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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
5 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Sep. 30, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]    
Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]  
Organization

The Company is an energy and energy services provider offering physical delivery and related services for both electricity and natural gas primarily in the south central United States. The Company conducts these activities through two business segments:  (i) electric utility and (ii) natural gas midstream operations. For a discussion of the change in the Company’s business segments due to the formation of Enable Midstream Partners, see Note 12. For periods prior to May 1, 2013, the Company consolidated Enogex Holdings in its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Effective May 1, 2013, OGE Energy, the ArcLight group and CenterPoint Energy, Inc., formed Enable Midstream Partners to own and operate the midstream businesses of OGE Energy and CenterPoint. In the formation transaction, OGE Energy and ArcLight contributed Enogex LLC to Enable Midstream Partners and the Company deconsolidated its previously held investment in Enogex Holdings and acquired an equity interest in Enable Midstream Partners. The Company determined that its contribution of Enogex LLC to Enable Midstream Partners met the requirements of being in substance real estate and was recorded at historical cost. The general partner of Enable Midstream Partners is equally controlled by CenterPoint and OGE Energy, who each have 50 percent of the management rights. Based on the 50/50 management ownership, with neither company having control, effective May 1, 2013, OGE Energy began accounting for its interest in Enable Midstream Partners using the equity method of accounting.

The electric utility segment generates, transmits, distributes and sells electric energy in Oklahoma and western Arkansas.  Its operations are conducted through OG&E and are subject to regulation by the OCC, the APSC and the FERC. OG&E was incorporated in 1902 under the laws of the Oklahoma Territory.  OG&E is the largest electric utility in Oklahoma and its franchised service territory includes the Fort Smith, Arkansas area.  OG&E sold its retail natural gas business in 1928 and is no longer engaged in the natural gas distribution business.

As discussed below, the Company completed a 2-for-1 stock split of the Company's common stock effective July 1, 2013. All share and per share amounts within this Form 10-Q have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the effects of the stock split for all periods presented.
Basis of Accounting [Text Block]  
Basis of Presentation

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein have been prepared by the Company, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations; however, the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to prevent the information presented from being misleading.
In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary to fairly present the consolidated financial position of the Company at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the results of its operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 and the results of its cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, have been included and are of a normal recurring nature except as otherwise disclosed.

Due to seasonal fluctuations and other factors, the Company's operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2013 or for any future period. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included in the Company's 2012 Form 10-K.

Public Utilities, Policy [Policy Text Block]  
Accounting Records

The accounting records of OG&E are maintained in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts prescribed by the FERC and adopted by the OCC and the APSC.  Additionally, OG&E, as a regulated utility, is subject to accounting principles for certain types of rate-regulated activities, which provide that certain actual or anticipated costs that would otherwise be charged to expense can be deferred as regulatory assets, based on the expected recovery from customers in future rates.  Likewise, certain actual or anticipated credits that would otherwise reduce expense can be deferred as regulatory liabilities, based on the expected flowback to customers in future rates.  Management's expected recovery of deferred costs and flowback of deferred credits generally results from specific decisions by regulators granting such ratemaking treatment.

OG&E records certain actual or anticipated costs and obligations as regulatory assets or liabilities if it is probable, based on regulatory orders or other available evidence, that the cost or obligation will be included in amounts allowable for recovery or refund in future rates.
Management continuously monitors the future recoverability of regulatory assets.  When in management's judgment future recovery becomes impaired, the amount of the regulatory asset is adjusted, as appropriate.  If OG&E were required to discontinue the application of accounting principles for certain types of rate-regulated activities for some or all of its operations, it could result in writing off the related regulatory assets, which could have significant financial effects.
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]  
Use of Estimates

