Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Basic Earnings per Share
Net Income Attributable to DTE Energy Company	$ 156,000,000	$ 176,000,000
Average number of common shares outstanding	170	169
Weighted average net restricted shares outstanding	1	1
Dividends declared - common shares	100,000,000	94,000,000
Dividends declared - net restricted shares	0	1,000,000
Total distributed earnings	100,000,000	95,000,000
Net income less distributed earnings	56,000,000	81,000,000
Distributed (dividends per common share)	$ 0.59	$ 0.56
Undistributed	$ 0.32	$ 0.48
Total Basic Earnings per Common Share	$ 0.91	$ 1.04
Diluted Earnings per Share
Net Income Attributable to DTE Energy Company	156,000,000	176,000,000
Average number of common shares outstanding	170	169
Average incremental shares from assumed exercise of options	0	1
Common shares for dilutive calculation	170	170
Weighted average net restricted shares outstanding	1	1
Dividends declared - common shares	100,000,000	94,000,000
Dividends declared - net restricted shares	0	1,000,000
Total distributed earnings	100,000,000	95,000,000
Net income less distributed earnings	56,000,000	81,000,000
Distributed (dividends per common share)	$ 0.59	$ 0.56
Undistributed	$ 0.32	$ 0.48
Total Diluted Earnings per Common Share	$ 0.91	$ 1.04