v2.3.0.11

Forward Equity Agreement (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data	0 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Sep. 14, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011
Forward Equity Agreement
Public offering of common stock	24,265,000
Number of common shares covered by forward agreements	24,265,000	24,265,000
Forward sale price under forward agreements	$ 15.9638	$ 15.2204
Equity forward settlement		$ 369.3

X

- Definition

Forward Contract Indexed To Issuers Equity Settlement

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ni
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Forward equity agreement.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ni
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The per share price of the Company's stock at which the contract holder of the freestanding contract has the right to purchase or sell the Company's stock at a future date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 00-19
-Paragraph 50
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 40
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6445032&loc=d3e90205-114008

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The maximum number of shares that could be issued to net share settle a contract, if applicable. If a contract does not have a fixed or determinable maximum number of shares that may be required to be issued, disclose the fact that a potentially infinite number of shares could be issued to settle the contract.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 00-19
-Paragraph 50
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 40
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (b)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6445032&loc=d3e90205-114008

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Number of new stock issued during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6959260&loc=d3e187085-122770

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 12
-Paragraph 10
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Article 3

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 29, 30
-Article 5

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration