Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Revenue Recognition, Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Unbilled contract revenues	$ 79	$ 58
Unbilled contracts receivable, revenue recognized	36
Unbilled contracts receivable, decrease from billings	15
Contracts with customer, unearned revenue	49	$ 87
Contracts with customer, revenue recognized	70
Contracts with customer, revenue recognized, amount outstanding end of last period	48
Contract with customer, decrease from billings	$ 32

Contract With Customer Liability, Revenue Recognized, Previously Outstanding

No definition available.

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- Definition

Contract with Customer, Liability, Decrease From Billings

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Unbilled Contracts Receivable, Decrease From Billings

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Unbilled Contracts Receivable, Revenue Recognized

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ed_
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- References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of obligation to transfer good or service to customer for which consideration has been received or is receivable.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913815&loc=SL49130532-203044

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913847&loc=SL49130549-203045

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913815&loc=SL49130531-203044

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- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized that was previously included in balance of obligation to transfer good or service to customer for which consideration from customer has been received or is due.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913847&loc=SL49130549-203045

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 270
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173487&loc=SL51747714-108306

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- Definition

Unbilled amounts due for services rendered or to be rendered, actions taken or to be taken, or a promise to refrain from taking certain actions in accordance with the terms of a legally binding agreement between the entity and, at a minimum, one other party. An example would be amounts associated with contracts or programs where the recognized revenue for performance thereunder exceeds the amounts billed under the terms thereof as of the date of the balance sheet.

+ 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 210.5-02.3(c)(3))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 912
-SubTopic 310
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68054760&loc=d3e55302-109406

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