Fair value measurements - Significant unobservable inputs (Detail) (Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Net Derivative Contract (Liabilities) [Member]
Fair value measurements Significant unobservable inputs [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	$ (7,847)	$ (9,908)
Gains (losses) included in earnings	1,715	23
Gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income	(5)	3
Gains (losses) included in regulatory assets and liabilities	2	3
Settlements, net	(45)
Acquisitions, dispositions and settlements		13
Ending Balance	(6,180)	(9,866)
Fixed Maturities [Member]
Fair value measurements Significant unobservable inputs [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	652	784
Gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income	(12)	5
Dispositions	(8)
Acquisitions, dispositions and settlements		(7)
Transfers into (out of) Level 3		(129)
Ending Balance	632	653
Equity Securities [Member]
Fair value measurements Significant unobservable inputs [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	35	22
Gains (losses) included in earnings	3
Gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income		16
Settlements, net	(31)
Ending Balance	7	38
Other Investments [Member]
Fair value measurements Significant unobservable inputs [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	15,750	11,669
Gains (losses) included in earnings	520
Gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income	722	1,770
Transfers into (out of) Level 3	(1,495)
Ending Balance	$ 15,497	$ 13,439

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This element represents amounts recorded to regulatory assets and liabilities arising from net derivative contract liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in the income statement for financial instrument classified as an asset measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25499696&loc=d3e19207-110258

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- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) for financial instrument classified as an asset measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(1a)

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- Definition

Amount of purchases, (sales), issuances and (settlements) of financial instrument classified as an asset measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph c

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25499696&loc=d3e19207-110258

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- Definition

Amount of sale of financial instrument classified as an asset measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(2)

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- Definition

Amount of settlement of financial instrument classified as an asset measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(2)

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- Definition

Amount of transfer of financial instrument classified as an asset into (out of) level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Fair value of financial instrument classified as an asset measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25499696&loc=d3e19207-110258

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- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in the income statement of financial instrument classified as a derivative asset (liability) after deduction of derivative liability (asset), measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

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- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) of financial instrument classified as a derivative asset (liability) after deduction of derivative liability (asset), measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (b)

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- Definition

Amount of purchases, (sales), issuances and (settlements) of financial instrument classified as a derivative asset (liability) after deduction of derivative liability (asset), measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of settlements of financial instrument classified as a derivative asset (liability) after deduction of derivative liability, measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

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- Definition

Fair value of financial instrument classified as derivative asset (liability) after deduction of derivative liability (asset), measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

+ References

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