Name:	dpl_DisclosureOtherThirdPartyGuaranteesAmount
Namespace Prefix:	dpl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Due to third parties current.

No definition available.

Name:	dpl_DueToThirdPartiesCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	dpl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The noncontrolling equity interest in an electric generation company, accounted for under the cost method of accounting.

No definition available.

Name:	dpl_PublicUtilitiesEquityInterestCostMethodPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	dpl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

This element represents the aggregate cost of investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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

Amount of long-term debt and capital lease obligation due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

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

Name:	us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis=dpl_AESOhioGenerationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=dpl_DebtObligationOn49EquityOwnershipMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis=srt_SubsidiariesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=dpl_ElectricGenerationCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: