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Use of Collateral (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified |
Dec. 31, 2011
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Dec. 31, 2010
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Use of Collateral [Abstract] | ||||||||||||||
| Margin deposits | $ 140 | [1] | $ 162 | [1] | ||||||||||
| Natural gas and power prepayments | 42 | 43 | ||||||||||||
| Total margin deposits and natural gas and power prepayments with our counterparties | 182 | [2] | 205 | [2] | ||||||||||
| Letters of credit issued | 581 | [3] | 588 | [3] | ||||||||||
| First priority liens under power and natural gas agreements | 1 | [4] | 0 | [4] | ||||||||||
| First priority liens under interest rate swap agreements | 318 | 391 | ||||||||||||
| Total letters of credit and first priority liens with our counterparties | 900 | 979 | ||||||||||||
| Margin deposits held by us posted by our counterparties | 34 | [1],[5] | 6 | [1],[5] | ||||||||||
| Letters of credit posted with us by our counterparties | 0 | 66 | ||||||||||||
| Total margin deposits and letters of credit posted with us by our counterparties | 34 | 72 | ||||||||||||
| Use of Collateral (Textuals) [Abstract] | ||||||||||||||
| Margin And Prepayment Amounts Included In Other Assets | 20 | 22 | ||||||||||||
| Margin And Prepayment Amounts Included In Margin Deposits And Other Prepaid Expenses | 162 | 183 | ||||||||||||
| Back-stopped amount of letters of credit used for commodity procurement and risk management activities | 63 | |||||||||||||
| Commodity Instruments Collateralized By First Priority Liens, Fair Value | $ 193 | |||||||||||||
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