OTHER FINANCIAL DATA - COMPREHENSIVE INCOME AND EQUITY 2 (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended				9 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income loss, Beginning Balance	$ (371)	[1]	$ (215)	[1]	$ (273)	[1]	$ (219)	[1]	$ (371)	[1]	$ (215)	[1]	$ (228)	[1]	$ (376)	[1]
Other Comprehensive Income Before Reclassifications	(102)	[1]	(1)	[1]					(169)	[1]	(120)	[1]
Amounts Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	4	[1]	5	[1]					26	[1]	281	[1]
Net Other Comprehensive Income	(98)	[1]	4	[1]					(143)	[1]	161	[1]
Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income loss, Ending Balance	(371)	[1]	(215)	[1]	(273)	[1]	(219)	[1]	(371)	[1]	(215)	[1]	(228)	[1]	(376)	[1]
San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income loss, Beginning Balance	(7)	[1]	(9)	[1]	(8)	[1]	(10)	[1]	(7)	[1]	(9)	[1]	(9)	[1]	(11)	[1]
Amounts Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	1	[1]	1	[1]					2	[1]	2	[1]
Net Other Comprehensive Income	1	[1]	1	[1]					2	[1]	2	[1]
Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income loss, Ending Balance	(7)	[1]	(9)	[1]	(8)	[1]	(10)	[1]	(7)	[1]	(9)	[1]	(9)	[1]	(11)	[1]
Southern California Gas Company [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income loss, Beginning Balance	(16)	[1]	(17)	[1]	(18)	[1]	(17)	[1]	(16)	[1]	(17)	[1]	(18)	[1]	(18)	[1]
Amounts Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	2	[1]							2	[1]	1	[1]
Net Other Comprehensive Income	2	[1]							2	[1]	1	[1]
Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income loss, Ending Balance	(16)	[1]	(17)	[1]	(18)	[1]	(17)	[1]	(16)	[1]	(17)	[1]	(18)	[1]	(18)	[1]
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income loss, Beginning Balance	(270)	[1]	(91)	[1]	(170)	[1]	(96)	[1]	(270)	[1]	(91)	[1]	(129)	[1]	(240)	[1]
Other Comprehensive Income Before Reclassifications	(100)	[1]	5	[1]					(141)	[1]	(121)	[1]
Amounts Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	0	[1]	0	[1]					0	[1]	270	[1],[2]
Net Other Comprehensive Income	(100)	[1]	5	[1]					(141)	[1]	149	[1]
Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income loss, Ending Balance	(270)	[1]	(91)	[1]	(170)	[1]	(96)	[1]	(270)	[1]	(91)	[1]	(129)	[1]	(240)	[1]
Unamortized Net Actuarial Loss [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income loss, Beginning Balance	(60)	[1]	(95)	[1]	(65)	[1]	(98)	[1]	(60)	[1]	(95)	[1]	(73)	[1]	(102)	[1]
Other Comprehensive Income Before Reclassifications	0	[1]	0	[1]					0	[1]	0	[1]
Amounts Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	5	[1]	3	[1]					13	[1]	7	[1]
Net Other Comprehensive Income	5	[1]	3	[1]					13	[1]	7	[1]
Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income loss, Ending Balance	(60)	[1]	(95)	[1]	(65)	[1]	(98)	[1]	(60)	[1]	(95)	[1]	(73)	[1]	(102)	[1]
Unamortized Net Actuarial Loss [Member] | San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income loss, Beginning Balance	(8)	[1]	(10)	[1]	(9)	[1]	(11)	[1]	(8)	[1]	(10)	[1]	(10)	[1]	(12)	[1]
Amounts Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	1	[1]	1	[1]					2	[1]	2	[1]
Net Other Comprehensive Income	1	[1]	1	[1]					2	[1]	2	[1]
Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income loss, Ending Balance	(8)	[1]	(10)	[1]	(9)	[1]	(11)	[1]	(8)	[1]	(10)	[1]	(10)	[1]	(12)	[1]
