Basis of Presentation (Notes)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Corporate Structure

DTE Electric is an electric utility engaged in the generation, purchase, distribution and sale of electricity to approximately 2.1 million customers in southeastern Michigan. DTE Electric is regulated by the MPSC and the FERC. In addition, we are regulated by other federal and state regulatory agencies including the NRC, the EPA and the MDEQ.

References in this report to “we,” “us,” “our” or “Company” are to DTE Electric and its subsidiaries, collectively.

Basis of Presentation

These Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared using accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These accounting principles require management to use estimates and assumptions that impact reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results may differ from the Company’s estimates.

The Consolidated Financial Statements are unaudited, but in the Company's opinion include all adjustments necessary to a fair statement of the results for the interim periods. All adjustments are of a normal recurring nature, except as otherwise disclosed in these Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Financial results for this interim period are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013.

Principles of Consolidation

The Company consolidates all majority-owned subsidiaries and investments in entities in which it has controlling influence. Non-majority owned investments are accounted for using the equity method when the Company is able to influence the operating policies of the investee. When the Company does not influence the operating policies of an investee, the cost method is used. These consolidated financial statements also reflect the Company’s proportionate interests in certain jointly owned utility plant. The Company eliminates all intercompany balances and transactions.

The Company evaluates whether an entity is a VIE whenever reconsideration events occur. The Company consolidates VIEs for which it is the primary beneficiary. If the Company is not the primary beneficiary and an ownership interest is held, the VIE is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. When assessing the determination of the primary beneficiary, the Company considers all relevant facts and circumstances, including: the power, through voting or similar rights, to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb the expected losses and/or the right to receive the expected returns of the VIE. The Company performs ongoing reassessments of all VIEs to determine if the primary beneficiary status has changed.

The Company has variable interests in VIEs through certain of its long-term purchase contracts. As of June 30, 2013, the carrying amount of assets and liabilities in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position that relate to its variable interests under long-term purchase contracts are predominately related to working capital accounts and generally represent the amounts owed by the Company for the deliveries associated with the current billing cycle under the contracts. The Company has not provided any form of financial support associated with these long-term contracts. There is no significant potential exposure to loss as a result of its variable interests through these long-term purchase contracts.

In 2001, DTE Electric financed a regulatory asset related to Fermi 2 and certain other regulatory assets through the sale of rate reduction bonds by a wholly-owned special purpose entity, Securitization. DTE Electric performs servicing activities including billing and collecting surcharge revenue for Securitization. This entity is a VIE, and is consolidated by the Company. The maximum risk exposure related to Securitization is reflected on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

The following table summarizes the major balance sheet items at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 restricted for Securitization that are either (1) assets that can be used only to settle their obligations or (2) liabilities for which creditors do not have recourse to the general credit of the primary beneficiary.

	June 30,		December 31,
	2013		2012
	(In millions)
ASSETS
Restricted cash	$	90	$	102
Accounts receivable	39		34
Securitized regulatory assets	326		413
Other assets	6		7
	$	461	$	556
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and accrued current liabilities	$	9	$	11
Current portion long-term debt, including capital leases	189		177
Current regulatory liabilities	45		50
Securitization bonds	201		302
Other long-term liabilities	8		7
	$	452	$	547

As of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, DTE Electric had $3 million in Notes receivable, related to non-consolidated VIEs.