Cover Page - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jul. 27, 2020
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-12609
Entity Registrant Name	PG&E CORP
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	CA
Entity Tax Identification Number	94-3234914
Entity Address, Address Line One	77 Beale Street
Entity Address, Address Line Two	P.O. Box 770000
Entity Address, City or Town	San Francisco,
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	94177
City Area Code	415
Local Phone Number	973-1000
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		1,941,473,377
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Entity Central Index Key	0001004980
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Pacific Gas & Electric Co
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity File Number	1-2348
Entity Registrant Name	PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC CO
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	CA
Entity Tax Identification Number	94-0742640
Entity Address, Address Line One	77 Beale Street
Entity Address, Address Line Two	P.O. Box 770000
Entity Address, City or Town	San Francisco,
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	94177
City Area Code	415
Local Phone Number	973-7000
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		264,374,809
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000075488
The New York Stock Exchange | Common stock, no par value
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common stock, no par value
Trading Symbol	PCG
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
The New York Stock Exchange | Equity Units
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Equity Units
Trading Symbol	PCGU
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
NYSE American LLC | First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 5% series A redeemable
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 5% series A redeemable
Trading Symbol	PCG-PE
Security Exchange Name	NYSEAMER
NYSE American LLC | First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 5% redeemable
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 5% redeemable
Trading Symbol	PCG-PD
Security Exchange Name	NYSEAMER
NYSE American LLC | First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 4.80% redeemable
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 4.80% redeemable
Trading Symbol	PCG-PG
Security Exchange Name	NYSEAMER
NYSE American LLC | First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 4.50% redeemable
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 4.50% redeemable
Trading Symbol	PCG-PH
Security Exchange Name	NYSEAMER
NYSE American LLC | First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 4.36% series A redeemable
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 4.36% series A redeemable
Trading Symbol	PCG-PI
Security Exchange Name	NYSEAMER
NYSE American LLC | First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 6% nonredeemable
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 6% nonredeemable
Trading Symbol	PCG-PA
Security Exchange Name	NYSEAMER
NYSE American LLC | First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 5.50% nonredeemable
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 5.50% nonredeemable
Trading Symbol	PCG-PB
Security Exchange Name	NYSEAMER
NYSE American LLC | First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 5% nonredeemable
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 5% nonredeemable
Trading Symbol	PCG-PC
Security Exchange Name	NYSEAMER