The amount of transfers in and out of levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy during the period.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- 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.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ale_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20

-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 210.5-02.20)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- 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.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- 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 Available-for-sale Securities which consist of all investments in certain debt and equity securities neither classified as trading or held-to-maturity securities. A debt security represents a creditor relationship with an enterprise. Debt securities include, among other items, US Treasury securities, US government securities, municipal securities, corporate bonds, convertible debt, commercial paper, and all securitized debt instruments. An equity security represents an ownership interest in an enterprise or the right to acquire or dispose of an ownership interest in an enterprise at fixed or determinable prices. Equity securities include, among other things, common stock, certain preferred stock, warrant rights, call options, and put options, but do not include convertible debt. An entity may opt to provide the reader with additional narrative text to better understand the nature of investments in debt and equity securities which are categorized as Available-for-sale.

+ References

Reference 1: 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 2: 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

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Available-for-Sale Securities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505594

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- 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 includes currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. It also includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits in that the Company may deposit additional funds at any time and also effectively may withdraw funds at any time without prior notice or penalty. Cash equivalents, excluding items classified as marketable securities, include short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash, and so near their maturity that they present minimal risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify under that definition. Original maturity means 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 Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Cash

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6506951

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

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 7, 8, 9, 10

-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 95

-Paragraph 7

-Footnote 1

-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 Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 8

-Footnote 2

-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.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

+ 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

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- 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

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- 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.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Recurring Fair Value Measures (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities	$ 24.7	$ 25.2	$ 29.5
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivatives - Interest Rate Swap	(0.4)
Fair Value Hierarchy Transfers, All Levels	0
Recurring [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Equity Securities	17.6	19.4
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities		0
Money Market Funds	11.4	0.8
Total Fair Value of Assets	29.0	20.2
Liabilities [Abstract]
Deferred Compensation	0	0
Derivatives - Interest Rate Swap	0
Total Fair Value of Liabilities	0	0
Total Net Fair Value of Assets (Liabilities)	29.0	20.2
Recurring [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Equity Securities	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities		7.5
Money Market Funds	0	0
Total Fair Value of Assets	8.2	7.5
Liabilities [Abstract]
Deferred Compensation	12.8	13.3
Derivatives - Interest Rate Swap	0.4
Total Fair Value of Liabilities	13.2	13.3
Total Net Fair Value of Assets (Liabilities)	(5.0)	(5.8)
Recurring [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Equity Securities	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities		6.7
Money Market Funds	0	0
Total Fair Value of Assets	0	6.7
Liabilities [Abstract]
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
Recurring [Member] \| Total [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Equity Securities	17.6	19.4
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities		14.2
Money Market Funds	11.4	0.8
Total Fair Value of Assets	37.2	34.4
Liabilities [Abstract]
Deferred Compensation	12.8	13.3
Derivatives - Interest Rate Swap	0.4
Total Fair Value of Liabilities	13.2	13.3
Total Net Fair Value of Assets (Liabilities)	24.0	21.1
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] \| Recurring [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities	0	0
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] \| Recurring [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities	8.2	7.5
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] \| Recurring [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities	0	0
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] \| Recurring [Member] \| Total [Member]
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities	8.2	7.5
Debt Securities Issued by the United States (ARS) [Member] \| Recurring [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities		0
Debt Securities Issued by the United States (ARS) [Member] \| Recurring [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities		0
Debt Securities Issued by the United States (ARS) [Member] \| Recurring [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities		6.7
Debt Securities Issued by the United States (ARS) [Member] \| Recurring [Member] \| Total [Member]
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities		$ 6.7