INCOME TAXES INCOME TAXES (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
income tax [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Income Taxes										$ 133,000,000
Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations, Income Tax Reconciliation [Abstract]
Income Tax Reconciliation, Income Tax Expense (Benefit), at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate									211,000,000	194,000,000	187,000,000
Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Continuing Operations, Income Tax Reconciliation, Changes [Abstract]
Income Tax Reconciliation, State and Local Income Taxes									19,000,000	15,000,000	9,000,000
Income Tax Reconciliation, Amortization of State and Local Investment Tax Credits									(13,000,000)	(16,000,000)	(18,000,000)
Income Tax Reconciliation, Allowance for Cost of Equity Funds Used During Construction									(8,000,000)	(5,000,000)	(8,000,000)
Income Tax Reconciliation, Deductions, Dividends									(9,000,000)	(9,000,000)	(9,000,000)
Amortization of Amounts Deferred under Federal Investment Tax Credits									(3,000,000)	(3,000,000)	(3,000,000)
Section 45 tax credit									(5,000,000)	(2,000,000)	(2,000,000)
Income Tax Reconciliation, Deductions, Qualified Production Activities									(9,000,000)	(6,000,000)	0
Income Tax Reconciliation, Other Adjustments									(1,000,000)	0	3,000,000
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate									35.00%
Income Available to Common Shareholders	105,000,000	122,000,000	72,000,000	121,000,000	98,000,000	105,000,000	56,000,000	128,000,000	420,000,000	387,000,000	376,000,000
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)									182,000,000	168,000,000	159,000,000
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest									602,000,000	555,000,000	535,000,000
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic										555,000,000	535,000,000
SCE&G
income tax [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Income Taxes										96,000,000
Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations, Income Tax Reconciliation [Abstract]
Income Tax Reconciliation, Income Tax Expense (Benefit), at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate									178,000,000	159,000,000	152,000,000
Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Continuing Operations, Income Tax Reconciliation, Changes [Abstract]
Income Tax Reconciliation, State and Local Income Taxes									17,000,000	12,000,000	6,000,000
Income Tax Reconciliation, Amortization of State and Local Investment Tax Credits									(13,000,000)	(16,000,000)	(18,000,000)
Amortization of Amounts Deferred under Federal Investment Tax Credits									(3,000,000)	(3,000,000)	(3,000,000)
Income Tax Reconciliation, Deductions, Qualified Production Activities									(9,000,000)	(6,000,000)	0
Income Tax Reconciliation, Other Adjustments									(1,000,000)	1,000,000	3,000,000
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate									35.00%
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)									157,000,000	140,000,000	130,000,000
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest									$ 509,000,000	$ 456,000,000	$ 434,000,000