Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Operating Activities
Net Income (Loss)	$ 753,000,000	$ 708,000,000
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Operating Activities:
Depreciation and Amortization	883,000,000	813,000,000
Deferred Income Taxes	417,000,000	525,000,000
Gain on Settlement with BOA and Enron	0	(51,000,000)
Settlement of Litigation with BOA and Enron	0	(211,000,000)
Carrying Costs Income	(31,000,000)	(32,000,000)
Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction	(47,000,000)	(43,000,000)
Mark-to-Market of Risk Management Contracts	8,000,000	61,000,000
Amortization of Nuclear Fuel	64,000,000	72,000,000
Property Taxes	68,000,000	62,000,000
Fuel Over/Under-Recovery, Net	91,000,000	(93,000,000)
Change in Other Noncurrent Assets	(80,000,000)	(11,000,000)
Change in Other Noncurrent Liabilities	31,000,000	83,000,000
Changes in Certain Components of Working Capital:
Accounts Receivable, Net	93,000,000	53,000,000
Fuel, Materials and Supplies	(199,000,000)	146,000,000
Accounts Payable	(100,000,000)	(87,000,000)
Accrued Taxes, Net	(92,000,000)	(198,000,000)
Other Current Assets	(7,000,000)	(9,000,000)
Other Current Liabilities	(139,000,000)	(56,000,000)
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Operating Activities	1,713,000,000	1,732,000,000
Investing Activities
Construction Expenditures	(1,371,000,000)	(1,113,000,000)
Change in Other Temporary Investments, Net	(1,000,000)	11,000,000
Purchases of Investment Securities	(546,000,000)	(645,000,000)
Sales of Investment Securities	517,000,000	712,000,000
Acquisitions of Nuclear Fuel	(11,000,000)	(93,000,000)
Acquisitions of Assets/Businesses	(88,000,000)	(10,000,000)
Acquisition of Cushion Gas from BOA	0	(214,000,000)
Proceeds from Sales of Assets	8,000,000	94,000,000
Other Investing Activities	(38,000,000)	(22,000,000)
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Investing Activities	(1,530,000,000)	(1,280,000,000)
Financing Activities
Issuance of Common Stock, Net	50,000,000	49,000,000
Issuance of Long-term Debt	1,261,000,000	1,074,000,000
Credit Facility Borrowings	21,000,000	357,000,000
Change in Short-term Debt, Net	(425,000,000)	566,000,000
Retirement of Long-term Debt	(487,000,000)	(1,263,000,000)
Credit Facility Repayments	(38,000,000)	(630,000,000)
Principal Payments for Capital Lease Obligations	(36,000,000)	(35,000,000)
Dividends Paid on Common Stock	(458,000,000)	(446,000,000)
Dividends Paid on Cumulative Preferred Stock	0	(1,000,000)
Other Financing Activities	5,000,000	0
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Financing Activities	(107,000,000)	(329,000,000)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	76,000,000	123,000,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	221,000,000	294,000,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	297,000,000	417,000,000
Supplementary Information
Cash Paid for Interest, Net of Capitalized Amounts	444,000,000	442,000,000
Net Cash Paid (Received) for Income Taxes	(42,000,000)	15,000,000
Noncash Acquisitions Under Capital Leases	33,000,000	28,000,000
Construction Expenditures Included in Current Liabilities at June 30,	255,000,000	292,000,000
Noncash Assumption of Liabilities Related to Acquisitions	56,000,000	0
Appalachian Power Co [Member]
Operating Activities
Net Income (Loss)	137,643,000	70,607,000
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Operating Activities:
Depreciation and Amortization	165,552,000	136,743,000
Deferred Income Taxes	56,927,000	127,525,000
Carrying Costs Income	(13,252,000)	(9,981,000)
Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction	(517,000)	(2,095,000)
Mark-to-Market of Risk Management Contracts	(2,323,000)	7,343,000
Fuel Over/Under-Recovery, Net	26,417,000	(21,132,000)
Change in Other Noncurrent Assets	(16,708,000)	11,361,000
Change in Other Noncurrent Liabilities	18,266,000	5,239,000
Changes in Certain Components of Working Capital:
Accounts Receivable, Net	103,680,000	84,748,000
Fuel, Materials and Supplies	(54,954,000)	85,449,000
Accounts Payable	(43,538,000)	(62,795,000)
Accrued Taxes, Net	30,032,000	(56,411,000)
Other Current Assets	2,579,000	6,281,000
Other Current Liabilities	(15,880,000)	3,316,000
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Operating Activities	393,924,000	386,198,000
Investing Activities
Construction Expenditures	(212,959,000)	(191,125,000)
Change in Advances to Affiliates, Net	(565,000)	(162,787,000)
Other Investing Activities	3,158,000	7,832,000
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Investing Activities	(210,366,000)	(346,080,000)
Financing Activities
Issuance of Long-term Debt	0	640,164,000
Change in Advances from Affiliates, Net	(31,260,000)	(128,331,000)
Retirement of Long-term Debt	(49,512,000)	(479,661,000)
Retirement of Cumulative Preferred Stock	0	(8,000)
Principal Payments for Capital Lease Obligations	(3,258,000)	(3,720,000)
Dividends Paid on Common Stock	(100,000,000)	(67,500,000)
Dividends Paid on Cumulative Preferred Stock	0	(400,000)
Other Financing Activities	264,000	19,000
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Financing Activities	(183,766,000)	(39,437,000)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(208,000)	681,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	2,317,000	951,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	2,109,000	1,632,000
Supplementary Information
Cash Paid for Interest, Net of Capitalized Amounts	100,319,000	100,127,000
Net Cash Paid (Received) for Income Taxes	(10,090,000)	(33,371,000)
Noncash Acquisitions Under Capital Leases	1,265,000	565,000
Government Grants Included in Accounts Receivable at June 30,	0	4,061,000
Construction Expenditures Included in Current Liabilities at June 30,	30,439,000	52,421,000
Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member]
Operating Activities
Net Income (Loss)	69,031,000	76,813,000
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Operating Activities:
Depreciation and Amortization	71,539,000	67,350,000
Deferred Income Taxes	40,899,000	42,561,000
Amortization (Deferral) of Incremental Nuclear Refueling Outage Expense, Net	(9,163,000)	23,086,000
Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction	(5,335,000)	(7,440,000)
Mark-to-Market of Risk Management Contracts	(2,798,000)	6,183,000
Amortization of Nuclear Fuel	64,228,000	72,474,000
Fuel Over/Under-Recovery, Net	(2,650,000)	2,947,000
Change in Other Noncurrent Assets	6,849,000	4,433,000
Change in Other Noncurrent Liabilities	42,793,000	12,055,000
Changes in Certain Components of Working Capital:
Accounts Receivable, Net	31,614,000	74,240,000
Fuel, Materials and Supplies	(8,475,000)	26,103,000
Accounts Payable	(33,573,000)	(76,440,000)
Accrued Taxes, Net	19,642,000	13,775,000
Other Current Assets	(9,183,000)	(887,000)
Other Current Liabilities	(26,557,000)	(321,000)
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Operating Activities	248,861,000	336,932,000
Investing Activities
Construction Expenditures	(137,473,000)	(133,064,000)
Change in Advances to Affiliates, Net	(142,752,000)	0
Purchases of Investment Securities	(544,981,000)	(492,162,000)
Sales of Investment Securities	516,579,000	464,688,000
Acquisitions of Nuclear Fuel	(11,263,000)	(93,230,000)
Other Investing Activities	26,692,000	17,125,000
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Investing Activities	(293,198,000)	(236,643,000)
Financing Activities
Issuance of Long-term Debt	128,533,000	76,624,000
Change in Advances from Affiliates, Net	0	(18,232,000)
Retirement of Long-term Debt	(55,995,000)	(116,526,000)
Principal Payments for Capital Lease Obligations	(3,490,000)	(4,317,000)
Dividends Paid on Common Stock	(25,000,000)	(37,500,000)
Dividends Paid on Cumulative Preferred Stock	0	(170,000)
Other Financing Activities	167,000	25,000
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Financing Activities	44,215,000	(100,096,000)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(122,000)	193,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	1,020,000	361,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	898,000	554,000
Supplementary Information
Cash Paid for Interest, Net of Capitalized Amounts	48,565,000	47,401,000
Net Cash Paid (Received) for Income Taxes	(31,921,000)	(19,847,000)
Noncash Acquisitions Under Capital Leases	4,341,000	1,218,000
Construction Expenditures Included in Current Liabilities at June 30,	26,509,000	36,109,000
Acquisition of Nuclear Fuel Included in Current Liabilities at June 30,	14,000	0
Ohio Power Co [Member]
Operating Activities
Net Income (Loss)	252,253,000	308,164,000
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Operating Activities:
Depreciation and Amortization	271,439,000	263,110,000
Deferred Income Taxes	82,961,000	115,726,000
Carrying Costs Income	(7,269,000)	(20,578,000)
Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction	(2,038,000)	(2,711,000)
Mark-to-Market of Risk Management Contracts	(8,328,000)	9,491,000
Property Taxes	109,892,000	108,074,000
Fuel Over/Under-Recovery, Net	(19,433,000)	(50,113,000)
Change in Other Noncurrent Assets	(20,063,000)	(54,116,000)
Change in Other Noncurrent Liabilities	416,000	24,932,000
Changes in Certain Components of Working Capital:
Accounts Receivable, Net	64,404,000	114,701,000
Fuel, Materials and Supplies	(70,666,000)	69,406,000
Accounts Payable	(134,823,000)	(62,574,000)
Accrued Taxes, Net	(115,596,000)	(156,417,000)
Other Current Assets	7,982,000	3,700,000
Other Current Liabilities	(13,884,000)	(30,536,000)
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Operating Activities	397,247,000	640,259,000
Investing Activities
Construction Expenditures	(246,657,000)	(201,512,000)
Change in Advances to Affiliates, Net	186,787,000	(53,586,000)
Acquisitions of Assets/Businesses	(48,000)	(1,714,000)
Proceeds from Sales of Assets	5,475,000	45,129,000
Other Investing Activities	6,753,000	19,495,000
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Investing Activities	(47,690,000)	(192,188,000)
Financing Activities
Issuance of Long-term Debt	0	49,768,000
Retirement of Long-term Debt	(194,500,000)	(165,000,000)
Retirement of Cumulative Preferred Stock	0	(1,000)
Principal Payments for Capital Lease Obligations	(4,920,000)	(5,852,000)
Dividends Paid on Common Stock	(150,000,000)	(325,000,000)
Dividends Paid on Cumulative Preferred Stock	0	(366,000)
Other Financing Activities	134,000	(122,000)
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Financing Activities	(349,286,000)	(446,573,000)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	271,000	1,498,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	2,095,000	949,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	2,366,000	2,447,000
Supplementary Information
Cash Paid for Interest, Net of Capitalized Amounts	107,216,000	109,135,000
Net Cash Paid (Received) for Income Taxes	15,019,000	52,476,000
Noncash Acquisitions Under Capital Leases	4,239,000	1,002,000
Government Grants Included in Accounts Receivable at June 30,	1,094,000	2,000,000
Construction Expenditures Included in Current Liabilities at June 30,	41,873,000	26,719,000
Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member]
Operating Activities
Net Income (Loss)	47,859,000	46,949,000
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Operating Activities:
Depreciation and Amortization	46,923,000	47,959,000
Deferred Income Taxes	15,275,000	33,821,000
Carrying Costs Income	(1,142,000)	(2,523,000)
Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction	(890,000)	(650,000)
Mark-to-Market of Risk Management Contracts	4,652,000	(292,000)
Property Taxes	(19,347,000)	(18,742,000)
Fuel Over/Under-Recovery, Net	76,098,000	(55,000)
Change in Other Noncurrent Assets	1,043,000	8,705,000
Change in Other Noncurrent Liabilities	(5,409,000)	21,377,000
Changes in Certain Components of Working Capital:
Accounts Receivable, Net	2,560,000	32,603,000
Fuel, Materials and Supplies	2,481,000	(3,744,000)
Accounts Payable	(3,263,000)	29,830,000
Accrued Taxes, Net	32,771,000	16,468,000
Other Current Assets	919,000	(3,070,000)
Other Current Liabilities	(3,987,000)	10,048,000
