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	70,000,000						14,000,000						56,000,000
Issuance of Common Stock, Shares							2,000,000
Capital Contribution from Parent		100,000,000												100,000,000
Common Stock Dividends		(97,500,000)	(56,250,000)	(487,500,000)	(52,500,000)															(97,500,000)	(56,250,000)	(487,500,000)	(52,500,000)
Common Stock Dividends	(668,000,000)					(3,183,000)													(665,000,000)												(3,000,000)	(3,183,000)
Preferred Stock Dividends	(2,000,000)	(599,000)	(255,000)	(549,000)	(147,000)	(172,000)													(2,000,000)	(599,000)	(255,000)	(549,000)	(147,000)	(172,000)
Gain on Reacquired Preferred Stock		3,000												3,000
Capital Stock Expense				0												75,000						(75,000)
Other Changes in Equity	(8,000,000)												(8,000,000)
Subtotal - Equity	13,014,000,000	2,823,583,000	1,637,844,000	4,166,590,000	789,825,000	1,663,994,000
Net Income (Loss)	1,635,000,000					165,552,000													1,635,000,000					165,552,000
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	3,000,000					3,141,000																									3,000,000	3,141,000
Net Income (Loss)	1,638,000,000	123,411,000	128,515,000	436,503,000	104,298,000	168,693,000														123,411,000	128,515,000	436,503,000	104,298,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	1,000,000	3,099,000	(3,121,000)	7,527,000	(1,188,000)	(9,265,000)																			1,000,000	3,099,000	(3,121,000)	7,527,000	(1,188,000)	(9,265,000)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2011	14,653,000,000	2,950,093,000	1,763,238,000	4,610,620,000	892,935,000	1,823,422,000	3,271,000,000	260,458,000	56,584,000	321,201,000	157,230,000	135,660,000	5,952,000,000	1,575,499,000	981,294,000	1,745,066,000	364,307,000	674,979,000	5,810,000,000	1,159,060,000	749,370,000	2,716,981,000	364,092,000	1,034,220,000	(380,000,000)	(44,924,000)	(24,010,000)	(172,628,000)	7,306,000	(21,756,000)	0	319,000
Ending Balance, Shares at Sep. 30, 2011							503,000,000
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2011
Net Income (Loss)	929,000,000					86,772,000
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	1,000,000					1,023,000
Net Income (Loss)	930,000,000	52,804,000	51,702,000	128,339,000	57,349,000	87,795,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(18,000,000)	334,000	(4,653,000)	1,725,000		(10,785,000)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2011	14,653,000,000	2,950,093,000	1,763,238,000	4,610,620,000	892,935,000	1,823,422,000		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	64,000,000						12,000,000						52,000,000
Issuance of Common Stock, Shares							2,000,000
Capital Contribution from Parent		0
Common Stock Dividends		(135,000,000)	(50,000,000)	(225,000,000)	(60,000,000)															(135,000,000)	(50,000,000)	(225,000,000)	(60,000,000)
Common Stock Dividends	(687,000,000)					(3,176,000)													(684,000,000)												(3,000,000)	(3,176,000)
Other Changes in Equity	7,000,000												8,000,000																		(1,000,000)
Subtotal - Equity	14,049,000,000	2,801,414,000	1,710,980,000	4,225,178,000	832,805,000	1,810,581,000
Net Income (Loss)	1,238,000,000					177,416,000													1,238,000,000					177,416,000
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	3,000,000					3,099,000																									3,000,000	3,099,000
Net Income (Loss)	1,241,000,000	200,834,000	108,285,000	403,763,000	105,962,000	180,515,000														200,834,000	108,285,000	403,763,000	105,962,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	16,000,000	4,444,000	(4,546,000)	9,926,000	(465,000)	(183,000)																			16,000,000	4,444,000	(4,546,000)	9,926,000	(465,000)	(183,000)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2012	15,306,000,000	3,006,692,000	1,814,719,000	4,638,867,000	938,302,000	1,990,913,000	3,286,000,000	260,458,000	56,584,000	321,201,000	157,230,000	135,660,000	6,030,000,000	1,573,752,000	980,896,000	1,744,099,000	364,037,000	674,606,000	6,444,000,000	1,226,581,000	810,006,000	2,761,363,000	410,351,000	1,207,331,000	(454,000,000)	(54,099,000)	(32,767,000)	(187,796,000)	6,684,000	(26,998,000)	0	314,000
Ending Balance, Shares at Sep. 30, 2012	505,552,303				10,482,000
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2012
Net Income (Loss)	487,000,000					88,263,000
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	1,000,000					955,000
Net Income (Loss)	488,000,000	63,191,000	39,254,000	151,510,000	58,103,000	89,218,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	21,000,000	2,618,000	(126,000)	5,016,000		864,000
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2012	$ 15,306,000,000	$ 3,006,692,000	$ 1,814,719,000	$ 4,638,867,000	$ 938,302,000	$ 1,990,913,000		$ 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 Sep. 30, 2012	505,552,303				10,482,000