CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Net income (loss)	$ 719	$ 282	$ 1,110	$ 1,060
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Total other comprehensive loss	(13)	(165)	(59)	(264)
Comprehensive income			1,050	773
Preferred dividends of subsidiary	0	0	(1)	(1)
Pretax amount [Member]
Net income (loss)	904	263	1,276	1,257
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(28)	(92)	51	(197)
Financial instruments	23	(128)	(214)	(122)
Pension and other postretirement benefits	4	7	8	11
Total other comprehensive loss	(1)	(213)	(155)	(308)
Comprehensive income	903	50	1,121	949
Preferred dividends of subsidiary			(1)	(1)
Comprehensive income, after preferred dividends of subsidiary			1,120	948
Income tax (expense) benefit [Member]
Net income (loss)	(282)	(15)	(284)	(276)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	0	0	0	0
Financial instruments	(10)	50	100	48
Pension and other postretirement benefits	(2)	(2)	(4)	(4)
Total other comprehensive loss	(12)	48	96	44
Comprehensive income	(294)	33	(188)	(232)
Preferred dividends of subsidiary			0	0
Comprehensive income, after preferred dividends of subsidiary			(188)	(232)
Net-of-tax amount [Member]
Net income (loss)	622	248	992	981
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(28)	(92)	51	(197)
Financial instruments	13	(78)	(114)	(74)
Pension and other postretirement benefits	2	5	4	7
Total other comprehensive loss	(13)	(165)	(59)	(264)
Comprehensive income	609	83	933	717
Preferred dividends of subsidiary			(1)	(1)
Comprehensive income, after preferred dividends of subsidiary			932	716
Noncontrolling Interests (after-tax) [Member]
Net income (loss)	97	34	118	79
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(7)	(8)	(2)	(21)
Financial instruments	5	(3)	1	(2)
Pension and other postretirement benefits	0	0	0	0
Total other comprehensive loss	(2)	(11)	(1)	(23)
Comprehensive income	95	23	117	56
Preferred dividends of subsidiary			0	0
Comprehensive income, after preferred dividends of subsidiary			117	56
Total [Member]
Net income (loss)	719	282	1,110	1,060
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(35)	(100)	49	(218)
Financial instruments	18	(81)	(113)	(76)
Pension and other postretirement benefits	2	5	4	7
Total other comprehensive loss	(15)	(176)	(60)	(287)
Comprehensive income	704	106	1,050	773
Preferred dividends of subsidiary			(1)	(1)
Comprehensive income, after preferred dividends of subsidiary			1,049	772
San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member]
Net income (loss)	194	182	418	463
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Comprehensive income			422	463
San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member] | Pretax amount [Member]
Net income (loss)	274	245	623	660
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Financial instruments	0	0	0
Total other comprehensive loss	0	0	0
Comprehensive income	274	245	623	660
San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member] | Income tax (expense) benefit [Member]
Net income (loss)	(91)	(75)	(204)	(217)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Financial instruments	0	0	0
Total other comprehensive loss	0	0	0
Comprehensive income	(91)	(75)	(204)	(217)
San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member] | Net-of-tax amount [Member]
Net income (loss)	183	170	419	443
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Financial instruments	0	0	0
Total other comprehensive loss	0	0	0
Comprehensive income	183	170	419	443
San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member] | Noncontrolling Interests (after-tax) [Member]
Net income (loss)	11	12	(1)	20
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Financial instruments	5	(1)	4
Total other comprehensive loss	5	(1)	4
Comprehensive income	16	11	3	20
San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member] | Total [Member]
Net income (loss)	194	182	418	463
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Financial instruments	5	(1)	4
Total other comprehensive loss	5	(1)	4
Comprehensive income	199	181	422	463
Southern California Gas Company [Member]
Net income (loss)	0	(8)	199	277
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Total other comprehensive loss	1		1
Comprehensive income			200	277
Southern California Gas Company [Member] | Pretax amount [Member]
Net income (loss)	21	(28)	274	368
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Financial instruments	1		1
Total other comprehensive loss	1		1
Comprehensive income	22	(28)	275	368
Southern California Gas Company [Member] | Income tax (expense) benefit [Member]
Net income (loss)	(21)	20	(75)	(91)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Financial instruments	0		0
Total other comprehensive loss	0		0
Comprehensive income	(21)	20	(75)	(91)
Southern California Gas Company [Member] | Net-of-tax amount [Member]
Net income (loss)	0	(8)	199	277
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Financial instruments	1		1
Total other comprehensive loss	1		1
Comprehensive income	$ 1	$ (8)	$ 200	$ 277