DEBT AND CREDIT FACILITIES (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012 Line Of Credit Facility, Sempra Energy Consolidated [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Line Of Credit Facility, Sempra Energy Consolidated [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Line Of Credit Facility, Sempra Energy [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Line Of Credit Facility, Sempra Energy [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Line Of Credit Facility, Sempra Global [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Line Of Credit Facility, Sempra Global [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Line Of Credit Facility, S D G E [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Line Of Credit Facility, So Cal Gas [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Line Of Credit Facility, California Utilities Combined [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Committed lines of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	$ 4,100			$ 1,067	$ 2,189		$ 658	$ 658	$ 877
Committed lines of credit, maximum ratio of indebtedness to total capitalization				65.00%	65.00%		65.00%	65.00%
Committed lines of credit, remaining borrowing capacity	3,200						248	467
Committed lines of credit, capacity for issuance of letters of credit			600	400					200
Outstanding commercial paper supported by committed lines of credit					514		173
Other instruments supported by committed lines of credit				12			237
Weighted average interest rate on total short-term debt outstanding	0.58%	0.93%					0.21%
Commercial paper noncurrent						$ 400