Benefit Plans (Fair Values Of Nonvested Performance Shares And Units) (Details) (USD $)																	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 Performance Shares [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Performance Shares [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Performance Shares [Member]		Dec. 31, 2010 Performance Shares [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 Performance Units [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Performance Units [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Performance Units [Member]		Dec. 31, 2010 Performance Units [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 2013 Grant [Member] Performance Shares [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 2013 Grant [Member] Performance Units [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 2012 Grant [Member] Performance Shares [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 2012 Grant [Member] Performance Units [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 2011 Grant [Member] Performance Shares [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 2011 Grant [Member] Performance Units [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Nonvested awards (in shares)	139,940	[1]	145,277	[1]	236,979	[1]	234,518	[1]	65,912	[2]	64,969	[2]	42,996	[2]	23,128	[2]	49,093	21,935	45,612	23,226	45,235	20,751
Alliant Energy common stock closing price on December 31, 2013 (in dollars per share)																	$ 51.60		$ 51.60		$ 51.60
Alliant Energy common stock average price on grant date (in dollars per share)																		$ 47.58		$ 43.05		$ 38.75
Estimated payout percentage based on performance criteria																	110.00%	110.00%	109.00%	109.00%	148.00%	148.00%
Fair values of each nonvested award (in dollars per share)																	$ 56.76	$ 52.34	$ 56.24	$ 46.92	$ 76.11	$ 57.16

[1] Share amounts represent the target number of performance shares. Each performance share’s value is based on the price of one share of Alliant Energy’s common stock at the end of the performance period. The actual number of shares that will be paid out upon vesting is dependent upon actual performance and may range from zero to 200% of the target number of shares.

[2] Unit amounts represent the target number of performance units. Each performance unit’s value is based on the average price of one share of Alliant Energy’s common stock on the grant date of the award. The actual payout for performance units is dependent upon actual performance and may range from zero to 200% of the target number of units.