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Investment in ATC - FERC Complaint (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]  
Equity Method Investment, Proposed Return on Common Equity 9.15%ale_EquityMethodInvestmentProposedReturnonCommonEquity
Equity Method Investment, Approved Return on Common Equity 12.20%ale_EquityMethodInvestmentApprovedReturnOnCommonEquity
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage 8.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Sensitivity Analysis [Member]  
Sensitivity Analysis [Line Items]  
Basis Point Reduction on Approved Rate of Return on Common Equity 50ale_BasisPointReductiononApprovedRateofReturnonCommonEquity
/ ale_SensitivityAnalysisAxis
= ale_SensitivityAnalysisMember
Effect on Future Earnings, Amount $ 0.5us-gaap_EffectOnFutureEarningsAmount
/ ale_SensitivityAnalysisAxis
= ale_SensitivityAnalysisMember
ATC [Member]  
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]  
Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss 18us-gaap_LossContingencyEstimateOfPossibleLoss
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= ale_ATCMember
Rainy River Energy [Member]  
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]  
Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss $ 1us-gaap_LossContingencyEstimateOfPossibleLoss
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= ale_RainyRiverEnergyMember