Our Assets and Liabilities with Recurring Fair Value Measurements (Details Textuals) (USD $) In Millions | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2010 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2010 | |||||||||||||
| Reconciliation of changes in fair value of our net derivative assets (liabilities) classified as level 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| Balance, beginning of period | $ 21 | $ 43 | $ 30 | $ 38 | |||||||||||||
| Realized and unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss) [abstract] | |||||||||||||||||
| Realized and unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss) included in operating revenues | (8) | [1] | 12 | [1] | (1) | [1] | 31 | [1] | |||||||||
| Realized and unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss) included in fuel and purchased energy expense | 1 | [2] | 2 | [2] | 1 | [2] | (1) | [2] | |||||||||
| Realized and unrealized gains (losses) included in OCI | (2) | 4 | 3 | 6 | |||||||||||||
| Purchases, issuances, sales and settlements [Abstract] | |||||||||||||||||
| Settlements | 16 | (2) | (6) | (13) | |||||||||||||
| Transfers into level 3 | [3] | 1 | [3] | [3] | [3] | ||||||||||||
| Transfers out of level 3 | (1) | [4] | 4 | [4] | [4] | 3 | [4] | ||||||||||
| Balance, end of period | 27 | 64 | 27 | 64 | |||||||||||||
| Change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to instruments still held at end of period | (7) | 14 | 30 | ||||||||||||||
| Assets and Liabilities with Recurring Fair Value Measurements (Textuals) [Abstract] | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash equivalents included in cash and cash equivalents | 1,280 | 1,280 | 1,094 | ||||||||||||||
| Cash equivalents included in restricted cash | $ 211 | $ 211 | $ 203 | ||||||||||||||
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