XML 75 R49.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.3.0.15

Short-Term and Long-Term Debt Short-Term and Long-Term Debt (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 9 Months Ended |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2011 Percent | Aug. 25, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Sep. 30, 2011 Term Loan [Member] Percent | Sep. 30, 2011 Credit Agreement [Member] | Jun. 30, 2011 Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Disclosure [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Short-Term Debt Outstanding | $ 18.4 |  | $ 14.4 |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-Term Debt Outstanding | 844.4 |  | 771.6 |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Face Amount |  | 75.0 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Description of Variable Rate Basis | LIBOR |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate | 1.00% |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage |  |  |  | 1.825% |  |
Debt Instrument, Carrying Amount at Period End |  |  |  | 75.0 |  |
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity |  |  |  |  | 250 | 150
Letter of Credit Maximum Issuances |  |  |  |  | $ 40 |
Debt Instrument, Required Indebtedness to Total Capital Ratio | 0.65 to 1.00 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Actual Indebtedness to Total Capital Ratio | 0.45 to 1.00 |  |  |  |  |

X
- Definition Actual indebtedness to total capital ratio required to be maintained by most restrictive financial covenant. + Details
Name: | ale_DebtInstrumentActualIndebtednessToTotalCapitalRatio
Namespace Prefix: | ale
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The balance sheet gross carrying amount of the specified debt instrument at period end. + Details
Name: | ale_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmountAtPeriodEnd
Namespace Prefix: | ale
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Indebtedness to total capital ratio required to be maintained by most restrictive financial covenant. + Details
Name: | ale_DebtInstrumentRequiredIndebtednessToTotalCapitalRatio
Namespace Prefix: | ale
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This represents the allowed amount of letters of credit issuances under another credit agreement. + Details
Name: | ale_LetterOfCreditMaximumIssuances
Namespace Prefix: | ale
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the sum of short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt and capital lease obligations, which are due within one year (or one business cycle if longer). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19,20) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtCurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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

X
- Definition The percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The reference rate for the variable rate of the debt instrument, such as LIBOR or the US Treasury rate and the maturity of the reference rate used, such as three months or six months LIBOR. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentDescriptionOfVariableRateBasis
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The stated principal amount of the debt instrument at time of issuance, which may vary from the carrying amount because of unamortized premium or discount. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 21 -Paragraph 16, 20 -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 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 55 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Effective interest rate for the funds borrowed under the debt agreement considering interest compounding and original issue discount or premium. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 129 -Paragraph 2, 4 -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 SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 22 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all long-term debt, which is debt initially having maturities due after one year from the balance sheet date or beyond the operating cycle, if longer, but excluding the portions thereof scheduled to be repaid within one year (current maturities) or the normal operating cycle, if longer, and after deducting unamortized discount or premiums, if any. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant