
Current Liabilities:        
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 13,690 7,241    
Total current liabilities 13,690 7,241    
Total long-term debt 190,000 190,000    
Other non-current, liabilities 8,324 8,072    
Equity        
Common stock 214,183 208,991    
Retained earnings (deficit)   3,608    
Total Atlantic Power Corporation shareholders' equity 214,183 212,599    
Total equity 214,183 212,599    
Total liabilities and equity 426,197 417,912    
APC
        
Current assets:        
Cash and cash equivalents 16,970 2,296 12,510  
Accounts receivable 919 12,088    
Prepayments, supplies, and other 9,337 7,504    
Total current assets 27,226 21,888    
Equity investments in unconsolidated affiliates 1,012,020 870,279    
Other assets 440,106 439,548    
Total assets 1,479,352 1,331,715    
Current Liabilities:        
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 44,002 16,500    
Revolving credit facility 20,000 50,000    
Other current liabilities 11,505 12,405    
Total current liabilities 75,507 78,905    
Total long-term debt 460,000 460,000    
Convertible debentures 424,246 189,563    
Other non-current, liabilities 973 898    
Equity        
Common stock 1,285,487 1,217,265    
Retained earnings (deficit) (766,861) (614,916)    
Total Atlantic Power Corporation shareholders' equity 518,626 602,349    
Total equity 518,626 602,349    
Total liabilities and equity 1,479,352 1,331,715    
Eliminations
        
Current assets:        
Accounts receivable (116,998) (40,572)    
Prepayments, supplies, and other (1,000)      
Total current assets (117,998) (40,572)    
Property, plant, and equipment, net (1,217) (843)    
Equity investments in unconsolidated affiliates (5,692,615) (5,505,124)    
Other assets (842,573) (841,235)    
Total assets (6,654,403) (6,387,774)    
Current Liabilities:        
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (116,998) (40,572)    
Other current liabilities (1,000)      
Total current liabilities (117,998) (40,572)    
Other non-current, liabilities (842,573) (841,235)    
Equity        
Common stock (5,318,026) (5,365,635)    
Retained earnings (deficit) (375,806) (140,332)    
Total Atlantic Power Corporation shareholders' equity (5,693,832) (5,505,967)    
Total equity (5,693,832) (5,505,967)    
Total liabilities and equity $ (6,654,403) $ (6,387,774)