Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Revenues
Utility Operations	$ 3,814,000,000	$ 4,044,000,000	$ 10,412,000,000	$ 10,901,000,000
Other Revenues	342,000,000	289,000,000	920,000,000	771,000,000
TOTAL REVENUES	4,156,000,000	4,333,000,000	11,332,000,000	11,672,000,000
Expenses
Fuel and Other Consumables Used for Electric Generation	1,180,000,000	1,371,000,000	3,137,000,000	3,407,000,000
Purchased Electricity for Resale	327,000,000	294,000,000	855,000,000	856,000,000
Other Operation	775,000,000	747,000,000	2,150,000,000	2,130,000,000
Maintenance	255,000,000	283,000,000	769,000,000	864,000,000
Asset Impairments and Other Related Charges	13,000,000	90,000,000	13,000,000	90,000,000
Depreciation and Amortization	470,000,000	445,000,000	1,353,000,000	1,258,000,000
Taxes Other Than Income Taxes	224,000,000	213,000,000	648,000,000	628,000,000
TOTAL EXPENSES	3,244,000,000	3,443,000,000	8,925,000,000	9,233,000,000
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	912,000,000	890,000,000	2,407,000,000	2,439,000,000
Other Income (Expense):
Interest and Investment Income	2,000,000	19,000,000	6,000,000	24,000,000
Carrying Costs Income	11,000,000	291,000,000	42,000,000	323,000,000
Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction	23,000,000	26,000,000	70,000,000	69,000,000
Interest Expense	(233,000,000)	(242,000,000)	(697,000,000)	(723,000,000)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE (CREDIT) AND EQUITY EARNINGS (LOSS)	715,000,000	984,000,000	1,828,000,000	2,132,000,000
Income Tax Expense (Credit)	241,000,000	334,000,000	620,000,000	786,000,000
Equity Earnings (Loss) of Unconsolidated Subsidiaries	14,000,000	7,000,000	33,000,000	19,000,000
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE EXTRAORDINARY ITEM	488,000,000	657,000,000	1,241,000,000	1,365,000,000
EXTRAORDINARY ITEM, NET OF TAX	0	273,000,000	0	273,000,000
NET INCOME (LOSS)	488,000,000	930,000,000	1,241,000,000	1,638,000,000
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	1,000,000	1,000,000	3,000,000	3,000,000
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS	487,000,000	929,000,000	1,238,000,000	1,635,000,000
Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements	0	1,000,000	0	2,000,000
EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	487,000,000	928,000,000	1,238,000,000	1,633,000,000
Earnings Per Share
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF BASIC AEP COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING	484,979,543	482,498,734	484,437,875	481,862,128
Income Before Extraordinary Item	$ 1.00	$ 1.35	$ 2.55	$ 2.82
Extraordinary Item, Net of Tax	$ 0	$ 0.57	$ 0	$ 0.57
TOTAL BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO AEP COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	$ 1.00	$ 1.92	$ 2.55	$ 3.39
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF DILUTED AEP COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING	485,362,858	482,796,945	484,826,123	482,126,964
Income Before Extraordinary Item	$ 1.00	$ 1.35	$ 2.55	$ 2.82
Extraordinary Item, Net of Tax	$ 0	$ 0.57	$ 0	$ 0.57
TOTAL DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO AEP COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	$ 1.00	$ 1.92	$ 2.55	$ 3.39
CASH DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER SHARE	$ 0.47	$ 0.46	$ 1.41	$ 1.38
Appalachian Power Co [Member]
Revenues
Utility Operations	776,066,000	757,366,000	2,161,901,000	2,175,163,000
Sales to AEP Affiliates	84,940,000	98,419,000	216,284,000	259,641,000
Other Revenues	3,192,000	2,551,000	7,950,000	6,797,000
TOTAL REVENUES	864,198,000	858,336,000	2,386,135,000	2,441,601,000
Expenses
Fuel and Other Consumables Used for Electric Generation	241,448,000	230,318,000	609,985,000	595,597,000
Purchased Electricity for Resale	45,196,000	57,370,000	155,421,000	195,715,000
Purchased Electricity from AEP Affiliates	181,134,000	222,164,000	463,015,000	630,014,000
Other Operation	92,700,000	80,376,000	239,704,000	268,269,000
Maintenance	47,047,000	50,172,000	131,212,000	139,628,000
Depreciation and Amortization	86,636,000	68,749,000	252,188,000	205,492,000
Taxes Other Than Income Taxes	27,315,000	26,471,000	79,272,000	79,542,000
TOTAL EXPENSES	721,476,000	735,620,000	1,930,797,000	2,114,257,000
