Shareholders' Equity (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Debt to capitalization ratio	0.65
Total preferred stock dividends declared	$ 3,200,000	$ 3,200,000	$ 3,200,000
Preferred stock voting rights	two
Preferred stock outstanding	591,353
Preferred stock issued	500,000
Long-term debt	1,761,120,000	1,760,316,000
5.65% Series Preferred Stock [Member]
Dividend rate on preferred stock	5.65%
Preferred stock outstanding	500,000
Nonredeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock outstanding	91,353
Ipalco Enterprises, Inc. [Member]
Long-term debt	796,916,000	796,141,000
Ipalco Enterprises, Inc. [Member] | 7.250% Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Long-term debt	400,000,000	400,000,000
Debt, stated interest rate	7.25%
Debt due date	Apr. 01, 2016
Ipalco Enterprises, Inc. [Member] | 5.000% Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Long-term debt	400,000,000	400,000,000
Debt, stated interest rate	5.00%
Debt due date	May 01, 2018
Indianapolis Power And Light Company [Member]
Debt to capitalization ratio	0.65
Total preferred stock dividends declared	3,200,000	3,200,000	3,200,000
Preferred stock voting rights	two
Preferred stock outstanding	591,353
Preferred stock issued	500,000
Long-term debt	$ 964,204,000	$ 964,175,000
Indianapolis Power And Light Company [Member] | 5.65% Series Preferred Stock [Member]
Dividend rate on preferred stock	5.65%
Preferred stock outstanding	500,000
Indianapolis Power And Light Company [Member] | Nonredeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock outstanding	91,353
Maximum [Member]
Dividend rate on preferred stock	5.65%
Maximum [Member] | Indianapolis Power And Light Company [Member]
Dividend rate on preferred stock	5.65%
Minimum [Member]
Dividend rate on preferred stock	4.00%
Minimum [Member] | Indianapolis Power And Light Company [Member]
Dividend rate on preferred stock	4.00%