Commitments And Contingencies (Legal And Regulatory Contingencies) (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	9 Months Ended				9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011 Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member] San Bruno Explosion [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member] San Bruno Explosion [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 San Bruno Explosion [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 San Bruno Explosion [Member] Tort Lawsuits [Member] San Mateo County Superior Court [Member] lawsuits	Jun. 30, 2011 San Bruno Explosion [Member] Class Action Lawsuits [Member] San Mateo County Superior Court [Member] lawsuits	Jun. 30, 2011 San Bruno Explosion [Member] San Mateo County Superior Court [Member] plaintiffs	Sep. 30, 2011 CPUC Investigations- Maximum Penalties Per Day [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 PGE Corporation And Utility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 PGE Corporation And Utility [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Utility [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrued legal liabilities			$ 289,000,000	$ 214,000,000						$ 74,000,000	$ 55,000,000	$ 289,000,000	$ 289,000,000	$ 214,000,000	$ 220,000,000
Per violation penalty that may be imposed prior to the maximum statutory penalty increase									20,000
Per violation penalty that may be imposed subsequent to the maximum statutory penalty increase									50,000
Additional costs accrued												96,000,000	155,000,000
Number of lawsuits						100	2
Number of plaintiffs								370
Claim provision recorded				220,000,000
Cumulative provision			375,000,000
Estimated possible additional loss contingency liability			225,000,000
Previously estimated maximum amount for third party claims			400,000,000
Insurance recoveries for cost incurred related to third party claims	0	0														60,000,000
Estimated maximum amount for third party claims for San Bruno					600,000,000
Previously proposed payment of penalty	26,000,000
Proposed penalty associated with rancho cordova accident									38,000,000
Possible maximum penalty associated with rancho cordova accident									97,000,000
Liability for penalties and other related costs for the rancho cordova accident													39,000,000
Utility liability insurance for damages													992,000,000
Utility liability insurance deductible													$ 10,000,000