Financings and Capitalization (Summary of Long-Term Debt Outstanding) (Details) - USD ($)		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amounts outstanding		$ 9,564,000,000	$ 9,137,000,000
Current portion of long-term debt		(864,000,000)	(684,000,000)
Net unamortized discounts		(15,000,000)	(12,000,000)
Unamortized debt issuance costs		(45,000,000)	(41,000,000)
Total long-term debt		8,640,000,000	8,400,000,000
Consumers Energy Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amounts outstanding		5,661,000,000	5,409,000,000
Current portion of long-term debt		(375,000,000)	(198,000,000)
Net unamortized discounts		(8,000,000)	(5,000,000)
Unamortized debt issuance costs		(25,000,000)	(23,000,000)
Total long-term debt		5,253,000,000	5,183,000,000
CMS Energy [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt		$ 2,678,000,000	2,605,000,000
Senior Notes 6.550% Due 2017 [Member] | CMS Energy [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate		6.55%
Senior Notes 5.050% Due 2022 [Member] | CMS Energy [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate		5.05%
Senior Notes 3.000% Due May 2026 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate		3.00%
Maturity Date		2026
Principal amounts outstanding		$ 300,000,000
Senior Notes 3.000% Due May 2026 [Member] | CMS Energy [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate		3.00%
Senior Notes 2.950% Due 2027 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate		2.95%
Maturity Date		2027
Principal amounts outstanding		$ 275,000,000
Senior Notes 2.950% Due 2027 [Member] | CMS Energy [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate		2.95%
Term Loan Facility Due 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Date		2018
Principal amounts outstanding		$ 180,000,000	180,000,000
Term Loan Facility Due 2017 [Member] | CMS Energy [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Three-month LIBOR plus a spread		0.85%
Interest rate at period end		1.61%
FMB's 5.500% Due 2016 [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate		5.50%
FMB's 3.250% Due 2046 [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	[1]	3.25%
Maturity Date	[1]	2046
Principal amounts outstanding	[1]	$ 450,000,000
Tax-Exempt Pollution Control Revenue Bonds [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Date		2018-2035
Principal amounts outstanding		$ 103,000,000	103,000,000
Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amounts outstanding		$ 2,525,000,000	2,450,000,000
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes 6.550% Due 2017 [Member] | CMS Energy [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate		6.55%
Maturity Date		2017
Principal amounts outstanding			250,000,000
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes 5.050% Due 2018 [Member] | CMS Energy [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate		5.05%
Maturity Date		2018
Principal amounts outstanding			250,000,000
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes 8.750% Due 2019 [Member] | CMS Energy [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate		8.75%
Maturity Date		2019
Principal amounts outstanding		$ 300,000,000	300,000,000
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes 6.250% Due 2020 [Member] | CMS Energy [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate		6.25%
Maturity Date		2020
Principal amounts outstanding		$ 300,000,000	300,000,000
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes 5.050% Due 2022 [Member] | CMS Energy [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate		5.05%
Maturity Date		2022
Principal amounts outstanding		$ 300,000,000	300,000,000
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes 3.875% Due June 2024 [Member] | CMS Energy [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate		3.875%
Maturity Date		2024
Principal amounts outstanding		$ 250,000,000	250,000,000
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes 3.000% Due May 2026 [Member] | CMS Energy [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate		3.60%
Maturity Date		2025
Principal amounts outstanding		$ 250,000,000	250,000,000
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes 4.700% Due 2043 [Member] | CMS Energy [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate		4.70%
Maturity Date		2043
Principal amounts outstanding		$ 250,000,000	250,000,000
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes 4.875% Due March 2044 [Member] | CMS Energy [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	[2]	4.875%
Maturity Date		2044
Principal amounts outstanding		$ 300,000,000	300,000,000
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes 6.875% Due 2018 [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate		6.875%
Maturity Date		2018
Principal amounts outstanding		$ 180,000,000	180,000,000
Other CMS Subsidiaries [Member] | EnerBank Certificates Of Deposit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	[3]	1.505%
Maturity Date		2017-2026
Interest-bearing Domestic Deposit, Brokered		$ 1,198,000,000	$ 1,098,000,000
Weighted-average interest rate		1.51%	1.36%
Certificate of deposit face value		$ 1,000
First Mortgage Bonds [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amounts outstanding		$ 5,050,000,000	$ 4,773,000,000
Weighted-average Interest Rate (%)		4.57%	4.73%
First Mortgage Bonds [Member] | FMB's 5.500% Due August 2016 [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	[1]	5.50%
Maturity Date	[1]	2016
Principal amounts outstanding	[1]		$ 173,000,000
First Mortgage Bonds [Member] | FMB's 5.150% Due 2017 [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	[1]	5.15%
Maturity Date	[1]	2017
Principal amounts outstanding	[1]	$ 250,000,000	250,000,000
First Mortgage Bonds [Member] | FMB's 3.210% Due 2017 [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	[1]	3.21%
Maturity Date	[1]	2017
Principal amounts outstanding	[1]	$ 100,000,000	100,000,000
First Mortgage Bonds [Member] | FMB's 5.650% Due 2018 [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	[1]	5.65%
Maturity Date	[1]	2018
Principal amounts outstanding	[1]	$ 250,000,000	250,000,000
First Mortgage Bonds [Member] | FMB's 6.125% Due 2019 [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	[1]	6.125%
Maturity Date	[1]	2019
Principal amounts outstanding	[1]	$ 350,000,000	350,000,000
First Mortgage Bonds [Member] | FMB's 6.700% Due 2019 [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	[1]	6.70%
Maturity Date	[1]	2019
Principal amounts outstanding	[1]	$ 500,000,000	500,000,000
First Mortgage Bonds [Member] | FMB's 5.650% Due 2020 [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	[1]	5.65%
Maturity Date	[1]	2020
Principal amounts outstanding	[1]	$ 300,000,000	300,000,000
First Mortgage Bonds [Member] | FMB's 3.770% Due 2020 [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	[1]	3.77%
Maturity Date	[1]	2020
Principal amounts outstanding	[1]	$ 100,000,000	100,000,000
First Mortgage Bonds [Member] | FMB's 5.300% Due 2022 [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	[1]	5.30%
Maturity Date	[1]	2022
Principal amounts outstanding	[1]	$ 250,000,000	250,000,000
First Mortgage Bonds [Member] | FMB's 2.850% Due 2022 [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	[1]	2.85%
Maturity Date	[1]	2022
Principal amounts outstanding	[1]	$ 375,000,000	375,000,000
First Mortgage Bonds [Member] | FMB's 3.375% Due 2023 [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	[1]	3.375%
Maturity Date	[1]	2023
Principal amounts outstanding	[1]	$ 325,000,000	325,000,000
First Mortgage Bonds [Member] | FMB's 3.190% Due 2024 [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	[1]	3.19%
Maturity Date	[1]	2024
Principal amounts outstanding	[1]	$ 52,000,000	52,000,000
First Mortgage Bonds [Member] | FMB's 3.125% Due August 2024 [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	[1]	3.125%
Maturity Date	[1]	2024
Principal amounts outstanding	[1]	$ 250,000,000	250,000,000
First Mortgage Bonds [Member] | FMB's 3.390% Due 2027 [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	[1]	3.39%
Maturity Date	[1]	2027
Principal amounts outstanding	[1]	$ 35,000,000	35,000,000
First Mortgage Bonds [Member] | FMB's 5.800% Due 2035 [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	[1]	5.80%
Maturity Date	[1]	2035
Principal amounts outstanding	[1]	$ 175,000,000	175,000,000
First Mortgage Bonds [Member] | FMB's 6.170% Due 2040 [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	[1]	6.17%
Maturity Date	[1]	2040
Principal amounts outstanding	[1]	$ 50,000,000	50,000,000
First Mortgage Bonds [Member] | FMB's 4.970% Due 2040 [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	[1]	4.97%
Maturity Date	[1]	2040
Principal amounts outstanding	[1]	$ 50,000,000	50,000,000
First Mortgage Bonds [Member] | FMB's 4.310% Due 2042 [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	[1]	4.31%
Maturity Date	[1]	2042
Principal amounts outstanding	[1]	$ 263,000,000	263,000,000
First Mortgage Bonds [Member] | FMB's 3.950% Due 2043 [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	[1]	3.95%
Maturity Date	[1]	2043
Principal amounts outstanding	[1]	$ 425,000,000	425,000,000
First Mortgage Bonds [Member] | FMB's 4.100% Due 2045 [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	[1]	4.10%
Maturity Date	[1]	2045
Principal amounts outstanding	[1]	$ 250,000,000	250,000,000
First Mortgage Bonds [Member] | FMB's 4.350% Due August 2064 [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	[1]	4.35%
Maturity Date	[1]	2064
Principal amounts outstanding	[1]	$ 250,000,000	$ 250,000,000
Securitization Bonds [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member] | Consumers 2014 Securitization Funding [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted-average Interest Rate (%)		2.79%	2.69%
Securitization Bonds [Member] | Securitization Bonds 2.689% Due 2020-2029 [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	[4]	2.79%
Maturity Date	[5]	2020-2029
Principal amounts outstanding		$ 328,000,000	$ 353,000,000

[1] The weighted-average interest rate for Consumers' first mortgage bonds was 4.57 percent at December 31, 2016 and 4.73 percent at December 31, 2015.

[2] Outstanding borrowings bear interest at an annual interest rate of LIBOR plus 0.85 percent (1.61 percent at December 31, 2016).

[3] The weighted-average interest rate for EnerBank's certificates of deposit was 1.51 percent at December 31, 2016 and 1.36 percent at December 31, 2015. EnerBank's primary deposit product consists of brokered certificates of deposit with varying maturities and having a face value of $1,000.

[4] The weighted-average interest rate for Consumers' securitization bonds issued through its subsidiary Consumers 2014 Securitization Funding was 2.79 percent at December 31, 2016 and 2.69 percent at December 31, 2015.Principal and interest payments are made semiannually.

[5] Principal and interest payments are made semiannually.