In preparing the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and contingent liabilities at the date of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Changes to these assumptions and estimates could have a material effect on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.  However, the Company believes it has taken reasonable, but conservative, positions where assumptions and estimates are used in order to minimize the negative financial impact to the Company that could result if actual results vary from the assumptions and estimates.  In management's opinion, the areas of the Company where the most significant judgment is exercised for all Company segments includes the determination of Pension Plan assumptions, impairment estimates of long-lived assets (including intangible assets), income taxes, contingency reserves, asset retirement obligations and the allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable. For the electric utility segment, the most significant judgment is also exercised in the valuation of regulatory assets and liabilities and unbilled revenues. For the natural gas midstream operations segment, the most significant judgment is also exercised in the valuation of operating revenues, natural gas purchases, purchase and sale contracts, assets and depreciable lives of property, plant and equipment, amortization methodologies related to intangible assets and impairment assessments of goodwill and equity method investments.
Equity Method Investments, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Based on the 50/50 management ownership, with neither company having control, effective May 1, 2013, OGE Energy began accounting for its interest in Enable Midstream Partners using the equity method of accounting.
Investment in Unconsolidated Affiliate

OGE Energy's investment in Enable Midstream Partners is considered to be a variable interest entity because the owners of the equity at risk in this entity have disproportionate voting rights in relation to their obligations to absorb the entity's expected losses or to receive its expected residual returns. However, OGE Energy is not considered the primary beneficiary of Enable Midstream Partners since it does not have the power to direct the activities of Enable Midstream Partners that are considered most significant to the economic performance of Enable Midstream Partners. As discussed above, OGE Energy accounts for the investment in Enable Midstream Partners using the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method, the investment will be adjusted each period for contributions made, distributions received and the Company's share of the investee's comprehensive income. OGE Energy's maximum exposure to loss related to Enable Midstream Partners is limited to OGE Energy's equity investment in Enable Midstream Partners as presented on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2013. The Company evaluates its equity method investments for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate there is a loss in value of the investment that is other than a temporary decline.

The Company considers distributions received from its unconsolidated affiliates which do not exceed cumulative equity in earnings subsequent to the date of investment to be a return on investment which are classified as operating activities in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The Company considers distributions received from its unconsolidated affiliates in excess of cumulative equity in earnings subsequent to the date of investment to be a return of investment which are classified as investing activities in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
 
Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]  
The classification of the Company's fair value measurements requires judgment regarding the degree to which market data is observable or corroborated by observable market data. GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value based on observable and unobservable data. The hierarchy categorizes the inputs into three levels, with the highest priority given to quoted prices in active markets for identical unrestricted assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority given to unobservable inputs (Level 3).  Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.  The three levels defined in the fair value hierarchy and examples of each are as follows:
 
Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical unrestricted assets or liabilities that are accessible at the measurement date. Instruments classified as Level 1 include natural gas futures, swaps and options transactions for contracts traded on the NYMEX and settled through a NYMEX clearing broker.
 
Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices in active markets included within Level 1 that are either directly or indirectly observable at the reporting date for the asset or liability for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.  Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.  Instruments classified as Level 2 include over-the-counter NYMEX natural gas swaps, natural gas basis swaps and natural gas purchase and sales transactions in markets such that the pricing is closely related to the NYMEX pricing.

Level 3 inputs are prices or valuation techniques for the asset or liability that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or no market activity). Unobservable inputs reflect the reporting entity's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability (including assumptions about risk). 
 
The Company utilizes the market approach in determining the fair value of its derivative positions by using either NYMEX published market prices, independent broker pricing data or broker/dealer valuations.  The valuations of derivatives with pricing based on NYMEX published market prices may be considered Level 1 if they are settled through a NYMEX clearing broker account with daily margining.  Over-the-counter derivatives with NYMEX based prices are considered Level 2 due to the impact of counterparty credit risk.  Valuations based on independent broker pricing or broker/dealer valuations may be classified as Level 2 only to the extent they may be validated by an additional source of independent market data for an identical or closely related active market. In certain less liquid markets or for longer-term contracts, forward prices are not as readily available. In these circumstances, contracts are valued using internally developed methodologies that consider historical relationships among various quoted prices in active markets that result in management's best estimate of fair value.  These contracts are classified as Level 3.
 
