Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	$ 110	$ 34
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning	697	631
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(27)	(28)
Deferred income taxes and tax credits, net	117	113
Disallowed capital expenditures	87	53
Other	73	52
Effect of changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	210	236
Inventories	(14)	58
Accounts payable	(65)	(46)
Income taxes receivable/payable	(75)	3
Other current assets and liabilities	146	(114)
Regulatory assets, liabilities, and balancing accounts, net	(87)	195
Other noncurrent assets and liabilities	(117)	(107)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,055	1,080
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(1,229)	(1,191)
Proceeds from sales and maturities of nuclear decommissioning trust investments	439	417
Purchases of nuclear decommissioning trust investments	(463)	(505)
Other	4	7
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,249)	(1,272)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net issuances (repayments) of commercial paper, net of discount of $1 in 2016	(577)	223
Short-term debt financing	250	0
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of discount and issuance costs of $6 in 2016	594	0
Common stock issued	146	151
Common stock dividends paid	(219)	(211)
Other	20	23
Net cash provided by financing activities	214	186
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	20	(6)
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1	123	151
Cash and cash equivalents at March 31	142	145
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Interest, net of amounts capitalized	(242)	(216)
Supplemental disclosures of noncash investing and financing activities
Common stock dividends declared but not yet paid	226	218
Capital expenditures financed through accounts payable	373	217
Noncash common stock issuances	6	5
Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	108	4
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning	696	631
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(27)	(28)
Deferred income taxes and tax credits, net	118	112
Disallowed capital expenditures	87	53
Other	68	45
Effect of changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	183	215
Inventories	(14)	58
Accounts payable	(37)	26
Income taxes receivable/payable	(74)	2
Other current assets and liabilities	151	(123)
Regulatory assets, liabilities, and balancing accounts, net	(87)	195
Other noncurrent assets and liabilities	(109)	(89)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,063	1,101
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(1,229)	(1,191)
Proceeds from sales and maturities of nuclear decommissioning trust investments	439	417
Purchases of nuclear decommissioning trust investments	(463)	(505)
Other	3	7
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,250)	(1,272)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net issuances (repayments) of commercial paper, net of discount of $1 in 2016	(577)	223
Short-term debt financing	250	0
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of discount and issuance costs of $6 in 2016	594	0
Preferred stock dividends paid	(3)	(3)
Common stock dividends paid	(179)	(179)
Equity contribution from PG&E Corporation	65	100
Other	22	25
Net cash provided by financing activities	172	166
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(15)	(5)
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1	59	55
Cash and cash equivalents at March 31	44	50
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Interest, net of amounts capitalized	(237)	(211)
Supplemental disclosures of noncash investing and financing activities
Capital expenditures financed through accounts payable	$ 373	$ 217