Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (USD $)	Total	Appalachian Power Co [Member]	Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member]	Ohio Power Co [Member]	Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member]	Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Appalachian Power Co [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Ohio Power Co [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Appalachian Power Co [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Ohio Power Co [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member] Appalachian Power Co [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member] Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member] Ohio Power Co [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member] Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member] Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Appalachian Power Co [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Ohio Power Co [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member] Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 13,622,000,000	$ 2,821,679,000	$ 1,694,349,000	$ 4,654,639,000	$ 842,472,000	$ 1,667,349,000	$ 3,257,000,000	$ 260,458,000	$ 56,584,000	$ 321,201,000	$ 157,230,000	$ 135,660,000	$ 5,904,000,000	$ 1,475,496,000	$ 981,294,000	$ 1,744,991,000	$ 364,307,000	$ 674,979,000	$ 4,842,000,000	$ 1,133,748,000	$ 677,360,000	$ 2,768,602,000	$ 312,441,000	$ 868,840,000	$ (381,000,000)	$ (48,023,000)	$ (20,889,000)	$ (180,155,000)	$ 8,494,000	$ (12,491,000)	$ 0	$ 361,000
Beginning Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2010							501,000,000
Issuance of Common Stock, Value	31,000,000						6,000,000						25,000,000
Issuance of Common Stock, Shares							1,000,000
Common Stock Dividends		(37,500,000)	(18,750,000)	(162,500,000)	(16,250,000)															(37,500,000)	(18,750,000)	(162,500,000)	(16,250,000)
Common Stock Dividends	(223,000,000)					(1,077,000)													(222,000,000)												(1,000,000)	(1,077,000)
Preferred Stock Dividends	(1,000,000)	(200,000)	(85,000)	(183,000)	(49,000)	(57,000)													(1,000,000)	(200,000)	(85,000)	(183,000)	(49,000)	(57,000)
Capital Stock Expense		3,000		0										3,000		25,000						(25,000)
Other Changes in Equity	(13,000,000)												(13,000,000)
Subtotal - Equity	13,416,000,000	2,783,982,000	1,675,514,000	4,491,956,000	826,173,000	1,666,215,000
Net Income (Loss)	354,000,000					28,745,000													354,000,000
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	1,000,000					1,082,000																									1,000,000
Net Income (Loss)	355,000,000	38,980,000	45,427,000	165,970,000	15,389,000	29,827,000														38,980,000	45,427,000	165,970,000	15,389,000	28,745,000								1,082,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	8,000,000	1,288,000	768,000	2,934,000	(443,000)	504,000																			8,000,000	1,288,000	768,000	2,934,000	(443,000)	504,000
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2011	13,779,000,000	2,824,250,000	1,721,709,000	4,660,860,000	841,119,000	1,696,546,000	3,263,000,000	260,458,000	56,584,000	321,201,000	157,230,000	135,660,000	5,916,000,000	1,475,499,000	981,294,000	1,745,016,000	364,307,000	674,979,000	4,973,000,000	1,135,028,000	703,952,000	2,771,864,000	311,531,000	897,528,000	(373,000,000)	(46,735,000)	(20,121,000)	(177,221,000)	8,051,000	(11,987,000)	0	366,000
Ending Balance, Shares at Mar. 31, 2011							502,000,000
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	14,665,000,000	2,936,414,000	1,760,980,000	4,450,178,000	892,805,000	1,813,757,000	3,274,000,000	260,458,000	56,584,000	321,201,000	157,230,000	135,660,000	5,970,000,000	1,573,752,000	980,896,000	1,744,099,000	364,037,000	674,606,000	5,890,000,000	1,160,747,000	751,721,000	2,582,600,000	364,389,000	1,029,915,000	(470,000,000)	(58,543,000)	(28,221,000)	(197,722,000)	7,149,000	(26,815,000)	1,000,000	391,000
Beginning Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2011	503,759,460				10,482,000
Issuance of Common Stock, Value	31,000,000						6,000,000						25,000,000
Issuance of Common Stock, Shares							1,000,000
Common Stock Dividends		(50,000,000)	(12,500,000)	(75,000,000)	(15,000,000)															(50,000,000)	(12,500,000)	(75,000,000)	(15,000,000)
Common Stock Dividends	(229,000,000)					(1,092,000)													(228,000,000)												(1,000,000)	(1,092,000)
Other Changes in Equity	2,000,000												3,000,000						(1,000,000)
Subtotal - Equity	14,469,000,000	2,886,414,000	1,748,480,000	4,375,178,000	877,805,000	1,812,665,000
Net Income (Loss)	389,000,000					35,312,000													389,000,000
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	1,000,000					1,083,000																									1,000,000
Net Income (Loss)	390,000,000	75,311,000	39,221,000	150,830,000	12,648,000	36,395,000														75,311,000	39,221,000	150,830,000	12,648,000	35,312,000								1,083,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(2,000,000)	361,000	2,735,000	1,500,000	(53,000)	(1,610,000)																			(2,000,000)	361,000	2,735,000	1,500,000	(53,000)	(1,610,000)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2012	$ 14,857,000,000	$ 2,962,086,000	$ 1,790,436,000	$ 4,527,508,000	$ 890,400,000	$ 1,847,450,000	$ 3,280,000,000	$ 260,458,000	$ 56,584,000	$ 321,201,000	$ 157,230,000	$ 135,660,000	$ 5,998,000,000	$ 1,573,752,000	$ 980,896,000	$ 1,744,099,000	$ 364,037,000	$ 674,606,000	$ 6,050,000,000	$ 1,186,058,000	$ 778,442,000	$ 2,658,430,000	$ 362,037,000	$ 1,065,227,000	$ (472,000,000)	$ (58,182,000)	$ (25,486,000)	$ (196,222,000)	$ 7,096,000	$ (28,425,000)	$ 1,000,000	$ 382,000
Ending Balance, Shares at Mar. 31, 2012	504,566,633				10,482,000