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Plant, Property, and Equipment (Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class Table) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2011 years | Dec. 31, 2010
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization | $ 232 |  | $ 207 |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross | 748 |  | 724 |
Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization | 231 |  | 207 |
Public Utilities, Property, Plant and Equipment, Plant Adjustments for Intangible Utility Plants | 23 |  | 25 |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross | 746 | [1] | 722 | [1]
Software and Software Development Costs [Member] |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum | 3 |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Maximum | 15 |  |  |
Finite-Lived Computer Software, Gross | 361 |  | 323 |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization | 142 |  | 125 |
Software and Software Development Costs [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum | 3 |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Maximum | 15 |  |  |
Finite-Lived Computer Software, Gross | 360 | [1] | 323 | [1]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization | 141 |  | 125 |
Plant Acquisition Adjustments [Member] |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum | 40 |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Maximum | 46 |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization | 22 |  | 16 |
Public Utilities, Property, Plant and Equipment, Plant Adjustments for Intangible Utility Plants | 214 |  | 213 |
Plant Acquisition Adjustments [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum | 40 |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Maximum | 46 |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization | 22 |  | 16 |
Public Utilities, Property, Plant and Equipment, Plant Adjustments for Intangible Utility Plants | 214 | [1] | 213 | [1]
Leasehold Improvements [Member] |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization | 9 | [2] | 9 | [2]
Leasehold Improvements, Gross | 11 | [2] | 13 | [2]
Leasehold Improvements [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization | 9 | [2] | 9 | [2]
Leasehold Improvements, Gross | 11 | [1],[2] | 13 | [1],[2]
Rights of Way [Member] |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum | 50 |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Maximum | 75 |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization | 38 |  | 37 |
Finite-Lived Contractual Rights, Gross | 128 |  | 140 |
Rights of Way [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum | 50 |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Maximum | 75 |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization | 38 |  | 37 |
Finite-Lived Contractual Rights, Gross | 128 | [1] | 140 | [1]
Franchises and Consents [Member] |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum | 5 |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Maximum | 30 |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization | 7 |  | 6 |
Finite-Lived Franchise Rights, Gross | 15 |  | 15 |
Franchises and Consents [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum | 5 |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Maximum | 30 |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization | 7 |  | 6 |
Finite-Lived Franchise Rights, Gross | 15 | [1] | 15 | [1]
Other Intangibles [Member] |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization | 14 |  | 14 |
Other Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross | 19 |  | 20 |
Other Intangibles [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization | 14 |  | 14 |
Other Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross | $ 18 | [1] | $ 18 | [1]
[1] | Net intangible asset additions for Consumers' utility plant were $23 million during 2011 and $25 million during 2010.
[2] | Leasehold improvements are amortized over the life of the lease, which may change whenever the lease is renewed or extended.

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