OTHER FINANCIAL DATA - COMPREHENSIVE INCOME AND EQUITY 3 (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amount Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss	$ 10		$ 271		$ 22		$ 276
San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amount Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss	1		1		1		1
Southern California Gas Company [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amount Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss	0		1		0		1
Interest Expense [Member] | Interest Rate And Foreign Exchange Instruments [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amount Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss	6		3		9		6
Interest Expense [Member] | Interest Rate Instruments [Member] | San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amount Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss	2		2		5		4
Interest Expense [Member] | Interest Rate Instruments [Member] | Southern California Gas Company [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amount Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss	0		1		0		1
Revenues: Energy-Related Businesses [Member] | Commodity Contracts Not Subject To Rate Recovery [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amount Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss	0		(5)		10		(5)
Equity Earnings Before Income Tax [Member] | Foreign Currency Translation [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amount Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss	0	[1]	270	[1]	0	[1]	270	[1]
Equity Earnings Before Income Tax [Member] | Interest Rate Instruments [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amount Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss	2		2		5		4
Income Before Tax [Member] | Amortization of Actuarial Loss [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amount Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss	8	[2]	2	[2]	13	[2]	7	[2]
Income Before Tax [Member] | Amortization of Actuarial Loss [Member] | San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amount Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss	2	[2]	1	[2]	2	[2]	1	[2]
Income Before Tax [Member] | Financial Instrustments [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amount Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss	8		0		26		5
Income Tax Expense [Member] | Interest Rate Instruments [Member] | Southern California Gas Company [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amount Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss	0		0		0		0
Income Tax Expense [Member] | Amortization of Actuarial Loss [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amount Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss	(3)	[2]	(1)	[2]	(5)	[2]	(3)	[2]
Income Tax Expense [Member] | Amortization of Actuarial Loss [Member] | San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amount Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss	(1)	[2]	0	[2]	(1)	[2]	0	[2]
Income Tax Expense [Member] | Financial Instrustments [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amount Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss	(1)		2		(7)		1
Gain On Sale Of Assets [Member] | Interest Rate Instruments [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amount Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss					2		0
Income After Tax [Member] | Interest Rate Instruments [Member] | Southern California Gas Company [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amount Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss	0		1		0		1
Income After Tax [Member] | Amortization of Actuarial Loss [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amount Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss	5	[2]	1	[2]	8	[2]	4	[2]
Income After Tax [Member] | Amortization of Actuarial Loss [Member] | San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amount Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss	1	[2]	1	[2]	1	[2]	1	[2]
Income After Tax [Member] | Financial Instrustments [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amount Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss	7		2		19		6
Earnings Attributable To Noncontrolling Interests [Member] | Interest Rate Instruments [Member] | San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amount Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss	(2)		(2)		(5)		(4)
Earnings Attributable To Noncontrolling Interests [Member] | Financial Instrustments [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amount Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss	(2)		(2)		(5)		(4)
Total [Member] | Interest Rate Instruments [Member] | San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amount Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss	0		0		0		0
Total [Member] | Financial Instrustments [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amount Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss	$ 5		$ 0		$ 14		$ 2

[1] Represents cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment related to the impairment of our Argentine investments in 2006, which is substantially offset by an accrued liability established at that time. We provide additional information about these investments in Note 4.

[2] Amounts are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost (see "Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits" above).