CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock	Reinvested Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Total Shareholders’ Equity	Non controlling Interest - Preferred Stock of Subsidiary	Pacific Gas & Electric Co	Pacific Gas & Electric Co Preferred Stock	Pacific Gas & Electric Co Common Stock	Pacific Gas & Electric Co Additional Paid-in Capital	Pacific Gas & Electric Co Reinvested Earnings	Pacific Gas & Electric Co Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Pacific Gas & Electric Co Total Shareholders’ Equity
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		514,755,845
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 19,472	$ 12,632	$ 6,596	$ (8)	$ 19,220	$ 252		$ 258	$ 1,322	$ 8,505	$ 9,656	$ 6	$ 19,747
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	445		445		445						452		452
Other comprehensive income (loss)			5	(5)							2	(2)
Common stock issued, net (in shares)		1,248,112
Common stock issued, net	35	$ 35			35
Stock-based compensation amortization	34	$ 34			34
Preferred stock dividend requirement of subsidiary	(3)		(3)		(3)
Preferred stock dividend											(3)		(3)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018		516,003,957
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2018	19,983	$ 12,701	7,043	(13)	19,731	252		258	1,322	8,505	10,107	4	20,196
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	445		445		445						452		452
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		514,755,845
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2017	19,472	$ 12,632	6,596	(8)	19,220	252		258	1,322	8,505	9,656	6	19,747
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	32						$ 47
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018		518,332,824
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2018	19,696	$ 12,833	6,623	(12)	19,444	252		258	1,322	8,505	9,695	5	19,785
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	32						47
Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018		516,003,957
Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2018	19,983	$ 12,701	7,043	(13)	19,731	252		258	1,322	8,505	10,107	4	20,196
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(980)		(980)		(980)						(976)		(976)
Other comprehensive income (loss)												1	1
Common stock issued, net (in shares)		1,099,026
Common stock issued, net	47	$ 47			47
Stock-based compensation amortization	15	$ 15			15
Preferred stock dividend requirement of subsidiary	(4)		(4)		(4)
Preferred stock dividend											(4)	0	(4)
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2018		517,102,983
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2018	19,061	$ 12,763	6,059	(13)	18,809	252		258	1,322	8,505	9,127	5	19,217
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(980)		(980)		(980)						(976)		(976)
Net income (loss)	567		567		567		571				571		571
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1			1	1
Common stock issued, net (in shares)		1,229,841
Common stock issued, net	55	$ 55			55
Stock-based compensation amortization	15	$ 15			15
Preferred stock dividend requirement of subsidiary	(3)		(3)		(3)
Preferred stock dividend											(3)	0	(3)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018		518,332,824
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2018	19,696	$ 12,833	6,623	(12)	19,444	252		258	1,322	8,505	9,695	5	19,785
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	$ 567		567		567		$ 571				571		571
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018	520,338,710	520,338,710					264,374,809
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 12,903	$ 12,910	(250)	(9)	12,651	252		258	1,322	8,550	2,826	(1)	12,955
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	136		136		136						133		133
Common stock issued, net (in shares)		8,871,568
Common stock issued, net	85	$ 85			85
Stock-based compensation amortization	5	$ 5			5
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019		529,210,278
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2019	13,129	$ 13,000	(114)	(9)	12,877	252		258	1,322	8,550	2,959	(1)	13,088
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	$ 136		136		136						133		133
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018	520,338,710	520,338,710					264,374,809
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 12,903	$ 12,910	(250)	(9)	12,651	252		258	1,322	8,550	2,826	(1)	12,955
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	$ (4,029)						$ (4,027)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019	529,229,517	529,229,517					264,374,809
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 8,991	$ 13,027	(4,279)	(9)	8,739	252		258	1,322	8,550	(1,201)	(1)	8,928
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(4,029)						$ (4,027)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019		529,210,278
Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2019	13,129	$ 13,000	(114)	(9)	12,877	252		258	1,322	8,550	2,959	(1)	13,088
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(2,549)		(2,549)		(2,549)						(2,550)		(2,550)
Common stock issued, net (in shares)		13,515
Stock-based compensation amortization	14	$ 14			14
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019		529,223,793
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2019	10,594	$ 13,014	(2,663)	(9)	10,342	252		258	1,322	8,550	409	(1)	10,538
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(2,549)		(2,549)		(2,549)						(2,550)		(2,550)
Net income (loss)	(1,616)		(1,616)		(1,616)		$ (1,610)				(1,610)		(1,610)
Common stock issued, net (in shares)		5,724
Stock-based compensation amortization	$ 13	$ 13			13
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019	529,229,517	529,229,517					264,374,809
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 8,991	$ 13,027	(4,279)	$ (9)	8,739	$ 252		$ 258	$ 1,322	$ 8,550	(1,201)	$ (1)	8,928
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	$ (1,616)		$ (1,616)		$ (1,616)		$ (1,610)				$ (1,610)		$ (1,610)