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	142,722,000	122,716,000	455,338,000	327,344,000
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Income	332,000	2,477,000	1,034,000	3,559,000
Carrying Costs Income	3,950,000	7,579,000	17,202,000	17,560,000
Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction	443,000	2,451,000	960,000	4,546,000
Interest Expense	(50,071,000)	(51,196,000)	(153,323,000)	(157,323,000)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE (CREDIT) AND EQUITY EARNINGS (LOSS)	97,376,000	84,027,000	321,211,000	195,686,000
Income Tax Expense (Credit)	34,185,000	31,223,000	120,377,000	72,275,000
NET INCOME (LOSS)	63,191,000	52,804,000	200,834,000	123,411,000
Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements	0	199,000	0	599,000
EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	63,191,000	52,605,000	200,834,000	122,812,000
Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member]
Revenues
Utility Operations	499,078,000	494,860,000	1,371,070,000	1,371,349,000
Sales to AEP Affiliates	71,324,000	83,417,000	192,967,000	229,187,000
Other Revenues - Affiliated	27,034,000	29,230,000	86,797,000	81,694,000
Other Revenues	768,000	3,725,000	4,453,000	10,972,000
TOTAL REVENUES	598,204,000	611,232,000	1,655,287,000	1,693,202,000
Expenses
Fuel and Other Consumables Used for Electric Generation	137,960,000	135,927,000	347,045,000	359,311,000
Purchased Electricity for Resale	23,399,000	25,671,000	88,797,000	86,759,000
Purchased Electricity from AEP Affiliates	110,891,000	112,416,000	281,032,000	274,967,000
Other Operation	141,728,000	133,327,000	411,218,000	399,384,000
Maintenance	44,308,000	50,341,000	133,817,000	148,877,000
Depreciation and Amortization	37,734,000	33,214,000	109,273,000	100,564,000
Taxes Other Than Income Taxes	21,698,000	19,984,000	62,491,000	62,643,000
TOTAL EXPENSES	517,718,000	510,880,000	1,433,673,000	1,432,505,000
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	80,486,000	100,352,000	221,614,000	260,697,000
Other Income (Expense):
Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction			6,931,000	11,790,000
Other Income	2,049,000	3,944,000	9,159,000	11,306,000
Interest Expense	(26,307,000)	(24,056,000)	(76,733,000)	(73,440,000)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE (CREDIT) AND EQUITY EARNINGS (LOSS)	56,228,000	80,240,000	154,040,000	198,563,000
Income Tax Expense (Credit)	16,974,000	28,538,000	45,755,000	70,048,000
NET INCOME (LOSS)	39,254,000	51,702,000	108,285,000	128,515,000
Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements	0	85,000	0	255,000
EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	39,254,000	51,617,000	108,285,000	128,260,000
Ohio Power Co [Member]
Revenues
Utility Operations	1,114,339,000	1,241,423,000	3,084,657,000	3,413,128,000
Sales to AEP Affiliates	229,879,000	285,010,000	584,197,000	773,169,000
Other Revenues - Affiliated	10,207,000	9,066,000	27,297,000	20,591,000
Other Revenues	5,391,000	4,732,000	14,638,000	13,091,000
TOTAL REVENUES	1,359,816,000	1,540,231,000	3,710,789,000	4,219,979,000
Expenses
Fuel and Other Consumables Used for Electric Generation	426,989,000	479,938,000	1,095,276,000	1,228,067,000
Purchased Electricity for Resale	46,146,000	65,834,000	156,384,000	203,231,000
Purchased Electricity from AEP Affiliates	109,453,000	157,776,000	279,954,000	402,121,000
Other Operation	189,566,000	202,272,000	481,994,000	532,224,000
Maintenance	73,024,000	80,587,000	227,643,000	276,029,000
Asset Impairments and Other Related Charges	0	89,824,000	0	89,824,000
Depreciation and Amortization	130,026,000	149,626,000	401,465,000	412,736,000
Taxes Other Than Income Taxes	105,503,000	103,921,000	309,341,000	304,364,000
TOTAL EXPENSES	1,080,707,000	1,329,778,000	2,952,057,000	3,448,596,000
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	279,109,000	210,453,000	758,732,000	771,383,000
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Income	425,000	4,167,000	1,868,000	5,062,000
Carrying Costs Income	7,132,000	21,586,000	14,401,000	42,164,000
Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction	998,000	1,413,000	3,036,000	4,124,000
Interest Expense	(53,576,000)	(56,677,000)	(160,984,000)	(170,328,000)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE (CREDIT) AND EQUITY EARNINGS (LOSS)	234,088,000	180,942,000	617,053,000	652,405,000
Income Tax Expense (Credit)	82,578,000	52,603,000	213,290,000	215,902,000
NET INCOME (LOSS)	151,510,000	128,339,000	403,763,000	436,503,000
Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements	0	208,000	0	624,000
EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	151,510,000	128,131,000	403,763,000	435,879,000
Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member]
Revenues
Utility Operations	364,851,000	454,802,000	968,683,000	1,061,417,000
Sales to AEP Affiliates	6,865,000	2,115,000	19,377,000	10,696,000
Other Revenues	1,156,000	669,000	2,654,000	2,064,000
TOTAL REVENUES	372,872,000	457,586,000	990,714,000	1,074,177,000
Expenses
Fuel and Other Consumables Used for Electric Generation	65,195,000	168,230,000	281,746,000	360,774,000
Purchased Electricity for Resale	75,719,000	42,455,000	145,983,000	129,652,000
Purchased Electricity from AEP Affiliates	5,870,000	17,477,000	16,328,000	43,199,000
Other Operation	58,975,000	58,225,000	154,834,000	151,365,000
Maintenance	25,685,000	31,892,000	78,863,000	77,765,000
Depreciation and Amortization	24,433,000	24,802,000	71,356,000	72,761,000
Taxes Other Than Income Taxes	10,799,000	11,499,000	32,619,000	32,589,000
TOTAL EXPENSES	266,676,000	354,580,000	781,729,000	868,105,000
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	106,196,000	103,006,000	208,985,000	206,072,000
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Income	171,000	164,000	1,203,000	244,000
Carrying Costs Income	418,000	810,000	1,560,000	3,333,000
Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction	408,000	189,000	1,298,000	839,000
Interest Expense	(13,735,000)	(13,831,000)	(42,212,000)	(44,027,000)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE (CREDIT) AND EQUITY EARNINGS (LOSS)	93,458,000	90,338,000	170,834,000	166,461,000
Income Tax Expense (Credit)	35,355,000	32,989,000	64,872,000	62,163,000
NET INCOME (LOSS)	58,103,000	57,349,000	105,962,000	104,298,000
Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements	0	49,000	0	147,000
EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	58,103,000	57,300,000	105,962,000	104,151,000
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]
Revenues
Utility Operations	473,391,000	512,767,000	1,196,753,000	1,248,031,000
Sales to AEP Affiliates	11,098,000	21,618,000	26,945,000	47,868,000
Other Revenues	680,000	597,000	1,403,000	1,572,000
TOTAL REVENUES	485,169,000	534,982,000	1,225,101,000	1,297,471,000
Expenses
Fuel and Other Consumables Used for Electric Generation	180,991,000	213,004,000	447,233,000	486,729,000
Purchased Electricity for Resale	35,109,000	47,241,000	97,150,000	125,521,000
Purchased Electricity from AEP Affiliates	6,121,000	1,880,000	16,965,000	9,107,000
Other Operation	60,217,000	63,655,000	165,877,000	168,445,000
Maintenance	27,816,000	30,895,000	78,835,000	95,076,000
Asset Impairments and Other Related Charges	0	0	13,000,000	0
Depreciation and Amortization	35,144,000	33,919,000	103,820,000	99,927,000
Taxes Other Than Income Taxes	19,763,000	15,982,000	53,869,000	49,678,000
TOTAL EXPENSES	365,161,000	406,576,000	976,749,000	1,034,483,000
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	120,008,000	128,406,000	248,352,000	262,988,000
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Income	39,000	1,070,000	1,171,000	1,181,000
Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction	15,216,000	12,692,000	43,401,000	34,861,000
Interest Expense	(21,498,000)	(20,964,000)	(65,210,000)	(64,224,000)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE (CREDIT) AND EQUITY EARNINGS (LOSS)	113,765,000	121,204,000	227,714,000	234,806,000
Income Tax Expense (Credit)	25,229,000	34,217,000	49,206,000	68,184,000
Equity Earnings (Loss) of Unconsolidated Subsidiaries	682,000	808,000	2,007,000	2,071,000
NET INCOME (LOSS)	89,218,000	87,795,000	180,515,000	168,693,000
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	955,000	1,023,000	3,099,000	3,141,000
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS	88,263,000	86,772,000	177,416,000	165,552,000
Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements	0	58,000	0	172,000
EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	$ 88,263,000	$ 86,714,000	$ 177,416,000	$ 165,380,000