XML 63 R47.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.19.1

Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies - Power Purchase Agreements (Details) - Square Butte PPA [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Mar. 31, 2019 | Mar. 31, 2018
Square Butte [Member] |  |
Power Purchase Agreements [Line Items] |  |
PPA Counterparty Total Debt Outstanding | $ 302.6 |
Square Butte [Member] | Minnesota Power [Member] |  |
Power Purchase Agreements [Line Items] |  |
Cost of Power Purchased | 20.5 | $ 17.3
Pro Rata Share of PPA Counterparty Interest Expense | $ 2.1 | $ 2.3
Square Butte [Member] | Minnesota Power [Member] | Square Butte Coal-fired Unit [Member] |  |
Power Purchase Agreements [Line Items] |  |
Expected Output Entitlement | 50.00% |
Minnkota Power [Member] | Minnesota Power [Member] | Square Butte Coal-fired Unit [Member] | Minnkota Power PSA [Member] |  |
Power Purchase Agreements [Line Items] |  |
Expected Output Entitlement | 28.00% | 28.00%

X
- Definition Under long-term contracts with public utility districts, cooperatives or other organizations, a utility company receives a portion of the output of a production plant constructed and financed by the district or cooperative. The utility has only a nominal or no investment at all in the plant but pays a proportionate part of the plant's costs, including debt service. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 980 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB Topic 10.D) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6499423&loc=d3e659339-123030 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongTermContractForPurchaseOfElectricPowerAmountOfLongTermDebtOrLeaseObligationOutstanding
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The allocable portion of interest included in charges under a long-term contract to purchase electric power. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 980 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB Topic 10.D) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6499423&loc=d3e659339-123030 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongTermContractForPurchaseOfElectricPowerInterestIncludedInContractCharges
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
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_LongTermContractForPurchaseOfElectricPowerLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Share of plant output being purchased under a long-term contract to purchase electricity from a production plant constructed and financed by a public utility district, cooperative, or other organization. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 980 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB Topic 10.D) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6499423&loc=d3e659339-123030 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongTermContractForPurchaseOfElectricPowerShareOfPlantOutputBeingPurchased
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of operating expense for purchased power procured under arrangements extending beyond one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, by regulated operation. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 980 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 10.D) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6499423&loc=d3e659339-123030 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.2(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115205541&loc=SL114868664-224227 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_UtilitiesOperatingExpensePurchasedPowerUnderLongTermContracts
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | srt_CounterpartyNameAxis=ale_SquareButteMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongTermContractForPurchaseOfElectricPowerAxis=ale_SquareButtePpaMember
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: | ale_GeneratingFacilityAxisAxis=ale_SquareButteCoalFiredUnitMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_CounterpartyNameAxis=ale_MinnkotaPowerMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ale_LongtermContractsforSaleofElectricPowerAxis=ale_MinnkotaSalesAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |