OTHER FINANCIAL DATA - COMPREHENSIVE INCOME AND EQUITY (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011
Comprehensive Income And Equity Disclosure [Line Items]
Equity, beginning of period					$ 10,178	[1],[2]	$ 9,201
Comprehensive income, net of income tax
Net income	74		494	[1]	325		754	[1]
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(34)		35	[1]	37		29	[1]
Reclassification to net income of foreign currency translation adjustments related to equity method investments			(54)	[1]			(54)	[1]
Financial instruments	(18)		(16)	[1]	(15)		(13)	[1]
Net actuarial gain	4		5	[1]	5		7	[1]
Share-based compensation expense					24		24
Common stock dividends declared					(289)		(230)
Preferred dividends of subsidiaries	(1)		(3)	[1]	(3)		(5)	[1]
Issuance of common stock					45		19
Tax benefit related to share-based compensation							5
Repurchases of common stock					(16)		(18)
Acquisition of South American entities							279
Redemption of preferred stock of subidiary							(80)
Common stock released from ESOP					9		11
Equity contributed by noncontrolling interests					3
Distributions to noncontrolling interests					(10)		(6)
Equity, end of period	10,293		9,923		10,293		9,923
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Financial instruments, income tax expense (benefit)	(7)		(1)		(4)
Net actuarial gain, income tax expense (benefit)	(2)		(3)		(3)		(4)
Ownership Interests Held By Others [Line Items]
Amount of ownership interests held by others	394				394				383
Ownership Interests Held By Others, Bay Gas Storage Company [Member]
Ownership Interests Held By Others [Line Items]
Percent of ownership held by others	9.00%	[3]			9.00%	[3]
Amount of ownership interests held by others	19	[3]			19	[3]			17	[3]
Ownership Interests Held By Others, Southern Gas Transmission [Member]
Ownership Interests Held By Others [Line Items]
Percent of ownership held by others	49.00%	[3]			49.00%	[3]
Amount of ownership interests held by others	1	[3]			1	[3]			1	[3]
Ownership Interests Held By Others, Liberty Gas Storage [Member]
Ownership Interests Held By Others [Line Items]
Percent of ownership held by others	25.00%	[3]			25.00%	[3]
Amount of ownership interests held by others	10	[3]			10	[3]			9	[3]
Ownership Interests Held By Others, Tecsur [Member]
Ownership Interests Held By Others [Line Items]
Percent of ownership held by others	10.00%				10.00%
Amount of ownership interests held by others	3				3				4
Ownership Interests Held By Others, Luz Del Sur [Member]
Ownership Interests Held By Others [Line Items]
Percent of ownership held by others	20.00%				20.00%
Amount of ownership interests held by others	224				224				216
Ownership Interests Held By Others, Chilquinta Energia [Member]
Ownership Interests Held By Others [Line Items]
Percent of ownership held by others, minimum	15.00%				15.00%
Percent of ownership held by others, maximum	43.00%				43.00%
Amount of ownership interests held by others	34				34				34
Ownership Interests Held By Others, Otay Mesa VIE [Member]
Ownership Interests Held By Others [Line Items]
Percent of ownership held by others	100.00%				100.00%
Amount of ownership interests held by others	103				103				102
San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member]
Comprehensive Income And Equity Disclosure [Line Items]
Equity, beginning of period					3,841	[2]	3,221
Comprehensive income, net of income tax
Net income	101		53		213		147
Financial instruments	(9)		(10)		(9)		(9)
Preferred dividend requirements	(1)		(1)		(2)		(2)
Capital contribution			200				200
Distributions to noncontrolling interests					(1)
Equity, end of period	4,042		3,557		4,042		3,557
Southern California Gas Company [Member]
Comprehensive Income And Equity Disclosure [Line Items]
Equity, beginning of period					2,193
Comprehensive income, net of income tax
Net income	54		60		120		128
Financial instruments	1		1		1		1
Preferred dividend requirements	(1)		(1)		(1)		(1)
Equity, end of period	2,163				2,163
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Financial instruments, income tax expense (benefit)			1				1
Total Shareholders' Equity
Comprehensive Income And Equity Disclosure [Line Items]
Equity, beginning of period					9,775		8,990
Comprehensive income, net of income tax
Net income	63		506	[1]	301		762	[1]
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(33)		29	[1]	34		23	[1]
Reclassification to net income of foreign currency translation adjustments related to equity method investments			(54)	[1]			(54)	[1]
Financial instruments	(9)		(6)	[1]	(6)		(4)	[1]
Net actuarial gain	4		5	[1]	5		7	[1]
Share-based compensation expense					24		24
Common stock dividends declared					(289)		(230)
Preferred dividends of subsidiaries	(1)		(3)	[1]	(3)		(5)	[1]
Issuance of common stock					45		19
Tax benefit related to share-based compensation							5
Repurchases of common stock					(16)		(18)
Common stock released from ESOP					9		11
Equity, end of period	9,879		9,530		9,879		9,530
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Financial instruments, income tax expense (benefit)	(7)	[4]	(1)	[4]	(4)	[4]
Net actuarial gain, income tax expense (benefit)	(2)	[4]	(3)	[4]	(3)	[4]	(4)	[4]
Total Shareholders' Equity | San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member]
Comprehensive Income And Equity Disclosure [Line Items]
Equity, beginning of period					3,739		3,108
Comprehensive income, net of income tax
Net income	96		72		202		162
Preferred dividend requirements					(2)		(2)
Capital contribution			200				200
Equity, end of period	3,939		3,468		3,939		3,468
Total Shareholders' Equity | Southern California Gas Company [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Financial instruments, income tax expense (benefit)			1	[4]			1	[4]
Noncontrolling Interests
Comprehensive Income And Equity Disclosure [Line Items]
Equity, beginning of period					403		211
Comprehensive income, net of income tax
Net income	11		(12)	[1]	24		(8)	[1]
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(1)		6	[1]	3		6	[1]
Financial instruments	(9)		(10)	[1]	(9)		(9)	[1]
Acquisition of South American entities							279
Redemption of preferred stock of subidiary							(80)
Equity contributed by noncontrolling interests					3
Distributions to noncontrolling interests					(10)		(6)
Equity, end of period	414		393		414		393
Noncontrolling Interests | San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member]
Comprehensive Income And Equity Disclosure [Line Items]
Equity, beginning of period					102		113
Comprehensive income, net of income tax
Net income	5		(19)		11		(15)
Financial instruments	(9)		(10)		(9)		(9)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests					(1)
Equity, end of period	$ 103		$ 89		$ 103		$ 89

[1] As adjusted for the retrospective effect of a change in accounting principle as we discuss in Note 1.

[2] Derived from audited financial statements.

[3] Part of Sempra Natural Gas.

[4] Shareholders’ equity of Sempra Energy Consolidated or SoCalGas as indicated in left margin.