FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS 2 (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Carrying Amount
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 20	[1]	$ 21	[1]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	10,709	[2]	9,826	[2]
Preferred Stock Of Subsidiaries Fair Value Disclosure	99		99
Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount	16		16
Capital Lease Obligations	200		204
Commercial Paper Noncurrent			400
Carrying Amount | San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	4,143	[3]	3,895	[3]
Contingently Redeemable Preferred Stock Fair Value Disclosure	79		79
Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount	12		11
Capital Lease Obligations	191		193
Carrying Amount | Southern California Gas Company [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	1,312	[4]	1,313	[4]
Preferred Stock Of Subsidiaries Fair Value Disclosure	22		22
Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount	2		3
Capital Lease Obligations	9		11
Fair Value
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	49	[1]	48	[1]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	11,903	[2]	11,047	[2]
Preferred Stock Of Subsidiaries Fair Value Disclosure	106		106
Fair Value | Level 2
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	11,288	[2]	10,447	[2]
Preferred Stock Of Subsidiaries Fair Value Disclosure	106		106
Fair Value | Level 3
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	49	[1]	48	[1]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	615	[2]	600	[2]
Fair Value | San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	4,455	[3]	4,288	[3]
Contingently Redeemable Preferred Stock Fair Value Disclosure	85		86
Fair Value | San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member] | Level 2
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	4,103	[3]	3,933	[3]
Contingently Redeemable Preferred Stock Fair Value Disclosure	85		86
Fair Value | San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member] | Level 3
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	352	[3]	355	[3]
Fair Value | Southern California Gas Company [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	1,480	[4]	1,506	[4]
Preferred Stock Of Subsidiaries Fair Value Disclosure	23		23
Fair Value | Southern California Gas Company [Member] | Level 2
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	1,480	[4]	1,506	[4]
Preferred Stock Of Subsidiaries Fair Value Disclosure	$ 23		$ 23

[1] We discuss our investments in affordable housing partnerships in Note 4 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report.

[2] Before reductions for unamortized discount (net of premium) of $16 million at both March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, and excluding capital leases of $200 million at March 31, 2012 and $204 million at December 31, 2011, and commercial paper classified as long-term debt of $400 million at December 31, 2011. We discuss our long-term debt in Note 6 above and in Note 5 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report.

[3] Before reductions for unamortized discount of $12 million at March 31, 2012 and $11 million at December 31, 2011, and excluding capital leases of $191 million at March 31, 2012 and $193 million at December 31, 2011.

[4] Before reductions for unamortized discount of $2 million at March 31, 2012 and $3 million at December 31, 2011, and excluding capital leases of $9 million at March 31, 2012 and $11 million at December 31, 2011.