Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited) (USD $)	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Appalachian Power Co [Member]	Appalachian Power Co [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Appalachian Power Co [Member] Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Appalachian Power Co [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Appalachian Power Co [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Columbus Southern Power Co [Member]	Columbus Southern Power Co [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Columbus Southern Power Co [Member] Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Columbus Southern Power Co [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Columbus Southern Power Co [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member]	Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member] Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Ohio Power Co [Member]	Ohio Power Co [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Ohio Power Co [Member] Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Ohio Power Co [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Ohio Power Co [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member]	Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member] Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]	Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member] Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member] Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	$ 13,140,000,000	$ 3,239,000,000	$ 5,824,000,000	$ 4,451,000,000	$ (374,000,000)	$ 0	$ 2,771,577,000	$ 260,458,000	$ 1,475,393,000	$ 1,085,980,000	$ (50,254,000)	$ 1,359,835,000	$ 41,026,000	$ 580,663,000	$ 788,139,000	$ (49,993,000)	$ 1,672,783,000	$ 56,584,000	$ 981,292,000	$ 656,608,000	$ (21,701,000)	$ 3,234,695,000	$ 321,201,000	$ 1,123,149,000	$ 1,908,803,000	$ (118,458,000)	$ 811,742,000	$ 157,230,000	$ 364,231,000	$ 290,880,000	$ (599,000)	$ 1,524,157,000	$ 135,660,000	$ 674,979,000	$ 726,478,000	$ (12,991,000)	$ 31,000
Beginning Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2009		498,000,000
Issuance of Common Stock, Value	43,000,000	9,000,000	34,000,000
Issuance of Common Stock, Shares		2,000,000
Capital Contribution from Parent																	0		0
Common Stock Dividends							(78,000,000)			(78,000,000)		(52,500,000)			(52,500,000)		(51,500,000)			(51,500,000)		(150,575,000)			(150,575,000)		(25,375,000)			(25,375,000)
Common Stock Dividends	(399,000,000)			(398,000,000)		(1,000,000)																										(1,892,000)					(1,892,000)
Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements	(1,000,000)			(1,000,000)			(450,000)			(399,000)							(170,000)			(170,000)		(366,000)			(366,000)		(103,000)			(103,000)		(114,000)			(114,000)
Gain on Reacquired Preferred Stock																											76,000		76,000
Capital Stock Expense							1,000		52,000	(51,000)		79,000		79,000	(79,000)
Other Changes in Equity	2,000,000		2,000,000
Subtotal - Equity	12,785,000,000						2,693,179,000					1,307,335,000					1,621,113,000					3,083,754,000					786,340,000					1,522,151,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Taxes:
Cash Flow Hedges, Net of Tax	2,000,000				2,000,000		(2,542,000)				(2,542,000)	(431,000)				(431,000)	72,000				72,000	(1,255,000)				(1,255,000)	72,000				72,000	90,000				90,000
Securities Available for Sale, Net of Tax	(11,000,000)				(11,000,000)
Amortization of Pension and OPEB Deferred Costs, Net of Tax	11,000,000				11,000,000		2,087,000				2,087,000	1,238,000				1,238,000	436,000				436,000	3,523,000				3,523,000						469,000				469,000
NET INCOME (LOSS)	483,000,000			481,000,000		2,000,000	50,663,000			50,663,000		103,766,000			103,766,000		59,660,000			59,660,000		129,451,000			129,451,000		19,628,000			19,628,000		57,788,000			55,364,000		2,424,000
Total Comprehensive Income	485,000,000						50,208,000					104,573,000					60,168,000					131,719,000					19,700,000					58,347,000
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2010	13,270,000,000	3,248,000,000	5,860,000,000	4,533,000,000	(372,000,000)	1,000,000	2,743,387,000	260,458,000	1,475,445,000	1,058,193,000	(50,709,000)	1,411,908,000	41,026,000	580,742,000	839,326,000	(49,186,000)	1,681,281,000	56,584,000	981,292,000	664,598,000	(21,193,000)	3,215,473,000	321,201,000	1,123,149,000	1,887,313,000	(116,190,000)	806,040,000	157,230,000	364,307,000	285,030,000	(527,000)	1,580,498,000	135,660,000	674,979,000	781,728,000	(12,432,000)	563,000
Ending Balance, Shares at Jun. 30, 2010		500,000,000
