Balance Sheet Components (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Balance Sheet Components [Abstract]

Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Text Block]

The activity in the allowance for uncollectible accounts is as follows (in millions):

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011
Balance as of beginning of period	$	6		$	5
Provision, net	6			6
Amounts written off, less recoveries	(6		)	(6		)
Balance as of end of period	$	6		$	5

Schedule of Public Utility Property, Plant, and Equipment [Table Text Block]

Electric utility plant, net consists of the following (in millions):

	September 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
Electric utility plant	$	6,726		$	6,596
Construction work in progress	168			120
Total cost	6,894			6,716
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	(2,543		)	(2,431		)
Electric utility plant, net	$	4,351		$	4,285

Accumulated depreciation and amortization in the table above includes accumulated amortization related to intangible assets of $169 million and $153 million as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. Amortization expense related to intangible assets was $5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, and $17 million and $14 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

In January 2012, PGE completed construction of a $10 million, 1.75 MW solar powered electric generating facility, which was sold to, and simultaneously leased-back from, a financial institution. The Company operates the facility and receives 100% of the power generated by the facility.

Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Text Block]

Regulatory assets and liabilities consist of the following (in millions):

	September 30, 2012					December 31, 2011
	Current			Noncurrent		Current			Noncurrent
Regulatory assets:
Price risk management	$	142		$	85	$	194		$	172
Pension and other postretirement plans	—			280		—			295
Deferred income taxes	—			78		—			87
Deferred broker settlements	9			1		11			—
Debt reacquisition costs	—			23		—			28
Other	3			23		11			12
Total regulatory assets	$	154		$	490	$	216		$	594
Regulatory liabilities:
Asset retirement removal costs	$	—		$	678	$	—		$	637
Asset retirement obligations	—			39		—			36
Power cost adjustment mechanism	—			6		—			10
Other	4			37		6			37
Total regulatory liabilities	$	4	(1)	$	760	$	6	(1)	$	720

(1) Included in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Other Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block]

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consist of the following (in millions):

	September 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
Accrued taxes payable	$	65	$	22
Accrued employee compensation and benefits	44		44
Accrued interest payable	35		24
Accrued dividends payable	21		21
Other	60		46
Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities	$	225	$	157

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]

Components of net periodic benefit cost are as follows for the three and nine months ended September 30 (in millions):

	Three Months Ended September 30,
	Defined Benefit Pension Plan						Other Postretirement Benefits				Non-Qualified Benefit Plans
	2012			2011			2012		2011		2012		2011
Service cost	$	3		$	3		$	—	$	1	$	—	$	—
Interest cost	8			7			1		1		—		1
Expected return on plan assets	(10		)	(10		)	—		—		—		—
Amortization of prior service cost	—			—			1		—		—		—
Amortization of net actuarial loss	4			2			—		—		—		—
Net periodic benefit cost	$	5		$	2		$	2	$	2	$	—	$	1

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	Defined Benefit Pension Plan						Other Postretirement Benefits				Non-Qualified Benefit Plans
	2012			2011			2012		2011		2012		2011
Service cost	$	9		$	9		$	1	$	2	$	—	$	—
Interest cost	24			21			3		3		1		2
Expected return on plan assets	(30		)	(30		)	—		—		—		—
Amortization of prior service cost	—			—			1		—		—		—
Amortization of net actuarial loss	12			6			—		—		—		—
Net periodic benefit cost	$	15		$	6		$	5	$	5	$	1	$	2