Significant Accounting Matters (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Basic and Diluted EPS Calculations
Earning Attributable to Common Stockholders	$ 928,000,000	$ 555,000,000	$ 1,633,000,000	$ 1,035,000,000
Weighted Average Number of Basic Shares Outstanding	482,498,734	479,578,139	481,862,128	479,023,690
Total Basic Earnings Per Share Attributable to AEP Common Shareholders	$ 1.92	$ 1.16	$ 3.39	$ 2.16
Weighted Average Dilutive Effect of:
Weighted Average Number of Diluted AEP Common Shares Outstanding	482,796,945	479,750,447	482,126,964	479,261,415
Total Diluted Earnings Per Share Attributable to AEP Common Shareholders	$ 1.92	$ 1.16	$ 3.39	$ 2.16
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount			10,000	136,250
Amounts Attributable To AEP Common Shareholders
Income Before Discontinued Operations and Extraordinary Item	655,000,000	555,000,000	1,360,000,000	1,035,000,000
EXTRAORDINARY ITEM, NET OF TAX	273,000,000	0	273,000,000	0
Net Income	928,000,000	555,000,000	1,633,000,000	1,035,000,000
Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Minimum Percentage of Equity AEP Provides	5.00%		5.00%
Percentage Of Short Term Borrowing Needs In Excess Of Third Party Financings			20.00%
Percentage of DHLCs Debt Guaranteed by Each SWEPCo and CLECO			50.00%
Percentage of Management Fee Received by SWEPCo from DHLC			100.00%
Securitization Bonds	1,688,000,000	1,800,000,000	1,688,000,000	1,800,000,000	1,847,000,000
Securitized Transition Assets	1,625,000,000	1,700,000,000	1,625,000,000	1,700,000,000	1,742,000,000
Percentage Ownership of "Allegheny Series" by AYE			100.00%
Outstanding options to purchase of common stock, shares			10,000	136,250
Utility Operations [Member]
Amounts Attributable To AEP Common Shareholders
EXTRAORDINARY ITEM, NET OF TAX	273,000,000		273,000,000
Performance Share Units [Member]
Weighted Average Dilutive Effect of:
Weighted Average Dilutive Effect of Shares	0	0	0	100,000
Dilutive Effect, EPS	0	0	0	0
Stock Options [Member]
Weighted Average Dilutive Effect of:
Weighted Average Dilutive Effect of Shares	100,000	100,000	0	100,000
Dilutive Effect, EPS	0	0	0	0
Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Weighted Average Dilutive Effect of:
Weighted Average Dilutive Effect of Shares	200,000	100,000	200,000	100,000
Dilutive Effect, EPS	0	0	0	0
Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member] | DCC Fuel [Member] | Current Assets [Member]
ASSETS
Assets	93,000,000		93,000,000		92,000,000
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member] | Sabine Mining Co [Member] | Current Assets [Member]
ASSETS
Assets	43,000,000		43,000,000		50,000,000
Current Assets [Member] | Protected Cell Of Energy Insurance Services, Inc. [Member]
ASSETS
Assets	126,000,000		126,000,000		131,000,000
Current Assets [Member] | AEP Credit, Inc. [Member]
ASSETS
Assets	1,013,000,000		1,013,000,000		924,000,000
Current Assets [Member] | AEP Texas Central Transition Funding Co [Member]
ASSETS
Assets	162,000,000		162,000,000		214,000,000
Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member] | DCC Fuel [Member] | Net Property Plant And Equipment [Member]
ASSETS
Assets	104,000,000		104,000,000		173,000,000
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member] | Sabine Mining Co [Member] | Net Property Plant And Equipment [Member]
ASSETS
Assets	143,000,000		143,000,000		139,000,000
Net Property Plant And Equipment [Member] | Protected Cell Of Energy Insurance Services, Inc. [Member]
ASSETS
Assets	0		0		0
Net Property Plant And Equipment [Member] | AEP Credit, Inc. [Member]
ASSETS
Assets	0		0		0
Net Property Plant And Equipment [Member] | AEP Texas Central Transition Funding Co [Member]
ASSETS
Assets	0		0		0
Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member] | DCC Fuel [Member] | Other Non Current Assets [Member]
ASSETS
Assets	67,000,000		67,000,000		112,000,000
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member] | Sabine Mining Co [Member] | Other Non Current Assets [Member]
ASSETS
Assets	26,000,000		26,000,000		34,000,000
Other Non Current Assets [Member] | Protected Cell Of Energy Insurance Services, Inc. [Member]
ASSETS
Assets	7,000,000		7,000,000		1,000,000
Other Non Current Assets [Member] | AEP Credit, Inc. [Member]
ASSETS
Assets	1,000,000		1,000,000		10,000,000
Other Non Current Assets [Member] | AEP Texas Central Transition Funding Co [Member]
ASSETS
Assets	1,629,000,000		1,629,000,000		1,746,000,000
Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member] | DCC Fuel [Member] | Total Assets [Member]
ASSETS
Assets	264,000,000		264,000,000		377,000,000
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member] | Sabine Mining Co [Member] | Total Assets [Member]
ASSETS
Assets	212,000,000		212,000,000		223,000,000
Total Assets [Member] | Protected Cell Of Energy Insurance Services, Inc. [Member]
ASSETS
Assets	133,000,000		133,000,000		132,000,000
Total Assets [Member] | AEP Credit, Inc. [Member]
ASSETS
Assets	1,014,000,000		1,014,000,000		934,000,000
Total Assets [Member] | AEP Texas Central Transition Funding Co [Member]
ASSETS
Assets	1,791,000,000		1,791,000,000		1,960,000,000
Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member] | DCC Fuel [Member] | Current Liabilities [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities and Equity	75,000,000		75,000,000		79,000,000
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member] | Sabine Mining Co [Member] | Current Liabilities [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities and Equity	50,000,000		50,000,000		33,000,000
Current Liabilities [Member] | Protected Cell Of Energy Insurance Services, Inc. [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities and Equity	46,000,000		46,000,000		33,000,000
Current Liabilities [Member] | AEP Credit, Inc. [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities and Equity	962,000,000		962,000,000		886,000,000
Current Liabilities [Member] | AEP Texas Central Transition Funding Co [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities and Equity	206,000,000		206,000,000		221,000,000
Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member] | DCC Fuel [Member] | Noncurrent Liabilities [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities and Equity	189,000,000		189,000,000		298,000,000
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member] | Sabine Mining Co [Member] | Noncurrent Liabilities [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities and Equity	162,000,000		162,000,000		190,000,000
Noncurrent Liabilities [Member] | Protected Cell Of Energy Insurance Services, Inc. [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities and Equity	73,000,000		73,000,000		85,000,000
Noncurrent Liabilities [Member] | AEP Credit, Inc. [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities and Equity	1,000,000		1,000,000		1,000,000
Noncurrent Liabilities [Member] | AEP Texas Central Transition Funding Co [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities and Equity	1,571,000,000		1,571,000,000		1,725,000,000
Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member] | DCC Fuel [Member] | Equity [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities and Equity	0		0		0
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member] | Sabine Mining Co [Member] | Equity [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities and Equity	0		0		0
Equity [Member] | Protected Cell Of Energy Insurance Services, Inc. [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities and Equity	14,000,000		14,000,000		14,000,000
Equity [Member] | AEP Credit, Inc. [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities and Equity	51,000,000		51,000,000		47,000,000
Equity [Member] | AEP Texas Central Transition Funding Co [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities and Equity	14,000,000		14,000,000		14,000,000
Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member] | DCC Fuel [Member] | Total Liabilities And Equity [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities and Equity	264,000,000		264,000,000		377,000,000
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member] | Sabine Mining Co [Member] | Total Liabilities And Equity [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities and Equity	212,000,000		212,000,000		223,000,000
Total Liabilities And Equity [Member] | Protected Cell Of Energy Insurance Services, Inc. [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities and Equity	133,000,000		133,000,000		132,000,000
Total Liabilities And Equity [Member] | AEP Credit, Inc. [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities and Equity	1,014,000,000		1,014,000,000		934,000,000
Total Liabilities And Equity [Member] | AEP Texas Central Transition Funding Co [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities and Equity	1,791,000,000		1,791,000,000		1,960,000,000
