Derivatives and Hedging (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010		Dec. 31, 2010
Commodity:
Power (In MWHs)	875,000,000				875,000,000				652,000,000
Coal (In Tons)	48,000,000				48,000,000				63,000,000
Natural Gas (In MMBtus)	91,000,000				91,000,000				94,000,000
Heating Oil and Gasoline (In Gallons)	7,000,000				7,000,000				6,000,000
Interest Rate	$ 267,000,000				$ 267,000,000				$ 171,000,000
Interest Rate and Foreign Currency	597,000,000				597,000,000				907,000,000
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
Current Risk Management Assets	173,000,000				173,000,000				232,000,000
Long-term Risk Management Assets	343,000,000				343,000,000				410,000,000
Total Assets	516,000,000				516,000,000				642,000,000
Current Risk Management Liabilities	94,000,000				94,000,000				129,000,000
Long-term Risk Management Liabilities	124,000,000				124,000,000				141,000,000
Total Liabilities	218,000,000				218,000,000				270,000,000
Total MTM Derivative Contract Net Assets (Liabilities)	298,000,000				298,000,000				372,000,000
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized on Risk Management Contracts
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized on Risk Management Contracts	31,000,000		(3,000,000)		63,000,000		78,000,000
Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Activity for Cash Flow Hedges
Beginning Balance in AOCI	12,000,000		(11,000,000)		11,000,000		(15,000,000)
Changes in Fair Value Recognized in AOCI	3,000,000		(2,000,000)		4,000,000		0
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet:
Ending Balance in AOCI	17,000,000		(13,000,000)		17,000,000		(13,000,000)
Impact of Cash Flow Hedges on Balance Sheet
Hedging Assets	22,000,000	[1]			22,000,000	[1]			38,000,000	[1]
Hedging Liabilities	5,000,000	[1]			5,000,000	[1]			6,000,000	[1]
AOCI Gain (Loss) Net of Tax	17,000,000		(13,000,000)		17,000,000		(13,000,000)
Portion Expected to be Reclassified to Net Income During the Next Twelve Months	5,000,000				5,000,000				1,000,000
Collateral Triggering Events [Abstract]
Liabilities for Derivative Contracts with Credit Downgrade Triggers	29,000,000				29,000,000				20,000,000
Amount of Collateral AEP Subsidiaries Would Have Been Required to Post	34,000,000				34,000,000				45,000,000
Amount Attributable to RTO and ISO Activities	34,000,000				34,000,000				44,000,000
Liabilities for Contracts with Cross Default Provisions Prior to Contractural Netting Arrangements	344,000,000				344,000,000				401,000,000
Posted Cash Collateral Related to Contracts with Cross Default Provisions	35,000,000				35,000,000				81,000,000
Additional Settlement Liability if Cross Default Provision is Triggered	179,000,000				179,000,000				213,000,000
Derivatives and Hedging (Textuals) [Abstract]
Cash Collateral Received Netted Against Risk Management Assets	16,000,000				16,000,000				8,000,000
Cash Collateral Paid Netted Against Risk Management Liabilities	55,000,000				55,000,000				109,000,000
Maximum Length of Time for Hedging Exposure (in months)					36
Gain on Fair Value Hedging Instrument	4,000,000		4,000,000		8,000,000		4,000,000
Loss on Fair Value Portion of Long Term Debt	5,000,000		4,000,000		9,000,000		4,000,000
Other Revenue [Member]
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized on Risk Management Contracts
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized on Risk Management Contracts	13,000,000		8,000,000		15,000,000		9,000,000
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet:
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet	(1,000,000)		(2,000,000)		(2,000,000)		(3,000,000)
Other Revenue [Member] | Interest Rate and Foreign Currency [Member]
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet:
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet	0		0		0		0
Other Revenue [Member] | Commodity [Member]
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet:
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet	(1,000,000)		(2,000,000)		(2,000,000)		(3,000,000)
Interest Expense [Member]
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet:
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet	1,000,000		1,000,000		2,000,000		2,000,000
Interest Expense [Member] | Interest Rate and Foreign Currency [Member]
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet:
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet	1,000,000		1,000,000		2,000,000		2,000,000
Interest Expense [Member] | Commodity [Member]
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet:
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet	0		0		0		0
Purchased Electricity for Resale [Member]
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet:
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet	(1,000,000)		1,000,000		(1,000,000)		2,000,000
Purchased Electricity for Resale [Member] | Interest Rate and Foreign Currency [Member]
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet:
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet	0		0		0		0
Purchased Electricity for Resale [Member] | Commodity [Member]
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet:
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet	(1,000,000)		1,000,000		(1,000,000)		2,000,000
Utility Operations Revenue [Member]
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized on Risk Management Contracts
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized on Risk Management Contracts	18,000,000		7,000,000		38,000,000		45,000,000
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet:
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet	2,000,000		0		2,000,000		0
Utility Operations Revenue [Member] | Interest Rate and Foreign Currency [Member]
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet:
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet	0		0		0		0
Utility Operations Revenue [Member] | Commodity [Member]
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet:
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet	2,000,000		0		2,000,000		0
Regulatory Assets [Member]
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized on Risk Management Contracts
