Common Shareholders' Equity (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012	Nov. 27, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2001	Dec. 31, 2011 DP&L [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 DP&L [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 DP&L [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 DP&L [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 DP&L [Member]
Common stock, shares authorized					1,500								250,000,000
Common stock, shares outstanding					1								41,172,173
Amount authorized to be repurchased							$ 200,000,000
Shares repurchase average per share price								$ 130
Warrants exercised		700,000	1,000,000
Proceeds from exercise of warrants		14,700,000
Warrants aggregate purchase price			9.00
Warrant Exercise Price			$ 21.00
Fixed rate					2.06%								2.06%
PUCO Meger Equity Ratio Approval					50.00%
ESOP amount of the loan used to purchase shares					90,000,000								90,000,000
Compensation expense associated with the ESOP	0			4,800,000	4,800,000
ESOP Loan Repayment To Employer	68,000,000					68,000,000			68,000,000
Financial Instruments Subject to Mandatory Redemption, Settlement Terms, Excess of Liabilities over Assets	9,000,000					9,000,000
Acquisition cost per share						$ 30.00
Cash Dividends Paid to Parent Company									$ 40,000,000	$ 65,000,000	$ 45,000,000	$ 70,000,000