Contractual Obligations, Commercial Commitments and Contingencies (Narative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended						12 Months Ended						12 Months Ended																				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 T	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013 DP&L [Member] T	Dec. 31, 2012 DP&L [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 DP&L [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 DPLE and DPLER [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 MC Squared [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Beckjord Unit 6 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Hutchings Plant [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Hutchings Plant [Member] DP&L [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Coal Supply Agreements [Member] T	Dec. 31, 2013 Coal Supply Agreements [Member] DP&L [Member] T	Dec. 31, 2013 Debt Obligation on 4.9% Equity Ownership [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Debt Obligation on 4.9% Equity Ownership [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Debt Obligation on 4.9% Equity Ownership [Member] DP&L [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Debt Obligation on 4.9% Equity Ownership [Member] DP&L [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 First Mortgage Bonds Maturing in October 2013 - 5.125% [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 First Mortgage Bonds Maturing in October 2013 - 5.125% [Member] DP&L [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Pollution Control Series Maturing in January 2028 - 4.70% [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Pollution Control Series Maturing in January 2028 - 4.70% [Member] DP&L [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Pollution Control Series Maturing in January 2034 - 4.80% [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Pollution Control Series Maturing in January 2034 - 4.80% [Member] DP&L [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Pollution Control Series Maturing in September 2036 - 4.80% [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Pollution Control Series Maturing in September 2036 - 4.80% [Member] DP&L [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 U.S. Government note maturing in February 2061 - 4.20% [Member]	Mar. 01, 2011 U.S. Government note maturing in February 2061 - 4.20% [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 U.S. Government note maturing in February 2061 - 4.20% [Member] DP&L [Member]	Mar. 01, 2011 U.S. Government note maturing in February 2061 - 4.20% [Member] DP&L [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Note to DPL Capital Trust II Maturing in September 2031 - 8.125% [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Five Year Senior Unsecured Notes at 6.50% maturing on October 15, 2016 [Member]	Oct. 03, 2011 Five Year Senior Unsecured Notes at 6.50% maturing on October 15, 2016 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Ten Year Senior Unsecured Notes at 7.25% maturing at October 15, 2021 [Member]	Oct. 03, 2013 Ten Year Senior Unsecured Notes at 7.25% maturing at October 15, 2021 [Member]	Oct. 03, 2011 Ten Year Senior Unsecured Notes at 7.25% maturing at October 15, 2021 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 NOx [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 NOx [Member] DP&L [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 SO2 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 SO2 [Member] DP&L [Member]
Public Utility, Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Third party guarantees	$ 25,900,000					$ 25,600,000	$ 300,000
Due to third parties, current	200,000	0
Equity ownership interest	4.90%												4.90%	4.90%	4.90%	4.90%
Equity ownership interest aggregate cost															76,400,000
Debt obligation													1,558,400,000
Long Term Debt Date Range Equity Ownership, Start															2014
Long Term Debt Date Range Equity Ownership, End															2040
Debt instrument interest percentage																	5.125%	1.875%	4.70%	4.70%	4.80%	4.80%	4.80%	4.80%	4.20%	4.20%	4.20%	4.20%	8.125%	6.50%	6.50%	7.25%	7.25%	7.25%
Environmental reserves	1,100,000
Unrecognized tax benefit	8,800,000		8,800,000	18,300,000	25,000,000
Percentage of energy generated by coal	99.00%		99.00%
Emission Reductions																																			54.00%	54.00%	73.00%	73.00%
Annual CO2 emissions generation at stations, in tons			14,000,000
Supplemental Eviromental Project	200,000		200,000
Number of tons of CO2 emitted per year including electric generating units	14,000,000
Number of Coal Fired Units									6	6
Relief and civil penalties, per day	27,500		27,500
Coal supply failure by suppliers											1,500,000	1,500,000
Coal supply agreement, in tons											570,000	570,000,000
Proceeds from Legal Settlements	14,600,000
Proceeds from insurance settlement, operating activities			14,600,000
Ownership (%)								50.00%
Interest and Other Income	$ 1,800,000		$ 1,800,000