Price risk management assets and liabilties (Interest rate swaps outstanding) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Swap Maturity Term	10
ETP [Member] | Fixed Interest Rate Of 2.59 Percent [Member] [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments - Interest rate derivatives [Member]
Term	May 2012	[1]
Type	Forward starting to pay a fixed rate of 2.59% and receive a floating rate	[2]
Fixed rate	2.59%
Notional amount outstanding	$ 0		$ 350
ETP [Member] | Fixed Interest Rate Of 3.51 Percent [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments - Interest rate derivatives [Member]
Term	August 2012	[1]
Type	Forward starting to pay a fixed rate of 3.51% and receive a floating rate	[2]
Fixed rate	3.51%
Notional amount outstanding	0		500
ETP [Member] | Fixed Interest Rate Of 4.02 Percent [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments - Interest rate derivatives [Member]
Term	July 2013	[1]
Type	Forward starting to pay a fixed rate of 4.02% and receive a floating rate	[2]
Fixed rate	4.02%
Notional amount outstanding	400		300
ETP [Member] | Fixed Interest Rate of 4.25 Percent [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments - Interest rate derivatives [Member]
Term	July 2014	[1]
Type	Forward starting to pay a fixed rate of 4.25% and receive a floating rate	[2]
Fixed rate	4.25%
Notional amount outstanding	400		0
ETP [Member] | Floating Interest Rate Of 6.70 Percent [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments - Interest rate derivatives [Member]
Term	July 2018
Type	Pay a floating rate plus a spread of 4.17% and receive a fixed rate of 6.70%	[2]
Fixed rate	6.70%
Floating rate	4.01%
Notional amount outstanding	600		500
Southern Union [Member] | Fixed Rate of 2.91 Percent [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments - Interest rate derivatives [Member]
Term	November 2016
Type	Pay a fixed rate of 2.91% and receive a floating rate	[2]
Fixed rate	2.91%
Notional amount outstanding	75		0
Southern Union [Member] | Fixed Rate of 3.75 Percent [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments - Interest rate derivatives [Member]
Term	November 2021
Type	Pay a fixed rate of 3.75% and receive a floating rate	[2]
Fixed rate	3.75%
Notional amount outstanding	$ 450		$ 0

[1] Represents the effective date. These forward starting swaps have a term of 10 years with a mandatory termination date the same as the effective date.

[2] As of December 31, 2012, floating rates are based on 3-month LIBOR.