Organization, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Details 7) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net liability for unfunded retirement benefits	$ 446,000	$ 472,000
Unrealized gain on investments	19,000	7,000
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative hedges	(39,000)	(54,000)
AOCL Balance	426,000	425,000
FES
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net liability for unfunded retirement benefits	52,000	55,000
Unrealized gain on investments	16,000	6,000
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative hedges	8,000	1,000
AOCL Balance	76,000	62,000
OE
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net liability for unfunded retirement benefits	54,000	82,000
Unrealized gain on investments	0	0
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative hedges	0	0
AOCL Balance	54,000	82,000
CEI
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net liability for unfunded retirement benefits	27,000	34,000
Unrealized gain on investments	0	0
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative hedges	0	0
AOCL Balance	27,264	34,111
TE
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net liability for unfunded retirement benefits	12,000	15,000
Unrealized gain on investments	3,000	0
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative hedges	0	0
AOCL Balance	15,078	15,086
JCP&L
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net liability for unfunded retirement benefits	40,000	52,000
Unrealized gain on investments	0	0
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative hedges	(1,000)	(1,000)
AOCL Balance	39,000	51,000
Met-Ed
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net liability for unfunded retirement benefits	28,000	38,000
Unrealized gain on investments	0	0
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative hedges	0	(1,000)
AOCL Balance	27,528	37,424
Penelec
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net liability for unfunded retirement benefits	37,000	50,000
Unrealized gain on investments	0	0
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative hedges	0	0
AOCL Balance	$ 37,053	$ 50,382