Assets Held for Sale (additional information) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended
Apr. 16, 2012	Dec. 31, 2010 Samalpatti Heavy Fuel Oil Fired Facility [Member] MW	Dec. 31, 2010 Madurai Heavy Fuel Oil Fired Facility [Member] MW	Dec. 31, 2010 Quezon Coal Fired Facility [Member] MW
Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gross Electric Capacity		106	106	126
Net proceeds from sale of assets	$ 268
Number of assets sold	4

The cash inflow from the sale of property, plant and equipment (capital expenditures), software, and other intangible assets.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 16

-Subparagraph c

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 15

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 12

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3179-108585

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfProductiveAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration