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Investments (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 6 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Investments [Abstract] |  |  |  |
ALLETE Properties | $ 91.1 |  | $ 91.1 |
Available-for-sale Securities | 20.4 | [1] | 26.8 | [1]
Cash Equivalents | 24.4 |  | 20.7 |
Other | 4.3 |  | 4.9 |
Total Other Investments | 140.2 |  | 143.5 |
Available-for-sale Corporate Debt Securities, Maturities, One Year or Less | 1.2 |  |  |
Available-for-sale Corporate Debt Securities, Maturities, More than One Year to Less than Three Years | 5.1 |  |  |
Available-for-sale Corporate Debt Securities, Maturities, Three Years to Less than Five Years | 1.3 |  |  |
Available-for-sale Corporate Debt Securities, Maturities, Five Years or More | 0.9 |  |  |
ALLETE Properties [Rollforward] |  |  |  |
Land Inventory Beginning Balance | 86.5 |  | 86.0 |
Deeds to Collateralized Property | 0 |  | 0.5 |
Cost of Sales | 0 |  | (0.2) |
Capitalized Improvements and Other | 0.1 |  | 0.2 |
Land Inventory Ending Balance | 86.6 |  | 86.5 |
Long-Term Finance Reveivables (net of allowances of $0.6 and $0.6) | 1.4 |  | 1.4 |
Other | 3.1 |  | 3.2 |
Total Real Estate Assets | 91.1 |  | 91.1 |
Impairment of Real Estate | 0 |  | 0 |
Long-Term Finance Receivables, Allowance | $ 0.6 |  | $ 0.6 |
[1] | As of June 30, 2013, the aggregate amount of available-for-sale corporate debt securities maturing in one year or less was $1.2 million, in one year to less than three years was $5.1 million, in three years to less than five years was $1.3 million, and in five or more years was $0.9 million.

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- Definition Investments in debt and equity securities which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading and which are intended to be sold or mature more than one year from the balance sheet date or operating cycle, if longer. Such securities are reported at fair value; unrealized gains (losses) related to Available-for-sale Securities are excluded from earnings and reported in a separate component of shareholders' equity (other comprehensive income), unless the Available-for-sale security is designated as a hedge or is determined to have had an other than temporary decline in fair value below its amortized cost basis. All or a portion of the unrealized holding gain (loss) of an Available-for-sale security that is designated as being hedged in a fair value hedge is recognized in earnings during the period of the hedge, as are other than temporary declines in fair value below the cost basis for investments in equity securities and debt securities that an entity intends to sell or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell before the recovery of its amortized cost basis. Other than temporary declines in fair value below the cost basis for debt securities categorized as Available-for-sale that an entity does not intend to sell and for which it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell before the recovery of its amortized cost basis are bifurcated into credit losses and losses related to all other factors. Other than temporary declines in fair value below cost basis related to credit losses are recognized in earnings, and losses related to all other factors are recognized in other comprehensive income. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6871852&loc=d3e26626-111562 Reference 2: 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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- Definition An amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the Entity (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date more than one year from the balance sheet date, net of any write-downs taken for collection uncertainty on the part of the holder. Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the debt. The debt also may contain provisions and related items including a discount or premium, payable on demand, secured, or unsecured, interest bearing or noninterest bearing, among a myriad of other features and characteristics. This amount does not include amounts related to receivables held-for-sale. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 17 -Article 5 + Details
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- Definition Other investments not otherwise specified in the taxonomy. + References Reference 1: 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 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 12 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph g -Article 7 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1(f,g)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 + Details
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- Definition Other long-term investments not otherwise specified in the taxonomy, not including investments in marketable securities. + References Reference 1: 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 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 12 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1(f)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph f -Article 7 + Details
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- Definition Carrying amount of other real estate not separately disclosed, including, but not limited to, real estate investments, real estate loans that qualify as investments in real estate, and premises that are no longer used in operations may also be included in real estate owned. This does not include real estate assets taken in settlement of troubled loans through surrender or foreclosure. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.10(4)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 + Details
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- Definition Amount of real estate investments acquired through foreclosure for entities with a substantial portion of business acquiring and holding investment real estate. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-04.(c) Schedule III) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27047687&loc=d3e5864-122674 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 28 -Article 12 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph c -Subparagraph Schedule III -Article 5 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 970 -SubTopic 360 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-28.4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6590653&loc=d3e638233-123024 + Details
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