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Retirement Benefits (Schedule of Benefit Obligations in Excess of Fair Value of Plan Assets) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities, Noncurrent $ 1,451 $ 1,289  
Consumers Energy Company [Member]
     
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities, Noncurrent 1,385 1,225  
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan [Member]
     
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation, Beginning Balance 127 [1] 118  
Defined Benefit Plan, Service Cost 1 1  
Defined Benefit Plan, Interest Cost 6 6  
Defined Benefit Plan, Actuarial Net (Gains) Losses 16 8  
Defined Benfefit Plan Benefits Paid Plus Cash Payments (6) (6)  
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation, Ending Balance 144 [1] 127 [1]  
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Employer 6 6  
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefits Paid (6) (6)  
Defined Benefit Plan, Funded Status of Plan (144) (127)  
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Current Liabilities 7 7  
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities, Noncurrent 137 120  
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
     
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation, Beginning Balance 85 [1] 77  
Defined Benefit Plan, Service Cost 1 1  
Defined Benefit Plan, Interest Cost 4 4  
Defined Benefit Plan, Actuarial Net (Gains) Losses 13 6  
Defined Benfefit Plan Benefits Paid Plus Cash Payments (3) (3)  
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation, Ending Balance 100 [1] 85 [1]  
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Employer 3 3  
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefits Paid (3) (3)  
Defined Benefit Plan, Funded Status of Plan (100) (85)  
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Current Liabilities 4 4  
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities, Noncurrent 96 81  
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
     
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation, Beginning Balance 2,072 1,896  
Defined Benefit Plan, Service Cost 48 48  
Defined Benefit Plan, Interest Cost 99 100  
Defined Benefit Plan, Actuarial Net (Gains) Losses 249 107  
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation, Ending Balance 2,354 2,072  
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets, Beginning Balance 1,626 1,401  
Defined Benefit Plan, Actual Return on Plan Assets 215 54  
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Employer   250  
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefits Paid (114) (79)  
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets, Ending Balance 1,727 1,626  
Defined Benefit Plan, Funded Status of Plan (627) [2] (446) [2]  
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities, Noncurrent 627 446  
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
     
Defined Benefit Plan, Funded Status of Plan (590) (414)  
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities, Noncurrent 590 414  
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
     
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation, Beginning Balance 1,641 [1] 1,410  
Defined Benefit Plan, Service Cost 32 27 26
Defined Benefit Plan, Interest Cost 82 77 80
Defined Benefit Plan, Actuarial Net (Gains) Losses 25 180  
Defined Benfefit Plan Benefits Paid Plus Cash Payments (51) [3] (53) [3]  
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation, Ending Balance 1,729 [1] 1,641 [1] 1,410
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets, Beginning Balance 924 887  
Defined Benefit Plan, Actual Return on Plan Assets 108 23  
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Employer 65 67  
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefits Paid (50) [3] (53) [3]  
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets, Ending Balance 1,047 924 887
Defined Benefit Plan, Funded Status of Plan (682) (717)  
Prescription Drug Benefit, Effect of Subsidy on Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost 20 26 28
Capitalization Prescription Drug Benefit, Effect of Subsidy on Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost 7 9 10
Defined Benefit Plan, Gross Prescription Drug Subsidy Receipts Received 5 5 5
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities, Noncurrent 682 717  
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
     
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation, Beginning Balance 1,585 [1] 1,358  
Defined Benefit Plan, Service Cost 31 26 25
Defined Benefit Plan, Interest Cost 79 74 77
Defined Benefit Plan, Actuarial Net (Gains) Losses 24 178  
Defined Benfefit Plan Benefits Paid Plus Cash Payments (49) [3] (51) [3]  
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation, Ending Balance 1,670 [1] 1,585 [1] 1,358
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets, Beginning Balance 861 825  
Defined Benefit Plan, Actual Return on Plan Assets 101 21  
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Employer 64 66  
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefits Paid (48) [3] (51) [3]  
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets, Ending Balance 978 861 825
Defined Benefit Plan, Funded Status of Plan (692) (724)  
Prescription Drug Benefit, Effect of Subsidy on Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost 19 25 26
Defined Benefit Plan, Gross Prescription Drug Subsidy Receipts Received 5 5 5
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities, Noncurrent $ 692 $ 724  
[1] The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 established a prescription drug benefit under Medicare (Medicare Part D) and a federal subsidy, which is tax-exempt, to sponsors of retiree health care benefit plans that provide a benefit that is actuarially equivalent to Medicare Part D. In 2010, the Health Care Acts repealed these tax-exempt deductions for years beginning after December 31, 2012. The Medicare Part D annualized reduction in net OPEB cost for CMS Energy was $20 million for 2012, $26 million for 2011, and $28 million for 2010. Consumers’ Medicare Part D annualized reduction in net OPEB costs was $19 million for 2012, $25 million for 2011, and $26 million for 2010. The reduction for CMS Energy and Consumers included $7 million for 2012, $9 million for 2011, and $10 million for 2010 in capitalized OPEB costs.
[2] At December 31, 2012, $590 million of the total funded status of the Pension Plan was attributable to Consumers based on an allocation of expenses. At December 31, 2011, $414 million of the funded status of the Pension Plan was attributable to Consumers based on an allocation of expenses.
[3] CMS Energy received payments of $5 million in each of 2012, 2011, and 2010 for the Medicare Part D subsidies. Consumers received payments of $5 million in each of 2012, 2011, and 2010 for the Medicare Part D subsidies. The Medicare Part D subsidy payments are used to pay OPEB plan benefits.