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Pension, Other Postretirement Benefits (OPEB) And Savings Plans (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Number of PSEG's defined contribution plans 2    
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets 8.50%    
Defined benefit plan funded status of plan percentage 84.00%    
Rabbi trust assets used to fund nonqualified pension plans $ 172,000,000    
Defined benefit plans, projected benefit and accumulated benefit obligations 4,300,000,000 3,900,000,000  
Temporary investment funds in the pension and OPEB fund 23,000,000    
Defined benefit plan, target allocation percentage of assets in equity securities 70.00%    
Defined benefit plan, target allocation percentage of assets in fixed income securities 30.00%    
Defined benefit plan narrative description of basis used to determine overall expected long term rate of return on assets assumption The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets was 8.50% as of December 31, 2011 and will change to 8.00% for 2012. This expected return was determined based on the study discussed above and considered the plans' historical annualized rate of return since inception, which was an annualized return of 9.2%.    
PSEG contribution to pension plans for calendar year 2012 124,000,000    
PSEG contribution to postretirement healthcare plan for calendar year 2012 11,000,000    
Description of defined contribution pension and other postretirement plans

PSEG sponsors two 401(k) plans, which are Employee Retirement Income Security Act defined contribution retirement plans. Eligible represented employees of Power, PSE&G and Services participate in the PSEG Employee Savings Plan (Savings Plan), while eligible non-represented employees of Power, PSE&G, Energy Holdings and Services participate in the PSEG Thrift and Tax-Deferred Savings Plan (Thrift Plan). Eligible employees may contribute up to 50% of their compensation to these plans. PSEG matches certain employee contributions up to 7% for Savings Plan participants and up to 8% for Thrift Plan participants equal to 50% of such employee contributions.

   
Description of nature and effect of significant changes during period affecting comparability of defined contribution plans

Effective in February 2010, company matching contributions were suspended for non-represented employees of Power, PSE&G, Energy Holdings and Services who participate in the Thrift Plan and are eligible for retirement benefits under the qualified final average pay pension plan.  Company matching contributions were reduced for certain represented employees of Power, PSE&G and Services who participate in the Savings Plan and qualify for benefits under the qualified final average pay pension plan from 50% to 25% on the first 7% of pay contributions beginning in February 2010. Effective January 1, 2011, the company matching contributions were reinstated to 50% on the first 7% of pay contributions for certain represented employees. Effective January 1, 2012, the company matching was reinstated for non-represented employees.

   
Pension Benefits [Member]
      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Weighted average discount rate 5.00% 5.51% 5.91%
Annual net periodic benefit cost 32,000,000    
Interest in Master Trust assets percentage 95.00%    
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Annual net periodic benefit cost $ 6,000,000    
Interest in Master Trust assets percentage 5.00%    
Minimum [Member] | Pension Benefits [Member]
      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Change in weighted average discount rate as per amended provision 5.31%    
Minimum [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Change in weighted average discount rate as per amended provision 5.30%    
Maximum [Member] | Pension Benefits [Member]
      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Weighted average discount rate 5.51%    
Maximum [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Weighted average discount rate 5.50%