Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textuals) (USD $)	9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Aug. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2010 dte_instances	Sep. 30, 2013 Electric [Member] facilities kWh dte_instances	Dec. 31, 2012 Electric [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 Electric [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Gas [Member] facilities	Dec. 31, 2012 Gas [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Synthetic Fuel [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Emissions [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Other Guarantees [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Eight Year [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Environmental Capital Expenditures Through Current Year				$ 1,900,000,000
Environmental Capital Expenditures in Current Year				190,000,000
Environmental Capital Expenditures In Future Years				1,800,000,000
EPA is Alleging Detroit Edison Power Plants Violated New Source Performance Standards				5
Number of NOVs/FOVs currently being discussed with the EPA				2
Sierra Club is Alleging DTE Electric Coal Fired Power Plants Violated the Clean Air Act				4
Exceedances of Opacity Standard				1,499
Period of excess opacity of air emissions at alleged facilities	6 minutes
2004 EPA proposed compliance timeline in years												8 years
Number of Former MGP Sites				3			15
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Gross				9,000,000	9,000,000		29,000,000	29,000,000
Number of Options to Regulate Coal Ash Residue				2
Period Gas Utility Can Amortize MGP Costs							10 years
Number of NOVs			2
Possible Environmental Capital Expenditures to Comply with Requirements	7,000,000
EPA Sulfur Dioxide Ambient Air Quality Standard	1 hour
Waiting Period of Policy	P12W
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
Total Limit for Property Damage for Non-Nuclear Events				1,800,000,000
Limit for Property Damage for Non-Nuclear Events Aggregate of Extra Expenses				327,000,000
Limit for Property Damage for Non-Nuclear Events Aggregate of Extra Expenses of Period				2 years
Time Period for TRIA Insurance After the First Loss from Terrorism				1 year
NEIL Policies Against Terrorism Loss				3,200,000,000
Amount per Event Loss Associated with Nuclear Power Plants				34,000,000
Maintenance of Public Liability Insurance for Nuclear Power Plants				375,000,000
Aggregate Limit of Liabilities Arises From Terrorist Act Outside Scope of Trials Subject to One Industry				300,000,000
Deferred Premium Charged Leviied Against Each Licensed Nuclear Facility				127,300,000
Limit Deferred Premium Charges Per Year				19,000,000
Company Obligated to Pay DOE Fee of Fermi 2 Electricity Generated and Sold				1
Settlement Provided for Delay-Related Costs						48,000,000
Days Obligations will Survive After Expiration of All Applicable Statutes of Limiations									90 days	90 days
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted									1,200,000,000	125,000,000	60,000,000
Performance Bonds Outstanding	41,000,000
Long-term Purchase Commitment, Amount	6,200,000,000
Purchase Obligation, Future Minimum Payments, Remainder of Fiscal Year	2,100,000,000
Bankruptcy Claims, Accounts Receivable under Review by Management		$ 20,000,000