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2010
Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements	0						(225,000)										(85,000)					(183,000)					(49,000)					(57,000)
Capital Stock Expense												40,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Taxes:
NET INCOME (LOSS)	137,000,000						(19,619,000)					52,116,000					14,602,000					37,548,000					15,489,000					26,705,000
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2010	13,270,000,000						2,743,387,000	260,458,000				1,411,908,000	41,026,000				1,681,281,000	56,584,000				3,215,473,000	321,201,000	1,123,149,000			806,040,000	157,230,000				1,580,498,000	135,660,000	674,979,000
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	13,622,000,000	3,257,000,000	5,904,000,000	4,842,000,000	(381,000,000)	0	2,821,679,000	260,458,000	1,475,496,000	1,133,748,000	(48,023,000)	1,486,215,000	41,026,000	580,812,000	915,713,000	(51,336,000)	1,694,349,000	56,584,000	981,294,000	677,360,000	(20,889,000)	3,168,424,000	321,201,000	1,123,153,000	1,852,889,000	(128,819,000)	842,472,000	157,230,000	364,307,000	312,441,000	8,494,000	1,667,349,000	135,660,000	674,979,000	868,840,000	(12,491,000)	361,000
Beginning Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2010	501,114,881																										10,482,000
Issuance of Common Stock, Value	49,000,000	9,000,000	40,000,000
Issuance of Common Stock, Shares		1,000,000
Capital Contribution from Parent																	0		0
Common Stock Dividends							(67,500,000)			(67,500,000)		(125,000,000)			(125,000,000)		(37,500,000)			(37,500,000)		(200,000,000)			(200,000,000)		(32,500,000)			(32,500,000)
Common Stock Dividends	(446,000,000)			(444,000,000)		(2,000,000)																										(2,126,000)					(2,126,000)
Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements	(1,000,000)			(1,000,000)			(400,000)			(400,000)							(170,000)			(170,000)		(366,000)			(366,000)		(98,000)			(98,000)		(114,000)			(114,000)
Gain on Reacquired Preferred Stock							3,000		3,000	0
Capital Stock Expense												50,000		50,000	(50,000)
Other Changes in Equity	(12,000,000)		(12,000,000)
Subtotal - Equity	13,212,000,000						2,753,782,000					1,361,215,000					1,656,679,000					2,968,058,000					809,874,000					1,665,109,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Taxes:
Cash Flow Hedges, Net of Tax	6,000,000				6,000,000		1,211,000				1,211,000	492,000				492,000	1,059,000				1,059,000	29,000				29,000	(756,000)				(756,000)	255,000				255,000
Securities Available for Sale, Net of Tax	1,000,000				1,000,000
Amortization of Pension and OPEB Deferred Costs, Net of Tax	12,000,000				12,000,000		1,554,000				1,554,000	1,278,000				1,278,000	473,000				473,000	4,003,000				4,003,000						1,265,000				1,265,000
NET INCOME (LOSS)	708,000,000			706,000,000		2,000,000	70,607,000			70,607,000		132,086,000			132,086,000		76,813,000			76,813,000		176,078,000			176,078,000		46,949,000			46,949,000		80,898,000			78,780,000		2,118,000
Total Comprehensive Income	727,000,000						73,372,000					133,856,000					78,345,000					180,110,000					46,193,000					82,418,000
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2011	13,939,000,000	3,266,000,000	5,932,000,000	5,103,000,000	(362,000,000)	0	2,827,154,000	260,458,000	1,475,499,000	1,136,455,000	(45,258,000)	1,495,071,000	41,026,000	580,862,000	922,749,000	(49,566,000)	1,735,024,000	56,584,000	981,294,000	716,503,000	(19,357,000)	3,148,168,000	321,201,000	1,123,153,000	1,828,601,000	(124,787,000)	856,067,000	157,230,000	364,307,000	326,792,000	7,738,000	1,747,527,000	135,660,000	674,979,000	947,506,000	(10,971,000)	353,000
Ending Balance, Shares at Jun. 30, 2011	502,534,747																										10,482,000
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2011
Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements	0						(200,000)										(85,000)					(183,000)					(49,000)					(57,000)
Capital Stock Expense												25,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Taxes:
NET INCOME (LOSS)	353,000,000						31,627,000					66,528,000					31,386,000					75,666,000					31,560,000					51,071,000
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2011	$ 13,939,000,000						$ 2,827,154,000	$ 260,458,000				$ 1,495,071,000	$ 41,026,000				$ 1,735,024,000	$ 56,584,000				$ 3,148,168,000	$ 321,201,000	$ 1,123,153,000			$ 856,067,000	$ 157,230,000	$ 364,307,000			$ 1,747,527,000	$ 135,660,000	$ 674,979,000
Ending Balance, Shares at Jun. 30, 2011	502,534,747																										10,482,000