DEBT AND CREDIT FACILITIES 2 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption of industrial development bonds		$ 79	$ 0
Sempra Natural Gas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption of industrial development bonds		79
Planned Early Redemption Of Long Term Debt Instruments	$ 55	55
Other Long Term Debt, Variable Rate Due 2017 [Member] \| San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	$ 140	$ 140
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate At Period End	0.53%	0.53%
Debt Instrument, Variable Base Rate	0.20%	0.20%
Other Long Term Debt, Fixed Rate Due 2020 [Member] \| Sempra Energy [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	$ 500	$ 500
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	2.40%	2.40%
Other Long Term Debt, Amortizing Fixed Rate Due 2022 [Member] \| San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	$ 250	$ 250
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	1.914%	1.914%
Other Long Term Debt, Fixed Rate Due 2025 [Member] \| Southern California Gas Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	$ 350	$ 350
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.20%	3.20%
Other Long Term Debt, Fixed Rate Due June 2018 [Member] \| Southern California Gas Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	$ 250	$ 250
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	1.55%	1.55%
Other Long Term Debt, Fixed Rate Due June 2018 [Member] \| South America Utilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	$ 22	$ 22
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	5.18%	5.18%
Other Long Term Debt Fixed Rate Due May 2018 [Member] \| South America Utilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	$ 13	$ 13
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	5.18%	5.18%
Other Long Term Debt Fixed Rate Due between 2021 and 2027 [Member] \| San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Interest Rate Stated Percentage Rate Range Minimum	4.90%
Debt Instrument Interest Rate Stated Percentage Rate Range Maximum	5.50%
Planned Early Redemption Of Long Term Debt Instruments	$ 169	$ 169
Other Long Term Debt Fixed Rate Due February 2018 [Member] \| South America Utilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	$ 9	$ 9
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	6.70%	6.70%
Other Long Term Debt Fixed Rate Due September 2026 [Member] \| South America Utilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	$ 25	$ 25
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	8.75%	8.75%

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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