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Income Tax Expense (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Jun. 30, 2011
Jun. 30, 2012
Jun. 30, 2011
Dec. 31, 2011
Jun. 30, 2011
MPUC Approval of Deferral of PPACA [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
MPUC Approval of Deferral of PPACA [Member]
Mar. 31, 2011
DTL Reversal, Revenue Receivable Forgone [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
DTL Reversal, Revenue Receivable Forgone [Member]
Current Tax Expense [Abstract]                  
Federal $ 0 [1] $ 0 [1] $ 0 [1] $ 0 [1]          
State 0 [1] 0.1 [1] 0 [1] 0.2 [1]          
Total Current Tax Expense 0 0.1 0 0.2          
Deferred Tax Expense (Benefit) [Abstract]                  
Federal 5.0 [2] 4.0 [2] 13.7 [2] 10.8 [2]          
State (0.4) [2] 0 [2] (1.2) [2] 1.5 [2]          
Change in Valuation Allowance 0.4 [3] 0 [3] 1.0 [3] 0 [3]          
Investment Tax Credit Amortization (0.2) (0.3) (0.4) (0.5)          
Total Deferred Tax Expense 4.8 3.7 13.1 11.8          
Total Income Tax Expense 4.8 3.8 13.1 12.0   2.9      
Unusual or Infrequent Item [Line Items]                  
Tax Adjustments, Settlements, and Unusual Provisions           2.9   6.2  
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Abstract]                  
Effective Income Tax Rate     25.20% 18.20%          
Effective Income Tax Rate Adjustment             4.40%   9.40%
Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate     41.00%            
Uncertain Tax Positions [Abstract]                  
Gross Unrecognized Tax Benefits 2.9   2.9   11.4        
Decrease in Unrecognized Tax Benefits     8.5            
Unrecognized Tax Benefits that Would Impact Effective Tax Rate $ 0.5   $ 0.5            
[1] For the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012, the federal and state current tax expense of zero and zero, respectively, ($0.1 million and $0.2 million for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011) is due to a net operating loss (NOL) which resulted primarily from the bonus depreciation provision of the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010. The 2011 and 2012 federal and state NOLs will be carried forward to offset future taxable income.
[2] For the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012, the state deferred tax benefit of $0.4 million and $1.2 million, respectively, is due to state renewable tax credits earned which will be carried forward to offset future state tax. The quarter ended June 30, 2011, includes a $2.9 million income tax benefit related to the MPUC approval of our request to defer the retail portion of the tax charge taken in 2010 resulting from PPACA. The six months ended June 30, 2011, includes the second quarter item above and the reversal in the first quarter of a $6.2 million deferred tax liability related to a revenue receivable that Minnesota Power agreed to forgo as part of a stipulation and settlement agreement in its 2010 rate case.
[3] The increase in valuation allowance in 2012 is due to state renewable tax credits earned in 2012 which are not expected to be utilized within their allowable tax carryforward period.