Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Abstract]
Federal: Current	$ 0	$ 0	$ (8,000,000)
Federal: Deferred	24,000,000	(150,000,000)	(125,000,000)
State: Current	(2,000,000)	1,000,000	1,000,000
State: Deferred	(11,000,000)	1,000,000	(19,000,000)
Foreign: Current	562,000,000	852,000,000	678,000,000
Foreign: Deferred	135,000,000	(70,000,000)	66,000,000
Total	708,000,000	634,000,000	593,000,000
Effective Income Tax Rate, Continuing Operations, Tax Rate Reconciliation [Abstract]
Statutory Federal tax rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
State taxes, net of Federal tax benefit	(15.00%)	0.00%	(3.00%)
Taxes on foreign earnings	(21.00%)	(3.00%)	(2.00%)
Valuation allowance	13.00%	(3.00%)	0.00%
Gain (loss) on sale of businesses	0.00%	0.00%	4.00%
Chilean withholding tax reversals	0.00%	0.00%	(3.00%)
Taxes on cash repatriation	13.00%	0.00%	0.00%
DPL Goodwill Impairment	203.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Other - net	(3.00%)	0.00%	0.00%
Effective tax rate	225.00%	29.00%	31.00%
Income Taxes Receivable And Payable [Abstract]
Income taxes receivable - current	296,000,000	563,000,000
Income taxes receivable - noncurrent	15,000,000	21,000,000
Total income taxes receivable	311,000,000	584,000,000
Income taxes payable - current	405,000,000	759,000,000
Income taxes payable - noncurrent	2,000,000	3,000,000
Total income taxes payable	407,000,000	762,000,000
Valuation Allowance [Abstract]
Increase Decrease In Deferred Tax Valuation Allowance	5,000,000	(376,000,000)
Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Abstract]
Differences between book and tax basis of property	(2,067,000,000)	(1,909,000,000)
Cumulative translation adjustment	(43,000,000)	(39,000,000)
Other taxable temporary differences	(419,000,000)	(321,000,000)
Total deferred tax liability	(2,529,000,000)	(2,269,000,000)
Operating loss carryforwards	(1,604,000,000)	(1,481,000,000)
Capital loss carryforwards	(108,000,000)	(112,000,000)
Bad debt and other book provisions	(358,000,000)	(463,000,000)
Retirement costs	(619,000,000)	(360,000,000)
Tax credit carryforwards	(46,000,000)	(46,000,000)
Other deductible temporary differences	(555,000,000)	(516,000,000)
Total gross deferred tax asset	(3,290,000,000)	(2,978,000,000)
Less: valuation allowance	(906,000,000)	(901,000,000)
Total net deferred tax asset	(2,384,000,000)	(2,077,000,000)
Net deferred tax (asset)/liability	145,000,000	192,000,000
Tax Benefits Related To Tax Status Of Operations In Countries Subject To Reduced Tax Rates [Abstract]
Tax Benefits Related To Tax Status Of Operations In Countries Subject To Reduced Tax Rates	81,000,000	60,000,000	60,000,000
Tax Benefits Related To Tax Status Of Operations In Countries Subject To Reduced Tax Rates Per Share	$ 0.10	$ 0.07	$ 0.07
Income Loss From Continuing Operations By US v/s Foreign Abstract
U.S.	(1,915,000,000)	(526,000,000)	(539,000,000)
Non-U.S.	2,229,000,000	2,737,000,000	2,429,000,000
Total	314,000,000	2,211,000,000	1,890,000,000
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Expense [Abstract]
Total Expense Benefit For Penalties Related To Unrecognized Tax Benefits	1,000,000	0	(1,000,000)
Total Expense For Interest Related To Unrecognized Tax Benefits	3,000,000	3,000,000	(10,000,000)
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued [Abstract]
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Interest on Income Taxes Accrued	18,000,000	15,000,000
Gross Accrued Income Tax Related Penalties Included In The Consolidated Balance Sheet	4,000,000	4,000,000
Uncertain Tax Positions Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Unrecognized Tax Benefits that Would Impact Effective Tax Rate	450,000,000	424,000,000	412,000,000
Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate Portion With Attributes Warranting Full Valuation Allowance	45,000,000	47,000,000	51,000,000
Unrecognized Tax Benefits Anticipated To Result In Net Decrease Of Unrecognized Tax Benefits Within 12 Months Of Balance Sheet Date Minimum	90,000,000
Unrecognized Tax Benefits Anticipated To Result In Net Decrease Of Unrecognized Tax Benefits Within 12 Months Of Balance Sheet Date Maximum	110,000,000
Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Settlements With Taxing Authorities Portion Resulting From Noncash Audit Settlement			105,000,000
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1	471,000,000	437,000,000	510,000,000
Additions for current year tax positions	12,000,000	7,000,000	14,000,000
Additions for tax positions of prior years	34,000,000	49,000,000	51,000,000
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(29,000,000)	(18,000,000)	(46,000,000)
Effects of foreign currency translation	0	(1,000,000)	(2,000,000)
Settlements	(6,000,000)	0	(67,000,000)
Lapse of statute of limitations	(1,000,000)	(3,000,000)	(23,000,000)
Balance at December 31	481,000,000	471,000,000	437,000,000
Year 2016 to 2023 [Member]
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax Credit Carryforward, Amount	3,000,000
No Expiration [Member]
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax Credit Carryforward, Amount	19,000,000
General Business [Member]
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax Credit Carryforward, Amount	18,000,000
Federal Alternative Minimum Tax [Member]
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax Credit Carryforward, Amount	5,000,000
Foreign Jurisdictions [Member]
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax Credit Carryforward, Amount	23,000,000
Foreign Jurisdictions [Member] | Year 2013 to 2015 [Member]
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax Credit Carryforward, Amount	1,000,000
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	2,200,000,000
Operating Loss Carryforwards Amount Related To Stock Option Deductions To Be Recognized In Apic	76,000,000
Foreign Tax Authority [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	3,300,000,000
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	$ 5,800,000,000