Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current Assets
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$ 147,000,000	$ 279,000,000
Other Temporary Investments	288,000,000	324,000,000
Fuel	748,000,000	844,000,000
Property, Plant and Equipment
Other Property, Plant and Equipment	4,060,000,000	3,945,000,000
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	19,174,000,000	18,691,000,000
Current Liabilities
Long-term Debt Due Within One Year	1,366,000,000	2,171,000,000
Noncurrent Liabilities
Long-term Debt	16,202,000,000	15,586,000,000
Equity
Common Stock, Par Value Per Share	$ 6.50	$ 6.50
Common Stock, Shares Authorized	600,000,000	600,000,000
Common Stock, Shares, Issued	507,594,430	506,004,962
Treasury Stock, Shares	20,336,592	20,336,592
Appalachian Power Co [Member]
Current Assets
Cash and Cash Equivalents	4,130,000	3,576,000
Fuel	177,586,000	185,813,000
Property, Plant and Equipment
Other Property, Plant and Equipment	386,192,000	373,327,000
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	3,307,175,000	3,196,639,000
Current Liabilities
Long-term Debt Due Within One Year	229,682,000	574,679,000
Noncurrent Liabilities
Long-term Debt	3,198,235,000	3,127,763,000
Equity
Common Stock, No Par Value
Common Stock, Shares Authorized	30,000,000	30,000,000
Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	13,499,500	13,499,500
Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member]
Current Assets
Cash and Cash Equivalents	1,798,000	1,562,000
Fuel	71,372,000	53,406,000
Property, Plant and Equipment
Other Property, Plant and Equipment	729,516,000	725,313,000
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	3,301,177,000	3,232,135,000
Current Liabilities
Long-term Debt Due Within One Year	224,859,000	203,953,000
Noncurrent Liabilities
Long-term Debt	2,046,754,000	1,853,713,000
Equity
Common Stock, No Par Value
Common Stock, Shares Authorized	2,500,000	2,500,000
Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	1,400,000	1,400,000
Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member] | DCC Fuel [Member]
Current Liabilities
Long-term Debt Due Within One Year	137,636,000	119,890,000
Ohio Power Co [Member]
Current Assets
Cash and Cash Equivalents	4,341,000	3,640,000
Fuel	251,888,000	328,840,000
Property, Plant and Equipment
Other Property, Plant and Equipment	566,007,000	571,154,000
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	5,220,979,000	5,242,805,000
Current Liabilities
Long-term Debt Due Within One Year	553,516,000	856,000,000
Noncurrent Liabilities
Long-term Debt	2,945,058,000	2,804,440,000
Equity
Common Stock, No Par Value
Common Stock, Shares Authorized	40,000,000	40,000,000
Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	27,952,473	27,952,473
Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member]
Current Assets
Cash and Cash Equivalents	2,000,000	1,367,000
Fuel	18,202,000	22,085,000
Property, Plant and Equipment
Other Property, Plant and Equipment	219,015,000	210,549,000
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	1,321,843,000	1,278,941,000
Current Liabilities
Long-term Debt Due Within One Year	34,111,000	764,000
Noncurrent Liabilities
Long-term Debt	915,715,000	949,107,000
Equity
Common Stock, Par Value Per Share	$ 15	$ 15
Common Stock, Shares Authorized	11,000,000	11,000,000
Common Stock, Shares, Issued	10,482,000	10,482,000
Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	9,013,000	9,013,000
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]
Current Assets
Cash and Cash Equivalents	17,651,000	2,036,000
Fuel	121,443,000	134,234,000
Property, Plant and Equipment
Other Property, Plant and Equipment	699,918,000	688,254,000
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	2,378,225,000	2,284,258,000
Current Liabilities
Long-term Debt Due Within One Year	3,250,000	3,250,000
Noncurrent Liabilities
Long-term Debt	2,039,994,000	2,042,978,000
Equity
Common Stock, Par Value Per Share	$ 18	$ 18
Common Stock, Shares Authorized	7,600,000	7,600,000
Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	7,536,640	7,536,640
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member] | Sabine Mining Co [Member]
Current Assets
Cash and Cash Equivalents	14,207,000
Fuel	32,992,000	42,084,000
Property, Plant and Equipment
Other Property, Plant and Equipment	288,494,000	287,032,000
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	130,141,000	116,597,000
AEP Subsidiaries [Member]
Current Assets
Other Temporary Investments	275,000,000	311,000,000
Current Liabilities
Long-term Debt Due Within One Year	433,000,000	367,000,000
Noncurrent Liabilities
Long-term Debt	$ 2,222,000,000	$ 2,227,000,000