Regulatory Matters - Retail Rate Matters (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011
PEC
Net carrying value of facilities intended to retire	$ 171,000,000	$ 171,000,000
PEC | Fuel Cost Recovery | Regulatory Costs Not Yet Approved | North Carolina Rate
Public utilities, disclosure of date of regulatory filing		June 3, 2011
Increase in rates total		104,000,000
Public utilities, disclosure of effective date		December 1, 2011
Increase in rates per 1,000 kWH		2.66
PEC | Fuel Cost Recovery | Regulatory Costs Approved | South Carolina Rate
Increase in rates total		22,000,000
Public utilities, disclosure of effective date		July 1, 2011
Increase in rates per 1,000 kWH		3.45
PEC | Demand Side Management and Energy Efficiency Cost Recovery | Regulatory Costs Not Yet Approved | North Carolina Rate
Public utilities, disclosure of date of regulatory filing		June 3, 2011
Increase in rates total		25,000,000
Public utilities, disclosure of effective date		December 1, 2011
Increase in rates per 1,000 kWH		1.16
PEC | Demand Side Management and Energy Efficiency Cost Recovery | Regulatory Costs Approved | South Carolina Rate
Increase in rates total		4,000,000
Public utilities, disclosure of effective date		July 1, 2011
Increase in rates per 1,000 kWH		1.25
PEC | NC REPS | Regulatory Costs Not Yet Approved | North Carolina Rate
Public utilities, disclosure of date of regulatory filing		June 3, 2011
Increase in rates total		2,000,000
Public utilities, disclosure of effective date		December 1, 2011
Increase in rates per 1,000 kWH		0.05
PEC | Regulatory Costs Not Yet Approved | North Carolina Rate
Percent increase in rates		3.80%
PEC | Regulatory Costs Approved | South Carolina Rate
Percent increase in rates		4.70%
PEF
Nuclear operating license, expiration period		December 2016
PEF | Base Rate Settlement Agreement | Regulatory Costs Approved
Public utilities, cost of removal reserve, reduction for period subject to regulatory order 2011		250,000,000
Public utilities, cost of removal reserve, prior year carryforward	90,000,000	90,000,000
Public utilities, cost of removal reserve, reduction taken subject to regulatory order	54,000,000	134,000,000
Public utilities, cost of removal reserve, amount subject to regulatory order	338,000,000	338,000,000
PEF | Nuclear Cost Recovery | CR3 Outage
Repair costs, range of possible costs, minimum	900,000,000	900,000,000
Repair costs, range of possible costs, maximum	1,300,000,000	1,300,000,000
Property, return to service date	2014	2014
Replacement power insurance coverage weeks, primary	52	52
Replacement power insurance coverage amount per week, primary	4,500,000	4,500,000
Replacement power insurance coverage weeks, additional	71	71
Replacement power insurance coverage expiration	August 2012	August 2012
Replacement power insurance coverage amount per week, additional	3,600,000	3,600,000
Replacement power insurance coverage amount, total	490,000,000	490,000,000
NEIL coverage per company at each nuclear plant	2,250,000,000	2,250,000,000
Insurance deductible per claim	10,000,000	10,000,000
Replacement power costs incurred		396,000,000
NEIL insurance recoveries related to replacement power costs		(162,000,000)
Estimated insurance recoveries, replacement power	(115,000,000)	(115,000,000)
Amount included in deferred fuel regulatory asset, replacement power costs	119,000,000	119,000,000
Amount of repair costs incurred	203,000,000	203,000,000
NEIL insurance recoveries related to repair costs		(103,000,000)
Estimated insurance recoveries, repair costs	(54,000,000)	(54,000,000)
Repair costs to be recovered	46,000,000	46,000,000
PEF | Nuclear Cost Recovery | Regulatory Costs Not Yet Approved
Public utilities, disclosure of date of regulatory filing		May 2, 2011
Decrease in rates total		6,000,000
Public utilities, disclosure of effective date		January 2012
Decrease in rates per 1,000 kWH		0.33
Amount for recovery of prior year deferral in future periods		115,000,000
PEF | Nuclear Cost Recovery Amended Filing | Regulatory Costs Not Yet Approved
Public utilities, disclosure of date of regulatory filing		July 1, 2011
Decrease in rates total		$ 17,000,000
Decrease in rates per 1,000 kWH		0.55