Income Taxes (Reconciliation of Income Taxes at the U.S. Statutory Federal Rate as Compared to the Income Tax Expense Recorded in Our Consolidated Statements of Income) (Details)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
U.S. statutory rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Increases (reductions) resulting from:
State taxes, net of federal benefit	8.10%	1.80%	5.10%
Valuation allowances	(1.50%)	0.00%	(0.20%)
Production tax credits	(2.40%)	(0.60%)	(0.30%)
Amortization of investment tax credits	(0.30%)	(0.10%)	0.00%
AFUDC - equity	(4.10%)	(0.60%)	(0.40%)
Employee stock ownership plan deduction	(3.10%)	(0.70%)	(0.30%)
Goodwill	0.40%	0.00%	0.90%
Legislative change	0.00%	0.00%	1.10%
Other, net	(2.80%)	(0.60%)	(0.20%)
Effective tax rate	29.30%	34.20%	40.70%
Virginia Electric and Power Company
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
U.S. statutory rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Increases (reductions) resulting from:
State taxes, net of federal benefit	3.90%	4.40%	3.80%
Valuation allowances	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Production tax credits	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Amortization of investment tax credits	(0.10%)	(0.10%)	(0.10%)
AFUDC - equity	(0.90%)	(0.80%)	(1.10%)
Employee stock ownership plan deduction	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Goodwill	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Legislative change	0.00%	0.00%	1.10%
Other, net	0.40%	1.20%	0.20%
Effective tax rate	38.30%	39.70%	38.90%

Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Allowance For Funds Used During Construction Equity

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Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Amortization Of Investment Tax Credits

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Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Goodwill Sale Of Business

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- Definition

A ratio calculated by dividing the reported amount of income tax expense attributable to continuing operations for the period by GAAP-basis pretax income from continuing operations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

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-Paragraph 47

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

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-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)(2))

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- Definition

The domestic federal statutory tax rate applicable under enacted tax laws to the Company's pretax income from continuing operations for the period. The "statutory" tax rate is the regular tax rate if there are alternative tax systems.

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The portion of the difference between the effective income tax rate and domestic federal statutory income tax rate attributable to changes in the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets.

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- Definition

The portion of the difference between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement and the expected income tax expense or benefit that is attributable to changes in the income tax laws or rates.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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The portion of the difference between the effective income tax rate and domestic federal statutory income tax rate attributable to the deduction for dividends paid to employee stock ownership plans received under enacted tax laws.

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The portion of the difference between the effective income tax rate and domestic federal statutory income tax rate attributable to all other items not otherwise listed in the existing taxonomy.

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The portion of the difference between the effective income tax rate and domestic federal statutory income tax rate that can be explained by the state and local income tax expense or benefit, net of the federal tax benefit (expense) thereon, recorded during the period.

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The portion of the difference between the effective income tax rate and domestic federal statutory income tax rate that can be explained by investment tax credits generated or utilized under enacted tax laws during the period.

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