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Investment in ATC | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011
Investment in ATC [Abstract] |
Investment in ATC [Text Block] | Investment in ATC Investment in ATC. Our wholly-owned subsidiary, Rainy River Energy, owns approximately 8 percent of ATC, a Wisconsin-based utility that owns and maintains electric transmission assets in parts of Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and Illinois. ATC rates are FERC approved and are based on a 12.2 percent return on common equity dedicated to utility plant. We account for our investment in ATC under the equity method of accounting. As of December 31, 2011, our equity investment in ATC was $98.9 million ($93.3 million at December 31, 2010). On January 30, 2012, we invested an additional $0.8 million in ATC. In total, we expect to invest approximately $3 million throughout 2012.
ALLETE’s Interest in ATC |  |
Year Ended December 31 | 2011 | 2010
Millions |  |
Equity Investment Beginning Balance |  | $93.3 |  |  | $88.4 |
Cash Investments | 2.0 |  | 1.6 |
Equity in ATC Earnings | 18.4 |  | 17.9 |
Distributed ATC Earnings | (14.8 | ) | (14.6 | )
Equity Investment Ending Balance |  | $98.9 |  |  | $93.3 |
Note 6. | Investment in ATC (Continued)
ATC Summarized Financial Data |  |
Balance Sheet Data |  |
As of December 31 | 2011 | 2010
Millions |  |
Current Assets |  | $58.7 |  |  | $59.9 |
Non-Current Assets | 3,053.7 |  | 2,888.4 |
Total Assets |  | $3,112.4 |  |  | $2,948.3 |
Current Liabilities |  | $298.5 |  |  | $428.4 |
Long-Term Debt | 1,400.0 |  | 1,175.0 |
Other Non-Current Liabilities | 82.6 |  | 84.9 |
Members’ Equity | 1,331.3 |  | 1,260.0 |
Total Liabilities and Members’ Equity |  | $3,112.4 |  |  | $2,948.3 |
Income Statement Data |  |  |
Year Ended December 31 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009
Millions |  |  |
Revenue |  | $567.2 |  |  | $556.7 |  |  | $521.5 |
Operating Expense | 261.6 |  | 251.1 |  | 230.3 |
Other Expense | 81.7 |  | 85.9 |  | 77.8 |
Net Income |  | $223.9 |  |  | $219.7 |  |  | $213.4 |
ALLETE’s Equity in Net Income |  | $18.4 |  |  | $17.9 |  |  | $17.5 |

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- Definition The entire disclosure for equity investment, or group of investments, for which combined disclosure is appropriate, including: (a) the name of each investee and percentage of ownership of common stock, (b) accounting policies for investments in common stock, (c) difference between the amount at which the investment is carried and the amount of underlying equity in net assets and the accounting treatment of the difference, (d) the total fair value of each identified investment for which a market value is available, (e) summarized information as to assets, liabilities, and results of operations of the investees (for investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries, common stock of joint ventures, or other investments using the equity method), and (f) material effects of possible conversions, exercises, or contingent issuances of the investee. Other disclosures include (a) the names of any investee in which the investor owns 20 percent or more of the voting stock and investment is not accounted for using the equity method, and the reasons why not, and (b) the names of any investee in which the investor owns less than 20 percent of the voting stock and the investment is accounted for using the equity method, and the reasons why it is. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 35 -Paragraph 32 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6903645&loc=d3e32787-111569 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 18 -Paragraph 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 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 35 -Paragraph 35 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6903645&loc=d3e32847-111569 + Details
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