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Contingencies and Commitments (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 6 Months Ended |  |  |  |  | 1 Months Ended |  |
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Jun. 30, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Oct. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2004 | Jun. 30, 2011 Consumers Energy Company [Member] Manufactured Gas Plant [Member] | Jun. 30, 2011 Consumers Energy Company [Member] Manufactured Gas Plant [Member] | Jun. 30, 2011 Consumers Energy Company [Member] Deferred MGP Expenditures [Member] | Jun. 30, 2011 Consumers Energy Company [Member] Big Rock [Member] | Jun. 30, 2011 Consumers Energy Company [Member] NREPA [Member] | Jun. 30, 2011 Consumers Energy Company [Member] Superfund Liability [Member] | Jul. 31, 2011 Consumers Energy Company [Member] Nuclear Fuel Disposal Cost [Member] | Jun. 30, 2011 Consumers Energy Company [Member] Nuclear Fuel Disposal Cost [Member] | Jun. 30, 2011 Consumers Energy Company [Member] Spent Nuclear Fuel Principal [Member] | Jun. 30, 2011 Consumers Energy Company [Member] Spent Nuclear Fuel Interest [Member] | Jun. 30, 2011 Consumers Energy Company [Member] | Dec. 31, 2010 Consumers Energy Company [Member]
Demand For Payment By USEPA |  |  | $ 7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cumulative Environmental Charge | 223 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Recorded liability | 88 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies |  |  |  |  |  | 28 |  |  | 2 | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |
Spent Nuclear Fuel Obligation, Noncurrent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 163 | 44 | 119 |  |
Discounted projected costs rate | 4.34% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Site Contingency Accrual Inflation Rate | 1.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Remaining undiscounted obligation amount | 109 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Undiscounted amount due within one year | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Undiscounted amount due within two year | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Undiscounted amount due within third year | 7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Undiscounted amount due within fourth year | 5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Undiscounted amount due within five year | 4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Foreign Government Tax Claim On Sale |  |  |  | 142 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Remediation and other response activity costs, minimum |  |  |  |  |  | 28 |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |
Remediation and other response activity costs. maximum |  |  |  |  |  | 43 |  |  |  | 8 |  |  |  |  |  |
Litigation Settlement, Gross |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 120 |  |  |  |  |
Regulatory assets | 2,050 | 2,093 |  |  |  |  | 27 | 85 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,050 | 2,093
Regulatory Liability, Noncurrent | 1,860 | 1,988 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,860 | 1,988
Number of former MGPs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 23 |
Regulatory asset |  |  |  |  | 55 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
MGP Average Five Year Expenditures |  |  |  |  |  | $ 6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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