Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (USD $)	Total	Appalachian Power Co [Member]	Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member]	Ohio Power Co [Member]	Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member]	Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Appalachian Power Co [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Ohio Power Co [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Appalachian Power Co [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Ohio Power Co [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member] Appalachian Power Co [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member] Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member] Ohio Power Co [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member] Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member] Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Appalachian Power Co [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Ohio Power Co [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member] Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 13,622,000,000	$ 2,821,679,000	$ 1,694,349,000	$ 4,654,639,000	$ 842,472,000	$ 1,667,349,000	$ 3,257,000,000	$ 260,458,000	$ 56,584,000	$ 321,201,000	$ 157,230,000	$ 135,660,000	$ 5,904,000,000	$ 1,475,496,000	$ 981,294,000	$ 1,744,991,000	$ 364,307,000	$ 674,979,000	$ 4,842,000,000	$ 1,133,748,000	$ 677,360,000	$ 2,768,602,000	$ 312,441,000	$ 868,840,000	$ (381,000,000)	$ (48,023,000)	$ (20,889,000)	$ (180,155,000)	$ 8,494,000	$ (12,491,000)	$ 0	$ 361,000
Beginning Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2010							501,000,000
Issuance of Common Stock, Value	49,000,000						9,000,000						40,000,000
Issuance of Common Stock, Shares							1,000,000
Common Stock Dividends		(67,500,000)	(37,500,000)	(325,000,000)	(32,500,000)															(67,500,000)	(37,500,000)	(325,000,000)	(32,500,000)
Common Stock Dividends	(446,000,000)					(2,126,000)													(444,000,000)												(2,000,000)	(2,126,000)
Preferred Stock Dividends	(1,000,000)	(400,000)	(170,000)	(366,000)	(98,000)	(114,000)													(1,000,000)	(400,000)	(170,000)	(366,000)	(98,000)	(114,000)
Capital Stock Expense		3,000		0										3,000		50,000						(50,000)
Other Changes in Equity	(12,000,000)												(12,000,000)
Subtotal - Equity	13,212,000,000	2,753,782,000	1,656,679,000	4,329,273,000	809,874,000	1,665,109,000
Net Income (Loss)	706,000,000					78,780,000													706,000,000
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	2,000,000					2,118,000																									2,000,000
Net Income (Loss)	708,000,000	70,607,000	76,813,000	308,164,000	46,949,000	80,898,000														70,607,000	76,813,000	308,164,000	46,949,000	78,780,000								2,118,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	19,000,000	2,765,000	1,532,000	5,802,000	(756,000)	1,520,000																			19,000,000	2,765,000	1,532,000	5,802,000	(756,000)	1,520,000
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2011	13,939,000,000	2,827,154,000	1,735,024,000	4,643,239,000	856,067,000	1,747,527,000	3,266,000,000	260,458,000	56,584,000	321,201,000	157,230,000	135,660,000	5,932,000,000	1,475,499,000	981,294,000	1,745,041,000	364,307,000	674,979,000	5,103,000,000	1,136,455,000	716,503,000	2,751,350,000	326,792,000	947,506,000	(362,000,000)	(45,258,000)	(19,357,000)	(174,353,000)	7,738,000	(10,971,000)	0	353,000
Ending Balance, Shares at Jun. 30, 2011							502,000,000
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2011
Net Income (Loss)	352,000,000					50,035,000
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	1,000,000					1,036,000
Net Income (Loss)	353,000,000	31,627,000	31,386,000	142,194,000	31,560,000	51,071,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	11,000,000	1,477,000	764,000	2,868,000		1,016,000
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2011	13,939,000,000	2,827,154,000	1,735,024,000	4,643,239,000	856,067,000	1,747,527,000		260,458,000	56,584,000	321,201,000	157,230,000	135,660,000			981,294,000		364,307,000	674,979,000
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	14,665,000,000	2,936,414,000	1,760,980,000	4,450,178,000	892,805,000	1,813,757,000	3,274,000,000	260,458,000	56,584,000	321,201,000	157,230,000	135,660,000	5,970,000,000	1,573,752,000	980,896,000	1,744,099,000	364,037,000	674,606,000	5,890,000,000	1,160,747,000	751,721,000	2,582,600,000	364,389,000	1,029,915,000	(470,000,000)	(58,543,000)	(28,221,000)	(197,722,000)	7,149,000	(26,815,000)	1,000,000	391,000
Beginning Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2011	503,759,460				10,482,000
Issuance of Common Stock, Value	50,000,000						10,000,000						40,000,000
Issuance of Common Stock, Shares							1,000,000
Common Stock Dividends		(100,000,000)	(25,000,000)	(150,000,000)	(30,000,000)															(100,000,000)	(25,000,000)	(150,000,000)	(30,000,000)
Common Stock Dividends	(458,000,000)					(2,195,000)													(456,000,000)												(2,000,000)	(2,195,000)
Other Changes in Equity	3,000,000												3,000,000
Subtotal - Equity	14,260,000,000	2,836,414,000	1,735,980,000	4,300,178,000	862,805,000	1,811,562,000
Net Income (Loss)	751,000,000					89,153,000													751,000,000
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	2,000,000					2,144,000																									2,000,000
Net Income (Loss)	753,000,000	137,643,000	69,031,000	252,253,000	47,859,000	91,297,000														137,643,000	69,031,000	252,253,000	47,859,000	89,153,000								2,144,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(5,000,000)	1,826,000	(4,420,000)	4,910,000	(412,000)	(1,047,000)																			(5,000,000)	1,826,000	(4,420,000)	4,910,000	(412,000)	(1,047,000)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2012	15,008,000,000	2,975,883,000	1,800,591,000	4,557,341,000	910,252,000	1,901,812,000	3,284,000,000	260,458,000	56,584,000	321,201,000	157,230,000	135,660,000	6,013,000,000	1,573,752,000	980,896,000	1,744,099,000	364,037,000	674,606,000	6,185,000,000	1,198,390,000	795,752,000	2,684,853,000	382,248,000	1,119,068,000	(475,000,000)	(56,717,000)	(32,641,000)	(192,812,000)	6,737,000	(27,862,000)	1,000,000	340,000
Ending Balance, Shares at Jun. 30, 2012	505,165,281				10,482,000
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2012
Net Income (Loss)	362,000,000					53,841,000
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	1,000,000					1,061,000
Net Income (Loss)	363,000,000	62,332,000	29,810,000	101,423,000	35,211,000	54,902,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(3,000,000)	1,465,000	(7,155,000)	3,410,000		563,000
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2012	$ 15,008,000,000	$ 2,975,883,000	$ 1,800,591,000	$ 4,557,341,000	$ 910,252,000	$ 1,901,812,000		$ 260,458,000	$ 56,584,000	$ 321,201,000	$ 157,230,000	$ 135,660,000		$ 1,573,752,000	$ 980,896,000	$ 1,744,099,000	$ 364,037,000	$ 674,606,000
Ending Balance, Shares at Jun. 30, 2012	505,165,281				10,482,000