Significant Accounting Policies Significant Accountingn (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes

The Company had $3 million and $4 million of unrecognized tax benefits at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, that, if recognized, would favorably impact its effective tax rate. In 2012, DTE Energy settled a federal tax audit for the 2009 and 2010 tax years and, as a result, Detroit Edison's unrecognized tax benefit decreased by $53 million. The Company does not anticipate any material changes to the unrecognized tax benefits within the next twelve months. The Company had no income tax receivable due from DTE Energy at June 30, 2012 and an income tax receivable of $48 million at December 31, 2011.

Stock-Based Com

Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company received an allocation of costs from DTE Energy associated with stock-based compensation of $11 million and $5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011, respectively, while such allocation was $20 million and $14 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011, respectively.