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Significant Accounting Policies Significant Accounting Policies (Intangible Assets) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Intangible Assets, Gross (Excluding Goodwill) $ 46us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill $ 53us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
Intangible Assets, Current 9us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsCurrent 12us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsCurrent
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net 37us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet 41us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
Renewable Energy Credits [Member]    
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross 45us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= dteelectric_RenewableEnergyCreditsMember
51us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= dteelectric_RenewableEnergyCreditsMember
Emission Allowances [Member]    
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) $ 1us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= dteelectric_EmissionAllowancesMember
$ 2us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= dteelectric_EmissionAllowancesMember