Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Equity (USD $) In Millions, except Share data	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid In Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Foreign Currency Adjustments [Member]	Net Gains (Losses) on Cash Flow Hedges [Member]	Other [Member]	Pension And OPEB Related Adjustments To AOCI [Member]	Common Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 22,653	$ 1	$ 21,023	$ 1,496	$ 97	$ (18)	$ (17)	$ (60)	$ 22,522	$ 131
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010	443,000,000
Net income	1,424			1,418					1,418	6
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	(198)				(142)	(49)	7	(6)	(190)	(8)
Total comprehensive income	1,226
Common stock issuances, including dividend reinvestment and employee benefits (in shares)	1,000,000
Common stock issuances, including dividend reinvestment and employee benefits	38		38						38
Common stock dividends	994			994					994
Changes in noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries	(24)									(24)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2011	22,899	1	21,061	1,920	(45)	(67)	(10)	(66)	22,794	105
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2011	444,000,000
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011				1,873
Net income				1,333
Balance at Jun. 30, 2012
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	22,865	1	21,132	1,873	(45)	(71)	(9)	(109)	22,772	93
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	445,000,000
Net income	1,345								1,333	11
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders	1,344
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	(110)				(81)	(19)	9	(15)	(106)	(4)
Total comprehensive income	1,235
Common stock issuances, including dividend reinvestment and employee benefits (in shares)	1,000,000
Common stock issuances, including dividend reinvestment and employee benefits	46		46						46
Common stock issued in connection with the Progress Energy Merger (in shares)		258,000,000
Common stock issued in connection with the Progress Energy Merger	18,071		18,071						18,071
Common stock dividends	1,211			1,211					1,211
Changes in noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries	(4)									(4)
Deconsolidation of DS Cornerstone, LLC	(82)									(82)
Contribution from noncontrolling interest in DS Cornerstone, LLC	76									76
Net Income attributable to Preferred Shareholders	1
Balance at Sep. 30, 2012	$ 40,995	$ 1	$ 39,249	$ 1,995	$ (126)	$ (90)	$ 0	$ (124)	$ 40,905	$ 90
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2012	704,000,000