Significant Accounting Matters (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Income from Continuing Operations	$ 512,000	$ 483,000	$ 1,564,000	$ 1,430,000
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	1,000	1,000	4,000	3,000
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent	$ 511,000	$ 482,000	$ 1,560,000	$ 1,427,000
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding	490,648,929	488,912,892	490,155,315	488,361,017
Basic and Diluted EPS Calculations
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic Share	$ 1.04	$ 0.99	$ 3.18	$ 2.92
Weighted Average Dilutive Effect of:
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding	490,800,335	488,970,647	490,411,020	488,597,178
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Diluted Share	$ 1.04	$ 0.99	$ 3.18	$ 2.92
Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Antidilutive Shares Outstanding			0	0
Cash Paid (Received) for:
Cash Paid for Interest, Net of Capitalized Amounts			$ 639,000	$ 649,000
Net Cash Paid (Received) for Income Taxes			116,000	109,000
Noncash Investing and Financing Activities:
Noncash Acquisitions Under Capital Leases			97,000	80,000
Construction Expenditures Included in Current Liabilities as of September 30,			579,000	515,000
Construction Expenditures Included in Noncurrent Liabilities as of September 30,			66,000	0
Acquisition Of Nuclear Fuel Included In Current Liabilities			31,000	0
Appalachian Power Co [Member]
Cash Paid (Received) for:
Cash Paid for Interest, Net of Capitalized Amounts			128,435	136,919
Net Cash Paid (Received) for Income Taxes			33,712	22,148
Noncash Investing and Financing Activities:
Noncash Acquisitions Under Capital Leases			2,257	3,451
Construction Expenditures Included in Current Liabilities as of September 30,			80,990	54,463
Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member]
Cash Paid (Received) for:
Cash Paid for Interest, Net of Capitalized Amounts			77,450	75,789
Net Cash Paid (Received) for Income Taxes			17,203	(1,475)
Noncash Investing and Financing Activities:
Noncash Acquisitions Under Capital Leases			1,990	5,015
Construction Expenditures Included in Current Liabilities as of September 30,			51,582	69,241
Acquisition Of Nuclear Fuel Included In Current Liabilities			31,140	11
Ohio Power Co [Member]
Cash Paid (Received) for:
Cash Paid for Interest, Net of Capitalized Amounts			79,019	90,188
Net Cash Paid (Received) for Income Taxes			24,060	15,523
Noncash Investing and Financing Activities:
Noncash Acquisitions Under Capital Leases			2,115	4,505
Construction Expenditures Included in Current Liabilities as of September 30,			30,209	45,691
Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member]
Cash Paid (Received) for:
Cash Paid for Interest, Net of Capitalized Amounts			40,562	37,458
Net Cash Paid (Received) for Income Taxes			12,772	(416)
Noncash Investing and Financing Activities:
Noncash Acquisitions Under Capital Leases			1,546	2,098
Construction Expenditures Included in Current Liabilities as of September 30,			37,328	33,527
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	$ 1,013	$ 1,109	3,002	3,337
Cash Paid (Received) for:
Cash Paid for Interest, Net of Capitalized Amounts			106,078	113,137
Net Cash Paid (Received) for Income Taxes			12,320	(13,820)
Noncash Investing and Financing Activities:
Noncash Acquisitions Under Capital Leases			1,493	3,923
Construction Expenditures Included in Current Liabilities as of September 30,			$ 85,268	$ 88,291
Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Weighted Average Dilutive Effect of:
Weighted Average Dilutive Effect of Shares	200,000	100,000	200,000	200,000
Dilutive Securities, Effect on Basic Earnings Per Share	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0.0	$ 0.0