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Short-Term and Long-Term Debt | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2018
Debt Disclosure [Abstract] |
Short-Term and Long-Term Debt [Text Block] | SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM DEBT Short-Term Debt. As of December 31, 2018, total short-term debt outstanding was $57.5 million ($64.1 million as of December 31, 2017), consisted of long-term debt due within one year and included $0.4 million of unamortized debt issuance costs. As of December 31, 2018, we had consolidated bank lines of credit aggregating $407.0 million ($407.0 million as of December 31, 2017), most of which expire in January 2024. We had $18.4 million outstanding in standby letters of credit and no outstanding draws under our lines of credit as of December 31, 2018 ($11.9 million in standby letters of credit and no outstanding draws as of December 31, 2017). On January 10, 2019, ALLETE entered into an amended and restated $400 million credit agreement (Credit Agreement). The Credit Agreement amended and restated ALLETE’s $400 million credit facility, which was scheduled to expire in October 2020. The Credit Agreement is unsecured, has a variable interest rate and will expire in January 2024. At ALLETE’s request and subject to certain conditions, the Credit Agreement may be increased by up to$150 million and ALLETE may make two requests to extend the maturity date, each for a one‑year extension. Advances may be used by ALLETE for general corporate purposes, to provide liquidity in support of ALLETE's commercial paper program and to issue up to $60 million in letters of credit. Long-Term Debt. As of December 31, 2018, total long-term debt outstanding was $1,428.5 million ($1,439.2 million as of December 31, 2017) and included $8.8 million of unamortized debt issuance costs. The aggregate amount of long-term debt maturing in 2019 is $57.9 million; $113.7 million in 2020; $98.5 million in 2021; $89.3 million in 2022; $88.5 million in 2023; and $1,047.3 million thereafter. Substantially all of our regulated electric plant is subject to the lien of the mortgages collateralizing outstanding first mortgage bonds. The mortgages contain non-financial covenants customary in utility mortgages, including restrictions on our ability to incur liens, dispose of assets, and merge with other entities. Minnesota Power is obligated to make financing payments for the Camp Ripley solar array totaling $1.4 million annually during the financing term, which expires in 2027. Minnesota Power has the option at the end of the financing term to renew for a two‑year term, or to purchase the solar array for approximately $4 million. Minnesota Power anticipates exercising the purchase option when the term expires. On April 16, 2018, ALLETE issued and sold $60.0 million of its First Mortgage Bonds (the Bonds) that bear interest at 4.07 percent. The Bonds will mature in April 2048 and pay interest semi-annually in April and October of each year, commencing on October 16, 2018. ALLETE has the option to prepay all or a portion of the Bonds at its discretion, subject to a make-whole provision. The Bonds are subject to additional terms and conditions which are customary for these types of transactions. ALLETE intends to use the proceeds from the sale of the Bonds to fund utility capital investment and for general corporate purposes. The Bonds were sold in reliance on an exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to institutional accredited investors. NOTE 10. SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM DEBT (Continued) Long-Term Debt (Continued) On October 3, 2018, and October 17, 2018, ALLETE repaid $20.0 million and $10.0 million, respectively, under an unsecured term loan due in 2020.
