Name:	tcp_DistributionMadeToGeneralPartnerCashDistributionsPaid
Namespace Prefix:	tcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of incentive cash distribution paid to general partner of limited partnership (LP), pursuant to the partnership agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	tcp_DistributionMadeToGeneralPartnerIncentiveCashDistributionsPaid
Namespace Prefix:	tcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Represents the amount of equity impact of cash distribution declared to unit-holder of limited partnership (LP) for incentive distribution rights (IDRs).

No definition available.

Name:	tcp_DistributionMadeToLimitedPartnerForIncentiveDistributionRightsDeclared
Namespace Prefix:	tcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Represents the combined amount of cash distributions paid to the general partner interest and unit-holder of limited partnership (LP), excluding any distribution made to limited partner based on distributable cash flow of subsidiary.

No definition available.

Name:	tcp_DistributionsMadeToGeneralPartnerInterestAndLimitedPartnerCashDistributionsPaidExcludingDistributionMadeToLimitedPartnerBasedOnDistributableCashFlowOfSubsidiary
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Future option to acquire the percentage of voting equity interests in the business combination.

No definition available.

Name:	tcp_EquityMethodInvestmentFutureOptionToAcquirePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	tcp_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The contractual term of long term transportation capacity.

No definition available.

Name:	tcp_LongTermTransportationCapacityContractTerm
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Period Type:	duration

The maximum contractual value of long term transportation capacity.

No definition available.

Name:	tcp_LongTermTransportationCapacityMaximumContractualValue
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Amount of distribution related to general partner interest, pursuant to the partnership agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	tcp_TotalDistributionForGeneralPartnerInterest
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Represents the amount of incentive cash distribution paid to general partner of limited partnership (LP), and IDR payment paid.

No definition available.

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Percentage of voting equity interests acquired at the acquisition date in the business combination.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
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Amount of consideration transferred, consisting of acquisition-date fair value of assets transferred by the acquirer, liabilities incurred by the acquirer, and equity interest issued by the acquirer.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Amount of liabilities incurred by the acquirer as part of consideration transferred in a business combination.

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Percentage of voting equity interests acquired in a business combination achieved in stages, including equity interests in the acquiree held by the acquirer immediately before the acquisition date and acquired at the acquisition date.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationStepAcquisitionEquityInterestInAcquireeIncludingSubsequentAcquisitionPercentage
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Amount of equity impact of cash distribution declared to unit-holder of limited partnership (LP).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Amount of cash distribution paid to unit-holder of limited partnership (LP).

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Per unit of ownership amount of cash distributions declared to unit-holder of a limited partnership (LP).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
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- References

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DistributionsMadeToMembersOrLimitedPartnersAbstract
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Period Type:	duration

This item represents disclosure of the amount of dividends or other distributions received from unconsolidated subsidiaries, certain corporate joint ventures, and certain noncontrolled corporation; these investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. This element excludes distributions that constitute a return of investment, which are classified as investing activities.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Paragraph 1
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The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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Period Type:	instant

Percentage investment held by the managing member or general partner of the limited liability company (LLC) or limited partnership (LP).

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Period Type:	duration

The number of limited partner units outstanding.

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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
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Total distributions to each class of partners (i.e., general, limited and preferred partners).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	duration

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period. The cash portion only of the acquisition price.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

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Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=tcp_NorthernBorderPipelineCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=tcp_GreatLakesGasTransmissionLimitedPartnershipMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=tcp_PortlandNaturalGasTransmissionSystemMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Name:	us-gaap_DividendsAxis=us-gaap_DividendDeclaredMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Name:	us-gaap_DividendsAxis=us-gaap_DividendPaidMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=tcp_NorthernBorderPipelineCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=tcp_GreatLakesGasTransmissionLimitedPartnershipMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis=tcp_GeneralPartnerAndLimitedPartnerCombinedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis=us-gaap_GeneralPartnerMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis=tcp_TCPipeLinesGeneralPartnershipIncorporatedMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=tcp_TransCanadaCorporationAndSubsidiariesExcludingGeneralPartnerSubsidiariesMember
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Name:	us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
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Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=tcp_IroquoisGasTransmissionSystemLimitedPartnershipMember
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Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=tcp_PortlandNaturalGasTransmissionSystemMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Name:	us-gaap_LimitedPartnersCapitalAccountByClassAxis=tcp_LimitedPartnerCommonUnitMember
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