Contractual Obligations, Commercial Commitments and Contingencies (Narative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended					3 Months Ended																			3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014 T	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014 DP&L [Member] T	Dec. 31, 2013 DP&L [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Electric Generation Company [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 DPLE and DPLER [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 MC Squared [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Beckjord Unit 6 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Beckjord Unit 6 [Member] DP&L [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Debt Obligation on 4.9% Equity Ownership [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Debt Obligation on 4.9% Equity Ownership [Member] DP&L [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Pollution Control Series Maturing in January 2028 - 4.70% [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Pollution Control Series Maturing in January 2028 - 4.70% [Member] DP&L [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Pollution Control Series Maturing in January 2034 - 4.80% [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Pollution Control Series Maturing in January 2034 - 4.80% [Member] DP&L [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Pollution Control Series Maturing in September 2036 - 4.80% [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Pollution Control Series Maturing in September 2036 - 4.80% [Member] DP&L [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 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]	Mar. 31, 2014 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]	Mar. 31, 2014 Note to DPL Capital Trust II Maturing in September 2031 - 8.125% [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 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]	Mar. 31, 2014 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]	Mar. 31, 2014 NOx [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 NOx [Member] DP&L [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 SO2 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 SO2 [Member] DP&L [Member]
Public Utility, Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Third party guarantees	$ 25,900,000					$ 2,000,000	$ 200,000
Due to third parties, current	1,700,000
Equity ownership interest			4.90%							4.90%
Equity ownership interest aggregate cost										76,000,000	76,000,000
Debt obligation					1,550,200,000
Long Term Debt Date Range Equity Ownership, Start			2018							2018
Long Term Debt Date Range Equity Ownership, End			2040							2040
Debt instrument interest percentage												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%
Environmental reserves	1,400,000	1,100,000	1,400,000	1,100,000
Percentage of coal-fire power plant holdings								50.00%	50.00%
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		14,000,000
Supplemental Eviromental Project	200,000		200,000
Number of Coal Fired Units	6		6
Relief and civil penalties, per day	$ 27,500		$ 27,500