Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Operating Activities
Net Income (Loss)	$ 390,000,000	$ 355,000,000
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Operating Activities:
Depreciation and Amortization	423,000,000	403,000,000
Deferred Income Taxes	261,000,000	330,000,000
Gain on Settlement with BOA and Enron	0	(51,000,000)
Settlement of Litigation with BOA and Enron	0	(211,000,000)
Carrying Costs Income	(20,000,000)	(15,000,000)
Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction	(23,000,000)	(20,000,000)
Mark-to-Market of Risk Management Contracts	10,000,000	42,000,000
Amortization of Nuclear Fuel	34,000,000	34,000,000
Property Taxes	(49,000,000)	(52,000,000)
Fuel Over/Under-Recovery, Net	112,000,000	(27,000,000)
Change in Other Noncurrent Assets	(59,000,000)	(3,000,000)
Change in Other Noncurrent Liabilities	(47,000,000)	77,000,000
Changes in Certain Components of Working Capital:
Accounts Receivable, Net	207,000,000	181,000,000
Fuel, Materials and Supplies	(126,000,000)	121,000,000
Accounts Payable	(26,000,000)	(126,000,000)
Accrued Taxes, Net	(30,000,000)	(96,000,000)
Other Current Assets	(15,000,000)	2,000,000
Other Current Liabilities	(166,000,000)	(114,000,000)
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Operating Activities	876,000,000	830,000,000
Investing Activities
Construction Expenditures	(741,000,000)	(540,000,000)
Change in Other Temporary Investments, Net	79,000,000	73,000,000
Purchases of Investment Securities	(353,000,000)	(454,000,000)
Sales of Investment Securities	334,000,000	484,000,000
Acquisitions of Nuclear Fuel	(11,000,000)	(27,000,000)
Acquisitions of Assets/Businesses	(85,000,000)	(2,000,000)
Acquisition of Cushion Gas from BOA	0	(214,000,000)
Proceeds from Sales of Assets	8,000,000	69,000,000
Other Investing Activities	(23,000,000)	(2,000,000)
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Investing Activities	(792,000,000)	(613,000,000)
Financing Activities
Issuance of Common Stock, Net	31,000,000	31,000,000
Issuance of Long-term Debt	1,132,000,000	1,014,000,000
Credit Facility Borrowings	21,000,000	318,000,000
Change in Short-term Debt, Net	(583,000,000)	244,000,000
Retirement of Long-term Debt	(339,000,000)	(777,000,000)
Credit Facility Repayments	(38,000,000)	(475,000,000)
Principal Payments for Capital Lease Obligations	(18,000,000)	(17,000,000)
Dividends Paid on Common Stock	(229,000,000)	(223,000,000)
Dividends Paid on Cumulative Preferred Stock	0	(1,000,000)
Other Financing Activities	4,000,000	0
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Financing Activities	(19,000,000)	114,000,000
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	65,000,000	331,000,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	221,000,000	294,000,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	286,000,000	625,000,000
Supplementary Information
Cash Paid for Interest, Net of Capitalized Amounts	265,000,000	250,000,000
Net Cash Paid (Received) for Income Taxes	(65,000,000)	2,000,000
Noncash Acquisitions Under Capital Leases	20,000,000	24,000,000
Construction Expenditures Included in Current Liabilities at March 31,	250,000,000	220,000,000
Noncash Assumption of Liabilities Related to Acquisitions of Assets	56,000,000	0
Appalachian Power Co [Member]
Operating Activities
Net Income (Loss)	75,311,000	38,980,000
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Operating Activities:
Depreciation and Amortization	80,413,000	69,099,000
Deferred Income Taxes	27,343,000	60,802,000
Carrying Costs Income	(7,785,000)	(3,439,000)
Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction	(513,000)	(883,000)
Mark-to-Market of Risk Management Contracts	(2,426,000)	(1,553,000)
Fuel Over/Under-Recovery, Net	24,741,000	(9,857,000)
Change in Other Noncurrent Assets	(11,020,000)	10,237,000
Change in Other Noncurrent Liabilities	8,866,000	12,013,000
Changes in Certain Components of Working Capital:
Accounts Receivable, Net	100,202,000	109,662,000
Fuel, Materials and Supplies	(45,137,000)	61,846,000
Accounts Payable	(24,787,000)	(71,056,000)
Accrued Taxes, Net	22,142,000	(32,472,000)
Other Current Assets	(269,000)	6,505,000
Other Current Liabilities	(16,921,000)	957,000
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Operating Activities	230,160,000	250,841,000
Investing Activities
Construction Expenditures	(117,359,000)	(113,132,000)
Change in Advances to Affiliates, Net	(398,000)	(383,537,000)
Other Investing Activities	2,295,000	4,047,000
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Investing Activities	(115,462,000)	(492,622,000)
Financing Activities
Issuance of Long-term Debt	0	640,770,000
Change in Advances from Affiliates, Net	(14,208,000)	(128,331,000)
Retirement of Long-term Debt	(49,506,000)	(229,655,000)
Retirement of Cumulative Preferred Stock	0	(8,000)
Principal Payments for Capital Lease Obligations	(1,637,000)	(1,876,000)
Dividends Paid on Common Stock	(50,000,000)	(37,500,000)
Dividends Paid on Cumulative Preferred Stock	0	(200,000)
Other Financing Activities	139,000	14,000
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Financing Activities	(115,212,000)	243,214,000
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(514,000)	1,433,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	2,317,000	951,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	1,803,000	2,384,000
Supplementary Information
Cash Paid for Interest, Net of Capitalized Amounts	46,159,000	36,992,000
Net Cash Paid (Received) for Income Taxes	(2,984,000)	629,000
Noncash Acquisitions Under Capital Leases	1,037,000	368,000
Government Grants Included in Accounts Receivable at March 31,	0	572,000
Construction Expenditures Included in Current Liabilities at March 31,	30,998,000	38,071,000
Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member]
Operating Activities
Net Income (Loss)	39,221,000	45,427,000
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Operating Activities:
Depreciation and Amortization	33,979,000	34,087,000
Deferred Income Taxes	26,638,000	25,087,000
Amortization (Deferral) of Incremental Nuclear Refueling Outage Expense, Net	(4,878,000)	11,616,000
Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction	(3,011,000)	(3,199,000)
Mark-to-Market of Risk Management Contracts	(5,624,000)	(658,000)
Amortization of Nuclear Fuel	33,585,000	34,240,000
Fuel Over/Under-Recovery, Net	(3,493,000)	4,156,000
Change in Other Noncurrent Assets	(9,931,000)	(6,066,000)
Change in Other Noncurrent Liabilities	32,710,000	13,327,000
Changes in Certain Components of Working Capital:
Accounts Receivable, Net	49,885,000	97,575,000
Fuel, Materials and Supplies	(13,890,000)	8,343,000
Accounts Payable	(4,269,000)	(71,206,000)
Accrued Taxes, Net	30,624,000	14,479,000
Other Current Assets	(6,197,000)	(1,475,000)
Other Current Liabilities	(23,279,000)	3,865,000
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Operating Activities	172,070,000	209,598,000
Investing Activities
Construction Expenditures	(72,867,000)	(54,733,000)
Change in Advances to Affiliates, Net	(48,248,000)	(56,813,000)
Purchases of Investment Securities	(352,877,000)	(305,945,000)
Sales of Investment Securities	334,400,000	287,761,000
Acquisitions of Nuclear Fuel	(10,936,000)	(27,132,000)
Other Investing Activities	8,745,000	17,029,000
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Investing Activities	(141,783,000)	(139,833,000)
Financing Activities
Issuance of Long-term Debt	0	76,864,000
Change in Advances from Affiliates, Net	0	(42,769,000)
Retirement of Long-term Debt	(16,074,000)	(82,354,000)
Principal Payments for Capital Lease Obligations	(1,890,000)	(2,128,000)
Dividends Paid on Common Stock	(12,500,000)	(18,750,000)
Dividends Paid on Cumulative Preferred Stock	0	(85,000)
Other Financing Activities	(200,000)	8,000
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Financing Activities	(30,664,000)	(69,214,000)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(377,000)	551,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	1,020,000	361,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	643,000	912,000
Supplementary Information
Cash Paid for Interest, Net of Capitalized Amounts	29,398,000	28,542,000
Net Cash Paid (Received) for Income Taxes	(23,095,000)	(1,033,000)
Noncash Acquisitions Under Capital Leases	2,009,000	693,000
Construction Expenditures Included in Current Liabilities at March 31,	26,957,000	21,651,000
Acquisition of Nuclear Fuel Included in Current Liabilities at March 31,	0	377,000
Ohio Power Co [Member]
Operating Activities
Net Income (Loss)	150,830,000	165,970,000
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Operating Activities:
Depreciation and Amortization	134,430,000	133,412,000
Deferred Income Taxes	47,668,000	60,940,000
Carrying Costs Income	(2,758,000)	(10,731,000)
Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction	(1,123,000)	(1,203,000)
Mark-to-Market of Risk Management Contracts	(8,566,000)	(1,487,000)
Property Taxes	53,973,000	52,233,000
Fuel Over/Under-Recovery, Net	21,222,000	(21,197,000)
Change in Other Noncurrent Assets	(1,649,000)	(17,314,000)
Change in Other Noncurrent Liabilities	(20,486,000)	16,371,000
Changes in Certain Components of Working Capital:
Accounts Receivable, Net	98,001,000	79,087,000
Fuel, Materials and Supplies	(40,200,000)	57,075,000
Accounts Payable	(98,502,000)	(76,834,000)
Accrued Taxes, Net	(76,603,000)	(70,876,000)
Other Current Assets	(2,041,000)	3,098,000
Other Current Liabilities	(10,538,000)	(34,157,000)
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Operating Activities	243,658,000	334,387,000
Investing Activities
Construction Expenditures	(148,956,000)	(94,592,000)
Change in Advances to Affiliates, Net	129,618,000	8,312,000
Acquisitions of Assets/Businesses	(23,000)	(1,489,000)
Proceeds from Sales of Assets	2,827,000	23,895,000
Other Investing Activities	0	12,178,000
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Investing Activities	(16,534,000)	(51,696,000)
Financing Activities
Issuance of Long-term Debt	0	49,917,000
Retirement of Long-term Debt	(150,000,000)	(165,000,000)
Principal Payments for Capital Lease Obligations	(2,619,000)	(3,123,000)
Dividends Paid on Common Stock	(75,000,000)	(162,500,000)
Dividends Paid on Cumulative Preferred Stock	0	(183,000)
Other Financing Activities	109,000	(162,000)
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Financing Activities	(227,510,000)	(281,051,000)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(386,000)	1,640,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	2,095,000	949,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	1,709,000	2,589,000
Supplementary Information
Cash Paid for Interest, Net of Capitalized Amounts	52,150,000	53,332,000
Net Cash Paid (Received) for Income Taxes	(7,359,000)	1,273,000
Noncash Acquisitions Under Capital Leases	819,000	469,000
Government Grants Included in Accounts Receivable at March 31,	2,052,000	1,938,000
Construction Expenditures Included in Current Liabilities at March 31,	28,330,000	24,131,000
Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member]
Operating Activities
Net Income (Loss)	12,648,000	15,389,000
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Operating Activities:
Depreciation and Amortization	23,533,000	23,863,000
Deferred Income Taxes	9,307,000	15,364,000
Carrying Costs Income	(613,000)	(647,000)
Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction	(422,000)	(366,000)
Mark-to-Market of Risk Management Contracts	4,818,000	397,000
Property Taxes	(29,020,000)	(28,113,000)
Fuel Over/Under-Recovery, Net	62,075,000	5,863,000
Change in Other Noncurrent Assets	(3,567,000)	(770,000)
Change in Other Noncurrent Liabilities	(372,000)	20,617,000
Changes in Certain Components of Working Capital:
Accounts Receivable, Net	(15,757,000)	29,450,000
Fuel, Materials and Supplies	1,111,000	(665,000)
Accounts Payable	(10,655,000)	4,103,000
Accrued Taxes, Net	15,852,000	11,392,000
Other Current Assets	(564,000)	(2,025,000)
Other Current Liabilities	(3,542,000)	4,378,000
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Operating Activities	64,832,000	98,230,000
Investing Activities
Construction Expenditures	(62,696,000)	(32,876,000)
Change in Advances to Affiliates, Net	10,740,000	(3,093,000)
Other Investing Activities	290,000	367,000
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Investing Activities	(51,666,000)	(35,602,000)
Financing Activities
Issuance of Long-term Debt	1,944,000	246,376,000
Change in Advances from Affiliates, Net	0	(91,382,000)
Retirement of Long-term Debt	0	(200,000,000)
Principal Payments for Capital Lease Obligations	(841,000)	(1,039,000)
Dividends Paid on Common Stock	(15,000,000)	(16,250,000)
Dividends Paid on Cumulative Preferred Stock	0	(49,000)
Other Financing Activities	106,000	0
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Financing Activities	(13,791,000)	(62,344,000)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(625,000)	284,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	1,413,000	470,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	788,000	754,000
Supplementary Information
Cash Paid for Interest, Net of Capitalized Amounts	10,795,000	(5,337,000)
Net Cash Paid (Received) for Income Taxes	4,873,000	286,000
Noncash Acquisitions Under Capital Leases	437,000	384,000
Construction Expenditures Included in Current Liabilities at March 31,	9,861,000	5,048,000
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]
Operating Activities
Net Income (Loss)	36,395,000	29,827,000
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Operating Activities:
Depreciation and Amortization	34,021,000	33,290,000
Deferred Income Taxes	82,540,000	15,440,000
Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction	(13,774,000)	(10,597,000)
Mark-to-Market of Risk Management Contracts	4,896,000	(1,348,000)
Property Taxes	(29,686,000)	(30,534,000)
Fuel Over/Under-Recovery, Net	(12,865,000)	(7,074,000)
Change in Other Noncurrent Assets	(4,400,000)	13,210,000
Change in Other Noncurrent Liabilities	(10,862,000)	20,206,000
Changes in Certain Components of Working Capital:
Accounts Receivable, Net	5,732,000	2,162,000
Fuel, Materials and Supplies	(183,000)	4,488,000
Accounts Payable	(7,399,000)	(11,429,000)
Accrued Taxes, Net	(42,370,000)	29,884,000
Accrued Interest	(20,801,000)	(22,192,000)
Other Current Assets	(8,557,000)	(940,000)
Other Current Liabilities	(127,000)	(12,285,000)
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Operating Activities	12,560,000	52,108,000
Investing Activities
Construction Expenditures	(130,344,000)	(114,351,000)
Change in Advances to Affiliates, Net	(27,651,000)	76,855,000
Other Investing Activities	(1,096,000)	(1,515,000)
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Investing Activities	(159,091,000)	(39,011,000)
Financing Activities
Issuance of Long-term Debt	336,664,000	0
Credit Facility Borrowings	20,701,000	18,478,000
Change in Advances from Affiliates, Net	(132,473,000)	0
Retirement of Long-term Debt	(20,000,000)	0
Credit Facility Repayments	(37,717,000)	(24,695,000)
Principal Payments for Capital Lease Obligations	(3,726,000)	(3,186,000)
Dividends Paid on Common Stock	(1,092,000)	(1,077,000)
Dividends Paid on Cumulative Preferred Stock	0	(57,000)
Other Financing Activities	1,405,000	0
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Financing Activities	163,762,000	(10,537,000)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	17,231,000	2,560,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	801,000	1,514,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	18,032,000	4,074,000
Supplementary Information
Cash Paid for Interest, Net of Capitalized Amounts	39,581,000	41,646,000
Net Cash Paid (Received) for Income Taxes	1,168,000	698,000
Noncash Acquisitions Under Capital Leases	8,396,000	4,286,000
Construction Expenditures Included in Current Liabilities at March 31,	$ 95,570,000	$ 94,536,000