Document And Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Trading Symbol	lnt
Entity Registrant Name	ALLIANT ENERGY CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000352541
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Alliant Energy Corporation [Member]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	110,962,089
IPL [Member]
Entity Registrant Name	INTERSTATE POWER & LIGHT CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000052485
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	13,370,788
WPL [Member]
Entity Registrant Name	WISCONSIN POWER & LIGHT CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000107832
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	13,236,601