Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textuals) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012 facilities dte_instances
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Waiting Period of Policy		P12W
EPA is Alleging Detroit Edison Power Plants Violated New Source Performance Standards		5
Enforcement Actions Initiated by the MDEQ for Opacity Exceedances		0
Number of Options to Regulate Coal Ash Residue		2
Period Gas Utility Can Amortize MGP Costs		10 years
Company will Pay a Fine to the EPA to Settle Air and Water Issues		$ 1,750,000
Possible Environmental Capital Expenditures to Comply with Requirements		6,000,000
Capital Expenditures Over the Next Few Years		17,000,000
The Re-Proposed Regulations will Provide Minimum Period for Compliance		3 years
EPA Sulfur Dioxide Ambient Air Quality Standard		1
Insurance Coverage for Extra ExpenseWhen to Necessitate Power Plant when Unavailable		490,000,000
Period of Coverage of Policy for Extra Expenses		3 years
Primary Coverage		500,000,000
Coverage for Stabilization Decontamination Debris Removal Repair and Replacement of Property and Decommissioning		2,250,000,000
Combined Coverage Limit for Total Property Damage		2,750,000,000
Insurance Deductible for Nuclear Power Plant		1,000,000
Time Period for TRIA Insurance After the First Loss from Terrorism		1 year
NEIL Policies Against Terroism Loss		3,200,000,000
Amount per Event Loss Associated with Nuclear Power Plants		31,000,000
Time Period for Maximum Assessments for Losses Associated to Events at Nuclear Plants		1 year
Maintenance of Public Liability Insurance for Nuclear Power Plants		375,000,000
Aggregate Limit of Liabilities Arises From Terroist Act Outside Scope of Trials Subject to One Industry		300,000,000
Deferred Premium Charged Leviied Against Each Licensed Nuclear Facility		117,500,000
Limit Deferred Premium Charges Per Year		17,500,000
Company Obligated to Pay DOE Fee of Fermi 2 Electricity Generated and Sold		1
Settlement Provided for Delay-Related Costs		48,000,000
Guarantee Obligations Maximum Exposure One		50,000,000
Performance Bonds Outstanding		41,000,000
Number of Represented Employees		4,900
Long-term Purchase Commitment, Amount		4,400,000,000
estimated future capital expenditures for current year		2,200,000,000
Electric [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Environmental Capital Expenditures Through Current Year		1,900,000,000
Environmental Capital Expenditures in Current Year		335,000,000
Environmental Capital Expenditures In Future Years	1,600,000,000
Exceedances of Opacity Standard		1,330
Number of Facilities Accused of Exceedance of Opacity		9
Period of Years Exceedances Took Place		5 years
No Enforcement by MDEQ Over the Alleged Exceedance Period		5 years
Number of Former MGP Sites		3
Accrued for remediation related to the sites	8,000,000	9,000,000
Gas [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of Former MGP Sites		15
Accrued for remediation related to the sites	36,000,000	29,000,000
Synthetic Fuel [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Days Obligations will Survive After Expiration of All Applicable Statutes of Limiations		90 years
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted		1,200,000,000
Emissions [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Days Obligations will Survive After Expiration of All Applicable Statutes of Limiations		90 days
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted		$ 77,000,000