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SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 0 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Sep. 30, 2014
Jun. 30, 2014
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Sep. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2013
Mar. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
May 22, 2013
May 22, 2013
Jan. 22, 2015
Feb. 02, 2015
Jan. 08, 2015
Feb. 13, 2015
Jan. 12, 2015
Distributions                                    
Cash distribution (in dollars per unit) $ 0.84us-gaap_DistributionMadeToLimitedPartnerDistributionsDeclaredPerUnit $ 0.84us-gaap_DistributionMadeToLimitedPartnerDistributionsDeclaredPerUnit $ 0.84us-gaap_DistributionMadeToLimitedPartnerDistributionsDeclaredPerUnit $ 0.81us-gaap_DistributionMadeToLimitedPartnerDistributionsDeclaredPerUnit                            
Partnership distribution $ 54us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAccountDistributions $ 54us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAccountDistributions $ 52us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAccountDistributions $ 52us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAccountDistributions $ 52us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAccountDistributions $ 52us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAccountDistributions $ 43us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAccountDistributions $ 43us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAccountDistributions                    
Number of common units 63,600,000us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountUnitsOutstanding       62,300,000us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountUnitsOutstanding       63,600,000us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountUnitsOutstanding 62,300,000us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountUnitsOutstanding 53,500,000us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountUnitsOutstanding              
GTN                                    
Distributions                                    
Partnership interest held (as a percent)                 70.00%us-gaap_SubsidiaryOfLimitedLiabilityCompanyOrLimitedPartnershipOwnershipInterest
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= tclp_GasTransmissionNorthwestLLCMember		                  
Northern Border                                    
Distributions                                    
Ownership interest (as a percent) 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= tclp_NorthernBorderPipelineCompanyMember		               50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= tclp_NorthernBorderPipelineCompanyMember		                  
Great Lakes                                    
Distributions                                    
Ownership interest (as a percent) 46.45%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= tclp_GreatLakesGasTransmissionLimitedPartnershipMember		     46.45%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= tclp_GreatLakesGasTransmissionLimitedPartnershipMember		         46.45%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= tclp_GreatLakesGasTransmissionLimitedPartnershipMember		                  
General Partner                                    
Distributions                                    
Incentive distributions                 1us-gaap_IncentiveDistributionDistributionPerYear
/ us-gaap_IncentiveDistributionMadeToManagingMemberOrGeneralPartnerAxis
= us-gaap_GeneralPartnerMember		 0us-gaap_IncentiveDistributionDistributionPerYear
/ us-gaap_IncentiveDistributionMadeToManagingMemberOrGeneralPartnerAxis
= us-gaap_GeneralPartnerMember		 0us-gaap_IncentiveDistributionDistributionPerYear
/ us-gaap_IncentiveDistributionMadeToManagingMemberOrGeneralPartnerAxis
= us-gaap_GeneralPartnerMember		              
Common Units (Limited Partners)                                    
Distributions                                    
Partnership distribution                   188us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAccountDistributions
/ us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis
= us-gaap_LimitedPartnerMember		 169us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAccountDistributions
/ us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis
= us-gaap_LimitedPartnerMember		              
Number of common units 63,561,546us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountUnitsOutstanding
/ us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis
= us-gaap_LimitedPartnerMember		       62,327,766us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountUnitsOutstanding
/ us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis
= us-gaap_LimitedPartnerMember		       63,561,546us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountUnitsOutstanding
/ us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis
= us-gaap_LimitedPartnerMember		 62,327,766us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountUnitsOutstanding
/ us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis
= us-gaap_LimitedPartnerMember		 53,472,766us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountUnitsOutstanding
/ us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis
= us-gaap_LimitedPartnerMember		              
Common Units (Limited Partners) | TC PipeLines GP, Inc.                                    
Distributions                                    
Number of common units 5,797,106us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountUnitsOutstanding
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= tclp_TCPipeLinesGeneralPartnershipIncorporatedMember
/ us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis
= us-gaap_LimitedPartnerMember		               5,797,106us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountUnitsOutstanding
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= tclp_TCPipeLinesGeneralPartnershipIncorporatedMember
/ us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis
= us-gaap_LimitedPartnerMember		                  
Common Units (Limited Partners) | TransCanada                                    
Distributions                                    
Number of common units 11,287,725us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountUnitsOutstanding
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= tclp_TransCanadaCorporationAndSubsidiariesExcludingGeneralPartnerSubsidiariesMember
/ us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis
= us-gaap_LimitedPartnerMember		               11,287,725us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountUnitsOutstanding
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= tclp_TransCanadaCorporationAndSubsidiariesExcludingGeneralPartnerSubsidiariesMember
/ us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis
= us-gaap_LimitedPartnerMember		                  
General Partner | TC PipeLines GP, Inc.                                    
Distributions                                    
Ownership interest in the Partnership (as a percent)                 2.00%us-gaap_LimitedLiabilityCompanyLLCOrLimitedPartnershipLPManagingMemberOrGeneralPartnerOwnershipInterest
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= tclp_TCPipeLinesGeneralPartnershipIncorporatedMember
/ us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis
= us-gaap_GeneralPartnerMember		 2.00%us-gaap_LimitedLiabilityCompanyLLCOrLimitedPartnershipLPManagingMemberOrGeneralPartnerOwnershipInterest
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= tclp_TCPipeLinesGeneralPartnershipIncorporatedMember
/ us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis
= us-gaap_GeneralPartnerMember		 2.00%us-gaap_LimitedLiabilityCompanyLLCOrLimitedPartnershipLPManagingMemberOrGeneralPartnerOwnershipInterest
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= tclp_TCPipeLinesGeneralPartnershipIncorporatedMember
/ us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis
= us-gaap_GeneralPartnerMember		 2.00%us-gaap_LimitedLiabilityCompanyLLCOrLimitedPartnershipLPManagingMemberOrGeneralPartnerOwnershipInterest
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= tclp_TCPipeLinesGeneralPartnershipIncorporatedMember
/ us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis
= us-gaap_GeneralPartnerMember		 2.00%us-gaap_LimitedLiabilityCompanyLLCOrLimitedPartnershipLPManagingMemberOrGeneralPartnerOwnershipInterest
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= tclp_TCPipeLinesGeneralPartnershipIncorporatedMember
/ us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis
= us-gaap_GeneralPartnerMember		          
Subsequent event                                    
Distributions                                    
Cash distribution (in dollars per unit)                           $ 0.84us-gaap_DistributionMadeToLimitedPartnerDistributionsDeclaredPerUnit
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember		        
Subsequent event | GTN                                    
Distributions                                    
Distribution received by Partnership                             21us-gaap_CashDividendsPaidToParentCompanyByConsolidatedSubsidiaries
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= tclp_GasTransmissionNorthwestLLCMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember		      
Subsequent event | GTN                                    
Distributions                                    
Aggregate distribution declared and payable by investee                               31us-gaap_DistributionMadeToLimitedLiabilityCompanyLLCMemberCashDistributionsDeclared
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= tclp_GasTransmissionNorthwestLLCMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember		    
Subsequent event | General Partner                                    
Distributions                                    
Incentive distributions                                 0us-gaap_IncentiveDistributionDistributionPerYear
/ us-gaap_IncentiveDistributionMadeToManagingMemberOrGeneralPartnerAxis
= us-gaap_GeneralPartnerMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember		  
Subsequent event | General Partner | TC PipeLines GP, Inc.                                    
Distributions                                    
Partnership distribution                                 1us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAccountDistributions
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= tclp_TCPipeLinesGeneralPartnershipIncorporatedMember
/ us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis
= us-gaap_GeneralPartnerMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember		  
Subsequent event | Distribution declared | Northern Border                                    
Distributions                                    
Partnership distribution                                   43us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAccountDistributions
/ us-gaap_DividendsAxis
= us-gaap_DividendDeclaredMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= tclp_NorthernBorderPipelineCompanyMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Subsequent event | Distribution declared | Great Lakes                                    
Distributions                                    
Partnership distribution                               17us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAccountDistributions
/ us-gaap_DividendsAxis
= us-gaap_DividendDeclaredMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= tclp_GreatLakesGasTransmissionLimitedPartnershipMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember		    
Subsequent event | Cash Distribution Paid                                    
Distributions                                    
Partnership distribution                                 55us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAccountDistributions
/ us-gaap_DividendsAxis
= us-gaap_DividendPaidMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember		  
Subsequent event | Cash Distribution Paid | Northern Border                                    
Distributions                                    
Partnership's share of distributions                             21us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions
/ us-gaap_DividendsAxis
= us-gaap_DividendPaidMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= tclp_NorthernBorderPipelineCompanyMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember		      
Subsequent event | Cash Distribution Paid | Great Lakes                                    
Distributions                                    
Partnership's share of distributions                             8us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions
/ us-gaap_DividendsAxis
= us-gaap_DividendPaidMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= tclp_GreatLakesGasTransmissionLimitedPartnershipMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember		      
Subsequent event | Cash Distribution Paid | Common Units (Limited Partners)                                    
Distributions                                    
Partnership distribution                                 54us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAccountDistributions
/ us-gaap_DividendsAxis
= us-gaap_DividendPaidMember
/ us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis
= us-gaap_LimitedPartnerMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember		  
Subsequent event | Cash Distribution Paid | Common Units (Limited Partners) | TC PipeLines GP, Inc.                                    
Distributions                                    
Partnership distribution                                 5us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAccountDistributions
/ us-gaap_DividendsAxis
= us-gaap_DividendPaidMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= tclp_TCPipeLinesGeneralPartnershipIncorporatedMember
/ us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis
= us-gaap_LimitedPartnerMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember		  
Subsequent event | Cash Distribution Paid | Common Units (Limited Partners) | TransCanada                                    
Distributions                                    
Partnership distribution                                 $ 9us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAccountDistributions
/ us-gaap_DividendsAxis
= us-gaap_DividendPaidMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= tclp_TransCanadaCorporationAndSubsidiariesExcludingGeneralPartnerSubsidiariesMember
/ us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis
= us-gaap_LimitedPartnerMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember