Related-Party Transactions (Schedule Of Related Party Transactions, Payables) (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		144 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011
PSE And G [Member]
Payable to Power through BGS and BGSS Contracts	$ (96)	[1]	$ (247)	[1]	$ (247)	[1]
Payable to Power Related to Gas Supply Hedges for BGSS	(21)	[1]	(109)	[1]	(109)	[1]
Payable to Power for SREC Liability	(7)	[2]	(7)	[2]	(7)	[2]
Receivable from (Payable to) Services	(47)	[3]	(56)	[3]	(56)	[3]
Tax Receivable from (Payable to) PSEG	8	[4]			131	[4]
Receivable from PSEG	6		8		8
Receivable from Energy Holdings	2		0		0
Accounts Payable-Affiliated Companies, net	(155)		(280)		(280)
Working Capital Advances to Services	33	[5]	33	[5]	33	[5]
Long-Term Accrued Taxes Payable	(19)	[4]	(83)	[4]	(83)	[4]
Accrued Liability for Excess SREC costs	17		17
Power's Share Of PSE&G's Liability [Member]
Accrued Liability for Excess SREC costs	$ 7		$ 7

[1] PSE&G has entered into a requirements contract with Power under which Power provided the gas supply services needed to meet PSE&G’s BGSS and other contractual requirements. Power has also entered into contracts to supply energy, capacity and ancillary services to PSE&G through the BGS auction process.

[2] In 2008, the BPU issued a decision that certain BGS suppliers will be reimbursed for the cost they incurred above $300 per Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC) during the period June 1, 2008 through May 31, 2010. The BPU order further provided that the excess cost may be passed on to ratepayers. Following an appeal, on March 10, 2011, the New Jersey Supreme Court reversed and remanded the BPU’s 2008 order. The Court did not rule on the substantive issue of whether the pass-through of SREC costs was appropriate. The BPU subsequently held a legislative hearing process to comply with the Court’s ruling. On May 1, 2012, the BPU affirmed its earlier order and ruled that BGS suppliers could recover verified SREC expenditures above $300 per SREC. The BPU further directed the state’s Electric Distribution Companies (EDCs), including PSE&G, to file by July 1, 2012 a proposed rate recovery mechanism and a method for BGS suppliers to demonstrate that any incremental costs were reasonably and prudently incurred. Such a proposal was filed by the EDCs on June 26, 2012. On October 23, 2012, the EDCs filed a stipulation with the BPU seeking approval of a methodology for reviewing and approving incremental costs owed to BGS suppliers. PSE&G has estimated and accrued a total liability for the excess SREC cost of $17 million as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, including approximately $7 million for Power’s share which is included in PSE&G’s Accounts Payable—Affiliated Companies as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. Under current accounting guidance, Power was unable to record the related intercompany receivable on its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. As a result, PSE&G’s liability to Power is not eliminated in consolidation and is included in Other Current Liabilities on PSEG’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

[3] Services provides and bills administrative services to Power and PSE&G at cost. In addition, Power and PSE&G have other payables to Services, including amounts related to certain common costs, such as pension and OPEB costs, which Services pays on behalf of each of the operating companies.

[4] PSEG files a consolidated federal income tax return with its affiliated companies. A tax allocation agreement exists between PSEG and each of its affiliated companies. The general operation of these agreements is that the subsidiary company will compute its taxable income on a stand-alone basis. If the result is a net tax liability, such amount shall be paid to PSEG. If there are net operating losses and/or tax credits, the subsidiary shall receive payment for the tax savings from PSEG to the extent that PSEG is able to utilize those benefits.

[5] Power and PSE&G have advanced working capital to Services. The amounts are included in Other Noncurrent Assets on Power’s and PSE&G’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.