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EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS - NARRATIVE (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 09, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Dedicated assets in support of certain benefit plans		$ 488,000	$ 416,000
Benefit obligation payment for settlement			54,000
Pension Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Plan amendments		5,000	12,000
Benefit obligation payment for settlement				$ 38,000
Plan assets, payment for settlement		177,000	394,000
Increase due to business combination		0	0
Settlement charges		28,000	12,000	8,000
Increase in liability due to special termination benefits		0	0
Decrease in defined benefit plan obligation due to settlement		177,000	394,000	194,000
Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Plan amendments		0	0
Plan assets, payment for settlement		2,000	0
Increase due to business combination		0	21,000
Settlement charges		0	0	0
Increase in liability due to special termination benefits		0	5,000	18,000
Decrease in defined benefit plan obligation due to settlement		2,000	0
San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member] \| Pension Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Plan amendments		3,000	8,000
Plan assets, payment for settlement		39,000	145,000
Settlement charges		0	4,000	0
Increase in liability due to special termination benefits		0	0
Decrease in defined benefit plan obligation due to settlement		39,000	145,000
San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member] \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Plan amendments		0	0
Plan assets, payment for settlement		0	0
Settlement charges		0	0	0
Increase in liability due to special termination benefits		0	3,000
Decrease in defined benefit plan obligation due to settlement		0	0
Southern California Gas Company [Member] \| Pension Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Plan amendments		2,000	0
Benefit obligation payment for settlement				30,000
Plan assets, payment for settlement		65,000	231,000
Increase in liability due to special termination benefits		0	0
Decrease in defined benefit plan obligation due to settlement		65,000	231,000	175,000
Southern California Gas Company [Member] \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Plan amendments		0	0
Plan assets, payment for settlement		0	0
Increase in liability due to special termination benefits		0	2,000	18,000
Decrease in defined benefit plan obligation due to settlement		0	0
Qualified Plan [Member] \| Pension Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Decrease in defined benefit plan obligation due to settlement			363,000
Qualified Plan [Member] \| San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member] \| Pension Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Benefit obligation payment for settlement			22,000
Decrease in defined benefit plan obligation due to settlement			132,000
Qualified Plan [Member] \| Southern California Gas Company [Member] \| Pension Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Benefit obligation payment for settlement			32,000
Decrease in defined benefit plan obligation due to settlement			231,000
Nonqualified Plan [Member] \| Pension Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Benefit obligation payment for settlement		24,000	12,000	$ 8,000
Nonqualified Plan [Member] \| San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member] \| Pension Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Benefit obligation payment for settlement			4,000
Sempra Texas Holdings Corp [Member] \| Sempra Texas Intermediate Holding Company LLC [Member] \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Increase due to business combination	$ 21,000
Sempra Texas Holdings Corp [Member] \| Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC [Member] \| Sempra Texas Intermediate Holding Company LLC [Member] \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Gain (loss) arising during the period		$ (27,000)	(27,000)
Voluntary Retirement Enhancement Program [Member] \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Settlement charges			$ 100,000