2.2.0.7 false Impairment of Long-Lived Assets 00215 - Disclosure - Impairment of Long-Lived Assets true false false false 1 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 Pure Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance pure xbrli 0 EPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ 2 Asset Impairment Charges [Abstract] 0 us-gaap_AssetImpairmentChargesAbstract us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string No definition available. false 3 Asset Impairment Charges [Text Block] 1 fe_AssetImpairmentChargesTextBlock fe false na duration Asset Impairment Charges. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 15.       IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS FirstEnergy reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable. The recoverability of a long-lived asset is measured by comparing its carrying value to the sum of undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. If the carrying value is greater than the undiscounted cash flows, an impairment exists and a loss is recognized for the amount by which the carrying value of the long-lived asset exceeds its estimated fair value.  During the quarter ending September 30, 2010, FirstEnergy announced its intention to make operational changes at certain coal-fired FGCO units. The announcement of the operational change indicated a need to evaluate the future recoverability of the carrying value of the assets associated with the affected FGCO units. As a result of the recoverability evaluation, FirstEnergy recorded an impairment of $292 million to other operating expense within continuing operations of its competitive energy services segment for the quarter ending September 30, 2010. This impairment represents a $285 million write down of the carrying value of the assets associated with the affected FGCO units to their estimated fair value and a charge of $7 million for excessive or obsolete inventory identified as a result of the operational changes.  FirstEnergy used various assumptions in evaluating whether the FGCO units' carrying value was recoverable. The estimated undiscounted cash flows were based on assumptions about budgeted net operating income; the impact of current market conditions on future revenues including a long-term view of a continual depression of future market prices; decreased customer demand; and the estimated cost of remedial retro-fitting of the FGCO units to comply with proposed changes in federal environmental laws. The result of this evaluation indicated that the carrying costs of the FGCO units were not fully recoverable.  FirstEnergy further evaluated the extent to which the carrying value of the FGCO units exceeded their estimated fair value. FirstEnergy applied the income approach to estimating fair value under a discounted cash flow valuation technique to convert future cash flows expected over the remaining life of the asset group to a single present value. The assumptions used to estimate the non-recurring fair value measurement of the FGCO units applied significant unobservable inputs considered Level 3 under the fair value hierarchy. The estimated cash flows used during the recoverability test were discounted using the weighted average cost of capital for a market participant. 15.       IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS FirstEnergy reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or false false false us-types:textBlockItemType textblock Asset Impairment Charges. No authoritative reference available. false 1 2 false UnKnown UnKnown UnKnown false true