Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (USD $)	Total	Appalachian Power Co [Member]	Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member]	Ohio Power Co [Member]	Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member]	Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Appalachian Power Co [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Ohio Power Co [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Appalachian Power Co [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Ohio Power Co [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member] Appalachian Power Co [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member] Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member] Ohio Power Co [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member] Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member] Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Appalachian Power Co [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Ohio Power Co [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member] Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 14,665,000,000	$ 2,936,414,000	$ 1,760,980,000	$ 4,450,178,000	$ 892,805,000	$ 1,813,757,000	$ 3,274,000,000	$ 260,458,000	$ 56,584,000	$ 321,201,000	$ 157,230,000	$ 135,660,000	$ 5,970,000,000	$ 1,573,752,000	$ 980,896,000	$ 1,744,099,000	$ 364,037,000	$ 674,606,000	$ 5,890,000,000	$ 1,160,747,000	$ 751,721,000	$ 2,582,600,000	$ 364,389,000	$ 1,029,915,000	$ (470,000,000)	$ (58,543,000)	$ (28,221,000)	$ (197,722,000)	$ 7,149,000	$ (26,815,000)	$ 1,000,000	$ 391,000
Beginning Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2011							504,000,000
Issuance of Common Stock, Value	64,000,000						12,000,000						52,000,000
Issuance of Common Stock, Shares							2,000,000
Common Stock Dividends		(135,000,000)	(50,000,000)	(225,000,000)	(60,000,000)															(135,000,000)	(50,000,000)	(225,000,000)	(60,000,000)
Common Stock Dividends	(687,000,000)					(3,176,000)													(684,000,000)												(3,000,000)	(3,176,000)
Other Changes in Equity	7,000,000												8,000,000																		(1,000,000)
Net Income (Loss)																			1,238,000,000					177,416,000
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	3,000,000					3,099,000																									3,000,000	3,099,000
Net Income (Loss)	1,241,000,000	200,834,000	108,285,000	403,763,000	105,962,000	180,515,000														200,834,000	108,285,000	403,763,000	105,962,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	16,000,000	4,444,000	(4,546,000)	9,926,000	(465,000)	(183,000)																			16,000,000	4,444,000	(4,546,000)	9,926,000	(465,000)	(183,000)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2012	15,306,000,000	3,006,692,000	1,814,719,000	4,638,867,000	938,302,000	1,990,913,000	3,286,000,000	260,458,000	56,584,000	321,201,000	157,230,000	135,660,000	6,030,000,000	1,573,752,000	980,896,000	1,744,099,000	364,037,000	674,606,000	6,444,000,000	1,226,581,000	810,006,000	2,761,363,000	410,351,000	1,207,331,000	(454,000,000)	(54,099,000)	(32,767,000)	(187,796,000)	6,684,000	(26,998,000)	0	314,000
Ending Balance, Shares at Sep. 30, 2012							506,000,000
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2012
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	1,000,000					955,000
Net Income (Loss)	488,000,000	63,191,000	39,254,000	151,510,000	58,103,000	89,218,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	21,000,000	2,618,000	(126,000)	5,016,000		864,000
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2012	15,306,000,000	3,006,692,000	1,814,719,000	4,638,867,000	938,302,000	1,990,913,000		260,458,000	56,584,000	321,201,000	157,230,000	135,660,000		1,573,752,000	980,896,000	1,744,099,000	364,037,000	674,606,000
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	15,237,000,000	3,052,562,000	1,803,775,000	4,525,709,000	916,278,000	2,021,473,000	3,289,000,000	260,458,000	56,584,000	321,201,000	157,230,000	135,660,000	6,049,000,000	1,573,752,000	980,896,000	1,744,099,000	364,037,000	674,606,000	6,236,000,000	1,248,250,000	795,178,000	2,626,134,000	388,530,000	1,228,806,000	(337,000,000)	(29,898,000)	(28,883,000)	(165,725,000)	6,481,000	(17,860,000)	0	261,000
Beginning Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2012	506,004,962				10,482,000
Issuance of Common Stock, Value	61,000,000						10,000,000						51,000,000
Issuance of Common Stock, Shares							2,000,000
Distribution of Cook Coal Terminal to Parent				(2,651,000)												19,652,000						(22,303,000)
Common Stock Dividends		(130,000,000)	(47,500,000)	(275,000,000)	(41,250,000)	(93,750,000)														(130,000,000)	(47,500,000)	(275,000,000)	(41,250,000)	(93,750,000)
Common Stock Dividends	(709,000,000)					(3,142,000)													(706,000,000)												(3,000,000)	(3,142,000)
Other Changes in Equity	6,000,000												5,000,000																		1,000,000
Net Income (Loss)																			1,134,000,000					46,491,000
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	3,000,000					3,204,000																									3,000,000	3,204,000
Net Income (Loss)	1,137,000,000	163,035,000	142,091,000	329,731,000	93,221,000	49,695,000														163,035,000	142,091,000	329,731,000	93,221,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	31,000,000	2,444,000	4,213,000	9,370,000	(593,000)	1,484,000																			31,000,000	2,444,000	4,213,000	9,370,000	(593,000)	1,484,000
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2013	15,763,000,000	3,088,041,000	1,902,579,000	4,587,159,000	967,656,000	1,975,760,000	3,299,000,000	260,458,000	56,584,000	321,201,000	157,230,000	135,660,000	6,105,000,000	1,573,752,000	980,896,000	1,744,099,000	364,037,000	674,606,000	6,664,000,000	1,281,285,000	889,769,000	2,658,562,000	440,501,000	1,181,547,000	(306,000,000)	(27,454,000)	(24,670,000)	(136,703,000)	5,888,000	(16,376,000)	1,000,000	323,000
Ending Balance, Shares at Sep. 30, 2013	507,594,430				10,482,000
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2013
Distribution of Cook Coal Terminal to Parent				19,652,000
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	1,000,000					1,058,000
Net Income (Loss)	434,000,000	62,625,000	57,880,000	178,901,000	51,096,000	7,920,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	7,000,000	381,000	418,000	2,310,000	(172,000)	525,000
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2013	$ 15,763,000,000	$ 3,088,041,000	$ 1,902,579,000	$ 4,587,159,000	$ 967,656,000	$ 1,975,760,000		$ 260,458,000	$ 56,584,000	$ 321,201,000	$ 157,230,000	$ 135,660,000		$ 1,573,752,000	$ 980,896,000		$ 364,037,000	$ 674,606,000
Ending Balance, Shares at Sep. 30, 2013	507,594,430				10,482,000