Fair Value Measurements (Carrying Amount And Fair Value Of Financial Instruments) (Details) (USD $) In Millions	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Energy recovery bonds	$ 110	$ 423
Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member] \| Carrying Amount [Member]
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Debt financial instrument	10,295	10,444
Carrying Amount [Member]
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Debt financial instrument	349	349
Energy recovery bonds	528	827
Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member] \| Estimate Of Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Debt financial instrument	11,797	11,314
Estimate Of Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Debt financial instrument	385	383
Energy recovery bonds	544	862
Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Energy recovery bonds	$ 110	$ 423

Including current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying amount of long-term borrowings as of the balance sheet date. May include notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, which had initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer, and after deducting unamortized discount or premiums, if any.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 7

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 9

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20, 22

-Article 5

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant