Earnings Per Share (Reconciliation Of PG&E Corporation's Income Available For Common Shareholders And Weighted Average Shares Of Common Stock Outstanding For Calculating Diluted EPS) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Income available for common shareholders	$ 200	$ 258	$ 761	$ 849
Interest expense on convertible subordinated notes, net of tax				8
Income available for common shareholders and assumed conversion		$ 258		$ 857
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic	403	390	399	378
Convertible subordinated notes				11
Employee share-based compensation	1	2	1	2
Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted	404	392	400	391
Net earnings per common share, diluted	$ 0.50	$ 0.66	$ 1.90	$ 2.19

Earnings Per Share (Reconciliation Of PG&E Corporation's Income Available For Common Shareholders And Weighted Average Shares Of Common Stock Outstanding For Calculating Diluted EPS) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, except Per Share data

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Sep. 30, 2010

Sep. 30, 2011

Sep. 30, 2010

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Income available for common shareholders

$ 200

$ 258

$ 761

$ 849

Interest expense on convertible subordinated notes, net of tax

Income available for common shareholders and assumed conversion

$ 258

$ 857

Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic

403

390

399

378

Convertible subordinated notes

Employee share-based compensation

Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted

404

392

400

391

Net earnings per common share, diluted

$ 0.50

$ 0.66

$ 1.90

$ 2.19

- Definition

The amount of net income (loss) for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

The average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS or earnings per unit (EPU), determined based on the timing of issuance of shares or units in the period.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

Number of [basic] shares or units, after adjustment for contingently issuable shares or units and other shares or units not deemed outstanding, determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares or units have been outstanding to the total time in that period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Weighted-Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6528421

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 128

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

-Number 07-4

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details