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Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified |
3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Sep. 30, 2012
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Sep. 30, 2011
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Sep. 30, 2012
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Sep. 30, 2011
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Dec. 31, 2011
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Dec. 31, 2010
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Sep. 30, 2012
WPL [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2011
WPL [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2012
WPL [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2011
WPL [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2011
WPL [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2010
WPL [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2012
IPL [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2011
IPL [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2012
IPL [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2011
IPL [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2011
IPL [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2010
IPL [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2012
George Neal Units 3 And 4 [Member]
Alliant Energy and IPL [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2012
Ottumwa Unit 1 [Member]
Alliant Energy and IPL [Member]
|
Aug. 31, 2011
Sutherland 4 [Member]
Alliant Energy and IPL [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2011
Sutherland 4 [Member]
Alliant Energy and IPL [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2011
IPL Electric Transmission Assets Sale [Member]
Alliant Energy and IPL [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2012
WPL's Edgewater Unit 5 Purchase [Member]
WPL [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2012
WPL 2013/2014 Test Period Retail Electric And Gas Final Order [Member]
Alliant Energy and WPL [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2012
Edgewater Unit 5 Emission Controls [Member]
Alliant Energy and WPL [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2012
Columbia Units 1 And 2 [Member]
Alliant Energy and WPL [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2012
Vestas Wind Turbine Generators [Member]
MW
|
Sep. 30, 2012
Franklin County Wind Project [Member]
MW
|
Mar. 31, 2011
Green Lake and Fond du Lac Counties Wind Site [Member]
WPL [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2009
Green Lake and Fond du Lac Counties Wind Site [Member]
WPL [Member]
MW
|
Sep. 30, 2012
Whispering Willow - East Wind Project [Member]
IPL [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2011
Whispering Willow - East Wind Project [Member]
Alliant Energy and IPL [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2012
Tax Benefit Rider [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2012
Tax Benefit Rider [Member]
IPL [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2011
Tax Benefit Rider [Member]
IPL [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2012
Tax Benefit Rider [Member]
IPL [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2011
Tax Benefit Rider [Member]
IPL [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2012
Franklin County Wind Project [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2012
Franklin County Wind Project [Member]
Bent Tree - Phase I Wind Project [Member]
IPL and WPL [Member]
MW
|
Apr. 30, 2012
Corporate Headquarters [Member]
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Jun. 30, 2011
Franklin County Wind Project [Member]
IPL [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2012
Scenario, Forecast [Member]
WPL [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2012
Scenario, Forecast [Member]
IPL [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2012
Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Electric Generation Equipment [Member]
WPL [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2012
Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Electric Distribution [Member]
WPL [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2012
Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Gas Transmission [Member]
WPL [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2007
SO2 emission allowances [Member]
IPL [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2011
Cross State Air Pollution Rule [Member]
Alliant Energy and IPL [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2012
IPL's tax benefit rider [Member]
Alliant Energy and IPL [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2012
Energy conservation cost recovery [Member]
Alliant Energy and WPL [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2012
George Neal Unit 3 [Member]
IPL [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2012
Columbia Units 1 And 2 [Member]
WPL [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2012
George Neal Unit 4 [Member]
IPL [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2012
Ottumwa Unit 1 [Member]
IPL [Member]
|
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| Public Utility, Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minimum future commitments | $ 355 | $ 605 | $ 34 | $ 34 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Regulatory assets | 1,518.4 | 1,518.4 | 1,495.0 | 367.4 | 367.4 | 377.7 | 1,151.0 | 1,151.0 | 1,117.3 | 30.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amounts not probable of recovery | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electric production fuel and energy purchases | 221.6 | 215.3 | 550.4 | 590.0 | 104.9 | 105.4 | 277.6 | 295.9 | 116.7 | 109.9 | 272.8 | 294.1 | 2.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Utilities operating expense, maintenance and operations | 144.7 | 147.1 | 432.6 | 476.6 | 58.3 | 62.3 | 175.5 | 194.6 | 86.4 | 84.8 | 257.1 | 282.0 | 5.0 | 2.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Recovery of direct costs | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Increase (decrease) in regulatory assets | 73.5 | 191.1 | 15.8 | (10.9) | 57.7 | 202.0 | 2.0 | 5.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Credit to utility other operation and maintenance | 2 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Regulatory liabilities | 5.0 | 158.5 | 32.5 | 13.4 | (27.5) | 145.1 | 5.0 | 63.0 | 23.0 | 20.0 | 63.0 | 44.0 | 22.0 | 15.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount of impairment to carrying amount of regulatory assets | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jointly owned utility plant, proportionate ownership share | 25.00% | 28.00% | 46.20% | 25.695% | 48.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capitalized expenditures | 412.7 | 480.2 | 218.1 | 247.9 | 194.6 | 232.3 | 53.0 | 52.0 | 116.0 | 90.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allowance for funds used during construction | 5.8 | 2.8 | 14.4 | 8.6 | 3.7 | 1.5 | 9.1 | 4.3 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 5.3 | 4.3 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 8.0 | 2.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electric capacity of wind project (in megawatts) | 500 | 100 | 400 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from sale of wind project assets to affiliate | 0 | 115.3 | 115.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Public utilities, property, plant and equipment, amount of indirect disallowance of costs of recently completed plants | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Project costs allocated by jurisdiction | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset impairment loss | 5 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purchase of development rights (in megawatts) | 100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Public utilities, property, plant and equipment, disclosure of composite depreciation rate for plants in service | 3.40% | 2.70% | 2.50% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-regulated Generation capitalized expenditures, less accumulated depreciation | 326.5 | 326.5 | 270.6 | 198.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest costs, capitalized during period | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset retirement obligations | 97.2 | 90.6 | 97.2 | 90.6 | 91.1 | 75.9 | 42.9 | 34.5 | 42.9 | 34.5 | 34.9 | 32.3 | 45.9 | 56.1 | 45.9 | 56.1 | 56.2 | 43.6 | 8.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alliant Energy Corporate Services, Inc. and non-regulated businesses capitalized expenditures | $ 106.3 | $ 46.1 | $ 48.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||