Financing Activities (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Long-term Debt
Senior Unsecured Notes	$ 11,737,000,000			$ 11,737,000,000			$ 11,669,000,000
Pollution Control Bonds	2,112,000,000			2,112,000,000			2,263,000,000
Notes Payable	337,000,000			337,000,000			396,000,000
Securitization Bonds	1,688,000,000		1,800,000,000	1,688,000,000		1,800,000,000	1,847,000,000
Junior Subordinated Debentures	315,000,000			315,000,000			315,000,000
Spent Nuclear Fuel Obligation	265,000,000	[1]		265,000,000	[1]		265,000,000	[1]
Other Long-term Debt	28,000,000			28,000,000			91,000,000
Unamortized Discount (net)	(32,000,000)			(32,000,000)			(35,000,000)
Total Long-term Debt Outstanding	16,450,000,000			16,450,000,000			16,811,000,000
Less Portion Due Within One Year	1,267,000,000			1,267,000,000			1,309,000,000
Long-term Debt	15,183,000,000			15,183,000,000			15,502,000,000
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Issuances				1,128,000,000	[2]
Retirements and Principal Payments				1,520,000,000		1,454,000,000
Short-term Debt:
Securitized Debt for Receivables	750,000,000	[3]		750,000,000	[3]		690,000,000	[3]
Commercial Paper	529,000,000			529,000,000			650,000,000
Line of Credit - Sabine Mining Company	0	[4]		0	[4]		6,000,000	[4]
Total Short-term Debt	1,279,000,000			1,279,000,000			1,346,000,000
Securitized Debt for Receivables	0.27%	[5]		0.27%	[5]		0.31%	[5]
Commercial Paper	0.42%	[5]		0.42%	[5]		0.52%	[5]
Line of Credit - Sabine Mining Company	0.00%	[5]		0.00%	[5]		2.15%	[5]
Comparative accounts receivable information
Effective Interest Rates on Securitization of Accounts Receivable	0.23%		0.41%	0.27%		0.32%
Net Uncollectible Accounts Receivable Written Off	11,000,000		9,000,000	28,000,000		16,000,000
Customer Accounts Receivable Managed Portfolio
Accounts Receivable Retained Interest and Pledged as Collateral Less Uncollectible Accounts	1,005,000,000			1,005,000,000			923,000,000
Total Principal Outstanding	750,000,000			750,000,000			690,000,000
Delinquent Securitized Accounts Receivable	45,000,000			45,000,000			50,000,000
Bad Debt Reserves Related to Securitized Sale of Accounts Receivable	20,000,000			20,000,000			26,000,000
Unbilled Receivables Related to Securitization, Sale of Accounts Receivable	297,000,000			297,000,000			354,000,000
Financing Activities (Textuals) [Abstract]
Commitment from Bank Conduits that Expire in One Year	375,000,000			375,000,000
Commitment from Bank Conduits Including Seasonal Increase that Expire in One Year	425,000,000			425,000,000
Commitment from Bank Conduits that Expire in Three Years	375,000,000			375,000,000
Total Commitment from Bank Conduits to Finance Receivables.	750,000,000			750,000,000
Total Commitment from Bank Conduits Including Seasonal Increase to Finance Receivables	800,000,000			800,000,000
Amount Indicated on Cash Flows				1,118,000,000		1,201,000,000
Trust Fund Assets One Time Fee Obligation For Nuclear Fuel Disposition	308,000,000			308,000,000			307,000,000
Auction Rate Tax Exempt Long Term Debt Outstanding	478,000,000			478,000,000
Period To Defer Interest Payments On Debentures				10
Maximum Percentage Debt To Capitalization				67.50%
AEP Subsidiaries [Member]
Long-term Debt
Less Portion Due Within One Year	264,000,000			264,000,000			237,000,000
Long-term Debt	1,625,000,000			1,625,000,000			1,857,000,000
AEP Subsidiaries [Member] | Repayment Of Debt [Member] | Notes Payable One [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				13,000,000
Interest Rate, Variable				Variable
Due Date				2017
AEP Subsidiaries [Member] | Repayment Of Debt [Member] | Notes Payable Two [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				6,000,000
Interest Rate, Variable				Variable
Due Date				2011
AEP Subsidiaries [Member] | Repayment Of Debt [Member] | Notes Payable Three [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				1,000,000
Interest Rate, in Percent	8.03%			8.03%
Due Date				2026
AEP Subsidiaries [Member] | Repayment Of Debt [Member] | Notes Payable Four [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				1,000,000
Interest Rate, in Percent	7.59%			7.59%
Due Date				2026
Issuance Of Debt [Member] | AEP Generating Co [Member] | Pollution Control Bonds One [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Issuances				22,000,000	[6]
Interest Rate, Variable				Variable
Due Date				2025
Issuance Of Debt [Member] | AEP Generating Co [Member] | Pollution Control Bonds Two [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Issuances				23,000,000	[6]
Interest Rate, Variable				Variable
Due Date				2025
Repayment Of Debt [Member] | AEP Generating Co [Member] | Notes Payable One [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				85,000,000
Interest Rate, Variable				Variable
Due Date				2011
Repayment Of Debt [Member] | AEP Generating Co [Member] | Pollution Control Bonds One [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				22,000,000
Interest Rate, in Percent	4.15%			4.15%
Due Date				2025
Repayment Of Debt [Member] | AEP Generating Co [Member] | Pollution Control Bonds Two [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				23,000,000
Interest Rate, in Percent	4.15%			4.15%
Due Date				2025
Repayment Of Debt [Member] | AEP Generating Co [Member] | Senior Unsecured Notes One [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				7,000,000
Interest Rate, in Percent	6.33%			6.33%
Due Date				2037
Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member]
Long-term Debt
Less Portion Due Within One Year	350,000			350,000			25,000,000
Long-term Debt	945,385,000			945,385,000			946,186,000
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				275,000,000		0
Financing Activities (Textuals) [Abstract]
Amount Indicated on Cash Flows				247,481,000		1,740,000
Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member] | Issuance Of Debt [Member] | Notes Payable One [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Issuances				2,000,000
Interest Rate, in Percent	3.00%			3.00%
Due Date				2026
Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member] | Issuance Of Debt [Member] | Senior Unsecured Notes One [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Issuances				250,000,000
Interest Rate, in Percent	4.40%			4.40%
Due Date				2021
Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member] | Repayment Of Debt [Member] | Senior Unsecured Notes One [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				200,000,000
Interest Rate, in Percent	6.00%			6.00%
Due Date				2032
Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member] | Repayment Of Debt [Member] | Senior Unsecured Notes Two [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				75,000,000
Interest Rate, in Percent	4.70%			4.70%
Due Date				2011
Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member]
Long-term Debt
Less Portion Due Within One Year	155,307,000			155,307,000			154,457,000
Long-term Debt	1,830,426,000			1,830,426,000			1,849,769,000
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				122,469,000		19,208,000
Financing Activities (Textuals) [Abstract]
Amount Indicated on Cash Flows				76,414,000		84,564,000
Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member] | Issuance Of Debt [Member] | Pollution Control Bonds One [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Issuances				52,000,000	[6]
Interest Rate, Variable				Variable
Due Date				2021
Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member] | Issuance Of Debt [Member] | Pollution Control Bonds Two [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Issuances				25,000,000	[6]
Interest Rate, Variable				Variable
Due Date				2019
Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member] | Repayment Of Debt [Member] | Notes Payable One [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				13,000,000
Interest Rate, in Percent	5.16%			5.16%
Due Date				2014
Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member] | Repayment Of Debt [Member] | Notes Payable Two [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				15,000,000
Interest Rate, in Percent	5.44%			5.44%
Due Date				2013
Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member] | Repayment Of Debt [Member] | Notes Payable Three [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				17,000,000
Interest Rate, Variable				Variable
Due Date				2015
Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member] | Repayment Of Debt [Member] | Notes Payable Four [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				29,000,000
Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member] | Repayment Of Debt [Member] | Pollution Control Bonds One [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				52,000,000
Interest Rate, Variable				Variable
Due Date				2021
Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member] | Repayment Of Debt [Member] | Pollution Control Bonds Two [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				25,000,000
Interest Rate, Variable				Variable
Due Date				2019
AEP Texas Central Co [Member] | Issuance Of Debt [Member] | Pollution Control Bonds One [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Issuances				60,000,000	[6]
Interest Rate, in Percent	1.125%			1.125%
Due Date				2012
AEP Texas Central Co [Member] | Repayment Of Debt [Member] | Securitization Bonds One [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				60,000,000
Interest Rate, in Percent	5.96%			5.96%
Due Date				2013
AEP Texas Central Co [Member] | Repayment Of Debt [Member] | Securitization Bonds Two [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				99,000,000
Interest Rate, in Percent	4.98%			4.98%
Due Date				2013
AEP Texas Central Co [Member] | Repayment Of Debt [Member] | Pollution Control Bonds One [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				121,000,000
Interest Rate, in Percent	5.125%			5.125%
Due Date				2011
Appalachian Power Co [Member]
Long-term Debt
Less Portion Due Within One Year	545,024,000			545,024,000			479,672,000
Long-term Debt	3,181,045,000			3,181,045,000			3,081,469,000
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				479,666,000		200,014,000
Financing Activities (Textuals) [Abstract]
Amount Indicated on Cash Flows				640,027,000		363,736,000
Appalachian Power Co [Member] | Issuance Of Debt [Member] | Pollution Control Bonds One [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Issuances				65,000,000
Interest Rate, in Percent	2.00%			2.00%
Due Date				2012
Appalachian Power Co [Member] | Issuance Of Debt [Member] | Pollution Control Bonds Two [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Issuances				75,000,000	[6]
Interest Rate, Variable				Variable
Due Date				2036
Appalachian Power Co [Member] | Issuance Of Debt [Member] | Pollution Control Bonds Three [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Issuances				54,000,000	[6]
