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CASH DISTRIBUTIONS - General Partner Distribution Incentives (Details 2) - $ / shares
12 Months Ended
Apr. 01, 2015
May. 22, 2013
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Common units          
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]          
Number of units     64,300,000 63,600,000 62,300,000 [1]
Limited Partners | Common units          
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]          
Number of units     64,317,449    
Limited Partners | Common units | TC PipeLines GP, Inc.          
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]          
Number of units     5,797,106    
General Partner | TC PipeLines GP, Inc.          
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]          
General partner interest (as a percent) 2.00% 2.00% 2.00% 2.00% 2.00%
Minimum Quarterly Distribution          
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]          
Total Quarterly Distribution Per Unit Target Amount (in dollars per unit)     $ 0.45    
Minimum Quarterly Distribution | Limited Partners | Common units          
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]          
Marginal Percentage Interest in Distribution, Common Unitholders (as a percent)     98.00%    
Minimum Quarterly Distribution | General Partner          
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]          
Marginal Percentage Interest in Distribution, General Partner (includes IDRs)     2.00%    
First Target Distribution | Minimum          
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]          
Total Quarterly Distribution Per Unit Target Amount (in dollars per unit)     $ 0.45    
First Target Distribution | Maximum          
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]          
Total Quarterly Distribution Per Unit Target Amount (in dollars per unit)     $ 0.81    
First Target Distribution | Limited Partners | Common units          
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]          
Marginal Percentage Interest in Distribution, Common Unitholders (as a percent)     98.00%    
First Target Distribution | General Partner          
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]          
Marginal Percentage Interest in Distribution, General Partner (includes IDRs)     2.00%    
Second Target Distribution | Minimum          
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]          
Total Quarterly Distribution Per Unit Target Amount (in dollars per unit)     $ 0.81    
Second Target Distribution | Maximum          
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]          
Total Quarterly Distribution Per Unit Target Amount (in dollars per unit)     $ 0.88    
Second Target Distribution | Limited Partners | Common units          
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]          
Marginal Percentage Interest in Distribution, Common Unitholders (as a percent)     85.00%    
Second Target Distribution | General Partner          
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]          
Marginal Percentage Interest in Distribution, General Partner (includes IDRs)     15.00%    
Thereafter | Minimum          
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]          
Total Quarterly Distribution Per Unit Target Amount (in dollars per unit)     $ 0.88    
Thereafter | Limited Partners | Common units          
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]          
Marginal Percentage Interest in Distribution, Common Unitholders (as a percent)     75.00%    
Thereafter | General Partner          
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]          
Marginal Percentage Interest in Distribution, General Partner (includes IDRs)     25.00%    
[1] Recast as discussed in Note 2 and Note 6.