The impact to the fair value of derivatives due to credit risk is calculated using the probability of default based on Standard & Poor's Ratings Services and/or internally generated ratings.  The fair value of derivative assets is adjusted for credit risk.  The fair value of derivative liabilities is adjusted for credit risk only if the impact is deemed material.

The Company's long-term debt is valued at the carrying amount. The fair value of the Company's long-term debt is based on quoted market prices and estimates of current rates available for similar issues with similar maturities and is classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy except for the Tinker Debt which fair value was based on calculating the net present value of the monthly payments discounted by the Company's current borrowing rate and is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

Derivatives, Offsetting Fair Value Amounts, Policy [Policy Text Block]  
Fair value amounts recognized for forward, interest rate swap, option and other conditional or exchange contracts executed with the same counterparty under a master netting arrangement may be offset.  The reporting entity's choice to offset or not must be applied consistently.  A master netting arrangement exists if the reporting entity has multiple contracts, whether for the same type of conditional or exchange contract or for different types of contracts, with a single counterparty that are subject to a contractual agreement that provides for the net settlement of all contracts through a single payment in a single currency in the event of default on or termination of any one contract. Offsetting the fair values recognized for forward, interest rate swap, option and other conditional or exchange contracts outstanding with a single counterparty results in the net fair value of the transactions being reported as an asset or a liability in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company has presented the fair values of its derivative contracts under master netting agreements using a net fair value presentation.

Derivatives, Policy [Policy Text Block]  
 
Fair Value Hedges
 
For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a fair value hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative as well as the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item attributable to the hedge risk are recognized currently in earnings.  The Company includes the gain or loss on the hedged items in Operating Revenues as the offsetting loss or gain on the related hedging derivative.

Cash Flow Hedges
 
For derivatives that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the change in fair value of the derivative instrument is reported as a component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) and recognized into earnings in the same period during which the hedged transaction affects earnings.  The ineffective portion of a derivative's change in fair value or hedge components excluded from the assessment of effectiveness is recognized currently in earnings. The Company measures the ineffectiveness of commodity cash flow hedges using the change in fair value method whereby the change in the expected future cash flows designated as the hedge transaction are compared to the change in fair value of the hedging instrument.  Forecasted transactions, which are designated as the hedged transaction in a cash flow hedge, are regularly evaluated to assess whether they continue to be probable of occurring.  If the forecasted transactions are no longer probable of occurring, hedge accounting will cease on a prospective basis and all future changes in the fair value of the derivative will be recognized directly in earnings.

The Company previously designated as cash flow hedges derivatives for OGE Holdings' NGLs volumes and corresponding keep-whole natural gas resulting from its natural gas processing contracts (processing hedges) and natural gas positions resulting from its natural gas gathering and processing operations and natural gas transportation and storage operations (operational gas hedges).  The Company also previously designated as cash flow hedges certain derivatives for certain natural gas storage inventory positions. Due to the deconsolidation effective May 1, 2013, the Company had no material instruments designated as cash flow hedges at September 30, 2013.
 
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments

Derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments are utilized in OGE Holdings' asset management activities.  For derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments, the gain or loss on the derivative is recognized currently in earnings.
Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]  
Income taxes are generally allocated to each company in the affiliated group based on its stand-alone taxable income or loss.  Federal investment tax credits previously claimed on electric utility property have been deferred and are being amortized to income over the life of the related property. 
The Company files consolidated income tax returns in the U.S. Federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions.
Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]  
Earnings Per Share
 
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income attributable to OGE Energy by the weighted average number of the Company's common shares outstanding during the period. In the calculation of diluted earnings per share, weighted average shares outstanding are increased for additional shares that would be outstanding if potentially dilutive securities were converted to common stock. Potentially dilutive securities for the Company consist of performance units.