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Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies - Other Matters (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Years
Dec. 31, 2014
U.S. Water Services [Member] | Letters of Credit [Member]    
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]    
Collateral $ 3.2ale_GuarantorObligationsCollateralHeldDirectlyorbyThirdPartiesAmount
/ ale_GuaranteeEntityandTypeAxis
= ale_U.S.WaterServicesMember
/ us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_FinancialStandbyLetterOfCreditMember
 
BNI Coal Reclamation Liability [Member]    
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]    
Estimated Obligation 49.3us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
/ ale_GuaranteeEntityandTypeAxis
= ale_BniCoalReclamationLiabilityMember
 
BNI Coal Reclamation Liability [Member] | Letters of Credit [Member]    
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]    
Collateral 0.6ale_GuarantorObligationsCollateralHeldDirectlyorbyThirdPartiesAmount
/ ale_GuaranteeEntityandTypeAxis
= ale_BniCoalReclamationLiabilityMember
/ us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_FinancialStandbyLetterOfCreditMember
 
BNI Coal Reclamation Liability [Member] | Surety Bonds [Member]    
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]    
Collateral 49.5ale_GuarantorObligationsCollateralHeldDirectlyorbyThirdPartiesAmount
/ ale_GuaranteeEntityandTypeAxis
= ale_BniCoalReclamationLiabilityMember
/ us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_SuretyBondMember
 
ALLETE Properties Development and Maintenance Obligations [Member]    
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]    
Estimated Obligation 7.1us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
/ ale_GuaranteeEntityandTypeAxis
= ale_AlletePropertiesPerformanceAndMaintenanceObligationsMember
 
ALLETE Properties Development and Maintenance Obligations [Member] | Surety Bonds and Letters of Credit [Member]    
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]    
Collateral 10.2ale_GuarantorObligationsCollateralHeldDirectlyorbyThirdPartiesAmount
/ ale_GuaranteeEntityandTypeAxis
= ale_AlletePropertiesPerformanceAndMaintenanceObligationsMember
/ us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis
= ale_SuretyBondsandLettersofCreditMember
 
Town Center Community Development District Obligation [Member]    
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]    
Bond Original Principal 26.4ale_CommunityDevelopmentDistrictObligationOriginalPrincipal
/ ale_GuaranteeEntityandTypeAxis
= ale_TownCenterCommunityDevelopmentDistrictMember
 
Bond Interest Rate 6.00%ale_CommunityDevelopmentDistrictObligationBondInterestRate
/ ale_GuaranteeEntityandTypeAxis
= ale_TownCenterCommunityDevelopmentDistrictMember
 
Bond Term (in Years) 31ale_CommunityDevelopmentDistrictObligationBondTermInYears
/ ale_GuaranteeEntityandTypeAxis
= ale_TownCenterCommunityDevelopmentDistrictMember
 
Ownership Percentage of Benefited Property 72.00%ale_CommunityDevelopmentDistrictObligationOwnershipOfPropertyBenefited
/ ale_GuaranteeEntityandTypeAxis
= ale_TownCenterCommunityDevelopmentDistrictMember
72.00%ale_CommunityDevelopmentDistrictObligationOwnershipOfPropertyBenefited
/ ale_GuaranteeEntityandTypeAxis
= ale_TownCenterCommunityDevelopmentDistrictMember
Annual Assessment 1.4ale_CommunityDevelopmentDistrictObligationAnnualAssessment
/ ale_GuaranteeEntityandTypeAxis
= ale_TownCenterCommunityDevelopmentDistrictMember
 
Palm Coast Park Community Development District Obligation [Member]    
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]    
Bond Original Principal 31.8ale_CommunityDevelopmentDistrictObligationOriginalPrincipal
/ ale_GuaranteeEntityandTypeAxis
= ale_PalmCoastParkCommunityDevelopmentDistrictMember
 
Bond Interest Rate 5.70%ale_CommunityDevelopmentDistrictObligationBondInterestRate
/ ale_GuaranteeEntityandTypeAxis
= ale_PalmCoastParkCommunityDevelopmentDistrictMember
 
Bond Term (in Years) 31ale_CommunityDevelopmentDistrictObligationBondTermInYears
/ ale_GuaranteeEntityandTypeAxis
= ale_PalmCoastParkCommunityDevelopmentDistrictMember
 
Ownership Percentage of Benefited Property 93.00%ale_CommunityDevelopmentDistrictObligationOwnershipOfPropertyBenefited
/ ale_GuaranteeEntityandTypeAxis
= ale_PalmCoastParkCommunityDevelopmentDistrictMember
93.00%ale_CommunityDevelopmentDistrictObligationOwnershipOfPropertyBenefited
/ ale_GuaranteeEntityandTypeAxis
= ale_PalmCoastParkCommunityDevelopmentDistrictMember
Annual Assessment $ 2.1ale_CommunityDevelopmentDistrictObligationAnnualAssessment
/ ale_GuaranteeEntityandTypeAxis
= ale_PalmCoastParkCommunityDevelopmentDistrictMember