Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	$ 888	$ 1,450	$ 828
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning	2,612	2,433	2,077
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(107)	(100)	(101)
Deferred income taxes and tax credits, net	693	690	1,075
Disallowed capital expenditures	407	116	196
Other	326	286	355
Effect of changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(177)	13	(152)
Inventories	37	(22)	(10)
Accounts payable	(55)	(61)	113
Income taxes receivable/payable	43	376	(363)
Other current assets and liabilities	(315)	205	(469)
Regulatory assets, liabilities, and balancing accounts, net	(244)	(1,642)	(202)
Other noncurrent assets and liabilities	(355)	(67)	80
Net cash provided by operating activities	3,753	3,677	3,427
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(5,173)	(4,833)	(5,207)
Decrease in restricted cash	64	3	29
Proceeds from sales and maturities of nuclear decommissioning trust investments	1,268	1,336	1,619
Purchases of nuclear decommissioning trust investments	(1,392)	(1,334)	(1,604)
Other	22	114	56
Net cash used in investing activities	(5,211)	(4,714)	(5,107)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Borrowings (repayments) under revolving credit facilities	0	(260)	140
Net issuances (repayments) of commercial paper, net of discount of $3, $2, and $2 at respective dates	683	(583)	542
Proceeds from issuance of short-term debt, net of issuance costs	0	300	0
Short-term debt matured	(300)	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of premium, discount, and issuance costs of (for PG&E Corporaiton $27, $17, and $18 and for the Utility $27, $14, and $18, at respective dates)	1,123	2,308	1,532
Repayments of long-term debt	0	(889)	(861)
Common stock issued	780	802	1,045
Common stock dividends paid	(856)	(828)	(782)
Other	0	42	(41)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,430	892	1,575
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(28)	(145)	(105)
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1	151	296	401
Cash and cash equivalents at December 31	123	151	296
Cash received (paid) for:
Interest, net of amounts capitalized	(684)	(633)	(623)
Income taxes, net	77	501	(41)
Supplemental disclosures of noncash investing and financing activities
Common stock dividends declared but not yet paid	224	217	208
Capital expenditures financed through accounts payable	440	339	322
Noncash common stock issuances	21	21	22
Terminated Capital Leases	0	71	0
Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	862	1,433	866
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning	2,611	2,432	2,077
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(107)	(100)	(101)
Deferred income taxes and tax credits, net	714	731	1,103
Disallowed capital expenditures	407	116	196
Other	263	226	299
Effect of changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(177)	16	(152)
Inventories	37	(22)	(10)
Accounts payable	(2)	(55)	99
Income taxes receivable/payable	38	395	(377)
Other current assets and liabilities	(342)	155	(404)
Regulatory assets, liabilities, and balancing accounts, net	(244)	(1,642)	(202)
Other noncurrent assets and liabilities	(340)	(66)	22
Net cash provided by operating activities	3,720	3,619	3,416
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(5,173)	(4,833)	(5,207)
Decrease in restricted cash	64	3	29
Proceeds from sales and maturities of nuclear decommissioning trust investments	1,268	1,336	1,619
Purchases of nuclear decommissioning trust investments	(1,392)	(1,334)	(1,604)
Other	22	29	21
Net cash used in investing activities	(5,211)	(4,799)	(5,142)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net issuances (repayments) of commercial paper, net of discount of $3, $2, and $2 at respective dates	683	(583)	542
Proceeds from issuance of short-term debt, net of issuance costs	0	300	0
Short-term debt matured	(300)	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of premium, discount, and issuance costs of (for PG&E Corporaiton $27, $17, and $18 and for the Utility $27, $14, and $18, at respective dates)	1,123	1,961	1,532
Repayments of long-term debt	0	(539)	(861)
Preferred stock dividends paid	(14)	(14)	(14)
Common stock dividends paid	(716)	(716)	(716)
Equity contribution from PG&E Corporation	705	705	1,140
Other	14	56	(26)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,495	1,170	1,597
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	4	(10)	(129)
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1	55	65	194
Cash and cash equivalents at December 31	59	55	65
Cash received (paid) for:
Interest, net of amounts capitalized	(675)	(618)	(600)
Income taxes, net	77	500	(62)
Supplemental disclosures of noncash investing and financing activities
Capital expenditures financed through accounts payable	440	339	322
Terminated Capital Leases	$ 0	$ 71	$ 0