Long-Term Debt |  |
As of December 31 | 2018 |  | 2017 |
Millions |  |
First Mortgage Bonds |  |
1.83% Series Due 2018 | — |  |  | $50.0 |
8.17% Series Due 2019 |  | $42.0 |  | 42.0 |
5.28% Series Due 2020 | 35.0 |  | 35.0 |
2.80% Series Due 2020 | 40.0 |  | 40.0 |
4.85% Series Due 2021 | 15.0 |  | 15.0 |
3.02% Series Due 2021 | 60.0 |  | 60.0 |
3.40% Series Due 2022 | 75.0 |  | 75.0 |
6.02% Series Due 2023 | 75.0 |  | 75.0 |
3.69% Series Due 2024 | 60.0 |  | 60.0 |
4.90% Series Due 2025 | 30.0 |  | 30.0 |
5.10% Series Due 2025 | 30.0 |  | 30.0 |
3.20% Series Due 2026 | 75.0 |  | 75.0 |
5.99% Series Due 2027 | 60.0 |  | 60.0 |
3.30% Series Due 2028 | 40.0 |  | 40.0 |
3.74% Series Due 2029 | 50.0 |  | 50.0 |
3.86% Series Due 2030 | 60.0 |  | 60.0 |
5.69% Series Due 2036 | 50.0 |  | 50.0 |
6.00% Series Due 2040 | 35.0 |  | 35.0 |
5.82% Series Due 2040 | 45.0 |  | 45.0 |
4.08% Series Due 2042 | 85.0 |  | 85.0 |
4.21% Series Due 2043 | 60.0 |  | 60.0 |
4.95% Series Due 2044 | 40.0 |  | 40.0 |
5.05% Series Due 2044 | 40.0 |  | 40.0 |
4.39% Series Due 2044 | 50.0 |  | 50.0 |
4.07% Series Due 2048 | 60.0 |  | — |
Variable Demand Revenue Refunding Bonds Series 1997 A Due 2020 | 13.5 |  | 13.5 |
Unsecured Term Loan Variable Rate Due 2020 | 10.0 |  | 40.0 |
Armenia Mountain Senior Secured Notes 3.26% Due 2024 | 57.2 |  | 65.9 |
Industrial Development Variable Rate Demand Refunding Revenue Bonds Series 2006, Due 2025 | 27.8 |  | 27.8 |
Senior Unsecured Notes 3.11% Due 2027 | 80.0 |  | 80.0 |
SWL&P First Mortgage Bonds 4.15% Series Due 2028 | 15.0 |  | 15.0 |
SWL&P First Mortgage Bonds 4.14% Series Due 2048 | 12.0 |  | — |
Other Long-Term Debt, 3.11% – 5.75% Due 2019 – 2037 | 67.7 |  | 69.1 |
Unamortized Debt Issuance Costs | (9.2 | ) | (10.0 | )
Total Long-Term Debt | 1,486.0 |  | 1,503.3 |
Less: Due Within One Year | 57.5 |  | 64.1 |
Net Long-Term Debt |  | $1,428.5 |  |  | $1,439.2 |
NOTE 10. SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM DEBT (Continued) Financial Covenants. Our long-term debt arrangements contain customary covenants. In addition, our lines of credit and letters of credit supporting certain long-term debt arrangements contain financial covenants. Our compliance with financial covenants is not dependent on debt ratings. The most restrictive financial covenant requires ALLETE to maintain a ratio of indebtedness to total capitalization (as the amounts are calculated in accordance with the respective long-term debt arrangements) of less than or equal to 0.65 to 1.00, measured quarterly. As of December 31, 2018, our ratio was approximately 0.41 to 1.00. Failure to meet this covenant would give rise to an event of default if not cured after notice from the lender, in which event ALLETE may need to pursue alternative sources of funding. Some of ALLETE’s debt arrangements contain “cross-default” provisions that would result in an event of default if there is a failure under other financing arrangements to meet payment terms or to observe other covenants that would result in an acceleration of payments due. ALLETE has no significant restrictions on its ability to pay dividends from retained earnings or net income. As of December 31, 2018, ALLETE was in compliance with its financial covenants.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for information about short-term and long-term debt arrangements, which includes amounts of borrowings under each line of credit, note payable, commercial paper issue, bonds indenture, debenture issue, own-share lending arrangements and any other contractual agreement to repay funds, and about the underlying arrangements, rationale for a classification as long-term, including repayment terms, interest rates, collateral provided, restrictions on use of assets and activities, whether or not in compliance with debt covenants, and other matters important to users of the financial statements, such as the effects of refinancing and noncompliance with debt covenants. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2208564 + Details
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