Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Oct. 28, 2011
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER CO INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000004904
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2011
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		482,912,247
Appalachian Power Co [Member]
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	APPALACHIAN POWER CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000006879
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		13,499,500
Columbus Southern Power Co [Member]
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	COLUMBUS SOUTHERN POWER CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000022198
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		16,410,426
Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member]
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	INDIANA MICHIGAN POWER CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000050172
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,400,000
Ohio Power Co [Member]
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	OHIO POWER CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000073986
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		27,952,473
Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member]
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	PUBLIC SERVICE CO OF OKLAHOMA
Entity Central Index Key	0000081027
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		9,013,000
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	SOUTHWESTERN ELECTRIC POWER CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000092487
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		7,536,640