Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Revenues
Utility Operations	$ 3,235,000,000	$ 3,360,000,000	$ 6,598,000,000	$ 6,857,000,000
Other Revenues	316,000,000	249,000,000	578,000,000	482,000,000
TOTAL REVENUES	3,551,000,000	3,609,000,000	7,176,000,000	7,339,000,000
Expenses
Fuel and Other Consumables Used for Electric Generation	904,000,000	980,000,000	1,957,000,000	2,036,000,000
Purchased Electricity for Resale	268,000,000	287,000,000	528,000,000	562,000,000
Other Operation	719,000,000	697,000,000	1,375,000,000	1,383,000,000
Maintenance	252,000,000	316,000,000	514,000,000	581,000,000
Depreciation and Amortization	460,000,000	410,000,000	883,000,000	813,000,000
Taxes Other Than Income Taxes	207,000,000	202,000,000	424,000,000	415,000,000
TOTAL EXPENSES	2,810,000,000	2,892,000,000	5,681,000,000	5,790,000,000
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	741,000,000	717,000,000	1,495,000,000	1,549,000,000
Other Income (Expense):
Interest and Investment Income	2,000,000	3,000,000	4,000,000	5,000,000
Carrying Costs Income	11,000,000	17,000,000	31,000,000	32,000,000
Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction	24,000,000	23,000,000	47,000,000	43,000,000
Interest Expense	(235,000,000)	(239,000,000)	(464,000,000)	(481,000,000)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE (CREDIT) AND EQUITY EARNINGS (LOSS)	543,000,000	521,000,000	1,113,000,000	1,148,000,000
Income Tax Expense (Credit)	190,000,000	174,000,000	379,000,000	452,000,000
Equity Earnings (Loss) of Unconsolidated Subsidiaries	10,000,000	6,000,000	19,000,000	12,000,000
NET INCOME (LOSS)	363,000,000	353,000,000	753,000,000	708,000,000
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	1,000,000	1,000,000	2,000,000	2,000,000
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS	362,000,000	352,000,000	751,000,000	706,000,000
Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements	0	0	0	1,000,000
EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	362,000,000	352,000,000	751,000,000	705,000,000
Earnings Per Share
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF BASIC AEP COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING	484,500,029	481,928,494	484,164,065	481,538,549
TOTAL BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO AEP COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	$ 0.75	$ 0.73	$ 1.55	$ 1.46
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF DILUTED AEP COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING	484,860,690	482,203,255	484,554,779	481,786,698
TOTAL DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO AEP COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	$ 0.75	$ 0.73	$ 1.55	$ 1.46
CASH DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER SHARE	$ 0.47	$ 0.46	$ 0.94	$ 0.92
Appalachian Power Co [Member]
Revenues
Utility Operations	647,236,000	666,785,000	1,385,835,000	1,417,797,000
Sales to AEP Affiliates	67,043,000	82,531,000	131,344,000	161,222,000
Other Revenues	2,182,000	2,129,000	4,758,000	4,246,000
TOTAL REVENUES	716,461,000	751,445,000	1,521,937,000	1,583,265,000
Expenses
Fuel and Other Consumables Used for Electric Generation	181,653,000	184,698,000	368,537,000	365,279,000
Purchased Electricity for Resale	44,869,000	69,127,000	110,225,000	138,345,000
Purchased Electricity from AEP Affiliates	125,864,000	183,661,000	281,881,000	407,850,000
Other Operation	72,685,000	74,617,000	147,004,000	187,893,000
Maintenance	37,830,000	57,163,000	84,165,000	89,456,000
Depreciation and Amortization	85,139,000	67,644,000	165,552,000	136,743,000
Taxes Other Than Income Taxes	24,995,000	25,968,000	51,957,000	53,071,000
TOTAL EXPENSES	573,035,000	662,878,000	1,209,321,000	1,378,637,000
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	143,426,000	88,567,000	312,616,000	204,628,000
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Income	359,000	762,000	702,000	1,082,000
Carrying Costs Income	5,467,000	6,542,000	13,252,000	9,981,000
Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction	4,000	1,212,000	517,000	2,095,000
Interest Expense	(51,945,000)	(53,188,000)	(103,252,000)	(106,127,000)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE (CREDIT) AND EQUITY EARNINGS (LOSS)	97,311,000	43,895,000	223,835,000	111,659,000
Income Tax Expense (Credit)	34,979,000	12,268,000	86,192,000	41,052,000
NET INCOME (LOSS)	62,332,000	31,627,000	137,643,000	70,607,000
Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements	0	200,000	0	400,000
EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	62,332,000	31,427,000	137,643,000	70,207,000
Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member]
Revenues
Utility Operations	435,965,000	419,627,000	871,992,000	876,489,000
Sales to AEP Affiliates	45,728,000	70,902,000	121,643,000	145,770,000
Other Revenues - Affiliated	29,052,000	28,133,000	59,763,000	52,464,000
Other Revenues	131,000	2,816,000	3,685,000	7,247,000
TOTAL REVENUES	510,876,000	521,478,000	1,057,083,000	1,081,970,000
Expenses
Fuel and Other Consumables Used for Electric Generation	96,715,000	108,322,000	209,085,000	223,384,000
Purchased Electricity for Resale	29,488,000	31,796,000	65,398,000	61,088,000
Purchased Electricity from AEP Affiliates	82,188,000	82,967,000	170,141,000	162,551,000
Other Operation	134,274,000	132,846,000	269,490,000	266,057,000
Maintenance	47,244,000	47,536,000	89,509,000	98,536,000
Depreciation and Amortization	37,560,000	33,263,000	71,539,000	67,350,000
Taxes Other Than Income Taxes	18,604,000	20,397,000	40,793,000	42,659,000
TOTAL EXPENSES	446,073,000	457,127,000	915,955,000	921,625,000
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	64,803,000	64,351,000	141,128,000	160,345,000
Other Income (Expense):
Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction			5,335,000	7,440,000
Other Income	2,848,000	3,467,000	7,110,000	7,362,000
Interest Expense	(25,373,000)	(24,193,000)	(50,426,000)	(49,384,000)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE (CREDIT) AND EQUITY EARNINGS (LOSS)	42,278,000	43,625,000	97,812,000	118,323,000
Income Tax Expense (Credit)	12,468,000	12,239,000	28,781,000	41,510,000
NET INCOME (LOSS)	29,810,000	31,386,000	69,031,000	76,813,000
Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements	0	85,000	0	170,000
EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	29,810,000	31,301,000	69,031,000	76,643,000
Ohio Power Co [Member]
Revenues
Utility Operations	929,487,000	1,041,528,000	1,970,318,000	2,171,705,000
Sales to AEP Affiliates	172,561,000	235,625,000	354,318,000	488,159,000
Other Revenues - Affiliated	7,979,000	4,507,000	17,090,000	11,525,000
Other Revenues	3,723,000	3,898,000	9,247,000	8,359,000
TOTAL REVENUES	1,113,750,000	1,285,558,000	2,350,973,000	2,679,748,000
Expenses
Fuel and Other Consumables Used for Electric Generation	298,294,000	340,733,000	668,287,000	748,129,000
Purchased Electricity for Resale	52,104,000	68,983,000	110,238,000	137,397,000
Purchased Electricity from AEP Affiliates	81,818,000	127,894,000	170,501,000	244,345,000
Other Operation	162,086,000	159,553,000	292,428,000	329,952,000
Maintenance	74,015,000	102,030,000	154,619,000	195,442,000
Depreciation and Amortization	137,009,000	129,698,000	271,439,000	263,110,000
Taxes Other Than Income Taxes	98,420,000	95,133,000	203,838,000	200,443,000
TOTAL EXPENSES	903,746,000	1,024,024,000	1,871,350,000	2,118,818,000
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	210,004,000	261,534,000	479,623,000	560,930,000
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Income	345,000	437,000	1,443,000	895,000
Carrying Costs Income	4,511,000	9,847,000	7,269,000	20,578,000
Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction	915,000	1,508,000	2,038,000	2,711,000
Interest Expense	(53,147,000)	(56,631,000)	(107,408,000)	(113,651,000)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE (CREDIT) AND EQUITY EARNINGS (LOSS)	162,628,000	216,695,000	382,965,000	471,463,000
Income Tax Expense (Credit)	61,205,000	74,501,000	130,712,000	163,299,000
NET INCOME (LOSS)	101,423,000	142,194,000	252,253,000	308,164,000
Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements	0	208,000	0	416,000
EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	101,423,000	141,986,000	252,253,000	307,748,000
Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member]
Revenues
Utility Operations	311,310,000	322,028,000	603,832,000	606,615,000
Sales to AEP Affiliates	5,407,000	5,785,000	12,512,000	8,581,000
Other Revenues	594,000	775,000	1,498,000	1,395,000
TOTAL REVENUES	317,311,000	328,588,000	617,842,000	616,591,000
Expenses
Fuel and Other Consumables Used for Electric Generation	91,126,000	100,796,000	216,551,000	192,544,000
Purchased Electricity for Resale	44,822,000	46,018,000	70,264,000	87,197,000
Purchased Electricity from AEP Affiliates	4,260,000	9,111,000	10,458,000	25,722,000
Other Operation	48,880,000	48,736,000	95,859,000	93,140,000
Maintenance	24,853,000	25,152,000	53,178,000	45,873,000
Depreciation and Amortization	23,390,000	24,096,000	46,923,000	47,959,000
Taxes Other Than Income Taxes	10,681,000	10,494,000	21,820,000	21,090,000
TOTAL EXPENSES	248,012,000	264,403,000	515,053,000	513,525,000
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	69,299,000	64,185,000	102,789,000	103,066,000
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Income	97,000	28,000	1,032,000	80,000
Carrying Costs Income	529,000	1,876,000	1,142,000	2,523,000
Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction	468,000	284,000	890,000	650,000
Interest Expense	(13,766,000)	(14,258,000)	(28,477,000)	(30,196,000)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE (CREDIT) AND EQUITY EARNINGS (LOSS)	56,627,000	52,115,000	77,376,000	76,123,000
Income Tax Expense (Credit)	21,416,000	20,555,000	29,517,000	29,174,000
NET INCOME (LOSS)	35,211,000	31,560,000	47,859,000	46,949,000
Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements	0	49,000	0	98,000
EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	35,211,000	31,511,000	47,859,000	46,851,000
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]
Revenues
Utility Operations	383,659,000	388,197,000	723,362,000	735,264,000
Sales to AEP Affiliates	6,890,000	10,671,000	15,847,000	26,250,000
Other Revenues	397,000	666,000	723,000	975,000
TOTAL REVENUES	390,946,000	399,534,000	739,932,000	762,489,000
Expenses
Fuel and Other Consumables Used for Electric Generation	138,008,000	139,713,000	266,242,000	273,725,000
Purchased Electricity for Resale	26,574,000	39,691,000	62,041,000	78,280,000
Purchased Electricity from AEP Affiliates	4,589,000	5,116,000	10,844,000	7,227,000
Other Operation	54,067,000	50,722,000	105,660,000	104,790,000
Maintenance	29,757,000	34,790,000	51,019,000	64,181,000
Asset Impairments and Other Related Charges	13,000,000	0	13,000,000	0
Depreciation and Amortization	34,655,000	32,718,000	68,676,000	66,008,000
Taxes Other Than Income Taxes	17,320,000	16,730,000	34,106,000	33,696,000
TOTAL EXPENSES	317,970,000	319,480,000	611,588,000	627,907,000
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	72,976,000	80,054,000	128,344,000	134,582,000
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Income	11,000	167,000	1,132,000	111,000
Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction	14,412,000	11,573,000	28,185,000	22,169,000
Interest Expense	(21,710,000)	(20,835,000)	(43,712,000)	(43,260,000)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE (CREDIT) AND EQUITY EARNINGS (LOSS)	65,689,000	70,959,000	113,949,000	113,602,000
Income Tax Expense (Credit)	11,505,000	20,571,000	23,977,000	33,967,000
Equity Earnings (Loss) of Unconsolidated Subsidiaries	718,000	683,000	1,325,000	1,263,000
NET INCOME (LOSS)	54,902,000	51,071,000	91,297,000	80,898,000
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	1,061,000	1,036,000	2,144,000	2,118,000
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS	53,841,000	50,035,000	89,153,000	78,780,000
Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements	0	57,000	0	114,000
EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	$ 53,841,000	$ 49,978,000	$ 89,153,000	$ 78,666,000