OTHER FINANCIAL DATA - OTHER NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Oct. 19, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interests		$ 825	$ 750	[1]
Deferred credits and other		$ 1,508	$ 1,176	[1]
San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member] | Otay Mesa VIE [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Percent ownership held by others		100.00%	100.00%
Noncontrolling interests		$ 50	$ 53
Sempra South American Utilities [Member] | Chilquinta Energía subsidiaries [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interests		$ 22	$ 21
Sempra South American Utilities [Member] | Chilquinta Energía subsidiaries [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Percent ownership held by others		23.10%	23.50%
Sempra South American Utilities [Member] | Chilquinta Energía subsidiaries [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Percent ownership held by others		43.40%	43.40%
Sempra South American Utilities [Member] | Luz del Sur [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Percent ownership held by others		16.40%	16.40%
Noncontrolling interests		$ 171	$ 164
Sempra South American Utilities [Member] | Tecsur [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Percent ownership held by others		9.80%	9.80%
Noncontrolling interests		$ 4	$ 4
Sempra Mexico [Member] | IEnova [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Percent ownership held by others		18.90%	18.90%
Noncontrolling interests		$ 537	$ 468
Sempra Natural Gas [Member] | Bay Gas Storage Company, Ltd. [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Percent ownership held by others		9.10%	9.10%
Noncontrolling interests		$ 26	$ 25
Sempra Natural Gas [Member] | Liberty Gas Storage, LLC [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Percent ownership held by others		23.30%	23.20%
Noncontrolling interests		$ 14	$ 14
Sempra Natural Gas [Member] | Southern Gas Transmission Company [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Percent ownership held by others		49.00%	49.00%
Noncontrolling interests		$ 1	$ 1
Sempra Renewables [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Deferred credits and other		$ 78
Subsequent Event [Member] | Sempra Mexico [Member] | IEnova [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Percent ownership held by others	33.60%

[1] Derived from audited financial statements.