Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012
Entity Registrant Name	DPL INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000787250
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
DPL [Member]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	1
THE DAYTON POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY [Member]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	41,172,173