Schedule I Condensed Financial Information Parent Company Statements of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Condensed Financial Statements [Line Items]
Total Cash Flows from Operating Activities	$ 773	$ 924	$ 1,297
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(1,043)	(944)	(746)
Asset dispositions	76	70	43
Capital contributions in subsidiaries	0	0	0
Capital redemptions from subsidiaries	0	0
Return of investment in The Reserve Primary Fund	0	26	47
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash	(25)	(11)	(3)
Other transactions	(5)	0	(4)
Total Cash Flows from Investing Activities	(902)	(859)	(663)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Short term debt and overdrafts incurred	179	85	85
Short term debt and overdrafts paid	(138)	(68)	(186)
Long term debt incurred	3,171	1,750	2,026
Long term debt paid	(2,650)	(1,555)	(2,544)
Proceeds from Issuance of Convertible Preferred Stock	484	0	0
Preferred stock dividends paid	(15)	0	0
Common stock issued	8	1	2
Capital contributions and loans	0	0	0
Transactions with minority interests in subsidiaries	(24)	(13)	(15)
Debt related costs and other transactions	(21)	(21)	(22)
Total Cash Flows from Financing Activities	994	179	(654)
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	767	83	28
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of the Year	2,005	1,922	1,894
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of the Year	2,772	2,005	1,922
Parent [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements [Line Items]
Total Cash Flows from Operating Activities	260	278	328
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(210)	(334)	(270)
Asset dispositions	69	1	154
Capital contributions in subsidiaries	(14)	0	0
Capital redemptions from subsidiaries	0	16	0
Return of investment in The Reserve Primary Fund	0	26	47
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash	(1)	0	2
Other transactions	(1)	0	(1)
Total Cash Flows from Investing Activities	(157)	(291)	(68)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Short term debt and overdrafts incurred	0	3	0
Short term debt and overdrafts paid	0	0	(18)
Long term debt incurred	400	994	1,359
Long term debt paid	(750)	(974)	(1,601)
Proceeds from Issuance of Convertible Preferred Stock	484	0	0
Preferred stock dividends paid	(15)	0	0
Common stock issued	8	1	2
Capital contributions and loans	(101)	0	0
Transactions with minority interests in subsidiaries	(3)	0	0
Debt related costs and other transactions	(2)	(21)	(22)
Total Cash Flows from Financing Activities	21	3	(280)
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	124	(10)	(20)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of the Year	792	802	822
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of the Year	$ 916	$ 792	$ 802