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Regulatory Matters (Tables) (Consumers Energy Company [Member]) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities |
In Millions
December 31 | End of Recovery or Refund Period | 2012 | 2011 |
Regulatory assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Current |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gas revenue decoupling mechanism | 2013 |  | $ | 16 |  | $ | - |
Energy optimization plan incentive | 2013 |  |  | 15 |  |  | - |
Cancelled coal-fueled plant costs1 | 2013 |  |  | 4 |  |  | - |
Other1 | 2012 |  |  | - |  |  | 1 |
Total current regulatory assets |  |  | $ | 35 |  | $ | 1 |
Non-current |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Postretirement benefits2 | various |  | $ | 1,700 |  | $ | 1,665 |
Securitized costs3 | 2016 |  |  | 192 |  |  | 252 |
MGP sites3 | various |  |  | 152 |  |  | 156 |
ARO4 | various |  |  | 123 |  |  | 114 |
Unamortized debt costs3 | various |  |  | 55 |  |  | 44 |
Gas revenue decoupling mechanism | 2014 |  |  | 17 |  |  | 21 |
Energy optimization plan incentive | 2014 |  |  | 17 |  |  | 26 |
Gas storage inventory adjustments3 | various |  |  | 15 |  |  | 14 |
Cancelled coal-fueled plant costs1 | 2015 |  |  | 7 |  |  | - |
Major maintenance1 | various |  |  | 5 |  |  | - |
Big Rock nuclear decommissioning3 | 2012 |  |  | - |  |  | 85 |
Electric revenue decoupling mechanism | n/a |  |  | - |  |  | 59 |
Stranded costs1 | 2012 |  |  | - |  |  | 23 |
Other1 | various |  |  | 4 |  |  | 7 |
Total non-current regulatory assets |  |  | $ | 2,287 |  | $ | 2,466 |
Total regulatory assets |  |  | $ | 2,322 |  | $ | 2,467 |
Regulatory liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Current |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
DOE settlement | 2013 |  | $ | 23 |  | $ | 120 |
Other | 2013 |  |  | 2 |  |  | 5 |
Total current regulatory liabilities |  |  | $ | 25 |  | $ | 125 |
Non-current |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cost of removal | various |  | $ | 1,441 |  | $ | 1,364 |
Income taxes, net | various |  |  | 336 |  |  | 181 |
Renewable energy plan | 2028 |  |  | 175 |  |  | 161 |
ARO | various |  |  | 103 |  |  | 113 |
Energy optimization plan | 2014 |  |  | 34 |  |  | 45 |
Other | various |  |  | 12 |  |  | 11 |
Total non-current regulatory liabilities |  |  | $ | 2,101 |  | $ | 1,875 |
Total regulatory liabilities |  |  | $ | 2,126 |  | $ | 2,000 |
1 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. 2 This regulatory asset is offset partially by liabilities. The net amount is included in rate base, thereby providing a return. 3 These regulatory assets represent expenditures for which the MPSC has provided, or Consumers expects, recovery without a return on investment. 4 Consumers records a regulatory asset and a regulatory liability for timing differences between the recognition of AROs for financial reporting purposes and the recovery of these costs from customers. Although the regulatory asset for AROs does not provide a return on investment, the underlying asset retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the related asset and included in rate base, thereby providing a return.
Schedule of Assets and Liabilities for PSCR and GCR Underrecoveries and Overrecoveries |
In Millions
December 31 | 2012 | 2011 |
Accrued power supply revenue |  | $ | 32 |  | $ | - |
Accrued rate refunds |  |  | 6 |  |  | 30 |
Power Supply Cost Recover (PSCR) [Member] |
Schedule of Reconciliation Filings Pending with MPSC |
PSCR Year | Date Filed | Net Overrecovery (In Millions) | PSCR Cost of Power Sold (In Billions) |
2011 | March 2012 |  | $ | 8 |  | $ | 1.8 |
Gas Cost Recover (GCR) [Member] |
Schedule of Reconciliation Filings Pending with MPSC |
GCR Year | Date Filed | Net Overrecovery (In Millions) | GCR Cost of Gas Sold (In Billions) |
2011-2012 | June 2012 |  | $ | 2 |  | $ | 0.9 |

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- Definition The entire disclosure for detailed information about regulatory assets and liabilities, including current and noncurrent assets created when regulatory agencies permit the deferral of costs to the balance sheet that would otherwise be required to appear on the company's income statement and would be charged against current expenses or revenues, as well as current and noncurrent liabilities created when regulatory agencies permit. + References No definition available. + Details
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