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Regulatory Matters (Schedule of the Components of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
Regulatory Assets Current | $ 1 |  | $ 19 |
Regulatory assets noncurrent | 2,466 |  | 2,093 |
Regulatory liabilities | 125 |  | 22 |
Regulatory Liability, Noncurrent | 1,875 |  | 1,988 |
Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Regulatory Assets Current | 1 |  | 19 |
Regulatory assets noncurrent | 2,466 |  | 2,093 |
Total regulatory asset | 2,467 |  | 2,112 |
Regulatory liabilities | 125 |  | 22 |
Regulatory Liability, Noncurrent | 1,875 |  | 1,988 |
Total regulatory liabilities | 2,000 |  | 2,010 |
DOE Settlement [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Current Regulatory Liability Recovery End Date | 2012 |  |  |
Regulatory liabilities | 120 |  |  |
Cost Of Removal [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Regulatory Liability, Noncurrent | 1,364 |  | 1,311 |
Income Taxes, Net [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Regulatory Liability, Noncurrent | 181 |  | 410 |
Renewable Energy Plan [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Regulatory Liability, Noncurrent | 161 |  | 101 |
ARO [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Regulatory Liability, Noncurrent | 113 |  | 122 |
Energy Optimization Plan [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Regulatory Liability, Noncurrent | 45 |  | 34 |
Other Regulatory Liabilities [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Current Regulatory Liability Recovery End Date | 2012 |  |  |
Regulatory liabilities | 5 |  | 1 |
Regulatory Liability, Noncurrent | 11 |  | 10 |
Postretirement Benefits [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Regulatory Current Asset, End Date for Recovery | 2011 |  |  |
Regulatory Assets Current |  |  | 19 | [1]
Regulatory assets noncurrent | 1,665 | [1] | 1,364 | [1]
Securitized Costs [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Noncurrent Regulatory Asset Recovery End Date | 2015 |  |  |
Regulatory assets noncurrent | 252 | [2] | 310 | [2]
ARO [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Regulatory assets noncurrent | 114 | [2] | 107 | [2]
Big Rock Nuclear Decommissioning And Related Costs [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Regulatory assets noncurrent | 85 | [2] | 85 | [2]
MGP Sites [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Regulatory assets noncurrent | 156 | [2] | 58 | [2]
Electric Revenue Decoupling Mechanism [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Regulatory assets noncurrent | 59 |  | 28 |
Unamortized Debt Costs [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Regulatory assets noncurrent | 44 | [2] | 52 | [2]
Stranded Costs [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Noncurrent Regulatory Asset Recovery End Date | 2013 |  |  |
Regulatory assets noncurrent | 23 | [3] | 46 | [3]
Gas Revenue Decoupling Mechanism [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Regulatory assets noncurrent | 21 |  | 11 |
Energy Optimization Plan Incentive [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Regulatory assets noncurrent | 26 |  | 14 |
Uncollectible Expense Tracking Mechanism [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Noncurrent Regulatory Asset Recovery End Date | 2012 |  |  |
Regulatory assets noncurrent | 2 | [3] | 3 | [3]
Other Regulatory Assets [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Regulatory Current Asset, End Date for Recovery | 2012 |  |  |
Regulatory Assets Current | 1 | [3] |  |
Regulatory assets noncurrent | 19 | [3] | 15 | [3]
Big Rock Decommissioning And Related Costs [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Regulatory assets noncurrent | 85 |  |  |
Refund Of Revenue In Excess Of Nuclear Decommissioning Costs [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Current Regulatory Liability Recovery End Date | 2011 |  |  |
Regulatory liabilities |  |  | 7 |
Self-Implemented Rate Refunds [Member] | Consumers Energy Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Current Regulatory Liability Recovery End Date | 2011 |  |  |
Regulatory liabilities |  |  | $ 14 |
[1] | The regulatory asset associated with postretirement benefits is offset partially by liabilities. The net amount is included in rate base, thereby providing a return.
[2] | These regulatory assets represent expenditures for which the MPSC has provided, or Consumers expects, recovery without a return on investment.
[3] | These regulatory assets either are included in rate base (or are expected to be included, for costs incurred subsequent to the most recently approved rate case), thereby providing a return on expenditures, or provide a specific return on investment authorized by the MPSC.

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- Definition The amount for the individual regulatory asset as itemized in a table of regulatory assets as of the end of the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 71 -Paragraph 9, 10 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 980 -SubTopic 340 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6499975&loc=d3e44250-110382 + Details
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- Definition Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of capitalized costs of regulated entities that are expected to be recovered through revenue sources within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Such costs are capitalized if they meet both of the following criteria: a. It is probable that future revenue in an amount at least equal to the capitalized cost will result from inclusion of that cost in allowable costs for rate-making purposes. b. Based on available evidence, the future revenue will be provided to permit recovery of the previously incurred cost rather than to provide for expected levels of similar future costs. If the revenue will be provided through an automatic rate-adjustment clause, this criterion requires that the regulator's intent clearly be to permit recovery of the previously incurred cost. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 71 -Paragraph 9, 10 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 980 -SubTopic 340 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6499975&loc=d3e44250-110382 + Details
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- Definition Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of capitalized costs of regulated entities that are not expected to be recovered through revenue sources within one year or the normal operating cycle if longer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 71 -Paragraph 9, 10 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 980 -SubTopic 340 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6499975&loc=d3e44250-110382 + Details
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- Definition The amount for the individual regulatory liability as itemized in a table of regulatory liabilities as of the end of the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 71 -Paragraph 11 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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- Definition The amount for the individual regulatory current liability as itemized in a table of regulatory current liabilities as of the end of the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 71 -Paragraph 11 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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