Operating Segments (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Cost and expenses in Corporate and Other segment		$ 2,616,000,000	$ 2,690,000,000		$ 5,710,000,000	$ 6,124,000,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, after-tax			2,000,000	[1]		(147,000,000)	[1]
Benefit from gain on sale Dominion's Appalachian E&P operations, before tax						2,500,000,000
Benefit from gain on sale Dominion's Appalachian E&P operations, after-tax	140,000,000					1,400,000,000
Charge primarily reflecting severance pay and other benefits related to a workforce reduction program, before tax						338,000,000
Charge primarily reflecting severance pay and other benefits related to a workforce reduction program, after-tax						206,000,000
Impairment charges					163,000,000
Impairment charges, after-tax					95,000,000
Corporate and Other [Member]
Cost and expenses in Corporate and Other segment					64,000,000	933,000,000
After-tax net (benefits) expenses attributable to operating segments					56,000,000	1,100,000,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, before tax						134,000,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, after-tax						147,000,000
Dominion Virginia Power [Member]
Charge primarily reflecting severance pay and other benefits related to a workforce reduction program, after-tax						67,000,000
Dominion Energy [Member]
Charge primarily reflecting severance pay and other benefits related to a workforce reduction program, after-tax						24,000,000
Dominion Generation [Member]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, before tax					37,000,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, after-tax					20,000,000
Charge primarily reflecting severance pay and other benefits related to a workforce reduction program, after-tax						115,000,000
Impairment charges					55,000,000	163,000,000
Impairment charges, after-tax					$ 39,000,000	$ 95,000,000

[1] Includes income tax expense of $1 million and $13 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively.