Variable Interest Entities	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
Variable Interest Entities	Variable Interest Entities As discussed in Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Dominion’s and Virginia Power’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, certain variable pricing terms in some of the Companies’ long-term power and capacity contracts cause them to be considered variable interests in the counterparties. Virginia Power has long-term power and capacity contracts with four non-utility generators with an aggregate summer generation capacity of approximately 870 MW. These contracts contain certain variable pricing mechanisms in the form of partial fuel reimbursement that Virginia Power considers to be variable interests. After an evaluation of the information provided by these entities, Virginia Power was unable to determine whether they were VIEs. However, the information they provided, as well as Virginia Power's knowledge of generation facilities in Virginia, enabled Virginia Power to conclude that, if they were VIEs, it would not be the primary beneficiary. This conclusion reflects Virginia Power's determination that its variable interests do not convey the power to direct the most significant activities that impact the economic performance of the entities during the remaining terms of Virginia Power's contracts and for the years the entities are expected to operate after its contractual relationships expire. The contracts expire at various dates ranging from 2015 to 2021. Virginia Power is not subject to any risk of loss from these potential VIEs other than its remaining purchase commitments which totaled $1.1 billion as of September 30, 2012. Virginia Power paid $52 million and $52 million for electric capacity and $27 million and $38 million for electric energy to these entities in the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Virginia Power paid $160 million and $156 million for electric capacity and $62 million and $103 million for electric energy to these entities in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Virginia Power purchased shared services from DRS, an affiliated VIE, of approximately $86 million and $100 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $238 million and $292 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Virginia Power determined that it is not the most closely associated entity with DRS and therefore not the primary beneficiary. DRS provides accounting, legal, finance and certain administrative and technical services to all Dominion subsidiaries, including Virginia Power. Virginia Power has no obligation to absorb more than its allocated share of DRS costs. See Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Dominion’s and Virginia Power’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 for additional information about consolidated VIEs.

Variable Interest Entities

As discussed in Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Dominion’s and Virginia Power’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, certain variable pricing terms in some of the Companies’ long-term power and capacity contracts cause them to be considered variable interests in the counterparties.

Virginia Power has long-term power and capacity contracts with four non-utility generators with an aggregate summer generation capacity of approximately 870 MW. These contracts contain certain variable pricing mechanisms in the form of partial fuel reimbursement that Virginia Power considers to be variable interests. After an evaluation of the information provided by these entities, Virginia Power was unable to determine whether they were VIEs. However, the information they provided, as well as Virginia Power's knowledge of generation facilities in Virginia, enabled Virginia Power to conclude that, if they were VIEs, it would not be the primary beneficiary. This conclusion reflects Virginia Power's determination that its variable interests do not convey the power to direct the most significant activities that impact the economic performance of the entities during the remaining terms of Virginia Power's contracts and for the years the entities are expected to operate after its contractual relationships expire. The contracts expire at various dates ranging from 2015 to 2021. Virginia Power is not subject to any risk of loss from these potential VIEs other than its remaining purchase commitments which totaled $1.1 billion as of September 30, 2012. Virginia Power paid $52 million and $52 million for electric capacity and $27 million and $38 million for electric energy to these entities in the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Virginia Power paid $160 million and $156 million for electric capacity and $62 million and $103 million for electric energy to these entities in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Virginia Power purchased shared services from DRS, an affiliated VIE, of approximately $86 million and $100 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $238 million and $292 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Virginia Power determined that it is not the most closely associated entity with DRS and therefore not the primary beneficiary. DRS provides accounting, legal, finance and certain administrative and technical services to all Dominion subsidiaries, including Virginia Power. Virginia Power has no obligation to absorb more than its allocated share of DRS costs.

See Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Dominion’s and Virginia Power’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 for additional information about consolidated VIEs.