Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textuals) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012 facilities dte_instances	Dec. 31, 2010
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Payment from the DOE for Delaying Acceptance of Spent Nuclear Fuel		$ 48,000,000
EPA is Alleging Detroit Edison Power Plants Violated New Source Performance Standards		5
Enforcement Actions Initiated by the MDEQ for Opacity Exceedances		0
Number of Options to Regulate Coal Ash Residue		2
The Re-Proposed Regulations will Provide Minimum Period for Compliance		3 years
Waiting Period of Policy		P12W
Insurance Coverage for Extra Expense When to Necessitate Power Plant when Unavailable		490,000,000
Period of Coverage of Policy for Extra Expenses		P3Y
Primary Coverage		500,000,000
Coverage for Stabilization Decontamination Debris Removal Repair and Replacement of Property and Decommissioning		2,250,000,000
Combined Coverage Limit for Total Property Damage		2,750,000,000
Insurance Deductible for Nuclear Power Plant		1,000,000
NEIL Policies Against Terroism Loss		3,200,000,000
Amount per Event Loss Associated with Nuclear Power Plants		31,000,000
Maintenance of Public Liability Insurance for Nuclear Power Plants		375,000,000
Aggregate Limit of Liabilities Arises From Terroist Act Outside Scope of Trials Subject to One Industry		300,000,000
Deferred premium charges levied against each licensed nuclear facility		117,500,000
Limit Deferred Premium Charges Per Year		17,500,000
Company Obligated to Pay DOE Fee of Fermi 2 Electricity Generated and Sold		1
Contract Ratified by Electrical Linemen		4,800
Number of Represented Employees		2,700
Long-term Purchase Commitment, Amount		800,000,000
estimated future capital expenditures for next year		1,600,000,000
Electric [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Environmental Capital Expenditures Through Current Year		1,900,000,000
Environmental Capital Expenditures in Current Year		335,000,000
Environmental Capital Expenditures In Future Years	1,600,000,000
Exceedances of Opacity Standard		1,330
Number of Facilities Accused of Exceedance of Opacity		9
Period of Years Exceedances Took Place		5 years
No Enforcement by MDEQ Over the Alleged Exceedance Period		5 years
Number of Former MGP Sites		3
Site Contingency, Accrual, Undiscounted Amount		$ 9,000,000	$ 8,000,000