Employee Benefit Plans (Pension Plan and Other Postretirement Benefit Plan Obligations and Plan Assets and Includes a Statement of the Plans Funded Status) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Aggregate actual returns on pension and other postretirement plan assets	$ 273		$ 624
Employer contributions	38		39		42
Pension Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	108		102		106
Interest cost	258		266		250
Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	48		56		60
Interest cost	94		101		100
Changes In Benefit Obligation [Member] | Pension Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	4,490		4,126
Service cost	108		102
Interest cost	258		266
Benefits paid	(215)		(211)
Actuarial (gains) losses during the year	340		210
Plan amendments	0		1
Settlements and curtailments	0	[1]	34	[1]
Special Termination Benefits	0	[2]	10	[2]
Medicare Part D reimbursement	0		0
Benefit obligation at end of year	4,981		4,490
Transfer	0	[3]	(48)	[3]
Changes In Benefit Obligation [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	1,707		1,555
Service cost	48		56
Interest cost	94		101
Benefits paid	(83)		(82)
Actuarial (gains) losses during the year	(210)		36
Plan amendments	(70)		0
Settlements and curtailments	(1)	[1]	35	[1]
Special Termination Benefits	0	[2]	1	[2]
Medicare Part D reimbursement	5		5
Benefit obligation at end of year	1,493		1,707
Transfer	0	[3]	0	[3]
Changes In Fair Value Of Plan Assets [Member] | Pension Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	5,106		4,226
Aggregate actual returns on pension and other postretirement plan assets	247		532
Employer contributions	7		665
Benefits paid in fair value of plan assets	(215)		(211)
Transfer	0	[3]	(106)	[3]
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	5,145		5,106
Funded status at end of year	164		616
Changes In Fair Value Of Plan Assets [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	1,031		918
Aggregate actual returns on pension and other postretirement plan assets	26		92
Employer contributions	19		56
Benefits paid in fair value of plan assets	(34)		(35)
Transfer	0	[3]	0	[3]
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	1,042		1,031
Funded status at end of year	(451)		(676)
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Pension Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Noncurrent pension and other postretirement benefit assets	677		710
Other current liabilities	(3)		(4)
Noncurrent pension and other postretirement benefit liabilities	(510)		(90)
Net amount recognized	164		616
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Noncurrent pension and other postretirement benefit assets	4		2
Other current liabilities	(3)		(3)
Noncurrent pension and other postretirement benefit liabilities	(452)		(675)
Net amount recognized	$ (451)		$ (676)
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Pension Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Discount rate	5.50%		5.90%
Weighted average rate of increase for compensation	4.21%		4.61%
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Discount rate	5.50%		5.90%
Weighted average rate of increase for compensation	4.22%		4.62%

[1] 2010 amounts relate to the sales of Peoples and Dominion's Appalachian E&P operations and a workforce reduction program.

[2] Represents a one-time special termination benefit for certain employees in connection with a workforce reduction program.

[3] Represents transfer of pension plan assets and obligation for all active Peoples employees as of February 1, 2010. See Note 4 for more information on the sale of Peoples completed in February 2010.