DEBT AND CREDIT FACILITIES (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Other Long Term Debt, Fixed Rate Due 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	$ 600
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	2.30%
Other Long Term Debt, Fixed Rate Due 2042 [Member] | San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	250
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.30%
Rockies Express [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage in equity method investee	25.00%
Ownership percentage of minority partner in equity method investee	25.00%
Ownership percentage of operating partner in equity method investee	50.00%
Line Of Credit Facility, Sempra Energy Consolidated [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Committed lines of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	4,100
Committed lines of credit, remaining borrowing capacity	3,400
Weighted average interest rate on total short-term debt outstanding	0.72%	0.93%
Line Of Credit Facility, Sempra Energy [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Committed lines of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	1,067
Committed lines of credit, maximum ratio of indebtedness to total capitalization	65.00%
Committed lines of credit, capacity for issuance of letters of credit	400
Other instruments supported by committed lines of credit	2
Line Of Credit Facility, Sempra Global [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Committed lines of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	2,189
Committed lines of credit, maximum ratio of indebtedness to total capitalization	65.00%
Outstanding commercial paper supported by committed lines of credit	417
Commercial paper noncurrent		400
Line Of Credit Facility, S D G E [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Committed lines of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	658
Committed lines of credit, remaining borrowing capacity	421
Other instruments supported by committed lines of credit	237
Line Of Credit Facility, So Cal Gas [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Committed lines of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	658
Committed lines of credit, remaining borrowing capacity	640
Line Of Credit Facility, California Utilities Combined [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Committed lines of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	877
Committed lines of credit, maximum ratio of indebtedness to total capitalization	65.00%
Committed lines of credit, capacity for issuance of letters of credit	$ 200