CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
REVENUES
Utilities	$ 2,463,000,000	$ 2,223,000,000	$ 7,318,000,000	$ 6,889,000,000
Energy-related businesses	352,000,000	328,000,000	970,000,000	963,000,000
Total revenues	2,815,000,000	2,551,000,000	8,288,000,000	7,852,000,000
Utilities [Abstract]
Cost of natural gas	(293,000,000)	(261,000,000)	(1,308,000,000)	(1,182,000,000)
Cost of electric fuel and purchased power	(680,000,000)	(537,000,000)	(1,761,000,000)	(1,461,000,000)
Energy-related businesses [Abstract]
Cost of natural gas, electric fuel and purchased power	(163,000,000)	(120,000,000)	(427,000,000)	(325,000,000)
Other cost of sales	(42,000,000)	(47,000,000)	(122,000,000)	(144,000,000)
Operation and maintenance	(726,000,000)	(698,000,000)	(2,131,000,000)	(2,162,000,000)
Depreciation and amortization	(292,000,000)	(286,000,000)	(866,000,000)	(828,000,000)
Plant closure adjustment (loss)	0	0	13,000,000	(200,000,000)
Franchise fees and other taxes	(104,000,000)	(96,000,000)	(301,000,000)	(283,000,000)
Gain on sale of equity interest and assets	19,000,000	39,000,000	48,000,000	113,000,000
Equity (losses) earnings before income tax
Equity (losses) earnings, other	22,000,000	3,000,000	62,000,000	21,000,000
Other income (expense), net	29,000,000	16,000,000	118,000,000	79,000,000
Interest income	6,000,000	5,000,000	15,000,000	15,000,000
Interest expense	(144,000,000)	(137,000,000)	(418,000,000)	(413,000,000)
Income before income taxes and equity earnings of certain unconsolidated subsidiaries	447,000,000	432,000,000	1,210,000,000	1,082,000,000
Income tax expense	(71,000,000)	(117,000,000)	(291,000,000)	(327,000,000)
Equity earnings, net of income tax	7,000,000	8,000,000	22,000,000	13,000,000
Net income	383,000,000	323,000,000	941,000,000	768,000,000
Losses (earnings) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(35,000,000)	(22,000,000)	(76,000,000)	(41,000,000)
Call premium on preferred stock of subsidiary	0	(3,000,000)	0	(3,000,000)
Preferred dividends of subsidiaries	0	(2,000,000)	(1,000,000)	(5,000,000)
Earnings	348,000,000	296,000,000	864,000,000	719,000,000
Basic earnings per common share:
Basic earnings per common share	$ 1.41	$ 1.21	$ 3.52	$ 2.95
Basic earnings per common share, weighted-average number of shares outstanding (thousands)	246,137	244,140	245,703	243,682
Diluted earnings per common share:
Diluted earnings per common share	$ 1.39	$ 1.19	$ 3.45	$ 2.89
Diluted earnings per common share, weighted-average number of shares outstanding (thousands)	250,771	249,259	250,278	248,723
Dividends declared per share of common stock	$ 0.66	$ 0.63	$ 1.98	$ 1.89
San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member]
Utility operating revenues
Electric	1,133,000,000	970,000,000	2,892,000,000	2,685,000,000
Natural gas	100,000,000	93,000,000	391,000,000	381,000,000
Total utility operating revenues	1,233,000,000	1,063,000,000	3,283,000,000	3,066,000,000
Utility operating expenses
Utility cost of natural gas	39,000,000	36,000,000	165,000,000	157,000,000
Utility cost of electric fuel and purchased power	441,000,000	315,000,000	1,036,000,000	776,000,000
Utility operation and maintenance	276,000,000	266,000,000	784,000,000	852,000,000
Utility depreciation and amortization	134,000,000	126,000,000	395,000,000	367,000,000
Utility franchise fees and other taxes	67,000,000	57,000,000	177,000,000	158,000,000
Utility plant closure (adjustment) loss	0	0	(13,000,000)	200,000,000
Total utility operating expenses	957,000,000	800,000,000	2,544,000,000	2,510,000,000
Utility operating income	276,000,000	263,000,000	739,000,000	556,000,000
Equity (losses) earnings before income tax
Other income (expense), net	9,000,000	10,000,000	29,000,000	30,000,000
Interest income	0	0	0	1,000,000
Interest expense	(51,000,000)	(50,000,000)	(152,000,000)	(147,000,000)
Income before income taxes and equity earnings of certain unconsolidated subsidiaries	234,000,000	223,000,000	616,000,000	440,000,000
Income tax expense	(65,000,000)	(84,000,000)	(217,000,000)	(147,000,000)
Net income	169,000,000	139,000,000	399,000,000	293,000,000
Losses (earnings) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(12,000,000)	(5,000,000)	(20,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Earnings	157,000,000	134,000,000	379,000,000	292,000,000
Call premium on preferred stock	0	(3,000,000)	0	(3,000,000)
Preferred dividend requirements	0	(2,000,000)	0	(4,000,000)
Earnings attributable to common shares	157,000,000	129,000,000	379,000,000	285,000,000
Southern California Gas Company [Member]
Utility operating revenues
Total utility operating revenues	855,000,000	807,000,000	2,857,000,000	2,694,000,000
Utility operating expenses
Utility cost of natural gas	237,000,000	209,000,000	1,066,000,000	966,000,000
Utility operation and maintenance	326,000,000	314,000,000	968,000,000	936,000,000
Utility depreciation and amortization	109,000,000	100,000,000	321,000,000	280,000,000
Utility franchise fees and other taxes	30,000,000	29,000,000	98,000,000	95,000,000
Total utility operating expenses	702,000,000	652,000,000	2,453,000,000	2,277,000,000
Utility operating income	153,000,000	155,000,000	404,000,000	417,000,000
Equity (losses) earnings before income tax
Other income (expense), net	6,000,000	2,000,000	13,000,000	9,000,000
Interest expense	(17,000,000)	(17,000,000)	(50,000,000)	(52,000,000)
Income before income taxes and equity earnings of certain unconsolidated subsidiaries	142,000,000	140,000,000	367,000,000	374,000,000
Income tax expense	(44,000,000)	(38,000,000)	(110,000,000)	(107,000,000)
Net income	98,000,000	102,000,000	257,000,000	267,000,000
Earnings	98,000,000	102,000,000	257,000,000	267,000,000
Preferred dividend requirements	0	0	(1,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Earnings attributable to common shares	$ 98,000,000	$ 102,000,000	$ 256,000,000	$ 266,000,000