FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS 5 (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 1		$ 5
Level 1
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	1		5
Carrying Amount
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	16	[1]	21	[1]
Fair value of financial instruments, Total long-term debt	11,727	[2]	9,826	[2]
Preferred Stock Of Subsidiaries Fair Value Disclosure	99		99
Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount	17		16
Capital Lease Obligations	192		204
Commercial Paper Noncurrent			400
Carrying Amount | San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fair value of financial instruments, Total long-term debt	4,137	[3]	3,895	[3]
Contingently Redeemable Preferred Stock Fair Value Disclosure	79		79
Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount	12		11
Capital Lease Obligations	187		193
Carrying Amount | Southern California Gas Company [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fair value of financial instruments, Total long-term debt	1,662	[4]	1,313	[4]
Preferred Stock Fair Value Disclosure	22		22
Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount	4		3
Capital Lease Obligations	5		11
Fair Value
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	46	[1]	48	[1]
Fair value of financial instruments, Total long-term debt	13,311	[2]	11,047	[2]
Preferred Stock Of Subsidiaries Fair Value Disclosure	108		106
Fair Value | Level 2
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fair value of financial instruments, Total long-term debt	12,556	[2]	10,447	[2]
Preferred Stock Of Subsidiaries Fair Value Disclosure	108		106
Fair Value | Level 3
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	46	[1]	48	[1]
Fair value of financial instruments, Total long-term debt	755	[2]	600	[2]
Fair Value | San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fair value of financial instruments, Total long-term debt	4,655	[3]	4,288	[3]
Contingently Redeemable Preferred Stock Fair Value Disclosure	86		86
Fair Value | San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member] | Level 2
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fair value of financial instruments, Total long-term debt	4,308	[3]	3,933	[3]
Contingently Redeemable Preferred Stock Fair Value Disclosure	86		86
Fair Value | San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member] | Level 3
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fair value of financial instruments, Total long-term debt	347	[3]	355	[3]
Fair Value | Southern California Gas Company [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fair value of financial instruments, Total long-term debt	1,872	[4]	1,506	[4]
Preferred Stock Fair Value Disclosure	24		23
Fair Value | Southern California Gas Company [Member] | Level 2
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fair value of financial instruments, Total long-term debt	1,872	[4]	1,506	[4]
Preferred Stock Fair Value Disclosure	$ 24		$ 23

[1] We discuss our investments in affordable housing partnerships in Note 4 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Updated Annual Report.

[2] Before reductions for unamortized discount (net of premium) of $17 million at September 30, 2012 and $16 million at December 31, 2011, and excluding capital leases of $192 million at September 30, 2012 and $204 million at December 31, 2011, and commercial paper classified as long-term debt of $400 million at December 31, 2011. We discuss our long-term debt in Note 6 above and in Note 5 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Updated Annual Report.

[3] Before reductions for unamortized discount of $12 million at September 30, 2012 and $11 million at December 31, 2011, and excluding capital leases of $187 million at September 30, 2012 and $193 million at December 31, 2011.

[4] Before reductions for unamortized discount of $4 million at September 30, 2012 and $3 million at December 31, 2011, and excluding capital leases of $5 million at September 30, 2012 and $11 million at December 31, 2011.