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized on Risk Management Contracts	(5,000,000)	[2]	(14,000,000)	[2]	(1,000,000)	[2]	(3,000,000)	[2]
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet:
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet	1,000,000	[2]	0	[2]	1,000,000	[2]	1,000,000	[2]
Regulatory Assets [Member] | Interest Rate and Foreign Currency [Member]
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet:
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]
Regulatory Assets [Member] | Commodity [Member]
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet:
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet	1,000,000	[2]	0	[2]	1,000,000	[2]	1,000,000	[2]
Regulatory Liabilities [Member]
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized on Risk Management Contracts
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized on Risk Management Contracts	5,000,000	[2]	(4,000,000)	[2]	11,000,000	[2]	27,000,000	[2]
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet:
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]
Regulatory Liabilities [Member] | Interest Rate and Foreign Currency [Member]
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet:
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]
Regulatory Liabilities [Member] | Commodity [Member]
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet:
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]
Other [Member]
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
Current Risk Management Assets	(528,000,000)	[3],[4]			(528,000,000)	[3],[4]			(839,000,000)	[3],[4]
Long-term Risk Management Assets	(155,000,000)	[3],[4]			(155,000,000)	[3],[4]			(150,000,000)	[3],[4]
Total Assets	(683,000,000)	[3],[4]			(683,000,000)	[3],[4]			(989,000,000)	[3],[4]
Current Risk Management Liabilities	(558,000,000)	[3],[4]			(558,000,000)	[3],[4]			(881,000,000)	[3],[4]
Long-term Risk Management Liabilities	(200,000,000)	[3],[4]			(200,000,000)	[3],[4]			(255,000,000)	[3],[4]
Total Liabilities	(758,000,000)	[3],[4]			(758,000,000)	[3],[4]			(1,136,000,000)	[3],[4]
Total MTM Derivative Contract Net Assets (Liabilities)	75,000,000	[3],[4]			75,000,000	[3],[4]			147,000,000	[3],[4]
Interest Rate and Foreign Currency [Member]
Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Activity for Cash Flow Hedges
Beginning Balance in AOCI	4,000,000		(13,000,000)		4,000,000		(13,000,000)
Changes in Fair Value Recognized in AOCI	0		(3,000,000)		(1,000,000)		(4,000,000)
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet:
Ending Balance in AOCI	5,000,000		(15,000,000)		5,000,000		(15,000,000)
Impact of Cash Flow Hedges on Balance Sheet
Hedging Assets	1,000,000	[1]			1,000,000	[1]			25,000,000	[1]
Hedging Liabilities	3,000,000	[1]			3,000,000	[1]			4,000,000	[1]
AOCI Gain (Loss) Net of Tax	5,000,000		(15,000,000)		5,000,000		(15,000,000)
Portion Expected to be Reclassified to Net Income During the Next Twelve Months	(2,000,000)				(2,000,000)				(2,000,000)
Interest Rate and Foreign Currency [Member] | Hedging Contracts [Member]
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
Current Risk Management Assets	6,000,000	[4]			6,000,000	[4]			30,000,000	[4]
Long-term Risk Management Assets	3,000,000	[4]			3,000,000	[4]			2,000,000	[4]
Total Assets	9,000,000	[4]			9,000,000	[4]			32,000,000	[4]
Current Risk Management Liabilities	2,000,000	[4]			2,000,000	[4]			2,000,000	[4]
Long-term Risk Management Liabilities	1,000,000	[4]			1,000,000	[4]			3,000,000	[4]
Total Liabilities	3,000,000	[4]			3,000,000	[4]			5,000,000	[4]
Total MTM Derivative Contract Net Assets (Liabilities)	6,000,000	[4]			6,000,000	[4]			27,000,000	[4]
Commodity [Member]
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
Current Risk Management Assets	669,000,000	[4]			669,000,000	[4]			1,023,000,000	[4]
Long-term Risk Management Assets	482,000,000	[4]			482,000,000	[4]			546,000,000	[4]
Total Assets	1,151,000,000	[4]			1,151,000,000	[4]			1,569,000,000	[4]
Current Risk Management Liabilities	636,000,000	[4]			636,000,000	[4]			995,000,000	[4]
Long-term Risk Management Liabilities	317,000,000	[4]			317,000,000	[4]			387,000,000	[4]
Total Liabilities	953,000,000	[4]			953,000,000	[4]			1,382,000,000	[4]
Total MTM Derivative Contract Net Assets (Liabilities)	198,000,000	[4]			198,000,000	[4]			187,000,000	[4]
Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Activity for Cash Flow Hedges
Beginning Balance in AOCI	8,000,000		2,000,000		7,000,000		(2,000,000)
Changes in Fair Value Recognized in AOCI	3,000,000		1,000,000		5,000,000		4,000,000
Amount of (Gain) or Loss Reclassified from AOCI to Income Statement/within Balance Sheet:
Ending Balance in AOCI	12,000,000		2,000,000		12,000,000		2,000,000
Impact of Cash Flow Hedges on Balance Sheet
Hedging Assets	21,000,000	[1]			21,000,000	[1]			13,000,000	[1]
Hedging Liabilities	2,000,000	[1]			2,000,000	[1]			2,000,000	[1]
AOCI Gain (Loss) Net of Tax	12,000,000		2,000,000		12,000,000		2,000,000
Portion Expected to be Reclassified to Net Income During the Next Twelve Months	7,000,000				7,000,000				3,000,000
Commodity [Member] | Hedging Contracts [Member]
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
Current Risk Management Assets	26,000,000	[4]			26,000,000	[4]			18,000,000	[4]
Long-term Risk Management Assets	13,000,000	[4]			13,000,000	[4]			12,000,000	[4]
Total Assets	39,000,000	[4]			39,000,000	[4]			30,000,000	[4]
Current Risk Management Liabilities	14,000,000	[4]			14,000,000	[4]			13,000,000	[4]
Long-term Risk Management Liabilities	6,000,000	[4]			6,000,000	[4]			6,000,000	[4]
Total Liabilities	20,000,000	[4]			20,000,000	[4]			19,000,000	[4]
Total MTM Derivative Contract Net Assets (Liabilities)	19,000,000	[4]			19,000,000	[4]			11,000,000	[4]
Risk Management Commodity Contracts [Member]
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
Total Assets	450,000,000	[5],[6]			450,000,000	[5],[6]			551,000,000	[5],[7]
Total Liabilities	213,000,000	[5],[6]			213,000,000	[5],[6]			263,000,000	[5],[7]
Fair Value Hedges [Member]
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
Total Assets	8,000,000				8,000,000				7,000,000
Total Liabilities									$ 1,000,000

