Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	$ 236	$ 202
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning	584	491
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(27)	(20)
Deferred income taxes and tax credits, net	146	99
Other	73	44
Effect of changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	221	35
Inventories	50	65
Accounts payable	(213)	182
Income taxes receivable/payable	29	34
Other current assets and liabilities	(70)	(205)
Regulatory assets, liabilities, and balancing accounts, net	(171)	(10)
Other noncurrent assets and liabilities	73	171
Net cash provided by operating activities	931	1,088
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(1,094)	(945)
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash	(5)	132
Proceeds from sales and maturities of nuclear decommissioning trust investments	351	726
Purchases of nuclear decommissioning trust investments	(370)	(735)
Other	25	(61)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,093)	(883)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net (repayments) issuances of commercial paper, net of discount of $1 in 2012 and in 2011	(245)	415
Long-term debt matured		(500)
Energy recovery bonds matured	(102)	(97)
Common stock issued	387	82
Common stock dividends paid	(182)	(174)
Other	48	18
Net used in financing activities	(94)	(256)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(256)	(51)
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1	513	291
Cash and cash equivalents at March 31	257	240
Cash received (paid) for:
Interest, net of amounts capitalized	(204)	(215)
Supplemental disclosures of noncash investing and financing activities
Common stock dividends declared but not yet paid	193	181
Capital expenditures financed through accounts payable	276	174
Noncash common stock issuances	6	6
Terminated capital leases	136
Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	231	201
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning	584	490
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(27)	(20)
Deferred income taxes and tax credits, net	153	99
Other	57	29
Effect of changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	218	69
Inventories	50	65
Accounts payable	(182)	190
Income taxes receivable/payable	30	34
Other current assets and liabilities	(69)	(196)
Regulatory assets, liabilities, and balancing accounts, net	(171)	(10)
Other noncurrent assets and liabilities	75	144
Net cash provided by operating activities	949	1,095
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(1,094)	(945)
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash	(5)	132
Proceeds from sales and maturities of nuclear decommissioning trust investments	351	726
Purchases of nuclear decommissioning trust investments	(370)	(735)
Other	3	7
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,115)	(815)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net (repayments) issuances of commercial paper, net of discount of $1 in 2012 and in 2011	(245)	415
Long-term debt matured		(500)
Energy recovery bonds matured	(102)	(97)
Preferred stock dividends paid	(3)	(4)
Common stock dividends paid	(179)	(179)
Equity contribution	385	65
Other	51	21
Net used in financing activities	(93)	(279)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(259)	1
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1	304	51
Cash and cash equivalents at March 31	45	52
Cash received (paid) for:
Interest, net of amounts capitalized	(204)	(215)
Supplemental disclosures of noncash investing and financing activities
Capital expenditures financed through accounts payable	276	174
Terminated capital leases	$ 136