Financial Risk Management Activities (Schedule Of Derivative Instruments Designated As Cash Flow Hedges) (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
PSEG [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Recognized in AOCI on Derivatives (Effective Portion)	$ 0	$ 34
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives (Ineffective Portion)	0	(1)
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Reclassified from AOCI into Energy Costs (Effective Portion)	6	35
Power [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Recognized in AOCI on Derivatives (Effective Portion)	0	34
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives (Ineffective Portion)	0	(1)
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Reclassified from AOCI into Energy Costs (Effective Portion)	6	35
Operating Revenues [Member] \| PSEG [Member] \| Energy-Related Contracts [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Recognized in AOCI on Derivatives (Effective Portion)	0	38
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives (Ineffective Portion)	0	(1)
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Reclassified from AOCI into Operating Revenues (Effective Portion)	6	39
Operating Revenues [Member] \| Power [Member] \| Energy-Related Contracts [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Recognized in AOCI on Derivatives (Effective Portion)	0	38
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives (Ineffective Portion)	0	(1)
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Reclassified from AOCI into Operating Revenues (Effective Portion)	6	39
Energy Costs [Member] \| PSEG [Member] \| Energy-Related Contracts [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Recognized in AOCI on Derivatives (Effective Portion)	0	(4)
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives (Ineffective Portion)	0	0
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Reclassified from AOCI into Energy Costs (Effective Portion)	0	(4)
Energy Costs [Member] \| Power [Member] \| Energy-Related Contracts [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Recognized in AOCI on Derivatives (Effective Portion)	0	(4)
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives (Ineffective Portion)	0	0
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Reclassified from AOCI into Energy Costs (Effective Portion)	$ 0	$ (4)

The amount of net gains or losses on a cash flow hedge reclassified in the period to cost of sales from accumulated other comprehensive income.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4C

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

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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.

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- Definition

The amount of net gains or losses on a cash flow hedge reclassified in the period to earnings from accumulated other comprehensive income.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4C

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624171-113959

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7668309&loc=d3e80784-113994

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 45

-Subparagraph b(1)

-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.

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- Definition

The amount of net gains or losses on a cash flow hedge reclassified to revenues from accumulated other comprehensive income.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4C

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624171-113959

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7668309&loc=d3e80784-113994

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 45

-Subparagraph b(1)

-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.

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- Definition

The net gain (loss) recognized in earnings during the reporting period representing the amount of the cash flow hedges' ineffectiveness.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

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-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.

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- Definition

Amount of unrealized gain (loss) related to derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments, recorded in results of operations to the extent that the cash flow hedge is determined to be ineffective.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4C

-Subparagraph (d)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624171-113959

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 45

-Subparagraph b(1)

-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.

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