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Regulatory Matters - Integrated Resource Plan (Details) - MPUC [Member] - Integrated Resource Plan [Member] - Natural Gas-Fired [Member] - Minnesota Power [Member] | Dec. 31, 2015 MW
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Minimum [Member] |
Regulatory Matters [Line Items] |
Generating Capacity (MW) | 200
Maximum [Member] |
Regulatory Matters [Line Items] |
Generating Capacity (MW) | 300

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 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
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RegulatoryAgencyAxis=ale_MPUCMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesRegulatoryProceedingAxis=ale_IntegratedResourcePlanMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ale_GenerationTypeAxis=us-gaap_NaturalGasProcessingPlantMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=ale_MinnesotaPowerMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |