Income Taxes (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010
Income Taxes (Textuals) [Abstract]
Bonus Depreciation Provision		50.00%
Decrease In Deferred Tax Assets			$ 56
Net Regulatory Tax Assets Recorded			35
Decrease In Net Income			$ 21
Increased Bonus Depreciation		100.00%
Indiana Current Tax Rate	8.50%
Michigan Corporate Net Income Tax Rate	6.00%
Reduced Tax Rate for West Virginia	7.75%

Bonus depreciation provision provided by Economic Stimulus Act of 2008.

Name:	aep_BonusDepreciationProvision
Namespace Prefix:	aep
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Current state tax rate in Indiana, which is scheduled for a 0.5 reduction each year beginning June 30, 2012.

Name:	aep_CurrentIndianaStateIncomeTaxRate
Namespace Prefix:	aep
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Decrease in deferred tax assets as a result of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Health Care Acts) enacted in March 2010.

Name:	aep_DecreaseInDeferredTaxAssets
Namespace Prefix:	aep
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Net change in Net Income resulting from Health Care Acts enactment.

Income Taxes.

Name:	aep_IncomeTaxesTextualsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	aep
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Temporary increase to bonus depreciation as provided by the Small Business Jobs Act.

Name:	aep_IncreasedBonusDepreciation
Namespace Prefix:	aep
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents net income tax rate which replaced the Business Tax regime in Michigan.

Name:	aep_MichiganCorporateNetIncomeTaxRate
Namespace Prefix:	aep
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Partial offset to decrease in deferred tax assets resulting from Health Care Acts.

Name:	aep_NetRegulatoryTaxAssetsRecorded
Namespace Prefix:	aep
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The reduced corporate tax rate for West Virginia in 2012 as a result of the state achieving certain minimum levels of shortfall reserve funds.

Name:	aep_WestVirginiaCorporateTaxRateReduced
Namespace Prefix:	aep
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration