Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	$ 475	$ 568
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning	1,190	1,082
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(53)	(41)
Deferred income taxes and tax credits, net	234	397
Other	137	138
Effect of changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	13	(82)
Inventories	5	1
Accounts payable	(125)	162
Income taxes receivable/payable	153	66
Other current assets and liabilities	74	(202)
Regulatory assets, liabilities, and balancing accounts, net	(115)	(324)
Other noncurrent assets and liabilities	186	140
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,174	1,905
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(2,219)	(1,897)
(Increase) Decrease in restricted cash	(1)	198
Proceeds from sales and maturities of nuclear decommissioning trust investments	666	1,007
Purchases of nuclear decommissioning trust investments	(716)	(969)
Other	64	(44)
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,206)	(1,705)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Borrowings under revolving credit facilities		150
Repayments under revolving credit facilities		(75)
Net (payments) issuances of commercial paper, net of discount of $2 in 2012 and in 2011	(566)	265
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of discount and issuance costs of $6 in 2012 and $2 in 2011	394	298
Long-term debt matured	(50)	(500)
Energy recovery bonds matured	(200)	(191)
Common stock issued	561	257
Common stock dividends paid	(368)	(349)
Other	40	4
Net cash used in financing activities	(189)	(141)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(221)	59
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1	513	291
Cash and cash equivalents at June 30	292	350
Cash received (paid) for:
Interest, net of amounts capitalized	(319)	(330)
Income taxes, net	114	8
Supplemental disclosures of noncash investing and financing activities
Common stock dividends declared but not yet paid $	194	183
Capital expenditures financed through accounts payable	256	229
Noncash common stock issuances	12	12
Terminated capital leases	136
Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	458	560
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning	1,190	1,082
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(53)	(41)
Deferred income taxes and tax credits, net	242	408
Other	108	115
Effect of changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(50)	(1)
Inventories	5	1
Accounts payable	(107)	140
Income taxes receivable/payable	216	66
Other current assets and liabilities	78	(186)
Regulatory assets, liabilities, and balancing accounts, net	(115)	(324)
Other noncurrent assets and liabilities	202	114
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,174	1,934
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(2,219)	(1,897)
(Increase) Decrease in restricted cash	(1)	198
Proceeds from sales and maturities of nuclear decommissioning trust investments	666	1,007
Purchases of nuclear decommissioning trust investments	(716)	(969)
Other	11	11
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,259)	(1,650)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net (payments) issuances of commercial paper, net of discount of $2 in 2012 and in 2011	(566)	265
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of discount and issuance costs of $6 in 2012 and $2 in 2011	394	298
Long-term debt matured	(50)	(500)
Energy recovery bonds matured	(200)	(191)
Preferred stock dividends paid	(7)	(7)
Common stock dividends paid	(358)	(358)
Equity contribution	565	255
Other	48	13
Net cash used in financing activities	(174)	(225)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(259)	59
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1	304	51
Cash and cash equivalents at June 30	45	110
Cash received (paid) for:
Interest, net of amounts capitalized	(309)	(319)
Income taxes, net	111	6
Supplemental disclosures of noncash investing and financing activities
Capital expenditures financed through accounts payable	256	229
Terminated capital leases	$ 136