OTHER FINANCIAL DATA - EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012		Mar. 31, 2011
Earnings Per Share Numerator [Abstract]
Earnings	$ 236		$ 254	[1]
Earnings Per Share Denominator [Abstract]
Weighted-average common shares outstanding for basic EPS	240,566,000		240,128,000	[1]
Dilutive effect of stock options, restricted stock awards and restricted stock units	3,195,000		1,775,000
Weighted-average common shares outstanding for diluted EPS	243,761,000		241,903,000	[1]
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Basic earnings per common share	$ 0.98		$ 1.06	[1]
Diluted earnings per common share	$ 0.97		$ 1.05	[1]
Seventy Fifth Percentile Or Above [Member]
Total Shareholder Return Ranking [Line Items]
Common Shares Received For Each Restricted Stock Unit	1.5	[2]
Fiftieth Percentile [Member]
Total Shareholder Return Ranking [Line Items]
Common Shares Received For Each Restricted Stock Unit	1	[2]
Thirty Fifth Percentile Or Below [Member]
Total Shareholder Return Ranking [Line Items]
Common Shares Received For Each Restricted Stock Unit	0	[2]
Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Schedule Of Performance Based Restricted Shares [Line Items]
Contractual vesting percentage minimum	0.00%
Contractual vesting percentage maximum	150.00%
Restricted Stock Awards [Member]
Schedule Of Performance Based Restricted Shares [Line Items]
Contractual vesting percentage minimum	0.00%
Contractual vesting percentage maximum	100.00%
Out Of The Money Stock Options [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	767,833		21,210,225
In The Money Stock Options
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share			10,800
Restricted Stock
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	3,191,073		3,959,911
Restricted Stock Units
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share			997,609
Restricted Stock Awards [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	15,932
San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member]
Earnings Per Share Numerator [Abstract]
Earnings	106		90
Southern California Gas Company [Member]
Earnings Per Share Numerator [Abstract]
Earnings	$ 66		$ 68

[1] As adjusted for the retrospective effect of a change in accounting principle as we discuss in Note 1.

[2] (2) Participants may also receive additional shares for dividend equivalents on shares subject to restricted stock units, which are reinvested to purchase additional shares that become subject to the same vesting conditions as the restricted stock units to which the dividends relate.