Rate Matters and Regulation (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended						12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 Oklahoma Corporation Commission [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Arkansas Public Service Commission [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 OG&E 2010 Arkansas Rate Case Filing [Member]	Jun. 17, 2011 OG&E 2010 Arkansas Rate Case Filing [Member]	Sep. 28, 2010 OG&E 2010 Arkansas Rate Case Filing [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 OG&E SPP Cost Tracker [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Review of OG&E's Fuel Adjustment Clause for Calendar Year 2009 [Member]	Aug. 11, 2011 Review of OG&E's Fuel Adjustment Clause for Calendar Year 2009 [Member]	Mar. 11, 2011 Review of OG&E's Fuel Adjustment Clause for Calendar Year 2009 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 OG&E Smart Grid Project [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 OG&E FERC Transmission Rate Incentive Filing [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 OG&E Demand and Energy Efficiency Program Filing [Member]	Jan. 31, 2012 2009 Section 311 Rate Case [Member] [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 OG&E 2011 Oklahoma Rate Case Filing [Member]	Nov. 09, 2011 OG&E 2011 Oklahoma Rate Case Filing [Member]	Jul. 28, 2011 OG&E 2011 Oklahoma Rate Case Filing [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Sooner-Rose Hill Project [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Sunnyside-Hugo Project [Member] [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Seminole-Muskogee Project [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Tuco Project [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Cleveland Project [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Anadarko Project [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Hitchland Project [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Kansas Border Project [Member]
Regulatory Matters [Line Items]
OG&E's Jurisdictional Revenues	89.00%	8.00%	3.00%
Amount of Regulatory Costs Approved													$ 7.0
Requested Rate Dollar Increase						17.7											73.3
Recovery Of And Return On Significant Electric System Expansions and Upgrades and Increased Operating Costs					8.8
Recovery of Actual Costs of Third Party Transmission Charges and SPP Administration Fees					1.0
Maximum Deferral of Certain Expenses Associated with Customer Educational Program not to Exceed Two Years					0.3
Maximum Length of Deferred Expenses to be Expended				2 years
Recovery of Incremental Revenues							5.1
Customer Refund Requested Related to Regulatory Matters										15.5
Refund to Customers 2009 Fuel Clause Review									8.4
Amount Refunded to Customers 2009 Fuel Clause Review								4.9
Expected Capital Expenditures Net of Governmental Funds Received											14
Percent of Requested Recovery of Incurred Construction Costs												100.00%
Expected Increase in Residential Electric Bill													1.47
Amount Refunded to Customers 2009 Section 311 Rate Case														2.1
Requested Rate Percentage Increase																	4.30%
Requested Return on Equity																	11.00%
Common Equity Percentage in Determining Return on Equity																	53.00%
Incremental Change in Return on Equity															0.10%
Effect of Return on Equity Change on Requested Rate Increase															3.0
New Capital Investments																	500
Long-term Purchase Commitment, Time Period													3 years
OCC Staff recommendation for rate decrease																6.2
OCC Staff recommendation for return on equity percentage																9.81%
OCC Staff recommendation common equity percentage																53.00%
Oklahoma Attorney General recommendation for return on equity percentage																9.818%
Oklahoma Attorney General recommendation for common equity percentage																49.50%
Oklahoma Industrial Electric Consumers recommendation for rate decrease																56
Oklahoma Industrial Electric Consumers recommendation for return on equity percentage																9.50%
Oklahoma Industrial Electric Consumers recommendation for common equity percentage																48.00%
Expected capital expenditures for SPP projects																		$ 45	$ 155	$ 160	$ 145	$ 60	$ 15	$ 185	$ 150