XML 119 R102.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.8.0.1

Shareholder's capital - Performance Stock Units (Detail) - Performance share units - CAD CAD / shares in Units, CAD in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Number of awards
Beginning balance (in shares)	578,988	564,116
Granted (in shares)	811,974	219,315
Exercised (in shares)	(374,973)	(181,875)
Forfeited (in shares)	(60,961)	(22,568)
Ending balance (in shares)	955,028	578,988	564,116
Exercisable (in shares)	172,031
Weighted average grant-date fair value
Beginning balance (CAD per share)	CAD 9.82	CAD 7.59
Granted (CAD per share)	13.54	11.62
Exercised (CAD per share)	8.33	8.29
Forfeited (CAD per share)	12.61	9.64
Ending balance (CAD per share)	12.30	CAD 9.82	CAD 7.59
Exercisable (CAD per share)	CAD 9.75
Additional Disclosures
Outstanding, Weighted average remaining contractual term	1 year 10 months 2 days	1 year 8 months 26 days	1 year 7 months 17 days
Granted, Weighted average remaining contractual term	2 years	2 years
Outstanding, aggregate intrinsic value	CAD 13,428	CAD 6,595	CAD 6,155
Granted, aggregate intrinsic value	0	0
Exercised, aggregate intrinsic value	4,394	2,115
Forfeited, aggregate intrinsic value	0	CAD 0
Exercisable, aggregate intrinsic value	CAD 2,423

X

- Definition

Share based Compensation Arrangement by Share based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Granted in Period, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Terms

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aqunf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantedInPeriodWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerms
Namespace Prefix:	aqunf_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Exercisable, Intrinsic Value, Amount Per Share

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aqunf_SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherthanOptionsAggregateIntrinsicValueExercisable
Namespace Prefix:	aqunf_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Exercised, Intrinsic Value, Amount Per Share

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aqunf_SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherthanOptionsAggregateIntrinsicValueExercised
Namespace Prefix:	aqunf_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Forfeited

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aqunf_SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherthanOptionsAggregateIntrinsicValueForfeited
Namespace Prefix:	aqunf_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Granted

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aqunf_SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherthanOptionsAggregateIntrinsicValueGranted
Namespace Prefix:	aqunf_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Exercisable, Number

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aqunf_SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsExercisableNumber
Namespace Prefix:	aqunf_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Exercisable, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aqunf_SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsExercisableWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	aqunf_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Exercised, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aqunf_SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsExercisedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	aqunf_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Forfeitures and Expirations, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aqunf_SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsForfeituresandExpirationsWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	aqunf_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aqunf_SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	aqunf_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The weighted average fair value at grant date for nonvested equity-based awards issued during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(2)(iii)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96867065&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Weighted average remaining contractual term for equity-based awards excluding options, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (e)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96867065&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerms
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Number of non-option equity instruments exercised by participants.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)(iv)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96867065&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsExercised
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Number of shares under non-option equity instrument agreements that were either cancelled or expired.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)(iv)(3)-(4)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96867065&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsForfeituresAndExpirations
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Net number of non-option equity instruments granted to participants.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)(iv)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96867065&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsGranted
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Number of equity instruments other than options outstanding, including both vested and non-vested instruments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)(i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96867065&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)(ii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96867065&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsOutstandingNumber
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAdditionalDisclosuresAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePriceRollforward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Intrinsic value of equity-based compensation awards outstanding. Excludes stock and unit options.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsAggregateIntrinsicValueOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: