DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Derivative [Line Items]
Commodity and other energy management contracts designated as cash flow hedges (in DT)	31,422,638		36,427,763
Nonmonetary Notional Amount of Price Risk Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments	36,094,637	[1]	41,023,563	[2]
Commodity and other energy management contracts (in DT)	67,517,275	[1]	77,451,326	[2]
Commodity and other energy management contracts not designated as hedges (in DT)	6,952,000		9,626,000
Aggregate notional amount of interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedge (in dollars)			$ 0
Aggregate notional amount of interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedge (in dollars)	1.0		822.6
Gas Distribution
Derivative [Line Items]
Commodity and other energy management contracts designated as cash flow hedges (in DT)	0		0
Nonmonetary Notional Amount of Price Risk Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments	9,520,000		9,080,000
Commodity and other energy management contracts (in DT)	9,520,000		9,080,000
Retail Gas Marketing
Derivative [Line Items]
Commodity and other energy management contracts designated as cash flow hedges (in DT)	6,573,000		6,566,000
Nonmonetary Notional Amount of Price Risk Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments	0		0
Commodity and other energy management contracts (in DT)	6,573,000		6,566,000
Energy Marketing
Derivative [Line Items]
Commodity and other energy management contracts designated as cash flow hedges (in DT)	24,849,638		29,861,763
Nonmonetary Notional Amount of Price Risk Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments	26,574,637	[1]	31,943,563	[2]
Commodity and other energy management contracts (in DT)	51,424,275	[1]	61,805,326	[2]
SCE&G
Derivative [Line Items]
Aggregate notional amount of interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedge (in dollars)	$ 921,400,000		$ 471,400,000
SCE&G | Gas Distribution
Derivative [Line Items]
Nonmonetary Notional Amount of Price Risk Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments			2,490,000

[1] (a) Includes an aggregate 6,952,000 DT related to basis swap contracts in Energy Marketing.

[2] (b) Includes an aggregate 9,626,000 DT related to basis swap contracts in Energy Marketing.