COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 29, 2012	Nov. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2005
Nuclear Insurance
Federal limit on public liability claims from nuclear incident, approximate			$ 12,600,000,000
scg_Maximum Insurance Coverage for each Nuclear Plant by ANI			375,000,000
Maximum liability assessment per reactor for each nuclear incident			117,500,000	78,300,000
Maximum yearly assessment per reactor			17,500,000
Maximum prosepective insurance premium per nuclear incident			37,300,000
Maximum amount of coverage to nuclear facility for property damage and outage costs			2,750,000,000
Maximum amount of coverage for accidental property damage			500,000,000
Environmental
Number of states required to reduce emissions to attain mandated levels					28
Regulatory assets			1,237,000,000	1,279,000,000
Nuclear Generation
Number of nuclear electric generation units			2
Generation capacity (in MW)			1,117
Percentage applicable to the Company (as a percent)			55.00%
Percentage applicable to joint owner 2 (as a percent)			45.00%
Estimated cash outflow for plant costs and related transmission infrastructure costs of nuclear electric generation site			6,000,000,000
Public Utilities, Property, Plant and Equipment Identifiable Capital Costs	6,000,000	0
Share in Approved Capital Costs	12,000,000
Public Utilities Additional Labor Expenses for Oversight of New Units	137,000,000
SCE&G
Environmental
Number of MGP decommissioned sites that contain residues of by-product chemicals			4
Additional costs to be incurred for remediation			8,100,000
Deferred costs, net of costs previously recovered through rates and insurance settlements included in regulatory assets			24,500,000
Regulatory assets			1,164,000,000	1,206,000,000
Nuclear Generation
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Minimum Period for which Escalation Rates are Considered to Determine Estimated Cash Outlays			1
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Maximum Period for which Escalation Rates are Considered to Determine Estimated Cash Outlays			5
PSNC Energy
Environmental
Number of MGP sites that require environmental clean-up			5
Regulatory assets			3,100,000
SCE&G
Nuclear Insurance
Maximum yearly assessment per reactor			$ 11,700,000