Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Income (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Operating Revenues
Electric	$ 3,323	$ 3,188	$ 9,026	$ 8,694
Natural gas	653	672	2,184	2,447
Total operating revenues	3,976	3,860	11,210	11,141
Operating Expenses
Cost of electricity	1,283	1,224	3,104	3,018
Cost of natural gas	118	170	593	936
Operating and maintenance	1,344	1,492	4,138	3,955
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning	617	566	1,807	1,648
Total operating expenses	3,362	3,452	9,642	9,557
Operating Income	614	408	1,568	1,584
Interest income	2	2	6	7
Interest expense	(178)	(176)	(528)	(527)
Other income, net	26	18	84	56
Income Before Income Taxes	464	252	1,130	1,120
Income tax provision	100	49	291	349
Net Income	364	203	839	771
Preferred stock dividend requirement of subsidiary	3	3	10	10
Income Available for Common Shareholders	361	200	829	761
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic	428	403	422	399
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding, Diluted	429	404	423	400
Net Earnings Per Common Share, Basic	$ 0.84	$ 0.5	$ 1.96	$ 1.91
Net Earnings Per Common Share, Diluted	$ 0.84	$ 0.5	$ 1.96	$ 1.9
Dividends Declared Per Common Share	$ 0.46	$ 0.46	$ 1.37	$ 1.37
Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]
Operating Revenues
Electric	3,321	3,187	9,022	8,691
Natural gas	653	672	2,184	2,447
Total operating revenues	3,974	3,859	11,206	11,138
Operating Expenses
Cost of electricity	1,283	1,224	3,104	3,018
Cost of natural gas	118	170	593	936
Operating and maintenance	1,343	1,497	4,134	3,951
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning	617	566	1,807	1,648
Total operating expenses	3,361	3,457	9,638	9,553
Operating Income	613	402	1,568	1,585
Interest income	2	2	5	6
Interest expense	(172)	(171)	(511)	(511)
Other income, net	19	19	64	52
Income Before Income Taxes	462	252	1,126	1,132
Income tax provision	122	56	328	376
Net Income	340	196	798	756
Preferred stock dividend requirement	3	3	10	10
Income Available for Common Shareholders	$ 337	$ 193	$ 788	$ 746