Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period			$ 11,691	$ 11,191
Net income (loss)	566	(70)	768	227
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(2)	5	0	5
Common stock dividends declared			(231)	(220)
Dividends, distributions to noncontrolling interests and other			(57)	(51)
Stock-based compensation and other			(51)	(37)
Noncash stock-based compensation and other			14	6
Issuance of preference stock			269	387
Redemption of preference stock				(400)
Balance, at the end of the period	12,403	11,108	12,403	11,108
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.3550	$ 0.3375	$ 0.7100	$ 0.6750
Common Stock Including Additional Paid in Capital
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period			2,403	2,373
Net income (loss)			0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)				0
Common stock dividends declared			0	0
Dividends, distributions to noncontrolling interests and other			0	0
Stock-based compensation and other			17	3
Noncash stock-based compensation and other			14	12
Issuance of preference stock			0	0
Redemption of preference stock				0
Balance, at the end of the period	2,434	2,388	2,434	2,388
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period			(13)	(87)
Net income (loss)			0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)				5
Common stock dividends declared			0	0
Dividends, distributions to noncontrolling interests and other			0	0
Stock-based compensation and other			0	0
Noncash stock-based compensation and other			0	0
Issuance of preference stock			0	0
Redemption of preference stock				0
Balance, at the end of the period	(13)	(82)	(13)	(82)
Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period			7,548	7,146
Net income (loss)			712	176
Other comprehensive income (loss)				0
Common stock dividends declared			(231)	(220)
Dividends, distributions to noncontrolling interests and other			0	0
Stock-based compensation and other			(68)	(40)
Noncash stock-based compensation and other			(1)	(5)
Issuance of preference stock			0	0
Redemption of preference stock				(8)
Balance, at the end of the period	7,960	7,049	7,960	7,049
Subtotal
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period			9,938	9,432
Net income (loss)			712	176
Other comprehensive income (loss)				5
Common stock dividends declared			(231)	(220)
Dividends, distributions to noncontrolling interests and other			0	0
Stock-based compensation and other			(51)	(37)
Noncash stock-based compensation and other			13	7
Issuance of preference stock			0	0
Redemption of preference stock				(8)
Balance, at the end of the period	10,381	9,355	10,381	9,355
Preferred Stock and Preference Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period			1,753	1,759
Net income (loss)			56	51
Other comprehensive income (loss)				0
Common stock dividends declared			0	0
Dividends, distributions to noncontrolling interests and other			(57)	(51)
Stock-based compensation and other			0	0
Noncash stock-based compensation and other			1	(1)
Issuance of preference stock			269	387
Redemption of preference stock				(392)
Balance, at the end of the period	2,022	1,753	2,022	1,753
Southern California Edison
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period			12,138	11,743
Net income (loss)	392	(67)	626	216
Other comprehensive income (loss)	2	2	3	(1)
Common stock dividends declared			(252)	(240)
Dividends on preferred and preference stock			(57)	(51)
Stock-based compensation and other			(30)	(34)
Noncash stock-based compensation and other			3	12
Issuance of preference stock			269	387
Redemption of preference stock				(400)
Balance, at the end of the period	12,700	11,632	12,700	11,632
Southern California Edison | Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period			2,168	2,168
Net income (loss)			0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)			0	0
Common stock dividends declared			0	0
Dividends on preferred and preference stock			0	0
Stock-based compensation and other			0	0
Noncash stock-based compensation and other			0	0
Issuance of preference stock			0	0
Redemption of preference stock				0
Balance, at the end of the period	2,168	2,168	2,168	2,168
Southern California Edison | Additional Paid-in Capital
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period			592	581
Net income (loss)			0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)			0	0
Common stock dividends declared			0	0
Dividends on preferred and preference stock			0	0
Stock-based compensation and other			12	1
Noncash stock-based compensation and other			5	7
Issuance of preference stock			(6)	(13)
Redemption of preference stock				8
Balance, at the end of the period	603	584	603	584
Southern California Edison | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period			(11)	(29)
Net income (loss)			0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)			3	(1)
Common stock dividends declared			0	0
Dividends on preferred and preference stock			0	0
Stock-based compensation and other			0	0
Noncash stock-based compensation and other			0	0
Issuance of preference stock			0	0
Redemption of preference stock				0
Balance, at the end of the period	(8)	(30)	(8)	(30)
Southern California Edison | Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period			7,594	7,228
Net income (loss)			626	216
Other comprehensive income (loss)			0	0
Common stock dividends declared			(252)	(240)
Dividends on preferred and preference stock			(57)	(51)
Stock-based compensation and other			(42)	(35)
Noncash stock-based compensation and other			(2)	5
Issuance of preference stock			0	0
Redemption of preference stock				(8)
Balance, at the end of the period	7,867	7,115	7,867	7,115
Southern California Edison | Preferred Stock and Preference Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period			1,795	1,795
Net income (loss)			0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)			0	0
Common stock dividends declared			0	0
Dividends on preferred and preference stock			0	0
Stock-based compensation and other			0	0
Noncash stock-based compensation and other			0	0
Issuance of preference stock			275	400
Redemption of preference stock				(400)
Balance, at the end of the period	$ 2,070	$ 1,795	$ 2,070	$ 1,795