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Fair Value (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value Disclosures Details [Abstract]
An input assumption is considered significant if it affects the fair value by at least 10%.	10.00%		10.00%
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Abstract
Available-for-sale securities	$ 864,000,000		$ 864,000,000		$ 1,340,000,000
Trading securities	12,000,000		12,000,000		12,000,000
Derivatives	116,000,000		116,000,000		120,000,000
Total assets	992,000,000		992,000,000		1,472,000,000
Derivatives	805,000,000		805,000,000		690,000,000
Total liabilities	805,000,000		805,000,000		690,000,000
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Nonrecurring Basis [Abstract]
(Gain) loss on disposal and impairment write-down - discontinued operations			131,000,000	0
Asset Impairment Charges	18,000,000	33,000,000	29,000,000	33,000,000
Other non-operating expense	1,000,000	0	50,000,000	0
Fair Value Derivative Assets Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	(122,000,000)	45,000,000	(148,000,000)	49,000,000
Included in earnings	(13,000,000)	0	(8,000,000)	11,000,000
Included in other comprehensive income	(58,000,000)	(4,000,000)	(15,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Included in regulatory (assets) liabilities	7,000,000	7,000,000	7,000,000	6,000,000
Settlements	5,000,000	4,000,000	18,000,000	3,000,000
Transfers of assets (liabilities) into Level 3	(105,000,000)	(58,000,000)	(146,000,000)	(58,000,000)
Transfers of (assets) liabilities out of Level 3	0	(16,000,000)	6,000,000	0
Balance at end of period	(286,000,000)	10,000,000	(286,000,000)	10,000,000
Total gains/(losses) for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains/(losses) relating to assets and liabilities held at the end of the period	(14,000,000)	6,000,000	(8,000,000)	14,000,000
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Long-lived Asset: Kelanitissa
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items]
Annual Revenue Growth Input Minimum	(9.00%)		(9.00%)
Annual Revenue Growth Input Maximum	4.00%		4.00%
Pretax Operating Margin Input Minimum	(4.00%)		(4.00%)
Pretax Operating Margin Input Maximum	16.00%		16.00%
Weighted Average Cost Of Capital Input	11.90%		11.90%
Debt securities
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	0	40,000,000	0	42,000,000
Settlements	0	0	0	(2,000,000)
Balance at end of period	0	40,000,000	0	40,000,000
Total gains/(losses) for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains/losses relating to assets held at the end of the period	0	0	0	0
Interest Rate Derivatives
Fair Value Derivative Assets Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	(124,000,000)	(7,000,000)	(128,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Included in earnings	0	0	(1,000,000)	0
Included in other comprehensive income	(58,000,000)	(12,000,000)	(19,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Included in regulatory (assets) liabilities	0	0	0	0
Settlements	6,000,000	1,000,000	13,000,000	0
Transfers of assets (liabilities) into Level 3	(105,000,000)	(58,000,000)	(146,000,000)	(58,000,000)
Transfers of (assets) liabilities out of Level 3	0	(16,000,000)	0	0
Balance at end of period	(281,000,000)	(60,000,000)	(281,000,000)	(60,000,000)
Total gains/(losses) for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains/(losses) relating to assets and liabilities held at the end of the period	0	0	0	0
Fair Value Derivative Assets Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Abstract]
Subsidiaries' credit risk (minimum)	3.00%		3.00%
Subsidiaries' credit risk (maximum)	4.10%		4.10%
Subsidiaries' credit risk (weighted average)	3.50%		3.50%
Cross Currency Swaps
Fair Value Derivative Assets Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	0	5,000,000	(18,000,000)	10,000,000
Included in earnings	0	(2,000,000)	0	0
Included in other comprehensive income	0	8,000,000	4,000,000	0
Included in regulatory (assets) liabilities	0	0	0	0
Settlements	0	4,000,000	8,000,000	5,000,000
Transfers of assets (liabilities) into Level 3	0	0	0	0
Transfers of (assets) liabilities out of Level 3	0	0	6,000,000	0
Balance at end of period	0	15,000,000	0	15,000,000
Total gains/(losses) for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains/(losses) relating to assets and liabilities held at the end of the period	0	(2,000,000)	0	0
Foreign Currency
Fair Value Derivative Assets Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	48,000,000	23,000,000	51,000,000	22,000,000
Included in earnings	0	18,000,000	(2,000,000)	18,000,000
Included in other comprehensive income	0	0	0	0
Included in regulatory (assets) liabilities	0	0	0	0
Settlements	(1,000,000)	(1,000,000)	(2,000,000)	(2,000,000)
Transfers of assets (liabilities) into Level 3	0	0	0	0
Transfers of (assets) liabilities out of Level 3	0	2,000,000	0	0
Balance at end of period	47,000,000	38,000,000	47,000,000	38,000,000
Total gains/(losses) for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains/(losses) relating to assets and liabilities held at the end of the period	(1,000,000)	15,000,000	(3,000,000)	15,000,000
Commodity & Other
Fair Value Derivative Assets Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	(46,000,000)	24,000,000	(53,000,000)	18,000,000
Included in earnings	(13,000,000)	(16,000,000)	(5,000,000)	(7,000,000)
Included in other comprehensive income	0	0	0	0
Included in regulatory (assets) liabilities	7,000,000	7,000,000	7,000,000	6,000,000
Settlements	0	0	(1,000,000)	0
Transfers of assets (liabilities) into Level 3	0	0	0	0
Transfers of (assets) liabilities out of Level 3	0	(2,000,000)	0	0
Balance at end of period	(52,000,000)	17,000,000	(52,000,000)	17,000,000
Total gains/(losses) for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains/(losses) relating to assets and liabilities held at the end of the period	(13,000,000)	(7,000,000)	(5,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Foreign currency: Embedded derivative - Argentina Peso
Fair Value Derivative Assets Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance at end of period	48,000,000		48,000,000
Fair Value Derivative Assets Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Abstract]
Argentine Peso to U.S. Dollar currency exchange rate after 2 years	7.53		7.53
Foreign currency: Other
Fair Value Derivative Assets Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance at end of period	(1,000,000)		(1,000,000)
Commodity & other: Embedded derivative - Philippine inflation
Fair Value Derivative Assets Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance at end of period	8,000,000		8,000,000
Fair Value Derivative Assets Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Abstract]
U.S. Producer Price Index after 5 years (where base year of 2005 = 100), Minimum	143		143
U.S. Producer Price Index after 5 years (where base year of 2005 = 100), Maximum	174		174
U.S. Producer Price Index after 5 years (where base year of 2005 = 100), Weighted Average	154		154
Commodity & other: Other
Fair Value Derivative Assets Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance at end of period	6,000,000		6,000,000
Commodity & other: Embedded derivative - Aluminum
Fair Value Derivative Assets Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance at end of period	(66,000,000)		(66,000,000)
Fair Value Derivative Assets Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Abstract]
Market Price of Power for Customer in Cameroon (per KWh), Minimum	0.05		0.05
Market Price of Power for Customer in Cameroon (per KWh), Maximum	0.17		0.17
Market Price Of Power For Customer In Cameroon Weighted Average	0.12		0.12
Nonrecurring | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Kelanitissa [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Nonrecurring Basis [Abstract]
Asset Impairment Charges			12,000,000	33,000,000
Nonrecurring | Equity Method Affiliate [Member] | Other Subsidiary [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Nonrecurring Basis [Abstract]
Other non-operating expense			50,000,000
Nonrecurring | Long Lived Assets Held For Sale [Member] | St Patrick [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Nonrecurring Basis [Abstract]
Asset Impairment Charges			11,000,000
Level 1
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Abstract
Available-for-sale securities	1,000,000		1,000,000		1,000,000
Trading securities	12,000,000		12,000,000		12,000,000
Derivatives	0		0		2,000,000
Total assets	13,000,000		13,000,000		15,000,000
Derivatives	0		0		0
Total liabilities	0		0		0
Level 2
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Abstract
Available-for-sale securities	863,000,000		863,000,000		1,339,000,000
Trading securities	0		0		0
Derivatives	45,000,000		45,000,000		52,000,000
Total assets	908,000,000		908,000,000		1,391,000,000
Derivatives	448,000,000		448,000,000		476,000,000
Total liabilities	448,000,000		448,000,000		476,000,000
Level 3
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Abstract
Available-for-sale securities	0		0		0
Trading securities	0		0		0
Derivatives	71,000,000		71,000,000		66,000,000
Total assets	71,000,000		71,000,000		66,000,000
Derivatives	357,000,000		357,000,000		214,000,000
Total liabilities	357,000,000		357,000,000		214,000,000
Carrying Amount
Financial Instruments Not Measured At Fair Value In the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract]
Long-term receivables	460,000,000		460,000,000		469,000,000
Non-recourse debt	15,537,000,000		15,537,000,000		15,535,000,000
Recourse debt	6,189,000,000		6,189,000,000		6,485,000,000
Carrying Amount | Nonrecurring | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Kelanitissa [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Nonrecurring Basis [Abstract]
Carrying Amount, Nonrecurring	22,000,000	66,000,000	22,000,000	66,000,000
Carrying Amount | Nonrecurring | Equity Method Affiliate [Member] | Other Subsidiary [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Nonrecurring Basis [Abstract]
Carrying Amount, Nonrecurring	205,000,000		205,000,000
Carrying Amount | Level 2 | Nonrecurring | Long Lived Assets Held For Sale [Member] | St Patrick [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Nonrecurring Basis [Abstract]
Carrying Amount, Nonrecurring	33,000,000		33,000,000
Fair Value
Financial Instruments Not Measured At Fair Value In the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract]
Long-term receivables	398,000,000		398,000,000		484,000,000
Non-recourse debt	16,021,000,000		16,021,000,000		15,862,000,000
Recourse debt	6,802,000,000		6,802,000,000		6,640,000,000
Fair Value | Level 1
Financial Instruments Not Measured At Fair Value In the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract]
Long-term receivables	0		0
Non-recourse debt	0		0
Recourse debt	0		0
Fair Value | Level 1 | Nonrecurring | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Kelanitissa [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Nonrecurring Basis [Abstract]
Fair Value, Nonrecurring	0	0	0	0
Fair Value | Level 1 | Nonrecurring | Equity Method Affiliate [Member] | Other Subsidiary [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Nonrecurring Basis [Abstract]
Fair Value, Nonrecurring	0		0
Fair Value | Level 1 | Nonrecurring | Long Lived Assets Held For Sale [Member] | St Patrick [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Nonrecurring Basis [Abstract]
Fair Value, Nonrecurring	0		0
Fair Value | Level 2
Financial Instruments Not Measured At Fair Value In the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract]
Long-term receivables	0		0
Non-recourse debt	11,944,000,000		11,944,000,000
Recourse debt	6,802,000,000		6,802,000,000
Fair Value | Level 2 | Nonrecurring | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Kelanitissa [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Nonrecurring Basis [Abstract]
Fair Value, Nonrecurring	0	0	0	0
Fair Value | Level 2 | Nonrecurring | Equity Method Affiliate [Member] | Other Subsidiary [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Nonrecurring Basis [Abstract]
Fair Value, Nonrecurring	155,000,000		155,000,000
Fair Value | Level 2 | Nonrecurring | Long Lived Assets Held For Sale [Member] | St Patrick [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Nonrecurring Basis [Abstract]
Fair Value, Nonrecurring	22,000,000		22,000,000
Fair Value | Level 3
Financial Instruments Not Measured At Fair Value In the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract]
Long-term receivables	398,000,000		398,000,000
Non-recourse debt	4,077,000,000		4,077,000,000
Recourse debt	0		0
Fair Value | Level 3 | Nonrecurring | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Kelanitissa [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Nonrecurring Basis [Abstract]
Fair Value, Nonrecurring	10,000,000	33,000,000	10,000,000	33,000,000
Fair Value | Level 3 | Nonrecurring | Equity Method Affiliate [Member] | Other Subsidiary [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Nonrecurring Basis [Abstract]
Fair Value, Nonrecurring	0		0
Fair Value | Level 3 | Nonrecurring | Long Lived Assets Held For Sale [Member] | St Patrick [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Nonrecurring Basis [Abstract]
Fair Value, Nonrecurring	$ 0		$ 0

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- Definition

Maximum revenue growth used in projecting cash flows.

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Minimum annual revenue growth used in forecasting cash flows.

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- Definition

This element represents the aggregate carrying amount of the assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis by the entity before the recognition of impairment charges.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

The maximum credit rating used by the parent company or subsidiary to determine the fair value of derivative instruments at the balance sheet date.

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The minimum credit rating used by the parent company or subsidiary to determine the fair value of derivative instruments at the balance sheet date.

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- Definition

The weighted average credit rating used by the parent company or subsidiary to determine the fair value of derivative instruments at the balance sheet date.

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Fair values as of the balance sheet date of all assets resulting from contracts that meet the criteria of being accounted for as derivative instruments, net of the effects of master netting arrangements.

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- Definition

This item represents the amount of the total change in unrealized (holding) gains or losses for the period which are included in the statement of income (or changes in net assets). Such unrealized (holding) gains or losses relate to those derivative assets and liabilities still held at the reporting date for which fair value is measured on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3).

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No definition available.

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- Definition

This element represents total gains or losses for the period (realized and unrealized), arising from derivative assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3), which are included in earnings or resulted in a change in net asset value.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

This element represents total gains or losses for the period (realized and unrealized), arising from derivative assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3), which are included in other comprehensive income (a separate component of shareholders' equity.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

This element represents transfers in to derivative assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3) which have taken place during the period.

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No definition available.

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This element represents transfers out of derivative assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3) which have taken place during the period.

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No definition available.

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This element represents net derivative assets and liabilities measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) which are required for reconciliation purposes of beginning and ending balances.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Settlements that have taken place during the period in relation to derivative assets and liabilities measured at fair value and categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

This element represents total gains or losses for the period (realized and unrealized), arising from derivative assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3), which are included in regulatory assets or liabilities.

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- Definition

Represents the minimum percentage of the overall fair value determination that an assumption must represent to be considered significant to the overall fair value.

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- Definition

The maximum market price of power for customers in Cameroon used to determine the fair value of derivative instruments at the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The minimum market price of power for customers in Cameroon used to determine the fair value of derivative instruments at the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The weighted average market price of power for customers in Cameroon used to determine the fair value of derivative instruments at the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Non-recourse debt is secured by the capital stock, physical assets, contracts and cash flows of the related subsidiary. The risk is limited to the respective subsidiary business and is without recourse to the Parent Company and other subsidiaries.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Maximum operating margin used in projecting cash flows.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Minimum pretax operating margin used in projecting cash flows.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Recourse debt is direct borrowings by the Parent Company that is structurally subordinate to the affiliates non-recourse debt.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

The U.S. Dollar indexation in Argentina used to determine the fair value of derivative instruments at the balance sheet date.

+ References

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