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Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011
Operations and Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Supplemental Statement of Cash Flow Information [Table Text Block] | Supplemental Statement of Cash Flow Information
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows |  |  |
Supplemental Disclosure |  |  |
Year Ended December 31 | 2011 |  | 2010 |  | 2009 |
Millions |  |  |
Cash Paid During the Period for Interest – Net of Amounts Capitalized |  | $43.2 |  |  | $35.7 |  |  | $29.8 |
Cash Received During the Period for Income Taxes (a) | $(11.4) | $(54.2) | $(5.6)
Noncash Investing and Financing Activities |  |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable for Capital Additions to Property, Plant and Equipment |  | $5.9 |  |  | $7.5 |  | $(24.1)
AFUDC – Equity |  | $2.5 |  |  | $4.2 |  |  | $5.8 |
ALLETE Common Stock Contributed to the Pension Plan | $(20.0) | — |  | $(12.0)
(a) | Due to bonus depreciation provisions in 2009 and 2010 federal legislation, NOLs were generated which resulted in little to no estimated tax payments, and refunds were received from NOL carrybacks against prior years' taxable income.
Accounts Receivable [Table Text Block] |
Accounts Receivable |  |  |
As of December 31 | 2011 |  |  | 2010 |
Millions |  |  |
Trade Accounts Receivable |  |  |
Billed |  | $63.7 |  |  |  | $67.6 |
Unbilled | 15.6 |  |  | 18.9 |
Less: Allowance for Doubtful Accounts | 0.9 |  |  | 0.9 |
Total Trade Accounts Receivable | 78.4 |  |  | 85.6 |
Income Taxes Receivable (a) | 1.3 |  |  | 13.9 |
Total Accounts Receivable - Net |  | $79.7 |  |  |  | $99.5 |
(a) | Income Taxes Receivable decreased from 2010 due to the collection of a 2010 NOL carryback claim. (See Note 14. Income Tax Expense.)
Inventories [Table Text Block] |
Inventories |  |  |
As of December 31 | 2011 |  |  | 2010 |
Millions |  |  |
Fuel |  | $28.6 |  |  |  | $22.9 |
Materials and Supplies | 40.5 |  |  | 37.1 |
Total Inventories |  | $69.1 |  |  |  | $60.0 |
Prepayments and Other Current Assets [Table Text Block] |
Prepayments and Other Current Assets |  |  |
As of December 31 | 2011 |  |  | 2010 |
Millions |  |  |
Deferred Fuel Adjustment Clause |  | $17.5 |  |  |  | $20.6 |
Other | 9.6 |  |  | 8.0 |
Total Prepayments and Other Current Assets |  | $27.1 |  |  |  | $28.6 |
Other Liabilities [Table Text Block] |
Other Current Liabilities |  |  |
As of December 31 | 2011 |  |  | 2010 |
Millions |  |  |
Customer Deposits (a) |  | $16.3 |  |  |  | $2.9 |
Other | 29.3 |  |  | 30.8 |
Total Other Current Liabilities |  | $45.6 |  |  |  | $33.7 |
(a) | Higher customer deposits in 2011 were primarily due to a customer security deposit for capital expenditures relating to a transmission project.
Other Non-Current Liabilities |  |  |
As of December 31 | 2011 |  |  | 2010 |
Millions |  |  |
Asset Retirement Obligation |  | $57.0 |  |  |  | $50.3 |
Other | 48.1 |  |  | 43.1 |
Total Other Non-Current Liabilities |  | $105.1 |  |  |  | $93.4 |

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