Columbus Southern Power Co [Member]
Basic and Diluted EPS Calculations
Earning Attributable to Common Stockholders	81,488,000	107,018,000	213,524,000	210,705,000
Amounts Attributable To AEP Common Shareholders
Net Income	81,488,000	107,018,000	213,524,000	210,705,000
Ohio Power Co [Member]
Basic and Diluted EPS Calculations
Earning Attributable to Common Stockholders	46,643,000	100,682,000	222,355,000	229,767,000
Amounts Attributable To AEP Common Shareholders
Net Income	46,643,000	100,682,000	222,355,000	229,767,000
Cleco Power, LLC [Member] | Dolet Hills Lignite Co, LLC [Member]
Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Percentage of VIE Sales of Lignite Produced			50.00%
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]
Basic and Diluted EPS Calculations
Earning Attributable to Common Stockholders	86,714,000	80,853,000	165,380,000	136,103,000
Amounts Attributable To AEP Common Shareholders
Net Income	86,714,000	80,853,000	165,380,000	136,103,000
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member] | Retained Earnings [Member] | Dolet Hills Lignite Co, LLC [Member]
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures [Abstract]
As Reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheet	1,000,000		1,000,000		2,000,000
Maximum Exposure	1,000,000		1,000,000		2,000,000
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member] | Sabine Mining Co [Member]
Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textuals) [Abstract]
SWEPCo's Total Billings from Sabine or DHLC	33,000,000	30,000,000	97,000,000	103,000,000
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member] | Capital Contribution From Parent [Member] | Dolet Hills Lignite Co, LLC [Member]
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures [Abstract]
As Reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheet	8,000,000		8,000,000		6,000,000
Maximum Exposure	8,000,000		8,000,000		6,000,000
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member] | SWEPCo's Guarantee Of Debt [Member] | Dolet Hills Lignite Co, LLC [Member]
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures [Abstract]
As Reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0		0		0
Maximum Exposure	49,000,000		49,000,000		48,000,000
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member] | Total Investment [Member] | Dolet Hills Lignite Co, LLC [Member]
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures [Abstract]
As Reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheet	9,000,000		9,000,000		8,000,000
Maximum Exposure	58,000,000		58,000,000		56,000,000
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member] | Dolet Hills Lignite Co, LLC [Member]
Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textuals) [Abstract]
SWEPCo's Total Billings from Sabine or DHLC	18,000,000	14,000,000	47,000,000	40,000,000
Percentage of VIE Sales of Lignite Produced			50.00%
Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member]
Basic and Diluted EPS Calculations
Earning Attributable to Common Stockholders	51,617,000	62,215,000	128,260,000	121,705,000
Amounts Attributable To AEP Common Shareholders
Net Income	51,617,000	62,215,000	128,260,000	121,705,000
Capital Contribution From Parent [Member] | PATH West Virginia Transmission Co, LLC [Member]
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures [Abstract]
As Reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheet	19,000,000		19,000,000		18,000,000
Maximum Exposure	19,000,000		19,000,000		18,000,000
Retained Earnings [Member] | PATH West Virginia Transmission Co, LLC [Member]
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures [Abstract]
As Reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheet	9,000,000		9,000,000		6,000,000
Maximum Exposure	9,000,000		9,000,000		6,000,000
Total Investment [Member] | PATH West Virginia Transmission Co, LLC [Member]
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures [Abstract]
As Reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheet	28,000,000		28,000,000		24,000,000
Maximum Exposure	28,000,000		28,000,000		24,000,000
DCC Fuel [Member]
Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Payments made by I&M to DCC Fuel	6,000,000	0	49,000,000	22,000,000
Protected Cell Of Energy Insurance Services, Inc. [Member]
Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Insurance Premium Expense to Protected Cell	$ 16,000,000	$ 15,000,000	$ 46,000,000	$ 33,000,000