Significant Accounting Matters (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Basic and Diluted EPS Calculations
Earnings Attributable to AEP Common Shareholders	$ 433,000,000	$ 487,000,000	$ 1,134,000,000	$ 1,238,000,000
Weighted Average Number of Basic AEP Common Shares Outstanding	486,932,747	484,979,543	486,353,876	484,437,875
Total Basic Earnings Per Share Attributable to AEP Common Shareholders	$ 0.89	$ 1.00	$ 2.33	$ 2.55
Weighted Average Dilutive Effect of:
Weighted Average Number of Diluted AEP Common Shares Outstanding	487,258,905	485,362,858	486,792,914	484,826,123
Total Diluted Earnings Per Share Attributable to AEP Common Shareholders	$ 0.89	$ 1.00	$ 2.33	$ 2.55
Amounts Attributable to AEP Common Shareholders
Net Income	433,000,000	487,000,000	1,134,000,000	1,238,000,000
Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Antidilutive Shares Outstanding			0	0
Ohio Power Co [Member]
Financial Impact of Asset Transfer [Abstract]
Decrease in Total Assets Due to the Transfer of Cook Coal Terminal from OPCo to AEGCo	43,300,000		43,300,000
Decrease in Total Liabilities Due to the Transfer of Cook Coal Terminal from OPCo to AEGCo	40,600,000		40,600,000
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]
Basic and Diluted EPS Calculations
Earnings Attributable to AEP Common Shareholders	6,862,000	88,263,000	46,491,000	177,416,000
Amounts Attributable to AEP Common Shareholders
Net Income	$ 6,862,000	$ 88,263,000	$ 46,491,000	$ 177,416,000
Employee Stock Option [Member]
Weighted Average Dilutive Effect of:
Weighted Average Dilutive Effect of Shares	0	100,000	0	100,000
Dilutive Securities, Effect on Basic Earnings Per Share	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Weighted Average Dilutive Effect of:
Weighted Average Dilutive Effect of Shares	400,000	300,000	400,000	300,000
Dilutive Securities, Effect on Basic Earnings Per Share	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0