Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	$ 579	$ 110
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning	712	697
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(19)	(27)
Deferred income taxes and tax credits, net	252	117
Disallowed capital expenditures	0	87
Other	8	73
Effect of changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	373	210
Inventories	(2)	(14)
Accounts payable	(13)	(65)
Income taxes receivable/payable	0	(75)
Other current assets and liabilities	(137)	179
Regulatory assets, liabilities, and balancing accounts, net	(176)	(87)
Other noncurrent assets and liabilities	48	(117)
Butte-related insurance receivable	(7)	0
Butte-related third-party claims	(44)	0
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,574	1,088
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(1,216)	(1,229)
Proceeds from sales and maturities of nuclear decommissioning trust investments	470	439
Purchases of nuclear decommissioning trust investments	(493)	(463)
Other	4	3
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,235)	(1,250)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net issuances (repayments) of commercial paper, net of discount of $2 and $1 at respective dates	(755)	(577)
Short-term debt financing	250	250
Short-term debt matured	(250)	0
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of discount and issuance costs of $10 and $6 at respective dates	590	594
Common stock issued	146	146
Common stock dividends paid	(243)	(219)
Other	(90)	(13)
Net cash provided by financing activities	(352)	181
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(13)	19
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1	177	123
Cash and cash equivalents at March 31	164	142
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
Interest, net of amounts capitalized	(246)	(242)
Income taxes, net	1	0
Supplemental disclosures of noncash investing and financing activities
Common stock dividends declared but not yet paid	250	226
Capital expenditures financed through accounts payable	237	373
Noncash common stock issuances	4	6
Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	569	108
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning	712	696
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(19)	(27)
Deferred income taxes and tax credits, net	264	118
Disallowed capital expenditures	0	87
Other	57	68
Effect of changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	322	183
Inventories	(2)	(14)
Accounts payable	(3)	(37)
Income taxes receivable/payable	0	(74)
Other current assets and liabilities	(113)	184
Regulatory assets, liabilities, and balancing accounts, net	(176)	(87)
Other noncurrent assets and liabilities	38	(109)
Butte-related insurance receivable	(7)	0
Butte-related third-party claims	(44)	0
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,598	1,096
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(1,216)	(1,229)
Proceeds from sales and maturities of nuclear decommissioning trust investments	470	439
Purchases of nuclear decommissioning trust investments	(493)	(463)
Other	4	3
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,235)	(1,250)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net issuances (repayments) of commercial paper, net of discount of $2 and $1 at respective dates	(755)	(577)
Short-term debt financing	250	250
Short-term debt matured	(250)	0
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of discount and issuance costs of $10 and $6 at respective dates	590	594
Preferred stock dividends paid	(3)	(3)
Common stock dividends paid	(244)	(179)
Equity contribution from PG&E Corporation	125	65
Other	(87)	(11)
Net cash provided by financing activities	(374)	139
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(11)	(15)
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1	71	59
Cash and cash equivalents at March 31	60	44
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
Interest, net of amounts capitalized	(242)	(237)
Supplemental disclosures of noncash investing and financing activities
Capital expenditures financed through accounts payable	$ 237	$ 373