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Contingencies and Commitments (Details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
Environmental Contingencies |  |
Liability recorded for projected environmental remediation costs | $ 25,000,000 |
Guarantees Letters Of Credit [Abstract] |  |
The range of expiration dates of guarantees made by the Parent Company | less than one year to more than 14 years |
Obligations made by the Parent Company associated with non-recourse debt | 25,000,000 |
Contingent Contractual Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Amount | 618,000,000 |
Number of Agreements | 45 |
Commitments to invest in subsidiaries, excluding letters of credit | 9,000,000 |
Litigation Contingencies |  |
Aggregate reserves for claims deemed both probable and reasonably estimable | 380,000,000 | 363,000,000
Loss Contingency Range Of Possible Loss Minimum | 364,000,000 |
Loss Contingency Range Of Possible Loss Maximum | 1,700,000,000 |
Guarantees |  |
Contingent Contractual Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Amount | 352,000,000 |
Number of Agreements | 21 |
Maximum Exposure Range for Each Agreement | <$1 - $53 |
Letters of credit under secured credit facility |  |
Contingent Contractual Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Amount | 12,000,000 |
Number of Agreements | 11 |
Maximum Exposure Range for Each Agreement | <$1 - $7 |
Cash Collateralized Letters Of Credit [Member] |  |
Contingent Contractual Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Amount | $ 254,000,000 |
Number of Agreements | 13 |
Maximum Exposure Range for Each Agreement | <$1 - $215 |

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