[1] Hedging Assets and Hedging Liabilities are included in Risk Management Assets and Liabilities on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

[2] Represents realized and unrealized gains and losses subject to regulatory accounting treatment recorded as either current or noncurrent on the balance sheet.

[3] Amounts include counterparty netting of risk management and hedging contracts and associated cash collateral in accordance with the accounting guidance for "Derivatives and Hedging." Amounts also include dedesignated risk management contracts.

[4] Derivative instruments within these categories are reported gross. These instruments are subject to master netting agreements and are presented on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets on a net basis in accordance with the accounting guidance for "Derivatives and Hedging."

[5] Amounts in ''Other'' column primarily represent counterparty netting of risk management and hedging contracts and associated cash collateral under the accounting guidance for ''Derivatives and Hedging.''

[6] The June 30, 2011 maturity of the net fair value of risk management contracts prior to cash collateral, assets/(liabilities), is as follows: Level 1 matures ($1) million in 2011, $3 million in periods 2012-2014 and ($5) million in periods 2015-2018; Level 2 matures $13 million in 2011, $75 million in periods 2012-2014, $18 million in periods 2015-2016 and $18 million in periods 2017-2028; Level 3 matures $11 million in 2011, $25 million in periods 2012-2014, $15 million in periods 2015-2016 and $26 million in periods 2017-2028. Risk management commodity contracts are substantially comprised of power contracts.

[7] The December 31, 2010 maturity of the net fair value of risk management contracts prior to cash collateral, assets/(liabilities), is as follows: Level 1 matures ($2) million in 2011, $2 million in periods 2012-2014 and ($5) million in periods 2015-2018; Level 2 matures $13 million in 2011, $66 million in periods 2012-2014, $12 million in periods 2015-2016 and $16 million in periods 2017-2028; Level 3 matures $18 million in 2011, $24 million in periods 2012-2014, $16 million in periods 2015-2016 and $27 million in periods 2017-2028. Risk management commodity contracts are substantially comprised of power contracts.