Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - Fair Values of Commodity Derivatives Including Offsetting of Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Fair value of derivative assets
Net Amounts of Assets/ (Liabilities)	$ 363	$ 345
Fair value of derivative liabilities
Net Amounts of Assets/ (Liabilities)	(117)	(183)
Net fair value derivative assets/(liabilities)
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets/ (Liabilities)	(99)	(207)
Gross Amounts Offset	6	46
Net Amounts of Assets/ (Liabilities)	(93)	(161)
Margin deposits	7	26
Interest Rate Swap
Fair value of derivative liabilities
Net Amounts of Assets/ (Liabilities)	(1)	0
CECONY
Fair value of derivative assets
Net Amounts of Assets/ (Liabilities)	326	311
Net fair value derivative assets/(liabilities)
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets/ (Liabilities)	(95)	(125)
Gross Amounts Offset	9	48
Net Amounts of Assets/ (Liabilities)	(86)	(77)
Margin deposits	7	26
Fair Value of Derivative Liabilities, Current
Fair value of derivative liabilities
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets/ (Liabilities)	(138)	(144)
Gross Amounts Offset	61	78
Net Amounts of Assets/ (Liabilities)	(77)	(66)
Fair Value of Derivative Liabilities, Current \| CECONY
Fair value of derivative liabilities
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets/ (Liabilities)	(111)	(121)
Gross Amounts Offset	45	71
Net Amounts of Assets/ (Liabilities)	(66)	(50)
Fair Value of Derivative Liabilities, Liabilities Held For Sale, Current
Fair value of derivative liabilities
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets/ (Liabilities)	0	(115)
Gross Amounts Offset	0	50
Net Amounts of Assets/ (Liabilities)	0	(65)
Fair Value of Derivative Liabilities, Non-current
Fair value of derivative liabilities
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets/ (Liabilities)	(91)	(102)
Gross Amounts Offset	52	63
Net Amounts of Assets/ (Liabilities)	(39)	(39)
Fair Value of Derivative Liabilities, Non-current \| CECONY
Fair value of derivative liabilities
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets/ (Liabilities)	(77)	(92)
Gross Amounts Offset	44	56
Net Amounts of Assets/ (Liabilities)	(33)	(36)
Fair Value of Derivative Liabilities, Liabilities Held For Sale, Noncurrent
Fair value of derivative liabilities
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets/ (Liabilities)	0	(28)
Gross Amounts Offset	0	15
Net Amounts of Assets/ (Liabilities)	0	(13)
Fair Value of Derivative Liabilities
Fair value of derivative liabilities
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets/ (Liabilities)	(229)	(389)
Gross Amounts Offset	113	206
Net Amounts of Assets/ (Liabilities)	(116)	(183)
Fair Value of Derivative Liabilities \| CECONY
Fair value of derivative liabilities
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets/ (Liabilities)	(188)	(213)
Gross Amounts Offset	89	127
Net Amounts of Assets/ (Liabilities)	(99)	(86)
Fair Value of Derivative Assets, Current
Fair value of derivative assets
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets/ (Liabilities)	81	59
Gross Amounts Offset	(64)	(41)
Net Amounts of Assets/ (Liabilities)	17	18
Fair Value of Derivative Assets, Current \| CECONY
Fair value of derivative assets
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets/ (Liabilities)	52	40
Gross Amounts Offset	(45)	(32)
Net Amounts of Assets/ (Liabilities)	7	8
Fair Value of Derivative Assets, Assets Held for Sale, Current
Fair value of derivative assets
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets/ (Liabilities)	0	51
Gross Amounts Offset	0	(50)
Net Amounts of Assets/ (Liabilities)	0	1
Fair Value of Derivative Assets, Non-current
Fair value of derivative assets
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets/ (Liabilities)	49	57
Gross Amounts Offset	(43)	(54)
Net Amounts of Assets/ (Liabilities)	6	3
Fair Value of Derivative Assets, Non-current \| CECONY
Fair value of derivative assets
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets/ (Liabilities)	41	48
Gross Amounts Offset	(35)	(47)
Net Amounts of Assets/ (Liabilities)	6	1
Fair Value of Derivative Assets, Assets Held for Sale, Noncurrent
Fair value of derivative assets
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets/ (Liabilities)	0	15
Gross Amounts Offset	0	(15)
Net Amounts of Assets/ (Liabilities)	0	0
Fair Value of Derivative Assets
Fair value of derivative assets
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets/ (Liabilities)	130	182
Gross Amounts Offset	(107)	(160)
Net Amounts of Assets/ (Liabilities)	23	22
Fair Value of Derivative Assets \| CECONY
Fair value of derivative assets
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets/ (Liabilities)	93	88
Gross Amounts Offset	(80)	(79)
Net Amounts of Assets/ (Liabilities)	$ 13	$ 9

