Long-Term Debt (Total Long Term Debt) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal, including VIE	$ 18,988,000,000		$ 18,745,000,000
Securities due within one year, including VIE	(2,223,000,000)	[1]	(1,479,000,000)	[1]
Unamortized discount and premium, net	7,000,000		(23,000,000)
Total long term debt, including VIE	16,851,000,000		17,394,000,000
Fair value hedge valuation	93,000,000	[2]	105,000,000	[2]
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	4.53%	[1],[3]
Precentage of the applicable conversion price	120.00%
Redemption percentage of principal amount	100.00%
Basis spread (percentage)	2.30%
Unamortized premium	18,000,000		48,000,000
Assets pledged as collateral			552,000,000
Unamortized premium and discount	23,000,000		4,000,000
Minimum consecutive trading days	20 days
Maximum consecutive trading days	30 days
1.4% to 7.195%, due 2012 to 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate minimum	1.40%
Debt instrument interest rate maximum	7.195%
2.75% to 8.875% due 2018 to 2042
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate minimum	2.75%
Debt instrument interest rate maximum	8.875%
Unsecured Convertible Senior Notes, 2.125%, due 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate	2.125%
Unsecured Junior Subordinated Notes Payable to Affiliated Trusts, 7.83% and 8.4%, due 2027 and 2031
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate minimum	7.83%
Debt instrument interest rate maximum	8.40%
7.5% and 8.375%, due 2064 and 2066
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate minimum	7.50%
Debt instrument interest rate maximum	8.375%
5.0% and 6.625%, due 2013 and 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate minimum	5.00%
Debt instrument interest rate maximum	6.625%
6.8% and 6.875%, due 2026 and 2027
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate minimum	6.80%
Debt instrument interest rate maximum	6.875%
Secured Senior Notes, 5.13% to 5.78%, due 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate minimum	5.03%
Debt instrument interest rate maximum	5.78%
Secured Senior Note, 7.33%, due 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate	7.33%
2.25% to 5.75%, due 2033 to 2042
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate minimum	2.25%
Debt instrument interest rate maximum	5.75%
8.875% Senior Notes Due 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	600,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate	8.875%
Long term debt maturity date	2019
5.25% Senior Notes Due 2033
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	510,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate	5.25%
Long term debt maturity date	2033
6.3% 2006 Series B Enhanced Junior Subordinated Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate	6.30%
Enhanced junior subordinated notes	500,000,000
Senior Notes | Variable rate, due 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal, including VIE	400,000,000		0
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	0.41%	[3]
Senior Notes | 1.4% to 7.195%, due 2012 to 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal, including VIE	3,041,000,000		3,545,000,000
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	3.72%	[3]
Senior Notes | 2.75% to 8.875% due 2018 to 2042
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal, including VIE	5,099,000,000	[4]	4,399,000,000	[4]
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	5.71%	[3],[4]
Senior Notes | Unsecured Convertible Senior Notes, 2.125%, due 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal, including VIE	82,000,000	[5]	143,000,000	[5]
Senior Notes | 5.0% and 6.625%, due 2013 and 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal, including VIE	622,000,000	[6]	622,000,000	[6]
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	5.06%	[3],[6]
Senior Notes | 6.8% and 6.875%, due 2026 and 2027
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal, including VIE	89,000,000	[6]	89,000,000	[6]
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	6.81%	[3],[6]
Senior Notes | Secured Senior Notes, 5.13% to 5.78%, due 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal, including VIE	842,000,000	[7]	842,000,000	[7]
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	5.07%	[3],[7]
Senior Notes | Secured Senior Note, 7.33%, due 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal, including VIE	145,000,000	[8]	159,000,000	[8]
Junior Subordinated Notes | Unsecured Junior Subordinated Notes Payable to Affiliated Trusts, 7.83% and 8.4%, due 2027 and 2031
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal, including VIE	268,000,000		268,000,000
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	7.85%	[3]
Junior Subordinated Notes | 7.5% and 8.375%, due 2064 and 2066
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal, including VIE	985,000,000		985,000,000
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	8.11%	[3]
Junior Subordinated Notes | Enhanced Junior Subordinated Notes, variable rate, due 2066
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal, including VIE	380,000,000	[9]	468,000,000	[9]
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	2.77%	[3],[9]
Tax-Exempt Financings | 2.25% to 5.75%, due 2033 to 2042
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal, including VIE	284,000,000	[10]	284,000,000	[10]
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	3.34%	[10],[3]
Tax-Exempt Financings | Variable rate, due 2041
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal, including VIE	75,000,000	[10]	75,000,000	[10]
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.16%	[10],[3]
Virginia Electric and Power Company
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal, including VIE	6,676,000,000	[10]	6,866,000,000	[10]
Securities due within one year, including VIE	(418,000,000)		(616,000,000)
Unamortized discount and premium, net	7,000,000		4,000,000
Total long term debt, including VIE	6,251,000,000		6,246,000,000
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	4.88%	[3]
Virginia Electric and Power Company | Line of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility, to support letters of credit	120,000,000
Virginia Electric and Power Company | 4.75% to 8.625%, due 2012 to 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate minimum	4.75%
Debt instrument interest rate maximum	8.625%
Virginia Electric and Power Company | 2.95% to 8.875%, due 2018 to 2038
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate minimum	2.95%
Debt instrument interest rate maximum	8.75%
Virginia Electric and Power Company | 1.5% to 6.5%, due 2017 to 2040
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate minimum	1.50%
Debt instrument interest rate maximum	6.50%
Virginia Electric and Power Company | Senior Notes | 4.75% to 8.625%, due 2012 to 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal, including VIE	1,706,000,000		2,321,000,000
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	5.50%	[3]
Virginia Electric and Power Company | Senior Notes | 2.95% to 8.875%, due 2018 to 2038
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal, including VIE	4,008,000,000		3,558,000,000
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	5.83%	[3]
Virginia Electric and Power Company | Tax-Exempt Financings | Variable rates, due 2016 to 2041
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal, including VIE	454,000,000	[11]	454,000,000	[11]
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.14%	[11],[3]
Virginia Electric and Power Company | Tax-Exempt Financings | 1.5% to 6.5%, due 2017 to 2040
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal, including VIE	$ 508,000,000	[11]	$ 533,000,000	[11]
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	3.65%	[11],[3]

[1] Includes $23 million of net unamortized premium and fair value hedge valuation in 2012 and $4 million of net unamortized discount in 2011.

[2] Represents the valuation of certain fair value hedges associated with Dominion's fixed rate debt.

[3] Represents weighted-average coupon rates for debt outstanding as of December 31, 2012.

[4] At the option of holders, $510 million of Dominion's 5.25% senior notes due 2033 and $600 million of Dominion's 8.875% senior notes due 2019 are subject to redemption at 100% of the principal amount plus accrued interest in August 2015 and January 2014, respectively.

[5] Convertible into a combination of cash and shares of Dominion's common stock at any time when the closing price of common stock equals 120% of the applicable conversion price or higher for at least 20 out of the last 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the previous calendar quarter. At the option of holders on December 15, 2013 or 2018, these securities are subject to redemption at 100% of the principal amount plus accrued interest. These senior notes have been callable by Dominion since December 15, 2011.

[6] Represents debt assumed by Dominion from the merger of its former CNG subsidiary.

[7] Juniper notes issued in 2004 and consolidated in October 2011 due to Dominion becoming the primary beneficiary of this VIE. This amount excludes $18 million and $48 million of unamortized premium in 2012 and 2011, respectively. The debt is non-recourse to Dominion and is secured by Juniper's assets.

[8] Represents debt associated with Kincaid. The debt is non-recourse to Dominion and is secured by the facility's assets ($552 million at December 31, 2012) and revenue. Dominion announced in the third quarter of 2012 that it was pursuing the sale of Kincaid. Dominion anticipates redeeming the notes as a condition to a sale of Kincaid.

[9] In September 2011, the $500 million 6.3% September 2006 hybrids began bearing interest at the three-month LIBOR plus 2.3%, reset quarterly.

[10] Includes debt issued by the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency on behalf of Brayton Point. Dominion announced in the third quarter of 2012 that it was pursuing the sale of Brayton Point.

[11] These financings relate to certain pollution control equipment at Virginia Power's generating facilities. Certain variable rate tax-exempt financings are supported by a $120 million credit facility that terminates in September 2017.