Commitments And Contingencies (Legal And Regulatory Contingencies) (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Unrecognized Tax Benefits		$ 70,000	$ 70,000
CPUC Disallowed Spending			850,000
Release of Escrow to California Power Exchange			(66,000)	$ (11,000)
CPUC Disallowed PSEP Spending Allocated To Capital In Phase 2 Proposed Decision			689,000
Charge for disallowed capital			$ 517,000	270,000
Butte Fire [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of plaintiffs		1,800	1,800
Loss Contingency Range Of Possible Loss Minimum		$ 350,000	$ 350,000
Number of complaints filed against utility		50	50
Fire Fighting Costs Recovery Requested By Cal Fire			$ 90,000
Expected recovery of costs through insurance		$ 260,000	$ 260,000
Number Of Acres Burned		70,868	70,868
Number Of Fatalities Caused By Fire		2	2
Number Of Homes Burned By Fire		549	549
Number Of Outbuildings Burned By Fire		368	368
Number Of Commerical Properties Burned By Fire		4	4
Number Of Households Represented In Court		800	800
Number Of Master Complaints		2	2
Natural Gas Distribution Facilities Record Keeping OII [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
CPUC Imposed Fine			$ 36,500
Penalty Assessed By CPUC In Presiding Officer Decision			24,300
New Penalty Assesed By CPUC In Modified Presiding Officer Decision			25,600
Fine Added To MOD POD			50
Fine Added To MOD POD Related To Missing Leak Repair Records For De Anza Division			1,300
Previously Paid Fine For Carmel Incident			10,850
SED Proposed Additional Fine			7,000
Potential Safety Citations [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
SED Maximum Statutory Penalty Per Violaiton			50
SED Administrative Limit Per Citation			$ 8,000
Number Of Noncompliant Atmospheric Corrosion Inspections		550,000	550,000
Percent Of Noncompliant Atmospheric Corrosion Inspections		35.00%	35.00%
Criminal investigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Statutory penalty for each count of alleged violation			$ 500
Total maximum statutory penalties			3,000
Gross Gain Derived From Alleged Violation			$ 281,000
Number Of Record-Keeping Counts Jury Acquitted Utility Of		6	6
Guilty Felony Counts Of Violations Of Integrity Management Regulations		5	5
Guilty Felony Count Of Obstructing Federal Agency Proceeding		1	1
Dismissed Alleged Count Of Violation		1	1
Criminal investigation [Member] | Alleged obstruction of NTSB's investigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of felony counts		1	1
Criminal investigation [Member] | Remaining Criminal Indictment Counts [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of felony counts		12	12
Minimum [Member] | Potential Safety Citations [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
SED fines for self-reported violations			$ 50
Maximum [Member] | Potential Safety Citations [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
SED fines for self-reported violations			16,800
Penalty Decision Cumulative Charges [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Charge for disallowed capital	[1]		692,000
Penalty Decision Future Charges and Costs [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Charge for disallowed capital	[1]		0
Settlements parties [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Disputed Claims Liability Balance		$ 233,000	233,000		$ 454,000
Other Receivables Disputed Claims		161,000	161,000		228,000
Elimination Of CAISO Receivable		165,000
Release of Escrow to California Power Exchange		$ 66,000
Ex Parte Communications [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
California Public Utilities Commission Imposed Penalty Per Day Per Violation			$ 50
Ex Parte Communication Count Already Included in OII		46	46
Additional Ex Parte Communication Count		113	113
Ex Parte Communications Considered in Briefing		21	21
Ex Parte Communications No Longer Included		2	2
Additional Communications Added In Status Report		8	8
Pipeline Saftey Enhancement Plan [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Capitalized PSEP costs		$ 1,300,000	$ 1,300,000
Cummulative unrecoverable PSEP capital costs			665,000
CPUC Authorized For Recovery PSEP Capital Costs			766,000
2015 GT&S phase one decision [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Charge for disallowed capital			134,000
2015 GT&S phase one decision [Member] | Estimate Of Capital Expenditures Exceeding Authorized Amounts [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Charge for disallowed capital			56,000
Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Release of Escrow to California Power Exchange			(66,000)	(11,000)
Charge for disallowed capital			517,000	$ 270,000
Utility [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrued legal liabilities		$ 84,000	$ 84,000		$ 63,000

[1] The Penalty Decision disallows the Utility from recovering $850 million in costs associated with pipeline safety-related projects and programs that the CPUC will finalize in a final phase two decision to be issued in the Utility’s 2015 GT&S rate case. The CPUC recommended in its May 5, 2016 phase one proposed decision in the Utility’s 2015 GT&S rate case that at least $692 million of the $850 million cost disallowance be allocated to capital expenditures. On November 1, 2016, the CPUC issued a phase two proposed decision in the 2015 GT&S rate case which allocates $689 million to capital expenditures.