Operating Segment (Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue from external customers	$ 3,167		$ 3,411	$ 3,053	$ 3,462	[1]	$ 3,129		$ 3,745	$ 3,288	$ 3,983	[1]	$ 13,093		$ 14,145	[2]	$ 14,927	[2]
Intersegment revenue													0		0		0
Total operating revenue													13,093		14,145		14,927
Depreciation, depletion and amortization													1,186		1,066		1,035
Equity in earnings of equity method investees													25		35		42
Interest income													61		67		71
Interest and related charges													882		867		826
Income taxes													146	[3]	754	[2],[3]	2,112	[2],[3]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax													(22)	[4]	(25)	[2],[4]	(258)	[2],[4]
Net income attributable to Dominion	(659)		209	258	494	[1]	201		392	336	479	[1]	302		1,408	[2]	2,808	[2]
Investment in equity method affiliates	558						553						558		553
Capital expenditures													4,145		3,652		3,422
Total assets	46,838						45,614						46,838		45,614
DVP
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue from external customers													3,385		3,663		3,613
Intersegment revenue													112		173		207
Total operating revenue													3,497		3,836		3,820
Depreciation, depletion and amortization													402		374		353
Equity in earnings of equity method investees													0		0		0
Interest income													9		22		12
Interest and related charges													187		185		158
Income taxes													351		318		277
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax													0		0		0
Net income attributable to Dominion													559		501		448
Investment in equity method affiliates	1						8						1		8
Capital expenditures													1,158		1,091		1,038
Total assets	12,100						11,500						12,100		11,500
Dominion Generation
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue from external customers													6,517	[5]	7,080	[5]	7,735	[5]
Intersegment revenue													333	[5]	355	[5]	413	[5]
Total operating revenue													6,850	[5]	7,435	[5]	8,148	[5]
Depreciation, depletion and amortization													500	[5]	457	[5]	443	[5]
Equity in earnings of equity method investees													3	[5]	3	[5]	11	[5]
Interest income													57	[5]	54	[5]	45	[5]
Interest and related charges													208	[5]	217	[5]	179	[5]
Income taxes													479	[5]	583	[5]	756	[5]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax													0	[5]	0	[5]	0	[5]
Net income attributable to Dominion													874	[5]	968	[5]	1,263	[5]
Investment in equity method affiliates	414	[5]					415	[5]					414	[5]	415	[5]
Capital expenditures													1,615	[5]	1,593	[5]	1,742	[5]
Total assets	21,200	[5]					22,100	[5]					21,200	[5]	22,100	[5]
Dominion Energy
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue from external customers													1,813		2,044		2,335
Intersegment revenue													930		1,077		1,166
Total operating revenue													2,743		3,121		3,501
Depreciation, depletion and amortization													216		207		210
Equity in earnings of equity method investees													23		23		21
Interest income													30		27		12
Interest and related charges													47		57		85
Income taxes													352		323		302
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax													0		0		0
Net income attributable to Dominion													551		521		475
Investment in equity method affiliates	141						104						141		104
Capital expenditures													1,350		907		613
Total assets	11,200						10,600						11,200		10,600
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue from external customers													307	[5]	55	[5]	19	[5]
Intersegment revenue													608	[5]	596	[5]	750	[5]
Total operating revenue													915	[5]	651	[5]	769	[5]
Depreciation, depletion and amortization													68	[5]	28	[5]	29	[5]
Equity in earnings of equity method investees													(1)	[5]	9	[5]	10	[5]
Interest income													71	[5]	70	[5]	92	[5]
Interest and related charges													546	[5]	514	[5]	494	[5]
Income taxes													(1,036)	[5]	(470)	[5]	777	[5]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax													(22)	[5]	(25)	[5]	(258)	[5]
Net income attributable to Dominion													(1,682)	[5]	(582)	[5]	622	[5]
Investment in equity method affiliates	2	[5]					26	[5]					2	[5]	26	[5]
Capital expenditures													22	[5]	61	[5]	29	[5]
Total assets	12,600	[5]					11,400	[5]					12,600	[5]	11,400	[5]
Adjustments & Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue from external customers													1,071		1,303		1,225
Intersegment revenue													(1,983)		(2,201)		(2,536)
Total operating revenue													(912)		(898)		(1,311)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization													0		0		0