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Operating Activities	196,543,000	218,684,000
Investing Activities
Construction Expenditures	(102,354,000)	(65,343,000)
Change in Advances to Affiliates, Net	(80,548,000)	(110,000)
Other Investing Activities	413,000	760,000
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Investing Activities	(182,489,000)	(64,693,000)
Financing Activities
Issuance of Long-term Debt	2,395,000	247,554,000
Change in Advances from Affiliates, Net	0	(91,382,000)
Retirement of Long-term Debt	(32,000)	(275,000,000)
Principal Payments for Capital Lease Obligations	(1,704,000)	(2,068,000)
Dividends Paid on Common Stock	(15,000,000)	(32,500,000)
Dividends Paid on Cumulative Preferred Stock	0	(98,000)
Other Financing Activities	107,000	6,000
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Financing Activities	(14,234,000)	(153,488,000)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(180,000)	503,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	1,413,000	470,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	1,233,000	973,000
Supplementary Information
Cash Paid for Interest, Net of Capitalized Amounts	26,581,000	12,293,000
Net Cash Paid (Received) for Income Taxes	5,992,000	383,000
Noncash Acquisitions Under Capital Leases	759,000	415,000
Construction Expenditures Included in Current Liabilities at June 30,	14,881,000	8,319,000
Cash Dividends Declared but Not Paid	15,000,000	0
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]
Operating Activities
Net Income (Loss)	91,297,000	80,898,000
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Operating Activities:
Depreciation and Amortization	68,676,000	66,008,000
Deferred Income Taxes	138,594,000	23,562,000
Asset Impairments and Other Related Charges	13,000,000	0
Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction	(28,185,000)	(22,169,000)
Mark-to-Market of Risk Management Contracts	1,927,000	(1,863,000)
Property Taxes	(19,790,000)	(20,356,000)
Fuel Over/Under-Recovery, Net	(4,398,000)	(25,144,000)
Change in Other Noncurrent Assets	1,678,000	17,791,000
Change in Other Noncurrent Liabilities	17,707,000	27,255,000
Changes in Certain Components of Working Capital:
Accounts Receivable, Net	(12,989,000)	9,062,000
Fuel, Materials and Supplies	(16,901,000)	(8,929,000)
Accounts Payable	2,938,000	37,823,000
Accrued Taxes, Net	(40,616,000)	24,753,000
Other Current Assets	(7,685,000)	(1,485,000)
Other Current Liabilities	(6,367,000)	2,657,000
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Operating Activities	198,886,000	209,863,000
Investing Activities
Construction Expenditures	(246,957,000)	(237,834,000)
Change in Advances to Affiliates, Net	(97,022,000)	51,538,000
Other Investing Activities	(1,927,000)	(7,953,000)
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Investing Activities	(345,906,000)	(194,249,000)
Financing Activities
Issuance of Long-term Debt	336,576,000	0
Credit Facility Borrowings	21,462,000	27,413,000
Change in Advances from Affiliates, Net	(132,473,000)	0
Retirement of Long-term Debt	(20,000,000)	0
Retirement of Cumulative Preferred Stock	0	(1,000)
Credit Facility Repayments	(38,478,000)	(33,630,000)
Principal Payments for Capital Lease Obligations	(7,899,000)	(6,655,000)
Dividends Paid on Common Stock	(2,195,000)	(2,126,000)
Dividends Paid on Cumulative Preferred Stock	0	(114,000)
Other Financing Activities	3,843,000	74,000
Net Cash Flows from (Used for) Financing Activities	160,836,000	(15,039,000)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	13,816,000	575,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	801,000	1,514,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	14,617,000	2,089,000
Supplementary Information
Cash Paid for Interest, Net of Capitalized Amounts	32,595,000	37,681,000
Net Cash Paid (Received) for Income Taxes	(47,741,000)	8,026,000
Noncash Acquisitions Under Capital Leases	12,350,000	4,378,000
Construction Expenditures Included in Current Liabilities at June 30,	$ 79,960,000	$ 96,959,000