Shareholders' Equity (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended											12 Months Ended												1 Months Ended			12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2012 Agreement	Dec. 31, 2012 Performance_Metric		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012 Virginia Electric and Power Company		Dec. 31, 2010 Virginia Electric and Power Company	Dec. 31, 2011 Virginia Electric and Power Company		Dec. 31, 2012 Stock-Based Awards	Dec. 31, 2012 Restricted Stock	Dec. 31, 2011 Restricted Stock	Dec. 31, 2010 Restricted Stock	Dec. 31, 2010 Restricted Stock Non-Officer Employees	Dec. 31, 2012 Goal-Based Stock	Dec. 31, 2011 Goal-Based Stock Performance_Metric	Dec. 31, 2010 Goal-Based Stock	Dec. 31, 2010 Goal-Based Stock Non-Officer Employees	Dec. 31, 2012 Goal-Based Stock Officer	Dec. 31, 2011 Goal-Based Stock Officer	Dec. 31, 2010 Goal-Based Stock Officer	Dec. 31, 2007 Cash-Based Performance Grant	Feb. 28, 2012 February 2010 Awards	Dec. 31, 2011 February 2010 Awards	Feb. 28, 2010 February 2010 Awards	Dec. 31, 2011 February 2010 Awards	Feb. 28, 2011 April 2009	Dec. 31, 2010 April 2009	Apr. 30, 2009 April 2009	Dec. 31, 2012 February 2011 Awards	Dec. 31, 2012 February 2011 Awards	Dec. 31, 2012 February 2012 Awards	Dec. 31, 2012 Dominion Direct, employee savings plans
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common stock shares issued		6,400,000							33,013																										5,300,000
Cash proceeds		$ 265		$ 38		$ 74			$ 1,000
Number of Sales Agency Agreements	4
Expected issuance of common stock in 2012 through employee savings plans, direct stock purchase and dividend reinvestment plans, and other employee and director benefit plans		318
Common Securities Amount		5,493.0	[1]	5,180.0	[1]		5,738.0	[2]	1,000.0	5,738.0	[2]
Shares reserved and available for issuance		48,000,000
Common stock repurchased				13,000,000
Payment for repurchase of common stock		0		601		900
Average Price Per Share Of Shares Repurchased				$ 46.37
Shares were available for future grants												32,000,000
Compensation cost related to stock-based compensation		25		39		40
Tax benefit from stock awards and stock options exercised		8		13		15	2		1
Tax benefits from the vesting of restricted stock awards		10		2		10
Cash proceeds from the exercise of stock options		19		38		63
Unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested awards													23
Expected weighted-average period recognized for the unrecognized compensation cost													2 years 1 month 6 days
Fair value of restricted stock awards that vested													30	28	26
Number of performance metrics		2																2
Performance metrics period				2 years
Shares issued minimum percentage																	0.00%
Shares issued maximum percentage																	200.00%
Stock awards granted																				132,000	20,000	9,000
Number of shares converted to one class to another														168,000	186,000	168,000	2,000	132,000	147,000			15,000	25,000
ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShare Based Payment Award Shares Expected To Be Issued In Period																	4,000
Cash-based performance grants minimum																								0.00%
Cash-based performance grants maximum																								200.00%
Cash based performance grant actual payout																									6	14				11	11	6
Cash-based performance grants																											20		14					12
Cash based performance grant liability accrued																												5					2	6
Cash based performance grants, total expected award																																	$ 8

[1] 1 billion shares authorized; 576 million shares and 570 million shares outstanding at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

[2] 500,000 shares shares authorized at December 31, 2012 and 2011; 274,723 shares outstanding at December 31, 2012 and 2011.