Interest Rate, Variable				Variable
Due Date				2042
Appalachian Power Co [Member] | Issuance Of Debt [Member] | Pollution Control Bonds Four [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Issuances				50,000,000	[6]
Interest Rate, Variable				Variable
Due Date				2036
Appalachian Power Co [Member] | Issuance Of Debt [Member] | Pollution Control Bonds Five [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Issuances				50,000,000	[6]
Interest Rate, Variable				Variable
Due Date				2042
Appalachian Power Co [Member] | Issuance Of Debt [Member] | Senior Unsecured Notes One [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Issuances				350,000,000
Interest Rate, in Percent	4.60%			4.60%
Due Date				2021
Appalachian Power Co [Member] | Repayment Of Debt [Member] | Pollution Control Bonds One [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				75,000,000
Interest Rate, Variable				Variable
Due Date				2036
Appalachian Power Co [Member] | Repayment Of Debt [Member] | Pollution Control Bonds Two [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				54,000,000
Interest Rate, Variable				Variable
Due Date				2042
Appalachian Power Co [Member] | Repayment Of Debt [Member] | Pollution Control Bonds Three [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				50,000,000
Interest Rate, Variable				Variable
Due Date				2042
Appalachian Power Co [Member] | Repayment Of Debt [Member] | Pollution Control Bonds Four [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				50,000,000
Interest Rate, Variable				Variable
Due Date				2036
Appalachian Power Co [Member] | Repayment Of Debt [Member] | Senior Unsecured Notes One [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				250,000,000
Interest Rate, in Percent	5.55%			5.55%
Due Date				2011
Appalachian Power Co [Member] | Pollution Control Bonds Five [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Issuances				100,000,000
Interest Rate, in Percent	2.00%			2.00%
Due Date				2014
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]
Long-term Debt
Less Portion Due Within One Year	20,000,000			20,000,000			41,135,000
Long-term Debt	1,708,574,000			1,708,574,000			1,728,385,000
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				41,135,000		53,500,000
Financing Activities (Textuals) [Abstract]
Amount Indicated on Cash Flows				0		399,394,000
Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member] | Repayment Of Debt [Member] | Pollution Control Bonds One [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				41,000,000
Interest Rate, in Percent	4.50%			4.50%
Due Date				2011
Ohio Power Co [Member]
Long-term Debt
Less Portion Due Within One Year	50,000,000			50,000,000			165,000,000
Long-term Debt	2,364,910,000			2,364,910,000			2,364,522,000
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				165,000,000		518,580,000
Financing Activities (Textuals) [Abstract]
Amount Indicated on Cash Flows				49,757,000		202,382,000
Ohio Power Co [Member] | Issuance Of Debt [Member] | Pollution Control Bonds One [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Issuances				50,000,000	[6]
Interest Rate, Variable				Variable
Due Date				2014
Ohio Power Co [Member] | Repayment Of Debt [Member] | Pollution Control Bonds One [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				65,000,000
Interest Rate, Variable				Variable
Due Date				2036
Ohio Power Co [Member] | Repayment Of Debt [Member] | Pollution Control Bonds Two [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				50,000,000
Interest Rate, Variable				Variable
Due Date				2014
Ohio Power Co [Member] | Repayment Of Debt [Member] | Pollution Control Bonds Three [Member]
Long-term Debt and Other Securities Issued, Retired and Principal Payments Made
Retirements and Principal Payments				50,000,000
Interest Rate, Variable				Variable
Due Date				2014
Columbus Southern Power Co [Member]
Long-term Debt
Less Portion Due Within One Year	194,500,000			194,500,000			0
Long-term Debt	1,244,539,000			1,244,539,000			1,438,830,000
Financing Activities (Textuals) [Abstract]
Amount Indicated on Cash Flows				$ 0		$ 149,443,000

[1] Pursuant to the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, IandM (a nuclear licensee) has an obligation to the United States Department of Energy for spent nuclear fuel disposal. The obligation includes a one-time fee for nuclear fuel consumed prior to April 7, 1983. Trust fund assets related to this obligation of $308 million and $307 million at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, are included in Spent Nuclear Fuel and Decommissioning Trusts on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

[2] Amount indicated on the statement of cash flows of $1,118 million is net of issuance costs and premium or discount.

[3] Amount of securitized debt for receivables as accounted for under the ''Transfers and Servicing'' accounting guidance.

[4] Sabine Mining Company is a consolidated variable interest entity. This line of credit does not reduce available liquidity under AEP's credit facilities.

[5] Weighted average rate.

[6] These pollution control bonds are subject to redemption earlier than the maturity date. Consequently, these bonds have been classified for maturity purposes as Long-term Debt Due Within One Year on our condensed balance sheets.