OTHER FINANCIAL DATA - EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Earnings Per Share Numerator [Abstract]
Earnings	$ 296		$ 131	$ 1,065	$ 459
Earnings Per Share Denominator [Abstract]
Weighted-average common shares outstanding for basic EPS	239,545,000		246,668,000	239,693,000	246,513,000
Dilutive effect of stock options, restricted stock awards and restricted stock units	2,335,000		3,143,000	2,262,000	3,260,000
Weighted-average common shares outstanding for diluted EPS	241,880,000		249,811,000	241,955,000	249,773,000
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Basic earnings per common share	$ 1.23		$ 0.53	$ 4.44	$ 1.86
Diluted earnings per common share	$ 1.22		$ 0.53	$ 4.40	$ 1.84
San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member]
Earnings Per Share Numerator [Abstract]
Earnings	115		108	277	268
Southern California Gas Company [Member]
Earnings Per Share Numerator [Abstract]
Earnings	$ 81		$ 78	$ 209	$ 213
Out Of The Money Stock Options [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	2,112,880		2,132,975	2,111,839	2,158,528
In The Money Stock Options
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share			10,800	900	8,407
Restricted Stock
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	3,473,578		2,072,646	3,630,253	1,950,281
Restricted Stock Units Member
Schedule Of Performance Based Restricted Shares [Line Items]
Contractual vesting percentage minimum	0.00%
Contractual vesting percentage maximum	150.00%
Restricted Stock Awards Member
Schedule Of Performance Based Restricted Shares [Line Items]
Contractual vesting percentage minimum	0.00%
Contractual vesting percentage maximum	100.00%
Seventy Fifth Percentile Or Above [Member]
Total Shareholder Return Ranking [Line Items]
Common Shares Received For Each Restricted Stock Unit	1.5	[1]
Fiftieth Percentile [Member]
Total Shareholder Return Ranking [Line Items]
Common Shares Received For Each Restricted Stock Unit	1	[1]
Thirty Fifth Percentile Or Below [Member]
Total Shareholder Return Ranking [Line Items]
Common Shares Received For Each Restricted Stock Unit	0	[1]

[1] (2) Participants may also receive additional shares for dividend equivalents on shares subject to restricted stock units, which are reinvested to purchase additional shares that become subject to the same vesting conditions as the restricted stock units to which the dividends relate.