Consolidated Statements Of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Power [Member]	Power [Member] Contributed Capital [Member]	Power [Member] Basis Adjustment [Member]	Power [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Power [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	PSE&G [Member]	PSE&G [Member] Common Stock [Member]	PSE&G [Member] Contributed Capital [Member]	PSE&G [Member] Basis Adjustment [Member]	PSE&G [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	PSE&G [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Beginning Balance (in value) at Dec. 31, 2009	$ 8,798	$ 4,788	$ (588)	$ 4,704	$ (116)	$ 10	$ 4,467	$ 2,028	$ (986)	$ 3,486	$ (61)	$ 4,221	$ 892	$ 420	$ 986	$ 1,918	$ 5
Beginning Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2009		534	(28)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income	1,564			1,564			1,143			1,143		359				359
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), net of tax
Available-for-Sale Securities, net of tax	6						15					(5)
Change in Fair Value of Derivative Instruments, net of tax	60						60
Reclassification Adjustments for Net Amounts included in Net Income, net of tax	(129)						(129)
Pension/OPEB adjustment, net of tax	(23)						(21)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), net of tax	(40)				(40)	0	(34)				(34)	(5)					(5)
Comprehensive Income	1,524						1,109					354
Cash Dividends on Preferred Stock												(1)				(1)
Cash Dividends on Common Stock	(693)			(693)	0	0	(549)			(549)		(150)				(150)
Noncontrolling Interest in Losses of Consolidated Entity	(2)					(2)
Other	14	19	(5)	0	0	0
Ending Balance (in value) at Dec. 31, 2010	9,641	4,807	(593)	5,575	(156)	8	5,027	2,028	(986)	4,080	(95)	4,424	892	420	986	2,126	0
Ending Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2010		534	(28)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income	526						362					163
Ending Balance (in value) at Mar. 31, 2011
Beginning Balance (in value) at Dec. 31, 2010	9,641	4,807	(593)	5,575	(156)	8	5,027	2,028	(986)	4,080	(95)	4,424	892	420	986	2,126	0
Beginning Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2010		534	(28)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income	1,503			1,503			1,098			1,098		521				521
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), net of tax
Available-for-Sale Securities, net of tax	(39)						(42)					2
Change in Fair Value of Derivative Instruments, net of tax	47						47
Reclassification Adjustments for Net Amounts included in Net Income, net of tax	(127)						(127)
Pension/OPEB adjustment, net of tax	62						59
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), net of tax	(181)				(181)		(181)				(181)	2					2
Comprehensive Income	1,322						917					523
Cash Dividends on Common Stock	(693)			(693)			(500)			(500)		(300)				(300)
Noncontrolling Interest in Losses of Consolidated Entity	(6)					(6)
Other	8	16	(8)
Ending Balance (in value) at Dec. 31, 2011	10,272	4,823	(601)	6,385	(337)	2	5,444	2,028	(986)	4,678	(276)	4,647	892	420	986	2,347	2
Ending Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011		534	(28)
Beginning Balance (in value) at Sep. 30, 2011
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income	360						226					99
Ending Balance (in value) at Dec. 31, 2011	10,272						5,444	2,028	(986)			4,647	892	420	986
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income	493						253					197
Ending Balance (in value) at Mar. 31, 2012
Beginning Balance (in value) at Dec. 31, 2011	10,272	4,823	(601)	6,385	(337)	2	5,444	2,028	(986)	4,678	(276)	4,647	892	420	986	2,347	2
Beginning Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011		534	(28)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income	1,275			1,275			647			647		528				528
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), net of tax
Available-for-Sale Securities, net of tax	19						18					0
Change in Fair Value of Derivative Instruments, net of tax	17						17
Reclassification Adjustments for Net Amounts included in Net Income, net of tax	(41)						(41)
Pension/OPEB adjustment, net of tax	46						46
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), net of tax	(51)				(51)		(52)				(52)	0					0
Comprehensive Income	1,224						595					528
Cash Dividends on Common Stock	(718)			(718)			(600)			(600)		0				0
Noncontrolling Interest in Losses of Consolidated Entity	(1)					(1)
Other	4	10	(6)
Ending Balance (in value) at Dec. 31, 2012	10,781	4,833	(607)	6,942	(388)	1	5,439	2,028	(986)	4,725	(328)	5,175	892	420	986	2,875	2
Ending Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012		534	(28)
Beginning Balance (in value) at Sep. 30, 2012
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income	224						109					75
Ending Balance (in value) at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 10,781						$ 5,439	$ 2,028	$ (986)			$ 5,175	$ 892	$ 420	$ 986