XML 68 R26.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.6

Regulatory Matters (Tables) | 9 Months Ended
--- | ---
Sep. 30, 2012
Regulatory Matters [Abstract] |
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Table Text Block] |
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities | September 30, 2012 |  |  | December 31, 2011 |
Millions |  |  |
Current Regulatory Assets (a) |  |  |
Deferred Fuel |  | $18.2 |  |  |  | $17.5 |
Total Current Regulatory Assets | 18.2 |  |  | 17.5 |
Non-Current Regulatory Assets |  |  |
Future Benefit Obligations Under |  |  |
Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans | 276.6 |  |  | 292.8 |
Income Taxes | 28.2 |  |  | 28.6 |
Asset Retirement Obligation | 11.5 |  |  | 9.8 |
Cost Recovery Riders (b) | 11.4 |  |  | 0.7 |
PPACA Income Tax Deferral | 5.0 |  |  | 5.0 |
Other (c) | 1.9 |  |  | 9.0 |
Total Non-Current Regulatory Assets | 334.6 |  |  | 345.9 |
Total Regulatory Assets |  | $352.8 |  |  |  | $363.4 |
Non-Current Regulatory Liabilities |  |  |
Income Taxes |  | $19.8 |  |  |  | $21.9 |
Plant Removal Obligations | 17.5 |  |  | 15.0 |
Wholesale and Retail Contra AFUDC | 11.1 |  |  | 1.5 |
Other | 6.4 |  |  | 5.1 |
Total Non-Current Regulatory Liabilities |  | $54.8 |  |  |  | $43.5 |
(a) | Current regulatory assets are included in prepayments and other on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
(b) | The increase in cost recovery rider regulatory assets is primarily due to higher capital expenditures related to our Bison projects.
(c) | The decrease in Other is primarily due to the Conservation Improvement Program incentive recorded in 2011 and collected in 2012.

X
- Details
Name: | ale_RegulatoryMattersAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | ale_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The entire disclosure for detailed information about regulatory assets and liabilities, including current and noncurrent assets created when regulatory agencies permit the deferral of costs to the balance sheet that would otherwise be required to appear on the company's income statement and would be charged against current expenses or revenues, as well as current and noncurrent liabilities created when regulatory agencies permit. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfRegulatoryAssetsAndLiabilitiesTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration