Consolidated Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Accumulated provision for uncollectible accounts - customers [Member]
Consolidated Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Beginning Balance	$ 36,272		$ 33,431		$ 27,847
Charged to Income	78,521		59,750		67,503
Charged to Other Accounts	38,042	[1]	37,813	[1]	32,975	[1]
Deductions	115,532	[2]	94,722	[2]	94,894	[2]
Ending Balance	37,303		36,272		33,431
Accumulated provision for uncollectible accounts - customers [Member] | FES
Consolidated Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Beginning Balance	16,591		12,041		5,899
Charged to Income	11,250		9,397		7,745
Charged to Other Accounts	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Deductions	11,400	[2]	4,847	[2]	1,603	[2]
Ending Balance	16,441		16,591		12,041
Accumulated provision for uncollectible accounts - customers [Member] | OE
Consolidated Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Beginning Balance	4,086		5,119		6,065
Charged to Income	8,936		6,588		16,230
Charged to Other Accounts	9,660	[1]	11,074	[1]	11,252	[1]
Deductions	18,806	[2]	18,695	[2]	28,428	[2]
Ending Balance	3,876		4,086		5,119
Accumulated provision for uncollectible accounts - customers [Member] | CEI
Consolidated Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Beginning Balance	4,589		5,239		5,916
Charged to Income	5,134		14,716		16,764
Charged to Other Accounts	6,752	[1]	11,151	[1]	8,942	[1]
Deductions	13,542	[2]	26,517	[2]	26,383	[2]
Ending Balance	2,933		4,589		5,239
Accumulated provision for uncollectible accounts - customers [Member] | TE
Consolidated Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Beginning Balance	1		0
Charged to Income	4,707		2
Charged to Other Accounts	3,448	[1]	0	[1]
Deductions	6,689	[2]	1	[2]
Ending Balance	1,467		1
Accumulated provision for uncollectible accounts - customers [Member] | JCP&L
Consolidated Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Beginning Balance	3,769		3,506		3,230
Charged to Income	11,419		12,487		11,519
Charged to Other Accounts	5,718	[1]	5,251	[1]	5,424	[1]
Deductions	17,325	[2]	17,475	[2]	16,667	[2]
Ending Balance	3,581		3,769		3,506
Accumulated provision for uncollectible accounts - customers [Member] | Met-Ed
Consolidated Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Beginning Balance	3,868		4,044		3,616
Charged to Income	11,569		10,021		9,583
Charged to Other Accounts	4,701	[1]	5,248	[1]	3,926	[1]
Deductions	17,123	[2]	15,445	[2]	13,081	[2]
Ending Balance	3,015		3,868		4,044
Accumulated provision for uncollectible accounts - customers [Member] | Penelec
Consolidated Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Beginning Balance	3,369		3,483		3,121
Charged to Income	8,025		6,538		7,264
Charged to Other Accounts	4,552	[1]	5,088	[1]	3,431	[1]
Deductions	13,703	[2]	11,740	[2]	10,333	[2]
Ending Balance	2,243		3,369		3,483
Accumulated provision for uncollectible accounts - other [Member]
Consolidated Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Beginning Balance	8,252		6,969		9,167
Charged to Income	663		2,687		(405)
Charged to Other Accounts	927	[1]	1,037	[1]	10,457	[1]
Deductions	6,395	[2]	2,441	[2]	12,250	[2]
Ending Balance	3,447		8,252		6,969
Accumulated provision for uncollectible accounts - other [Member] | FES
Consolidated Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Beginning Balance	6,765		6,702		6,815
Charged to Income	22		64		(161)
Charged to Other Accounts	4	[1]	0	[1]	57	[1]
Deductions	4,291	[2]	1	[2]	9	[2]
Ending Balance	2,500		6,765		6,702
Accumulated provision for uncollectible accounts - other [Member] | OE
Consolidated Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Beginning Balance	6		18		7
Charged to Income	39		5		17
Charged to Other Accounts	208	[1]	180	[1]	326	[1]
Deductions	244	[2]	197	[2]	332	[2]
Ending Balance	9		6		18
Accumulated provision for uncollectible accounts - other [Member] | CEI
Consolidated Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Beginning Balance	1		21		11
Charged to Income	105		33		50
Charged to Other Accounts	10	[1]	50	[1]	51	[1]
Deductions	46	[2]	103	[2]	91	[2]
Ending Balance	70		1		21
Accumulated provision for uncollectible accounts - other [Member] | TE
Consolidated Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Beginning Balance	330		208		203
Charged to Income	(65)		127		(115)
Charged to Other Accounts	1	[1]	13	[1]	165	[1]
Deductions	2	[2]	18	[2]	45	[2]
Ending Balance	264		330		208
Accumulated provision for uncollectible accounts - other [Member] | JCP&L
Consolidated Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Beginning Balance	22		0		45
Charged to Income	(44)		209		(37)
Charged to Other Accounts	700	[1]	70	[1]	380	[1]
Deductions	678	[2]	257	[2]	388	[2]
Ending Balance	0		22		0
Accumulated provision for uncollectible accounts - other [Member] | Met-Ed
Consolidated Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Beginning Balance	0		0		0
Charged to Income	7		14		8
Charged to Other Accounts	3	[1]	39	[1]	26	[1]
Deductions	10	[2]	53	[2]	34	[2]
Ending Balance	0		0		0
Accumulated provision for uncollectible accounts - other [Member] | Penelec
Consolidated Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Beginning Balance	1		3		65
Charged to Income	2		5		(57)
Charged to Other Accounts	1	[1]	684	[1]	7,557	[1]
Deductions	2	[2]	691	[2]	7,562	[2]
Ending Balance	2		1		3
Loss carryforward tax valuation reserve [Member]
Consolidated Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Beginning Balance	26,051		22,600		17,151
Charged to Income	(18,933)		3,451		5,449
Charged to Other Accounts	27,118		0		0
Deductions	0		0		0
Ending Balance	34,236		26,051		22,600
Loss carryforward tax valuation reserve [Member] | FES
Consolidated Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Beginning Balance	9,290		7,189		4,028
Charged to Income	2,360		2,101		3,161
Charged to Other Accounts	0		0		0
Deductions	0		0		0
Ending Balance	11,650		9,290		7,189
Loss carryforward tax valuation reserve [Member] | Penelec
Consolidated Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Beginning Balance	11,312		9,141		4,598
Charged to Income	(4,413)		2,171		4,543
Charged to Other Accounts	0		0		0
Deductions	0		0		0
Ending Balance	$ 6,899		$ 11,312		$ 9,141

[1] Represents recoveries and reinstatements of accounts previously written off.

[2] Represents the write-off of accounts considered to be uncollectible.