DEBT AND CREDIT FACILITIES (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Line Of Credit Facility, Sempra Energy Consolidated [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Committed lines of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	$ 4,100
Committed lines of credit, remaining borrowing capacity	3,500
Weighted average interest rate on total short-term debt outstanding	0.82%	0.93%
Line Of Credit Facility, Sempra Energy [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Committed lines of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	1,067
Committed lines of credit, maximum ratio of indebtedness to total capitalization	65.00%
Committed lines of credit, capacity for issuance of letters of credit	700
Other instruments supported by committed lines of credit	47
Line Of Credit Facility, Sempra Global [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Committed lines of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	2,189
Committed lines of credit, maximum ratio of indebtedness to total capitalization	65.00%
Outstanding commercial paper supported by committed lines of credit	545
Commercial paper noncurrent		400
Line Of Credit Facility, S D G E [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Committed lines of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	658
Committed lines of credit, maximum ratio of indebtedness to total capitalization	65.00%
Committed lines of credit, remaining borrowing capacity	656
Outstanding commercial paper supported by committed lines of credit	2
Weighted average interest rate on total short-term debt outstanding	0.20%
Line Of Credit Facility, So Cal Gas [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Committed lines of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	658
Committed lines of credit, maximum ratio of indebtedness to total capitalization	65.00%
Committed lines of credit, remaining borrowing capacity	658
Line Of Credit Facility, California Utilities Combined [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Committed lines of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	877
Committed lines of credit, capacity for issuance of letters of credit	$ 200