Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013
Letters of Credit [Member]
Maximum Future Payments for Letters of Credit [Abstract]
Maximum Future Payments for Letters of Credit	$ 115,000,000
Pollution Control Bonds Supported by Bilateral Letters of Credit [Abstract]
Variable Rate PCBs Supported	402,000,000
Bilateral Letters of Credit	407,000,000
Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Credit Facilities, Total	3,500,000,000
Letters of Credit Limit	1,200,000,000
Maximum Future Payments for Letters of Credit	115,000,000
Variable Rate PCBs Supported	402,000,000
Bilateral Letters of Credit	407,000,000
Master Lease Agreements [Member]
Maximum Potential Loss on Master Lease Agreements [Abstract]
Max Potential Loss on Master Lease Agreements	19,000,000
Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Max Potential Loss on Master Lease Agreements	19,000,000
Guarantees of Third Party Obligations [Member]
Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Guarantees of Mine Reclamation, Amount	115,000,000
Estimated Final Cost Mine Reclamation	58,000,000
Total Amount Collected through a Rider for Final Mine Closure and Reclamation Costs	60,000,000
Amount Collected through a Rider for Final Mine Closure - Other Liabilities Noncurrent	11,000,000
Amount Collected through a Rider for Final Mine Closure - ARO Noncurrent	49,000,000
Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member] | Letters of Credit [Member]
Maximum Future Payments for Letters of Credit [Abstract]
Maximum Future Payments for Letters of Credit	150,000
Pollution Control Bonds Supported by Bilateral Letters of Credit [Abstract]
Variable Rate PCBs Supported	77,000,000
Bilateral Letters of Credit	77,886,000
Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Maximum Future Payments for Letters of Credit	150,000
Variable Rate PCBs Supported	77,000,000
Bilateral Letters of Credit	77,886,000
Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member] | Master Lease Agreements [Member]
Maximum Potential Loss on Master Lease Agreements [Abstract]
Max Potential Loss on Master Lease Agreements	2,469,000
Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Max Potential Loss on Master Lease Agreements	2,469,000
Future Minimum Lease Obligation for Remaining Railcars	14,000,000
Guaranteed Sales Proceeds Percentage of Fair Value to Lessor Current Term	84.00%
Guaranteed Sales Proceeds Percentage of Fair Value to Lessor End of Max Lease Term	77.00%
Maximum Potential Loss on Guarantee of Return-and-Sale Option	12,000,000
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member] | Letters of Credit [Member]
Maximum Future Payments for Letters of Credit [Abstract]
Maximum Future Payments for Letters of Credit	4,448,000
Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Maximum Future Payments for Letters of Credit	4,448,000
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member] | Master Lease Agreements [Member]
Maximum Potential Loss on Master Lease Agreements [Abstract]
Max Potential Loss on Master Lease Agreements	2,414,000
Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Max Potential Loss on Master Lease Agreements	2,414,000
Future Minimum Lease Obligation for Remaining Railcars	15,000,000
Guaranteed Sales Proceeds Percentage of Fair Value to Lessor Current Term	84.00%
Guaranteed Sales Proceeds Percentage of Fair Value to Lessor End of Max Lease Term	77.00%
Maximum Potential Loss on Guarantee of Return-and-Sale Option	13,000,000
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member] | Guarantees of Third Party Obligations [Member]
Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Guarantees of Mine Reclamation, Amount	115,000,000
Estimated Final Cost Mine Reclamation	58,000,000
Total Amount Collected through a Rider for Final Mine Closure and Reclamation Costs	60,000,000
Amount Collected through a Rider for Final Mine Closure - Other Liabilities Noncurrent	11,000,000
Amount Collected through a Rider for Final Mine Closure - ARO Noncurrent	49,000,000
Ohio Power Co [Member] | Letters of Credit [Member]
Maximum Future Payments for Letters of Credit [Abstract]
Maximum Future Payments for Letters of Credit	2,102,000
Pollution Control Bonds Supported by Bilateral Letters of Credit [Abstract]
Variable Rate PCBs Supported	50,000,000
Bilateral Letters of Credit	50,575,000
Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Maximum Future Payments for Letters of Credit	2,102,000
Variable Rate PCBs Supported	50,000,000
Bilateral Letters of Credit	50,575,000
Ohio Power Co [Member] | Master Lease Agreements [Member]
Maximum Potential Loss on Master Lease Agreements [Abstract]
Max Potential Loss on Master Lease Agreements	4,245,000
Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Max Potential Loss on Master Lease Agreements	4,245,000
Appalachian Power Co [Member] | Letters of Credit [Member]
Pollution Control Bonds Supported by Bilateral Letters of Credit [Abstract]
Variable Rate PCBs Supported	229,650,000
Bilateral Letters of Credit	232,293,000
Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Variable Rate PCBs Supported	229,650,000
Bilateral Letters of Credit	232,293,000
Appalachian Power Co [Member] | Master Lease Agreements [Member]
Maximum Potential Loss on Master Lease Agreements [Abstract]
Max Potential Loss on Master Lease Agreements	3,441,000
Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Max Potential Loss on Master Lease Agreements	3,441,000
Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member] | Master Lease Agreements [Member]
Maximum Potential Loss on Master Lease Agreements [Abstract]
Max Potential Loss on Master Lease Agreements	1,180,000
Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Max Potential Loss on Master Lease Agreements	1,180,000
Superfund and State Remediation [Member]
Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Expense Recorded Due to Remediation Work Remaining Provision	10,000,000
Superfund and State Remediation [Member] | Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member]
Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Expense Recorded Due to Remediation Work Remaining Provision	10,000,000
Alaskan Villages Claim [Member] | From [Member]
Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Amount Required for Relocation of the Village	95,000,000
Alaskan Villages Claim [Member] | To [Member]
Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Amount Required for Relocation of the Village	400,000,000
Nuclear Incident Liability [Member]
Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Insurance Coverage for Property Damage, Decommissioning and Decontamination	2,800,000,000
Purchases Coverage for Property Damage for a Nonnuclear Incident	1,700,000,000
Nuclear Incident Liability [Member] | Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member]
Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Insurance Coverage for Property Damage, Decommissioning and Decontamination	2,800,000,000
Purchases Coverage for Property Damage for a Nonnuclear Incident	$ 1,700,000,000