Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Parenthetical) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Cash Flow Hedges, Tax	$ (3,000,000)	$ 3,000,000
Securities Available for Sale, Tax	0	0
Amortization of Pension and OPEB Deferred Costs, Tax	0	0
Appalachian Power Co [Member]
Cash Flow Hedges, Tax	70,000	132,000
Amortization of Pension and OPEB Deferred Costs, Tax	(247,000)	(179,000)
Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member]
Cash Flow Hedges, Tax	144,000	229,000
Amortization of Pension and OPEB Deferred Costs, Tax	6,000	23,000
Ohio Power Co [Member]
Cash Flow Hedges, Tax	(185,000)	(241,000)
Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member]
Cash Flow Hedges, Tax	(102,000)	(132,000)
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]
Cash Flow Hedges, Tax	305,000	270,000
Amortization of Pension and OPEB Deferred Costs, Tax	$ (129,000)	$ (126,000)

Amount of tax expense (benefit), after reclassification adjustments, of appreciation (loss) in value of unsold available-for-sale securities. Excludes amounts related to other than temporary impairment (OTTI) loss.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 220

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 10A

-Subparagraph (e)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=SL7669646-108580

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 220

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 12

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=d3e640-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of tax expense (benefit), after reclassification adjustments, of increase (decrease) in accumulated gain (loss) from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges and an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gain (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 220

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 10A

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=SL7669646-108580

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 220

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 12

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=d3e640-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of tax (expense) benefit, after reclassification adjustments, of (increase) decrease in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss related to pension and other postretirement defined benefit plans.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 220

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 12

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=d3e640-108580

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 220

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 10A

-Subparagraph (i-k)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=SL7669646-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=aep_AppalachianPowerCoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=aep_IndianaMichiganPowerCoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=aep_OhioPowerCoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=aep_PublicServiceCoOfOklahomaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=aep_SouthwesternElectricPowerCoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: