Commitments And Contingencies (Nuclear Fuel Agreements) (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012 Year	Jun. 30, 2011
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
2012	$ 1,337
2013	2,987
2014	3,142
2015	3,105
2016	2,998
Thereafter	32,911
Total	46,480
Nuclear Fuel Agreements [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
2012	46
2013	86
2014	127
2015	193
2016	147
Thereafter	1,011
Total	1,610
Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Length of contract terms, minimum (in years)	1
Length of contract terms, maximum (in years)	14
Percentage coverage of reactor requirements through 2016	100.00%
Percentage coverage of reactor requirements through 2017	100.00%
Payments for nuclear fuel	$ 40	$ 47

Specifies the maximum contractual time period covered by the arrangement.

No definition available.

Name:	pcg_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentTimePeriodMaximum
Namespace Prefix:	pcg_
Data Type:	xbrli:positiveIntegerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Specifies the minimum contractual time period covered by the arrangement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pcg_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentTimePeriodMinimum
Namespace Prefix:	pcg_
Data Type:	xbrli:positiveIntegerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage coverage of reactor requirements through 2016

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pcg_PercentageCoverageOfReactorRequirementsThrough2016
Namespace Prefix:	pcg_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage coverage of reactor requirements through 2017

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pcg_PercentageCoverageOfReactorRequirementsThrough2017
Namespace Prefix:	pcg_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

- Definition

Cash outflow associated with the purchase of any material that is commonly used in the generation of nuclear energy.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsForNuclearFuel
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of the recorded obligation to transfer funds in the future for fixed or minimum amounts or quantities of goods or services at fixed or minimum prices (for example, as in take-or-pay contracts or throughput contracts).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 440

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 6

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394976&loc=d3e25383-109308

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 47

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 47

-Paragraph 6

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of the recorded unconditional purchase obligation maturing after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of the recorded unconditional purchase obligation maturing in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of the recorded unconditional purchase obligation maturing in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of the recorded unconditional purchase obligation maturing in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of the recorded unconditional purchase obligation maturing in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of the recorded unconditional purchase obligation maturing in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

+ References

+ Details

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