OTHER FINANCIAL DATA - COMPREHENSIVE INCOME AND EQUITY (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011
Comprehensive Income And Equity Disclosure [Line Items]
Equity, beginning of period					$ 10,178	[1],[2]	$ 9,201
Comprehensive income, net of income tax
Net income	290		319	[1]	615		1,073	[1]
Foreign currency translation adjustments	88		(139)	[1]	125		(110)	[1]
Reclassification to net income of foreign currency translation adjustments related to equity method investments							(54)	[1],[3]
Financial instruments	(7)		(39)	[1]	(22)		(52)	[1]
Net actuarial gain	(10)		1	[1]	(5)		8	[1]
Purchase of noncontrolling interest in subsidiary							(43)
Share-based compensation expense					33		36
Common stock dividends declared					(435)		(346)
Preferred dividends of subsidiaries	(2)		(1)	[1]	(5)		(6)	[1]
Issuance of common stock					50		22
Tax benefit related to share-based compensation							6
Repurchases of common stock					(16)		(18)
Acquisition of South American entities							279
Redemption of preferred stock of subidiary							(80)
Common stock released from ESOP					9		15
Equity contributed by noncontrolling interests					5		6
Distributions to noncontrolling interests					(36)		(9)
Equity, end of period	10,496		9,928		10,496		9,928
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Financial instruments, income tax expense (benefit)	(1)		(11)		(5)		(11)
Foreign currency translation adjustments			(1)				(1)
Net actuarial gain, income tax expense (benefit)	(7)		1		(4)		5
Ownership Interests Held By Others [Line Items]
Amount of ownership interests held by others	394				394				383
Ownership Interests Held By Others, Bay Gas Storage Company [Member]
Ownership Interests Held By Others [Line Items]
Percent of ownership held by others	9.00%	[4]			9.00%	[4]
Amount of ownership interests held by others	19	[4]			19	[4]			17	[4]
Ownership Interests Held By Others, Southern Gas Transmission [Member]
Ownership Interests Held By Others [Line Items]
Percent of ownership held by others	49.00%	[4]			49.00%	[4]
Amount of ownership interests held by others	1	[4]			1	[4]			1	[4]
Ownership Interests Held By Others, Liberty Gas Storage [Member]
Ownership Interests Held By Others [Line Items]
Percent of ownership held by others	25.00%	[4]			25.00%	[4]
Amount of ownership interests held by others	13	[4]			13	[4]			9	[4]
Ownership Interests Held By Others, Tecsur [Member]
Ownership Interests Held By Others [Line Items]
Percent of ownership held by others	10.00%				10.00%
Amount of ownership interests held by others	4				4				4
Ownership Interests Held By Others, Luz Del Sur [Member]
Ownership Interests Held By Others [Line Items]
Percent of ownership held by others	20.00%				20.00%
Amount of ownership interests held by others	230				230				216
Ownership Interests Held By Others, Chilquinta Energia [Member]
Ownership Interests Held By Others [Line Items]
Percent of ownership held by others, minimum	15.00%				15.00%
Percent of ownership held by others, maximum	43.00%				43.00%
Amount of ownership interests held by others	37				37				34
Ownership Interests Held By Others, Otay Mesa VIE [Member]
Ownership Interests Held By Others [Line Items]
Percent of ownership held by others	100.00%				100.00%
Amount of ownership interests held by others	90				90				102
San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member]
Comprehensive Income And Equity Disclosure [Line Items]
Equity, beginning of period					3,841	[2]	3,221
Comprehensive income, net of income tax
Net income	188		136		401		283
Financial instruments	(4)		(25)		(13)		(34)
Net actuarial gain			1				1
Preferred dividend requirements	(2)		(2)		(4)		(4)
Capital contribution			200				200
Equity contributed by noncontrolling interests							6
Distributions to noncontrolling interests					(22)
Equity, end of period	4,203		3,673		4,203		3,673
Southern California Gas Company [Member]
Comprehensive Income And Equity Disclosure [Line Items]
Equity, beginning of period					2,193
Comprehensive income, net of income tax
Net income	71		81		191		209
Financial instruments			1		1		2
Preferred dividend requirements	0		0		(1)		(1)
Equity, end of period	2,234				2,234
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Financial instruments, income tax expense (benefit)	1				1		1
Total Shareholders' Equity
Comprehensive Income And Equity Disclosure [Line Items]
Equity, beginning of period					9,775		8,990
Comprehensive income, net of income tax
Net income	270		290	[1]	571		1,052	[1]
Foreign currency translation adjustments	80		(132)	[1]	114		(109)	[1]
Reclassification to net income of foreign currency translation adjustments related to equity method investments							(54)	[1],[3]
Financial instruments	(3)		(14)	[1]	(9)		(18)	[1]
Net actuarial gain	(10)		1	[1]	(5)		8	[1]
Purchase of noncontrolling interest in subsidiary							(4)
Share-based compensation expense					33		36
Common stock dividends declared					(435)		(346)
Preferred dividends of subsidiaries	(2)		(1)	[1]	(5)		(6)	[1]
Issuance of common stock					50		22
Tax benefit related to share-based compensation							6
Repurchases of common stock					(16)		(18)
Common stock released from ESOP					9		15
Equity, end of period	10,082		9,574		10,082		9,574
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Financial instruments, income tax expense (benefit)	(1)	[5]	(11)	[5]	(5)	[5]	(11)	[5]
Foreign currency translation adjustments			(1)	[5]			(1)	[5]
Net actuarial gain, income tax expense (benefit)	(7)	[5]	1	[5]	(4)	[5]	5	[5]
Total Shareholders' Equity | San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member]
Comprehensive Income And Equity Disclosure [Line Items]
Equity, beginning of period					3,739		3,108
Comprehensive income, net of income tax
Net income	176		115		378		277
Net actuarial gain			1				1
Preferred dividend requirements					(4)		(4)
Capital contribution			200				200
Equity, end of period	4,113		3,582		4,113		3,582
Total Shareholders' Equity | Southern California Gas Company [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Financial instruments, income tax expense (benefit)	1	[5]			1	[5]	1	[5]
Noncontrolling Interests
Comprehensive Income And Equity Disclosure [Line Items]
Equity, beginning of period					403		211
Comprehensive income, net of income tax
Net income	20		29	[1]	44		21	[1]
Foreign currency translation adjustments	8		(7)	[1]	11		(1)	[1]
Financial instruments	(4)		(25)	[1]	(13)		(34)	[1]
Purchase of noncontrolling interest in subsidiary							(39)
Acquisition of South American entities							279
Redemption of preferred stock of subidiary							(80)
Equity contributed by noncontrolling interests					5		6
Distributions to noncontrolling interests					(36)		(9)
Equity, end of period	414		354		414		354
Noncontrolling Interests | San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member]
Comprehensive Income And Equity Disclosure [Line Items]
Equity, beginning of period					102		113
Comprehensive income, net of income tax
Net income	12		21		23		6
Financial instruments	(4)		(25)		(13)		(34)
Equity contributed by noncontrolling interests							6
Distributions to noncontrolling interests					(22)
Equity, end of period	$ 90		$ 91		$ 90		$ 91

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

[2] Derived from audited financial statements.

[3] Related to the acquisition of Chilquinta Energía and Luz del Sur.

[4] Part of Sempra Natural Gas.

[5] Shareholders’ equity of Sempra Energy Consolidated or SoCalGas as indicated in left margin.