Jointly Owned Utility Plant (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011 facilities
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Number of Plants	2
Belle River Unit 1 [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Ownership interest	63.00%
Belle River [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Total plant capacity	1,270
Ownership interest	81.00%
Investment (in millions)	1,645
Accumulated depreciation (in millions)	943
Joint Owners Percentage of the Total Capacity Energy and Related Responsibilities	19.00%
Ludington [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Total plant capacity	1,872
Ownership interest	49.00%
Investment (in millions)	199
Accumulated depreciation (in millions)	158
Joint Owners Percentage of the Total Capacity Energy and Related Responsibilities	51.00%
Belle River Unit 2 [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Ownership interest	75.00%

Jointly Owned Utility Plant Number of Plants

No definition available.

Name:	dte_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantNumberOfPlants
Namespace Prefix:	dte_
Data Type:	us-types:perUnitItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Jointly Owned Utility Plant Total Plant Capacity

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dte_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantTotalPlantCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	dte_
Data Type:	us-types:perUnitItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Joint Owners Percentage of the Total Capacity Energy and Related Responsibilities

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dte_JointOwnersPercentageOfTotalCapacityEnergyAndRelatedResponsibilities
Namespace Prefix:	dte_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantInterestsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total period end amount of plant in service and construction in progress net of accumulated depreciation for the utility's share of jointly owned electricity generation plant.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 10

-Section C

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 980

-SubTopic 360

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 10.C)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6500719&loc=d3e659983-123033

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantNetOwnershipAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The period end amount of accumulated depreciation in a jointly owned electricity generation plant.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantOwnershipAmountOfPlantAccumulatedDepreciation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The proportionate share of interest (percent) in a jointly owned utility plant.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantProportionateOwnershipShare
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant