Consolidated Statements Of Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]	Common Stock Shares [Member]	Common Stock Shares [Member] Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]	Preferred Stock [Member] Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]	Common Stock Amount [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member] Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]	Reinvested Earnings [Member]	Reinvested Earnings [Member] Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]	Total Shareholders' Equity [Member]	Total Shareholders' Equity [Member] Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest - Preferred Stock Of Subsidiary [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 13,326			$ 1,322	$ 258	$ 8,428	$ 4,682	$ 4,747	$ 7,291	$ (101)	$ (93)	$ 13,074	$ 13,460	$ 252
Balance, in shares at Dec. 31, 2012			430,718,293
Net income	828	$ 866						828	866			828	866
Other comprehensive income (loss)	151	106								151	106	151	106
Equity contribution from PG&E Corporation		1,140					1,140						1,140
Common stock issued, net	1,067					1,067						1,067
Common stock issued, net, shares			25,952,131
Stock-based compensation amortization	56					56						56
Tax expense from employee stock plans	(1)					(1)	(1)					(1)	(1)
Common stock dividends declared	(819)							(819)	(716)			(819)	(716)
Preferred stock dividend									(14)				(14)
Preferred stock dividend requirement of subsidiary	(14)							(14)				(14)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	14,594			1,322	258	9,550	5,821	4,742	7,427	50	13	14,342	14,841	252
Balance, in shares at Dec. 31, 2013			456,670,424
Net income	1,450	1,433						1,450	1,433			1,450	1,433
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(39)	(8)								(39)	(8)	(39)	(8)
Equity contribution from PG&E Corporation		$ 705					705						705
Common stock issued, net	823					823						823
Common stock issued, net, shares			19,242,980
Stock-based compensation amortization	65					65						65
Tax expense from employee stock plans	(17)					(17)	(12)					(17)	(12)
Common stock dividends declared	(862)							(862)	(716)			(862)	(716)
Preferred stock dividend									(14)				(14)
Preferred stock dividend requirement of subsidiary	(14)							(14)				(14)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 16,000			1,322	258	10,421	6,514	5,316	8,130	11	5	15,748	16,229	252
Balance, in shares at Dec. 31, 2014	475,913,404	264,374,809	475,913,404
Net income	$ 888	$ 862						888	862			888	862
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(18)	(2)								(18)	(2)	(18)	(2)
Equity contribution from PG&E Corporation		$ 705					705						705
Common stock issued, net	801					801						801
Common stock issued, net, shares			16,112,039
Stock-based compensation amortization	66					66						66
Tax expense from employee stock plans	(6)					(6)	(4)					(6)	(4)
Common stock dividends declared	(889)							(889)	(716)			(889)	(716)
Preferred stock dividend									(14)				(14)
Preferred stock dividend requirement of subsidiary	(14)							(14)				(14)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 16,828			$ 1,322	$ 258	$ 11,282	$ 7,215	$ 5,301	$ 8,262	$ (7)	$ 3	$ 16,576	$ 17,060	$ 252
Balance, in shares at Dec. 31, 2015	492,025,443	264,374,809	492,025,443