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Contingencies (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2011 integer | Dec. 31, 2010
Environmental Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |  |
Liability recorded for projected environmental remediation costs | $ 26,000,000 |
Guarantees Letters Of Credit [Abstract] |  |
The range of expiration dates of guarantees made by the Parent Company | The expiration dates of these guarantees vary from less than one year to more than 15 years. |
Obligations made by the Parent Company associated with non-recourse debt | 24,000,000 |
Contingent Contractual Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Amount | 613,000,000 |
Number of Agreements | 44 |
Commitments to invest in subsidiaries, excluding letters of credit | 9,000,000 |
Letter of credit fee range (minimum) | 0.25% |
Letter of credit fee range (maximum) | 3.25% |
Litigation Contingency Disclosure [Abstract] |  |
Aggregate reserves for claims deemed both probable and reasonably estimable | 363,000,000 | 443,000,000
Range of reasonably possible potential losses, minimum | 355,000,000 |
Range of reasonably possible potential losses, maximum | 1,700,000,000 |
Guarantees |  |
Contingent Contractual Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Amount | 340,000,000 |
Number of Agreements | 20 |
Maximum Exposure Range for Each Agreement | 53 |
Amount (Discontinued Operations) | 11,000,000 |
Letters of credit under the senior secured credit facility |  |
Contingent Contractual Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Amount | 12,000,000 |
Number of Agreements | 11 |
Maximum Exposure Range for Each Agreement | 7 |
Cash Collateralized Letters Of Credit [Member] |  |
Contingent Contractual Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Amount | $ 261,000,000 |
Number of Agreements | 13 |
Maximum Exposure Range for Each Agreement | 221 |

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- Definition Maximum potential amount related to discontinued operations of future payments (undiscounted) the Parent Company could be required to make under the obligation or each group of similar obligations before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions. + References No definition available. + Details
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