Derivative Asset (Liability), Gross Amount Offset in Balance Sheet

No definition available.

Name:	ed_DerivativeAssetLiabilityGrossAmountOffsetInBalanceSheet
Namespace Prefix:	ed_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets Liabilities

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ed_GrossAmountsOfRecognizedAssetsLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	ed_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Offsetting Derivative Assets and Liabilities [Abstract]

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ed_OffsettingDerivativeAssetsandLiabilitiesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	ed_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value of liability associated with financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51825145&loc=SL20226003-175313

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51824906&loc=SL20225862-175312

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4B
-Subparagraph (a),(c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64837297&loc=SL5624163-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeAssetFairValueGrossLiability
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value, after the effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes assets not subject to a master netting arrangement and not elected to be offset.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51824906&loc=SL20225862-175312

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41271-113958

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73719730&loc=d3e13433-108611

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41228-113958

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73719730&loc=d3e13495-108611

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 10
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51825145&loc=SL20226008-175313

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value, before effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes assets elected not to be offset. Excludes assets not subject to a master netting arrangement.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value, before effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes liabilities elected not to be offset. Excludes liabilities not subject to a master netting arrangement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4D
-Subparagraph (c)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64830801&loc=SL51823488-111719

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51824906&loc=SL20225862-175312

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4B
-Subparagraph (a),(c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64837297&loc=SL5624163-113959

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51825145&loc=SL20226000-175313

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value of the assets less the liabilities of a derivative or group of derivatives.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41271-113958

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41228-113958

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73719730&loc=d3e13433-108611

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73719730&loc=d3e13495-108611

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value, after the effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes liabilities not subject to a master netting arrangement and not elected to be offset.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 10
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51825145&loc=SL20226008-175313

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73719730&loc=d3e13495-108611

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51824906&loc=SL20225862-175312

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73719730&loc=d3e13433-108611

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41271-113958

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41228-113958

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value of asset associated with financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilityFairValueGrossAsset
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of cash or securities placed with a broker or counterparty as security for a trading or derivatives securities position which was partially obtained with funds provided by the broker dealer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.8,17)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MarginDepositAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OffsettingDerivativeAssetsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OffsettingDerivativeLiabilitiesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=ed_CeconyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByLiabilityClassAxis=ed_DerivativeFinancialInstrumentsCurrentLiabilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByLiabilityClassAxis=ed_FairValueofDerivativeLiabilitiesLiabilitiesHeldForSaleCurrentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByLiabilityClassAxis=ed_DerivativeFinancialInstrumentsNonCurrentLiabilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByLiabilityClassAxis=ed_FairValueofDerivativeLiabilitiesLiabilitiesHeldForSaleNoncurrentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByLiabilityClassAxis=us-gaap_DerivativeFinancialInstrumentsLiabilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis=ed_DerivativeFinancialInstrumentsCurrentAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis=ed_FairValueofDerivativeAssetsAssetsHeldforSaleCurrentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis=ed_DerivativeFinancialInstrumentsNonCurrentAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis=ed_FairValueofDerivativeAssetsAssetsHeldforSaleNoncurrentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis=us-gaap_DerivativeFinancialInstrumentsAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: