XML 46 R31.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.1.9

Regulatory Matters (Tables) | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Mar. 31, 2015
Regulatory Matters [Abstract] |
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Table Text Block] |
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities | March 31, 2015 |  |  | December 31, 2014 |
Millions |  |  |
Current Regulatory Assets (a) |  |  |
Deferred Fuel |  | $15.6 |  |  |  | $16.3 |
Total Current Regulatory Assets | 15.6 |  |  | 16.3 |
Non-Current Regulatory Assets |  |  |
Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans (b) | 220.0 |  |  | 223.9 |
Cost Recovery Riders (c) | 63.4 |  |  | 59.7 |
Income Taxes | 46.8 |  |  | 46.6 |
Asset Retirement Obligations | 18.6 |  |  | 17.8 |
PPACA Income Tax Deferral | 5.0 |  |  | 5.0 |
Other | 4.2 |  |  | 4.3 |
Total Non-Current Regulatory Assets | 358.0 |  |  | 357.3 |
Total Regulatory Assets |  | $373.6 |  |  |  | $373.6 |
Non-Current Regulatory Liabilities |  |  |
Wholesale and Retail Contra AFUDC |  | $46.9 |  |  |  | $42.9 |
Plant Removal Obligations | 22.0 |  |  | 22.8 |
Income Taxes | 13.5 |  |  | 13.4 |
Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans (b) | 2.9 |  |  | 3.5 |
Other | 15.9 |  |  | 11.6 |
Total Non-Current Regulatory Liabilities |  | $101.2 |  |  |  | $94.2 |
(a) | Current regulatory assets are included in Prepayments and Other on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
(b) | Defined benefit pension and other postretirement items included in our Regulated Operations, which are otherwise required to be recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income, are recognized as regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. (See Note 15. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans.)
(c) | The cost recovery rider regulatory assets are due to capital expenditures related to our Bison Wind Energy Center, investment in CapX2020 projects, and the Boswell Unit 4 environmental upgrade and are recognized in accordance with the accounting standards for alternative revenue programs.

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