Short-Term Debt And Credit Agreements (Commercial Paper, Bank Loans, and Letters of Credit Outstanding, as well as Capacity Available Under Credit Facilities (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Short term Debt [Line Items]
Facility Limit	$ 3,500,000,000		$ 3,500,000,000
Outstanding Commercial Paper	2,412,000,000	[1]	1,814,000,000	[1]
Outstanding Letters of Credit	26,000,000		36,000,000
Facility Capacity Available	1,062,000,000		1,650,000,000
Weighted-average interest rates of the outstanding commercial paper	0.49%		0.47%
Virginia Electric and Power Company
Short term Debt [Line Items]
Facility Limit	1,250,000,000		1,250,000,000
Outstanding Commercial Paper	992,000,000	[2]	894,000,000	[2]
Outstanding Letters of Credit	2,000,000		15,000,000
Facility Capacity Available	256,000,000		341,000,000
Weighted-average interest rates of the outstanding commercial paper	0.47%		0.46%
Credit facility	120,000,000
Credit Facility 1.5 Billion
Short term Debt [Line Items]
Facility Limit	3,000,000,000	[3]	3,000,000,000	[3]
Outstanding Commercial Paper	2,412,000,000	[3]	1,814,000,000	[3]
Outstanding Letters of Credit	0	[3]	0	[3]
Facility Capacity Available	588,000,000	[3]	1,186,000,000	[3]
Credit facility, to support letters of credit	1,500,000,000
Credit Facility 1.5 Billion | Virginia Electric and Power Company
Short term Debt [Line Items]
Facility Limit	1,000,000,000	[4]	1,000,000,000	[4]
Outstanding Commercial Paper	992,000,000	[4]	894,000,000	[4]
Outstanding Letters of Credit	0	[4]	0	[4]
Facility Capacity Available	8,000,000	[4]	106,000,000	[4]
Credit facility, to support letters of credit	1,500,000,000
Credit Facility 500 million
Short term Debt [Line Items]
Facility Limit	500,000,000	[5]	500,000,000	[5]
Outstanding Commercial Paper	0	[5]	0	[5]
Outstanding Letters of Credit	26,000,000	[5]	36,000,000	[5]
Facility Capacity Available	474,000,000	[5]	464,000,000	[5]
Amount of committed capacity extended	400,000,000
Amount of capacity not extended	100,000,000
Credit Facility 500 million | Virginia Electric and Power Company
Short term Debt [Line Items]
Facility Limit	250,000,000	[6]	250,000,000	[6]
Outstanding Commercial Paper	0	[6]	0	[6]
Outstanding Letters of Credit	2,000,000	[6]	15,000,000	[6]
Facility Capacity Available	$ 248,000,000	[6]	$ 235,000,000	[6]

[1] The weighted-average interest rates of the outstanding commercial paper supported by Dominion's credit facilities were 0.49% and 0.47% at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

[2] The weighted-average interest rates of the outstanding commercial paper supported by these credit facilities were 0.47% and 0.46% at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

[3] Effective September 2012, the maturity date was extended from September 2016 to September 2017. This credit facility can be used to support bank borrowings and the issuance of commercial paper, as well as to support up to $1.5 billion of letters of credit.

[4] Effective September 2012, the maturity date was extended from September 2016 to September 2017. This credit facility can be used to support bank borrowings and the issuance of commercial paper, as well as to support up to $1.5 billion (or the sub-limit, whichever is less) of letters of credit. Virginia Power's current sub-limit under this credit facility can be increased or decreased multiple times per year.

[5] Effective September 2012, the maturity date for $400 million of the $500 million in committed capacity of this credit facility was extended from September 2016 to September 2017. The remaining $100 million continues to have a maturity date of September 2016. This credit facility can be used to support bank borrowings, commercial paper and letter of credit issuances.

[6] Effective September 2012, the maturity date for $400 million of the $500 million in committed capacity of this credit facility was extended from September 2016 to September 2017. The remaining $100 million continues to have a maturity date of September 2016. This credit facility can be used to support bank borrowings, commercial paper and letter of credit issuances. Virginia Power's current sub-limit under this credit facility can be increased or decreased multiple times per year.