Environmental Matters - Environmental Remediation Costs (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Environmental Exit Cost [Line Items]
Remediation costs incurred	$ 8	$ 6	$ 20	$ 21
CECONY
Environmental Exit Cost [Line Items]
Remediation costs incurred	$ 5	$ 6	$ 10	$ 18

The charge against earnings in the period for known or estimated future costs arising from requirements to perform environmental remediation activities.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6393242&loc=d3e13296-110859

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585

Name:	us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration