XML 17 R48.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.3.0.814

Acquisitions - Wind Development Project (Details) $ in Millions |  | 9 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Nov. 20, 2014 USD ($) MW | Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Construction Costs | [1] |  | $ 0.0 | $ 48.2
Goodwill |  |  | 131.0 | 2.9
Billings in Excess of Costs and Estimated Earnings [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Contract Billings | [2] |  | 0.0 | 54.3
Construction Costs | [1] |  | 0.0 | 48.2
Billings in Excess of Costs and Estimated Earnings | [3] |  | 8.8 | 0.0
Wind Development Project [Member] |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Date of Acquisition |  | Nov. 20, 2014 |  |
Payments to Acquire Business |  | $ 27.0 |  |
Generating Capacity (MW) | MW |  | 107 |  |
Number of Wind Turbines |  | 43 |  |
Contractual Sales Price |  | $ 200.0 |  |
Assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Cash and Cash Equivalents |  | 3.6 |  |
Construction Costs |  | 23.4 | 137.5 | 48.2
Goodwill |  | 0.0 |  |
Liabilities [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Total Liabilities Assumed |  | 0.0 |  |
Billings in Excess of Costs and Estimated Earnings [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Contract Billings |  |  | 169.7 | 54.3
Construction Costs |  | $ 23.4 | 137.5 | $ 48.2
Estimated Earnings |  |  | 23.4 |
Billings in Excess of Costs and Estimated Earnings | [4] |  | 8.8 |
Revenue |  |  | 156.4 |
Cost of Sales |  |  | $ 133.0 |
[1] | Construction Costs for Development Project relate to ALLETE Clean Energy’s project to develop and construct a wind energy facility in 2015. Beginning in the second quarter of 2015, these costs have been net against contract billings. (See Billings in Excess of Costs and Estimated Earnings in Other Current Liabilities table and Note 4. Acquisitions.)
[2] | Construction Deposits Received for Development Project relate to ALLETE Clean Energy’s project to develop and construct a wind energy facility in 2015. Beginning in the second quarter of 2015, these deposits have been net against contract costs and estimated gross profit. (See Billings in Excess of Costs and Estimated Earnings below and Note 4. Acquisitions.)
[3] | Billings in Excess of Costs and Estimated Earnings represents the excess of contract billings over the construction costs incurred and estimated earnings recognized. In the second quarter of 2015, the NDPSC approved the sale agreement ALLETE Clean Energy has with Montana-Dakota Utilities to develop, construct, and sell a wind energy facility in 2015. (See Note 4. Acquisitions.)
[4] | Included in Current Liabilities - Other on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

X
- Definition Contractual Sales Price + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ale_ContractualSalesPrice
Namespace Prefix: | ale_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Capacity of a generating facility, unit, or project in megawatts. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ale_GeneratingCapacityMw
Namespace Prefix: | ale_
Data Type: | num:powerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of wind turbines at a wind energy facility or planned for a wind energy facility. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ale_NumberofWindTurbines
Namespace Prefix: | ale_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AssetsAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BillingsInExcessOfCostAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Liability attributable to (i) billings in excess of costs under the percentage of completion contract accounting method representing the difference between contractually invoiced amounts (billings) and revenue recognized based, for example, on costs incurred to estimated total costs at period end or (ii) contractually invoiced amounts (billings) in excess of costs incurred and accumulated under the completed contract accounting method that are expected to be realized within one year or one operating cycle, whichever is longer, from the reporting date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 605 -SubTopic 35 -Section 45 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51671739&loc=d3e57788-111642 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 605 -SubTopic 35 -Section 45 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51671739&loc=d3e57807-111642 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 605 -SubTopic 35 -Section 45 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51671739&loc=d3e57795-111642 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BillingsInExcessOfCostCurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Date when the acquirer obtains control of the acquiree, in CCYY-MM-DD format. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34752592&loc=d3e845-128460 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Acquisition Date -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6919109 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 7 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34752592&loc=d3e848-128460 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56956515&loc=d3e1392-128463 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionEffectiveDateOfAcquisition1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions, acquired at the acquisition date. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56956791&loc=d3e4845-128472 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCashAndEquivalents
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of liabilities assumed at the acquisition date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56956791&loc=d3e4845-128472 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedLiabilities
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of structure or a modification to a structure under construction. Includes recently completed structures or modifications to structures that have not been placed into service. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressGross
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Costs incurred and are directly related to generating contract revenues. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.2(e)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ContractRevenueCost
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Revenue earned during the period arising from products sold or services provided under the terms of a contract, not elsewhere specified in the taxonomy. May include government contracts, construction contracts, and any other contract related to a particular project or product. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ContractsRevenue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The current portion of prepayments received from customers for goods or services to be provided in the future. + 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 210.5-02.20) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CustomerAdvancesCurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Aggregate revenue less cost of goods and services sold or operating expenses directly attributable to the revenue generation activity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1,2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GrossProfit
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LiabilitiesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period. The cash portion only of the acquisition price. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Investing Activities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3213-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=ale_WindDevelopmentProjectMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |