Financial Risk Management Activities (Schedule Of Derivative Instruments Designated As Cash Flow Hedges) (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011
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)	$ (8)	[1]	$ (17)	[1]	$ 26	[1]	$ (2)	[1]
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives (Ineffective Portion)	1	[1]	3	[1]	0	[1]	1	[1]
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Reclassified from AOCI into Energy Costs (Effective Portion)	7	[1]	24	[1]	42	[1]	93	[1]
PSEG And 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)	(8)		(17)		26		(2)
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives (Ineffective Portion)	1		3		0		1
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Reclassified from AOCI into Energy Costs (Effective Portion)	8		25		43		94
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)	(8)	[1]	(16)	[1]	30	[1]	(3)	[1]
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives (Ineffective Portion)	1	[1]	3	[1]	0	[1]	1	[1]
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Reclassified from AOCI into Operating Revenues (Effective Portion)	13	[1]	26	[1]	52	[1]	92	[1]
Operating Revenues [Member] | PSEG And 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)	(8)		(16)		30		(3)
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives (Ineffective Portion)	1		3		0		1
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Reclassified from AOCI into Operating Revenues (Effective Portion)	13		26		52		92
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	[1]	(1)	[1]	(4)	[1]	1	[1]
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives (Ineffective Portion)	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Reclassified from AOCI into Energy Costs (Effective Portion)	(5)	[1]	(1)	[1]	(9)	[1]	2	[1]
Energy Costs [Member] | PSEG And 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		(1)		(4)		1
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives (Ineffective Portion)	0		0		0		0
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Reclassified from AOCI into Energy Costs (Effective Portion)	(5)		(1)		(9)		2
Interest Expense [Member] | PSEG [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [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	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives (Ineffective Portion)	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Amount of gain (loss) attributed to cash flow hedges reclassified from AOCI into Earnings (effective portion)	(1)	[1]	(1)	[1]
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Reclassified from AOCI into Energy Costs (Effective Portion)					$ (1)	[1]	$ (1)	[1]

[1] Includes amounts for PSEG parent.