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Operations and Significant Accounting Policies - Supplemental Statement of Cash Flow Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash Paid During the Period for Interest - Net of Amounts Capitalized | $ 42.7 |  | $ 43.2 |  | $ 35.7 |
Cash Received During the Period for Income Taxes | 0 | [1] | (11.4) | [1] | (54.2) | [1]
Noncash Investing and Financing Activities [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Increase in Accounts Payable for Capital Additions to Property, Plant and Equipment | 20.2 |  | 5.9 |  | 7.5 |
Capitalized Asset Retirement Costs | 17.1 |  | 0.3 |  | 2.8 |
AFUDC - Equity | 5.1 |  | 2.5 |  | 4.2 |
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
ALLETE Common Stock Contributed to Pension Plan | 0 |  | (20.0) |  | 0 |
Pension [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
ALLETE Common Stock Contributed to Pension Plan |  |  | $ 20.0 |  |  |
[1] | Due to bonus depreciation provisions in 2009 and 2010 federal legislation, NOLs were generated which resulted in little or no estimated tax payments, and refunds were received from NOL carrybacks against prior years’ taxable income.

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- Definition The amount of cash paid during the current period to foreign, federal, state, and local authorities as taxes on income, net of any cash received during the current period as refunds for the overpayment of taxes. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4297-108586 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 29 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 27 -Subparagraph f -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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