Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Consolidated net income	$ 1,367,372	[1]	$ 1,270,305	[1]	$ 1,251,050	[1]
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	1,745,455		1,705,331		1,458,861
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	(280,029)		718,987		864,684
Gain on sale of business			(44,173)
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	28,091		(99,640)		116,444
Fuel inventory	5,393		(10,665)		19,291
Accounts payable	(131,970)		216,635		(14,251)
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	580,042		(116,988)		(260,029)
Interest accrued	(34,172)		17,651		4,974
Deferred fuel	(55,686)		8,909		72,314
Other working capital accounts	41,875		(160,326)		(43,391)
Changes in provisions for estimated losses	(11,086)		265,284		(12,030)
Changes in other regulatory assets	(673,244)		339,408		(415,157)
Changes in pension and other postretirement liabilities	962,461		(80,844)		71,789
Other	(415,685)		(103,793)		(181,391)
Net cash flow provided by operating activities	3,128,817		3,926,081		2,933,158
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(2,040,027)		(1,974,286)		(1,931,245)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	86,252		59,381		59,545
Nuclear fuel purchases	(641,493)		(407,711)		(525,474)
Proceeds from sale/leaseback of nuclear fuel					284,997
Proceeds from sale of assets and businesses	6,531		228,171		39,554
Payment for purchase of plant	(646,137)
Insurance proceeds received for property damages			7,894		53,760
Changes in transition charge account	(7,260)		(29,945)		(1,036)
NYPA value sharing payment	(72,000)		(72,000)		(72,000)
Payment to storm reserve escrow account	(6,425)		(296,614)		(6,802)
Receipts from storm reserve escrow account			9,925
Decrease (increase) in other investments	(11,623)		24,956		100,956
Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	1,360,346		2,606,383		2,570,523
Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust funds	(1,475,017)		(2,730,377)		(2,667,172)
Net cash flow used in investing activities	(3,446,853)		(2,574,223)		(2,094,394)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Long-term debt	2,990,881		3,870,694		2,003,469
Common stock and treasury stock	46,185		51,163		28,198
Retirement of long-term debt	(2,437,372)		(4,178,127)		(1,843,169)
Repurchase of common stock	(234,632)		(878,576)		(613,125)
Redemption of subsidiary common and preferred stock	(30,308)				(1,847)
Changes in credit borrowings - net	(6,501)		(8,512)		(25,000)
Dividends paid:
Common stock	(589,605)		(603,854)		(576,956)
Preferred stock	(20,933)		(20,063)		(19,958)
Net cash flow used in financing activities	(282,285)		(1,767,275)		(1,048,388)
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents	287		338		(1,316)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(600,034)		(415,079)		(210,940)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,294,472		1,709,551		1,920,491
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	694,438		1,294,472		1,709,551
Cash paid / (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	532,271		534,004		576,811
Income taxes	(2,042)		32,144		43,057
Noncash financing activities:
Long-term debt retired (equity unit notes)					(500,000)
Common stock issued in settlement of equity unit purchase contracts					$ 500,000

[1] Consolidated net income and preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries for 2011, 2010 and 2009 include $13.3 million of preferred dividends on subsidiaries' preferred stock without sinking fund that is not presented as equity.