Investment in short-term money-market instruments (such as commercial paper, banker's acceptances, repurchase agreements, government securities, certificates of deposit, and so forth) which are highly liquid (that is, readily convertible to known amounts of cash) and so near their maturity that they present an insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify as cash equivalents by definition. Original maturity means an original maturity to the entity holding the investment. For example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three-years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months.

+ References+ Details

Before tax and reclassification adjustments amount of unrealized holding gain (loss) and transfers on available-for-sale securities.

+ References

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

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 51

-Paragraph 38

-Subparagraph c(3)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 130

-Paragraph 17

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 13

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 130

-Paragraph 24

-Subparagraph b

-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 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 220

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 11

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=20435746&loc=d3e637-108580

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 220

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 10A

-Subparagraph (e)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=20435746&loc=SL7669646-108580

+ Details

Fair Value Measurements (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012 DP&L [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 DP&L [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 DP&L [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 First Mortgage Bonds Maturing in October 2013 - 5.125% [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 First Mortgage Bonds Maturing in October 2013 - 5.125% [Member] DP&L [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Pollution Control Series Maturing in January 2028 - 4.70% [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Pollution Control Series Maturing in January 2028 - 4.70% [Member] DP&L [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Pollution Control Series Maturing in January 2034 - 4.80% [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Pollution Control Series Maturing in January 2034 - 4.80% [Member] DP&L [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Pollution Control Series Maturing in September 2036 - 4.80% [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Pollution Control Series Maturing in September 2036 - 4.80% [Member] DP&L [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Pollution control series maturing in November 2040 - variable rates: 0.04% - 0.20% and 0.06% - 0.32% [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Pollution control series maturing in November 2040 - variable rates: 0.04% - 0.20% and 0.06% - 0.32% [Member] DP&L [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Note to DPL Capital Trust II Maturing in September 2031 - 8.125% [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Five Year Senior Unsecured Notes at 6.50% maturing on October 15, 2016 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Ten Year Senior Unsecured Notes at 7.25% maturing at October 15, 2021 [Member]
Acquisition cost per share			$ 30			$ 30
Debt maturities maximum period							Oct. 01, 2013	Oct. 01, 2013	Jan. 01, 2028	Jan. 01, 2028	Jan. 01, 2034	Jan. 01, 2034	Sep. 01, 2036	Sep. 01, 2036	Nov. 01, 2040	Nov. 01, 2040	Sep. 01, 2031	Oct. 01, 2016	Oct. 01, 2021
Long Term Debt Range Adjusted To Fair Value at Merger Start	2013			2013
Long Term Debt Range Adjusted To Fair Value At Merger End	2061			2061
Available-for-sale Securities, Change in Net Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) before Taxes					$ 1.4	$ 1.0
Unrealized gains / (losses) on financial instruments, Amount before tax		0.5
Available-for-sale Securities, Change in Net Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss), Net of Tax					0.9	0.7
Percent of inputs to the fair value of derivative instruments from quoted market prices		99.00%			99.00%
Money market funds	$ 110.0	$ 110.0	$ 125.0