Long-Term Debt (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	$ 7,700	$ 8,000
Less amount due within one year	(355)	(765)
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities	6,405	6,114
Securitization bonds	643	793
Less amount due within one year	(164)	(150)
Securitization bonds	479	643
Trust preferred-linked securities	0	289
DTE Energy Unsecured Debt 5.5% due in 2013 to 2033 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate at Period End	5.50%
DTE Energy Unsecured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	1,298	1,597
Detroit Edison Taxable Debt Principally Secured 5.3% due in 2012 to 2041 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate at Period End	5.30%
Detroit Edison Tax-Exempt Revenue Bonds 5.1% due in 2012 to 2038 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate at Period End	5.10%
Detroit Edison Tax Exempt Revenue Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	893	1,283
MichCon Taxable Debt Principally Secured 6.1% due in 2012 to 2033 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate at Period End	6.10%
Other Long-term Debt, Including Non-Recourse Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	165	195
Total [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	6,760	6,879
Securitization Bonds 6.5% due in 2012 to 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate at Period End	6.50%
Junior Subordinated Debentures 6.5% due in 2061 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate at Period End	6.50%
Junior Subordinated Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Junior Subordinated Debentures	280
Trust Preferred Linked Securities 7.8% due 2032 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate at Period End		7.80%
Trust preferred-linked securities	0	186
Trust preferred-linked securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Trust preferred-linked securities	0	289
Trust Preferred Linked Securities 7.5% due in 2044 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate at Period End		7.50%
Trust preferred-linked securities	0	103
Detroit Edison [Member] | Secured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	3,515	2,915
MichCon [Member] | Secured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	$ 889	$ 889