Taxes (Details 6) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
General Taxes
Total general taxes	$ 978,000	$ 776,000	$ 753,000
FE
General Taxes
Total general taxes	978,000	776,000	753,000
FE | Kilowatt hour excise
General Taxes
Total general taxes	244,000	245,000	224,000	[1]
FE | State gross receipts
General Taxes
Total general taxes	264,000	185,000	171,000
FE | Real and personal property
General Taxes
Total general taxes	299,000	243,000	253,000
FE | Social security and unemployment
General Taxes
Total general taxes	109,000	86,000	90,000
FE | Others
General Taxes
Total general taxes	62,000	17,000	15,000
FES
General Taxes
Total general taxes	124,000	94,000	87,000
FES | Kilowatt hour excise
General Taxes
Total general taxes	0	5,000	1,000	[1]
FES | State gross receipts
General Taxes
Total general taxes	62,000	17,000	14,000
FES | Real and personal property
General Taxes
Total general taxes	42,000	53,000	53,000
FES | Social security and unemployment
General Taxes
Total general taxes	14,000	14,000	14,000
FES | Others
General Taxes
Total general taxes	6,000	5,000	5,000
OE
General Taxes
Total general taxes	190,000	183,000	171,000
OE | Kilowatt hour excise
General Taxes
Total general taxes	90,000	92,000	84,000	[1]
OE | State gross receipts
General Taxes
Total general taxes	17,000	15,000	15,000
OE | Real and personal property
General Taxes
Total general taxes	73,000	67,000	64,000
OE | Social security and unemployment
General Taxes
Total general taxes	9,000	8,000	8,000
OE | Others
General Taxes
Total general taxes	1,000	1,000	0
CEI
General Taxes
Total general taxes	154,487	143,294	145,324
CEI | Kilowatt hour excise
General Taxes
Total general taxes	66,000	68,000	66,000	[1]
CEI | State gross receipts
General Taxes
Total general taxes	2,000	0	0
CEI | Real and personal property
General Taxes
Total general taxes	80,000	70,000	74,000
CEI | Social security and unemployment
General Taxes
Total general taxes	6,000	5,000	5,000
CEI | Others
General Taxes
Total general taxes	0	0	0
TE
General Taxes
Total general taxes	53,911	52,045	47,815
TE | Kilowatt hour excise
General Taxes
Total general taxes	27,000	27,000	24,000	[1]
TE | State gross receipts
General Taxes
Total general taxes	1,000	0	0
TE | Real and personal property
General Taxes
Total general taxes	23,000	23,000	21,000
TE | Social security and unemployment
General Taxes
Total general taxes	3,000	2,000	3,000
TE | Others
General Taxes
Total general taxes	0	0	0
JCP&L
General Taxes
Total general taxes	67,000	65,000	63,000
JCP&L | Kilowatt hour excise
General Taxes
Total general taxes	50,000	51,000	49,000	[1]
JCP&L | State gross receipts
General Taxes
Total general taxes	0	0	0
JCP&L | Real and personal property
General Taxes
Total general taxes	6,000	5,000	5,000
JCP&L | Social security and unemployment
General Taxes
Total general taxes	11,000	9,000	9,000
JCP&L | Others
General Taxes
Total general taxes	0	0	0
Met-Ed
General Taxes
Total general taxes	74,364	87,829	87,799
Met-Ed | Kilowatt hour excise
General Taxes
Total general taxes	0	0	0	[1]
Met-Ed | State gross receipts
General Taxes
Total general taxes	64,000	85,000	78,000
Met-Ed | Real and personal property
General Taxes
Total general taxes	2,000	0	2,000
Met-Ed | Social security and unemployment
General Taxes
Total general taxes	5,000	4,000	5,000
Met-Ed | Others
General Taxes
Total general taxes	3,000	(1,000)	3,000
Penelec
General Taxes
Total general taxes	66,001	73,285	73,839
Penelec | Kilowatt hour excise
General Taxes
Total general taxes	0	0	0	[1]
Penelec | State gross receipts
General Taxes
Total general taxes	55,000	68,000	63,000
Penelec | Real and personal property
General Taxes
Total general taxes	2,000	(1,000)	2,000
Penelec | Social security and unemployment
General Taxes
Total general taxes	6,000	5,000	6,000
Penelec | Others
General Taxes
Total general taxes	$ 3,000	$ 1,000	$ 3,000

[1] KWH excise tax for OE and TE include $7 million and $3 million credit adjustments, respectively, recognized in 2009 related to prior periods.