Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	$ 1,407	$ 888	$ 1,450
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning	2,755	2,612	2,433
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(112)	(107)	(100)
Deferred income taxes and tax credits, net	1,030	693	690
Charge for disallowed capital	507	407	116
Other	379	326	286
Butte-related third-party claims	690	0	0
Butte-related insurance receivable	575	0	0
Effect of changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(473)	(177)	13
Inventories	(24)	37	(22)
Accounts payable	180	(55)	(61)
Income taxes receivable/payable	(5)	43	376
Other current assets and liabilities	83	(288)	218
Regulatory assets, liabilities, and balancing accounts, net	(1,214)	(244)	(1,642)
Other noncurrent assets and liabilities	(219)	(355)	(67)
Net cash provided by operating activities	4,409	3,780	3,690
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(5,709)	(5,173)	(4,833)
Decrease in restricted cash	227	64	3
Proceeds from sales and maturities of nuclear decommissioning trust investments	1,295	1,268	1,336
Purchases of nuclear decommissioning trust investments	(1,352)	(1,392)	(1,334)
Other	13	22	114
Net cash used in investing activities	(5,526)	(5,211)	(4,714)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Borrowings (repayments) under revolving credit facilities	0	0	(260)
Net issuances (repayments) of commercial paper, net of discount of $6, $3, and $2 at respective dates	(9)	683	(583)
Short-term debt financing	500	0	300
Short-term debt matured	0	(300)	0
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of premium, discount, and issuance costs of (for PG&E Corporaiton $17, $27, and $17 and for the Utility $17, $27, and $17, at respective dates)	983	1,123	2,308
Repayments of long-term debt	(160)	0	(889)
Common stock issued	822	780	802
Common stock dividends paid	(921)	(856)	(828)
Other	(44)	(27)	29
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,171	1,403	879
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	54	(28)	(145)
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1	123	151	296
Cash and cash equivalents at December 31	177	123	151
Cash received (paid) for:
Interest, net of amounts capitalized	(726)	(684)	(633)
Income taxes, net	231	77	501
Supplemental disclosures of noncash investing and financing activities
Common stock dividends declared but not yet paid	248	224	217
Capital expenditures financed through accounts payable	403	440	339
Noncash common stock issuances	20	21	21
Terminated Capital Leases	18	0	71
Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	1,402	862	1,433
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning	2,754	2,611	2,432
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(112)	(107)	(100)
Deferred income taxes and tax credits, net	1,042	714	731
Charge for disallowed capital	507	407	116
Other	306	263	226
Effect of changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(475)	(177)	16
Inventories	(24)	37	(22)
Accounts payable	179	(2)	(55)
Income taxes receivable/payable	(29)	38	395
Other current assets and liabilities	112	(315)	168
Regulatory assets, liabilities, and balancing accounts, net	(1,214)	(244)	(1,642)
Other noncurrent assets and liabilities	(219)	(340)	(66)
Net cash provided by operating activities	4,344	3,747	3,632
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(5,709)	(5,173)	(4,833)
Decrease in restricted cash	227	64	3
Proceeds from sales and maturities of nuclear decommissioning trust investments	1,295	1,268	1,336
Purchases of nuclear decommissioning trust investments	(1,352)	(1,392)	(1,334)
Other	13	22	29
Net cash used in investing activities	(5,526)	(5,211)	(4,799)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net issuances (repayments) of commercial paper, net of discount of $6, $3, and $2 at respective dates	(9)	683	(583)
Short-term debt financing	500	0	300
Short-term debt matured	0	(300)	0
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of premium, discount, and issuance costs of (for PG&E Corporaiton $17, $27, and $17 and for the Utility $17, $27, and $17, at respective dates)	983	1,123	1,961
Repayments of long-term debt	(160)	0	(539)
Preferred stock dividends paid	(14)	(14)	(14)
Common stock dividends paid	(911)	(716)	(716)
Equity contribution from PG&E Corporation	835	705	705
Other	(30)	(13)	43
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,194	1,468	1,157
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	12	4	(10)
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1	59	55	65
Cash and cash equivalents at December 31	71	59	55
Cash received (paid) for:
Interest, net of amounts capitalized	(717)	(675)	(618)
Income taxes, net	244	77	500
Supplemental disclosures of noncash investing and financing activities
Capital expenditures financed through accounts payable	403	440	339
Terminated Capital Leases	$ 18	$ 0	$ 71