Equity in earnings of equity method investees													0		0		0
Interest income													(106)		(106)		(90)
Interest and related charges													(106)		(106)		(90)
Income taxes													0		0		0
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax													0		0		0
Net income attributable to Dominion													0		0		0
Investment in equity method affiliates	0						0						0		0
Capital expenditures													0		0		0
Total assets	(10,300)						(10,000)						(10,300)		(10,000)
Virginia Electric and Power Company
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue from external customers	1,630		2,086	1,756	1,754		1,555		2,177	1,757	1,757		7,226		7,246		7,219
Total operating revenue													7,226		7,246		7,219
Depreciation, depletion and amortization													782		718		671
Interest income													8		18		15
Interest and related charges													385		331		347
Income taxes													653	[6]	540	[6]	542	[6]
Net income attributable to Dominion	220		415	172	243		6		297	241	278		1,050		822		852
Capital expenditures													2,288		2,090		2,234
Total assets	24,811						23,544						24,811		23,544
Virginia Electric and Power Company | DVP
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating revenue													1,847		1,793		1,680
Depreciation, depletion and amortization													392		368		344
Interest income													1		10		11
Interest and related charges													186		182		158
Income taxes													277		265		228
Net income attributable to Dominion													448		426		377
Capital expenditures													1,142		1,081		1,035
Total assets	11,400						10,700						11,400		10,700
Virginia Electric and Power Company | Dominion Generation
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating revenue													5,379		5,546		5,546
Depreciation, depletion and amortization													390		350		327
Interest income													7		8		4
Interest and related charges													199		199		189
Income taxes													403		447		385
Net income attributable to Dominion													653		664		630
Capital expenditures													1,146		1,009		1,199
Total assets	14,800						14,300						14,800		14,300
Virginia Electric and Power Company | Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating revenue													0		(93)		(7)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization													0		0		0
Interest income													0		0		0
Interest and related charges													0		(50)		0
Income taxes													(27)		(172)		(71)
Net income attributable to Dominion													(51)		(268)		(155)
Capital expenditures													0		0		0
Total assets	0						0						0		0
Virginia Electric and Power Company | Adjustments & Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating revenue													0		0		0
Depreciation, depletion and amortization													0		0		0
Interest income													0		0		0
Interest and related charges													0		0		0
Income taxes													0		0		0
Net income attributable to Dominion													0		0		0
Capital expenditures													0		0		0
Total assets	$ (1,400)						$ (1,500)						$ (1,400)		$ (1,500)

[1] Revenue and income amounts have been recast to reflect Salem Harbor and State Line as discontinued operations, as discussed in Note 3.

[2] Recast to reflect Salem Harbor and State Line as discontinued operations as described in Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. EPS amounts reflect the per share impact of the recast.

[3] In 2012, Dominion's current federal income tax benefit includes a benefit related to the carryback of its current year operating loss, and deferred state income tax benefit reflects the impact of Brayton Point, Kincaid and Kewaunee impairment charges. In 2011, Dominion's federal income tax expense includes a benefit related to its current year operating loss that is expected to be used in future years, and state income tax expense reflects changes in the amount of income apportioned among states, higher tax credits, claims for refunds and previously unrecognized tax benefits due to the expiration of statutes of limitations.

[4] Includes income tax benefit of $27 million, $9 million, and $34 million in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

[5] Segment information has been recast to reflect Salem Harbor and State Line as discontinued operations, as discussed in Note 3.

[6] In 2011, Virginia Power's federal income tax expense includes a benefit related to a portion of its current year operating loss that is expected to be used in future years. Also, in 2011 and 2010, Virginia Power's federal income tax expense reflects the amounts of current year operating losses realized through its participation in a tax sharing agreement with Dominion and its subsidiaries.