Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Numerator (in millions)
Net income sttributable to Portland General Electric Company common shareholders	$ 49	$ 49
Denominator (in thousands)
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding-Basic	75,608	75,423
Dilutive effect of unvested restricted stock units and employee stock purchase plan shares	91	20
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding-Diluted	75,699	75,443
Earnings per share - basic and diluted	$ 0.65	$ 0.65

The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

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

-Publisher SEC

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Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

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Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Net Income

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6518256

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

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Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-Publisher FASB

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Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 51

-Paragraph A7

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Reference 15: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

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Reference 16: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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+ Details

- Definition

The sum of dilutive potential common shares or units used in the calculation of the diluted per-share or per-unit computation.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

The average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS or earnings per unit (EPU), determined based on the timing of issuance of shares or units in the period.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

Number of [basic] shares or units, after adjustment for contingently issuable shares or units and other shares or units not deemed outstanding, determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares or units have been outstanding to the total time in that period.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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

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Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

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-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 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

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-Glossary Weighted-Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6528421

+ Details