LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM DEBT (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified																								3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012 PSNC Energy	Mar. 31, 2012 SCE&G (including Fuel Company)	Mar. 31, 2012 Fuel Company	Mar. 31, 2012 Parent Company [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (Member)	Mar. 31, 2012 Bank of America, N.A. (Member)	Mar. 31, 2012 Morgan Stanly Bank, N.A. (Member)	Mar. 31, 2012 Branch Banking and Trust Company (Member)	Mar. 31, 2012 Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch (Member)	Mar. 31, 2012 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Member)	Mar. 31, 2012 Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd (Member)	Mar. 31, 2012 TD Bank, N.A. (Member)	Mar. 31, 2012 UBS Loan Finance LLC (Member)	Mar. 31, 2012 Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch (Member)	Mar. 31, 2012 Union Bank, N.A. (Member)	Mar. 31, 2012 US Bank National Association (Member)	Mar. 31, 2012 Parent Company [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Parent Company [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 SCE&G (including Fuel Company)	Dec. 31, 2011 SCE&G (including Fuel Company)	Mar. 31, 2012 PSNC Energy	Dec. 31, 2011 PSNC Energy	Mar. 31, 2012 First Mortgage Bonds [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Medium Term Notes First [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Medium-term Notes [Member]
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Debt Instrument, Increase, Additional Borrowings																								$ 250	$ 250
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage																								4.35%	4.125%	6.25%
Debt Instrument, Decrease, Repayments																									250
Face value of Industrial Revenue Bonds issued, proceeds of which were availed as loan	67.8
Lines of credit:
Committed long-term line of credit, Total	1,500	100	1,100	400	300													300	300	1,100	1,100	100	100
Outstanding commercial paper (270 or fewer days)																		117	131	468	512	0	10
Commercial paper, weighted average interest rate (as a percent)																		0.85%	0.63%	0.50%	0.56%	0.00%	0.57%
Letters of credit supported by LOC																		3.0	3.0	0.3	0.3	0	0
Available amount under lines of credit																		180	166	632	588	100	90
LOC advances																		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Line of Credit Facility Percentage of Credit Facilities Provided by Each Bank						10.00%	10.00%	10.00%	8.00%	8.00%	8.00%	8.00%	8.00%	8.00%	5.30%	5.30%	5.30%
Number of other banks (in entities)	3