Overview and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Related Party Transactions) (Details) (DP&L [Member], USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
DP&L [Member]
Sales to DPLER	$ 90.2	$ 75.9	$ 246.3	$ 165.9
Premiums paid for insurance services provided by MVIC	(0.8)	(0.8)	(2.4)	(2.5)
Expense recoveries for services provided to DPLER	$ 1.1	$ 1.6	$ 2.8	$ 4.0

Revenues, net of returns and allowances, realized from sales and other transactions (excluding transactions that are eliminated in consolidated or combined financial statements) with related party during the period.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 57

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph c

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 850

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionRevenuesFromTransactionsWithRelatedParty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration