Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Operations and Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Supplemental Statement of Cash Flow Information [Table Text Block]

Supplemental Statement of Cash Flow Information

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
Year Ended December 31	2013		2012		2011
Millions
Cash Paid During the Period for Interest – Net of Amounts Capitalized		$47.5		$42.7		$43.2
Cash Paid (Received) During the Period for Income Taxes (a)		$0.5	—		$(11.4)
Noncash Investing and Financing Activities
Increase in Accounts Payable for Capital Additions to Property, Plant and Equipment		$8.3		$20.2	$5.9
Increase (Decrease) in Capitalized Asset Retirement Costs	$(0.7)			$17.1		$0.3
AFUDC – Equity		$4.6		$5.1		$2.5
ALLETE Common Stock Contributed to the Pension Plan	—		—		$(20.0)

(a) Due to bonus depreciation provisions in 2010 and 2012 federal legislation, NOLs were generated which resulted in little or no estimated tax payments, and in 2011, refunds were received from NOL carrybacks against prior years’ taxable income.

Accounts Receivable [Table Text Block]

Accounts Receivable
As of December 31	2013		2012
Millions
Trade Accounts Receivable
Billed		$78.7		$70.4
Unbilled	18.7		17.4
Less: Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	1.1		1.0
Total Trade Accounts Receivable	96.3		86.8
Income Taxes Receivable	—		2.2
Total Accounts Receivable - Net		$96.3		$89.0

Inventories [Table Text Block]

Inventories
As of December 31	2013		2012
Millions
Fuel (a)		$13.1		$28.0
Materials and Supplies	46.2		41.8
Total Inventories		$59.3		$69.8

(a) Fuel inventory was lower in 2013 primarily due to higher than expected thermal generation and the timing of coal shipments.

Prepayments and Other Current Assets [Table Text Block]

Prepayments and Other Current Assets
As of December 31	2013		2012
Millions
Deferred Fuel Adjustment Clause		$23.0		$22.5
Other	12.1		11.1
Total Prepayments and Other Current Assets		$35.1		$33.6

Other Current and Non-Current Liabilities [Table Text Block]

Other Current Liabilities
As of December 31	2013		2012
Millions
Customer Deposits		$26.0		$28.8
Other	26.6		33.8
Total Other Current Liabilities		$52.6		$62.6

Other Non-Current Liabilities
As of December 31	2013		2012
Millions
Asset Retirement Obligation		$81.8		$77.9
Other	45.4		45.4
Total Other Non-Current Liabilities		$127.2		$123.3