XML 46 R42.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.3.0.15

Fair Value - Recurring Fair Value Measures (Details) (USD $) In Millions | Sep. 30, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
--- | --- | ---
Liabilities: |  |
Derivatives - Interest Rate Swap | $ (0.5) |
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Total [Member] |  |
Assets: |  |
Equity Securities | 18.9 | 19.4
Available-for-sale Securities |  | 14.2
Money Market Funds | 6.0 | 0.8
Total Fair Value of Assets | 32.9 | 34.4
Liabilities: |  |
Deferred Compensation | 13.3 | 13.3
Derivatives - Interest Rate Swap | 0.5 |
Total Fair Value of Liabilities | 13.8 | 13.3
Total Net Fair Value of Assets (Liabilities) | 19.1 | 21.1
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Total [Member] | Corporate Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets: |  |
Available-for-sale Securities | 8.0 | 7.5
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Total [Member] | Debt Securities Issued by States of the United States (ARS) [Member] |  |
Assets: |  |
Available-for-sale Securities |  | 6.7
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Level 1 [Member] |  |
Assets: |  |
Equity Securities | 18.9 | 19.4
Available-for-sale Securities |  | 0
Money Market Funds | 6.0 | 0.8
Total Fair Value of Assets | 24.9 | 20.2
Liabilities: |  |
Deferred Compensation | 0 | 0
Derivatives - Interest Rate Swap | 0 |
Total Fair Value of Liabilities | 0 | 0
Total Net Fair Value of Assets (Liabilities) | 24.9 | 20.2
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Level 1 [Member] | Corporate Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets: |  |
Available-for-sale Securities | 0 | 0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Level 1 [Member] | Debt Securities Issued by States of the United States (ARS) [Member] |  |
Assets: |  |
Available-for-sale Securities |  | 0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Level 2 [Member] |  |
Assets: |  |
Equity Securities | 0 | 0
Available-for-sale Securities |  | 7.5
Money Market Funds | 0 | 0
Total Fair Value of Assets | 8.0 | 7.5
Liabilities: |  |
Deferred Compensation | 13.3 | 13.3
Derivatives - Interest Rate Swap | 0.5 |
Total Fair Value of Liabilities | 13.8 | 13.3
Total Net Fair Value of Assets (Liabilities) | (5.8) | (5.8)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Corporate Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets: |  |
Available-for-sale Securities | 8.0 | 7.5
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Debt Securities Issued by States of the United States (ARS) [Member] |  |
Assets: |  |
Available-for-sale Securities |  | 0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Level 3 [Member] |  |
Assets: |  |
Equity Securities | 0 | 0
Available-for-sale Securities |  | 6.7
Money Market Funds | 0 | 0
Total Fair Value of Assets | 0 | 6.7
Liabilities: |  |
Deferred Compensation | 0 | 0
Derivatives - Interest Rate Swap | 0 |
Total Fair Value of Liabilities | 0 | 0
Total Net Fair Value of Assets (Liabilities) | 0 | 6.7
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Corporate Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Assets: |  |
Available-for-sale Securities | 0 | 0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Debt Securities Issued by States of the United States (ARS) [Member] |  |
Assets: |  |
Available-for-sale Securities |  | $ 6.7

X
- Definition This element represents the aggregate of the assets and liabilities reported on the balance sheet at period end measured at fair value by the entity. This element is intended to be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. + Details
Name: | ale_NetAssetsAndLiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix: | ale
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition This element represents the aggregate of the assets reported on the balance sheet at period end measured at fair value by the entity. This element is intended to be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition For an unclassified balance sheet, this item represents investments in debt and equity securities which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6871852&loc=d3e26610-111562 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 115 -Paragraph 12 -Subparagraph b -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 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number FAS115-1/124-1 -Paragraph 15E -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 FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 133 -Paragraph 22 -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 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number FAS115-1/124-1 -Paragraph 15D -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 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 115 -Paragraph 13 -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 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number FAS115-1/124-1 -Paragraph 15C -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 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 115 -Paragraph 14 -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 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 115 -Paragraph 16 -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 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6379932&loc=d3e22054-111558 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Aggregate carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the liabilities for all deferred compensation arrangements. Represents currently earned compensation under compensation arrangements that is not actually paid until a later date. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredCompensationLiabilityCurrentAndNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting as of the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 18 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph b -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 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6903542&loc=d3e32014-111567 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Fair value as of the balance sheet date of all interest rate derivative liabilities designated as cash flow hedging instruments. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 133 -Paragraph 17 -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 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4B -Subparagraph (c)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6935481&loc=SL5624163-113959 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InterestRateCashFlowHedgeLiabilityAtFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition This element represents the aggregate of the liabilities reported on the balance sheet at period end measured at fair value by the entity. This element is intended to be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Investment in short-term money-market instruments (such as commercial paper, banker's acceptances, repurchase agreements, government securities, certificates of deposit, and so forth) which are highly liquid (that is, readily convertible to known amounts of cash) and so near their maturity that they present an insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify as cash equivalents by definition. Original maturity means an original maturity to the entity holding the investment. For example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three-years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 8, 9 -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 -Glossary Cash Equivalents -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507016 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant