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Operations and Significant Accounting Policies | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2011
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] |
Operations and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] | OPERATIONS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Amounts removed from inventory are recorded on an average cost basis.
Inventories | September 30, 2011 |  | December 31, 2010
Millions |  |  |
Fuel | $28.5 |  | $22.9
Materials and Supplies | 40.6 |  | 37.1
Total Inventories | $69.1 |  | $60.0
Prepayments and Other Current Assets | September 30, 2011 |  | December 31, 2010
Millions |  |  |
Deferred Fuel Adjustment Clause | $17.1 |  | $20.6
Other | 5.7 |  | 8.0
Total Prepayments and Other Current Assets | $22.8 |  | $28.6
Other Current Liabilities | September 30, 2011 |  | December 31, 2010
Millions |  |  |
Customer Deposits | $7.1 |  | $2.9
Other | 19.1 |  | 30.8
Total Other Current Liabilities | $26.2 |  | $33.7
Other Non-Current Liabilities | September 30, 2011 |  | December 31, 2010
Millions |  |  |
Asset Retirement Obligation | $52.7 |  | $50.3
Other | 49.2 |  | 43.1
Total Other Non-Current Liabilities | $101.9 |  | $93.4
Supplemental Statement of Cash Flows Information.
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, | 2011 |  | 2010
Millions |  |  |
Cash Paid During the Period for Interest – Net of Amounts Capitalized | $32.4 |  | $26.1
Cash Received During the Period for Income Taxes | $(11.1) |  | $(29.4)
Noncash Investing and Financing Activities |  |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable for Capital Additions to Property, Plant and Equipment | $(14.8) |  | $0.7
AFUDC – Equity | $1.7 |  | $3.4
Accounts Receivable. Accounts receivable are reported on the consolidated balance sheet net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance is based on our evaluation of the receivable portfolio under current conditions, overall portfolio quality, review of specific problems and such other factors that, in our judgment, deserve recognition in estimating losses. In the third quarter of 2011, one of Minnesota Power’s Large Power Customers , NewPage Corporation, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Minnesota Power had a pre-bankruptcy petition receivable of $3.2 million as of September 30, 2011. Based on our assessment of the facts and circumstances existing as of September 30, 2011, we have determined that it is not probable that the pre-petition receivable has been impaired at this time. We will continue to assess for impairment as the bankruptcy proceeds and as facts and circumstances change. We continue to provide electric and steam service to this customer and subsequent to September 30, 2011, we received payment of scheduled post-petition receivable balances. We expect continued payment of all other post-petition receivables. Non-Controlling Interest in Subsidiaries. In the third quarter of 2011, ALLETE purchased the remaining shares of the ALLETE Properties non-controlling interest at book value for approximately $9 million by issuing 0.2 million shares of ALLETE common stock. (See Item II. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.) This was accounted for as an equity transaction, and no gain or loss is recognized in net income or comprehensive income. Subsequent Events. The Company performed an evaluation of subsequent events for potential recognition and disclosure through the time of the financial statements issuance. New Accounting Standards. Fair Value. In May 2011, the FASB issued an accounting standards update on fair value measurement. This update requires disclosure of a sensitivity analysis for fair value measurements within Level 3 and the valuation process used. This guidance will be effective beginning with the quarter ending March 31, 2012, and is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Statement of Comprehensive Income. In June 2011, the FASB issued an accounting standards update on the presentation of comprehensive income. This guidance will be effective beginning with the quarter ending March 31, 2012, and will modify our presentation of other comprehensive income, moving it from the footnotes to the face of the financial statements in a separate, consecutive statement of comprehensive income immediately following the statement of income. The components of net income and other comprehensive income are unchanged and earnings per share continues to be based on net income.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for the general note to the financial statements for the reporting entity which may include, descriptions of the basis of presentation, business description, significant accounting policies, consolidations, reclassifications, new pronouncements not yet adopted and changes in accounting principles. + Details
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