Unamortized Net Actuarial Loss [Member] | Southern California Gas Company [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income loss, Beginning Balance	(3)	[1]	(4)	[1]	(5)	[1]	(4)	[1]	(3)	[1]	(4)	[1]	(5)	[1]	(4)	[1]
Amounts Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	2	[1]							2	[1]	0	[1]
Net Other Comprehensive Income	2	[1]							2	[1]	0	[1]
Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income loss, Ending Balance	(3)	[1]	(4)	[1]	(5)	[1]	(4)	[1]	(3)	[1]	(4)	[1]	(5)	[1]	(4)	[1]
Unamortized Prior Service Credit [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income loss, Beginning Balance	0	[1]	1	[1]	0	[1]	1	[1]	0	[1]	1	[1]	0	[1]	1	[1]
Other Comprehensive Income Before Reclassifications	0	[1]	0	[1]					0	[1]	0	[1]
Amounts Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	0	[1]	0	[1]					0	[1]	0	[1]
Net Other Comprehensive Income	0	[1]	0	[1]					0	[1]	0	[1]
Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income loss, Ending Balance	0	[1]	1	[1]	0	[1]	1	[1]	0	[1]	1	[1]	0	[1]	1	[1]
Unamortized Prior Service Credit [Member] | San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income loss, Beginning Balance	1	[1]	1	[1]	1	[1]	1	[1]	1	[1]	1	[1]	1	[1]	1	[1]
Amounts Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	0	[1]	0	[1]					0	[1]	0	[1]
Net Other Comprehensive Income	0	[1]	0	[1]					0	[1]	0	[1]
Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income loss, Ending Balance	1	[1]	1	[1]	1	[1]	1	[1]	1	[1]	1	[1]	1	[1]	1	[1]
Unamortized Prior Service Credit [Member] | Southern California Gas Company [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income loss, Beginning Balance	1	[1]	1	[1]	1	[1]	1	[1]	1	[1]	1	[1]	1	[1]	1	[1]
Amounts Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	0	[1]							0	[1]	0	[1]
Net Other Comprehensive Income	0	[1]							0	[1]	0	[1]
Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income loss, Ending Balance	1	[1]	1	[1]	1	[1]	1	[1]	1	[1]	1	[1]	1	[1]	1	[1]
Financial Instrustments [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income loss, Beginning Balance	(41)	[1]	(30)	[1]	(38)	[1]	(26)	[1]	(41)	[1]	(30)	[1]	(26)	[1]	(35)	[1]
Other Comprehensive Income Before Reclassifications	(2)	[1]	(6)	[1]					(28)	[1]	1	[1]
Amounts Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	(1)	[1]	2	[1]					13	[1]	4	[1]
Net Other Comprehensive Income	(3)	[1]	(4)	[1]					(15)	[1]	5	[1]
Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income loss, Ending Balance	(41)	[1]	(30)	[1]	(38)	[1]	(26)	[1]	(41)	[1]	(30)	[1]	(26)	[1]	(35)	[1]
Financial Instrustments [Member] | Southern California Gas Company [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income loss, Beginning Balance	(14)	[1]	(14)	[1]	(14)	[1]	(14)	[1]	(14)	[1]	(14)	[1]	(14)	[1]	(15)	[1]
Amounts Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	0	[1]							0	[1]	1	[1]
Net Other Comprehensive Income	0	[1]							0	[1]	1	[1]
Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income loss, Ending Balance	$ (14)	[1]	$ (14)	[1]	$ (14)	[1]	$ (14)	[1]	$ (14)	[1]	$ (14)	[1]	$ (14)	[1]	$ (15)	[1]

[1] All amounts are net of income tax, if subject to tax, and exclude noncontrolling interests.

[2] Represents cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment related to the impairment of our Argentine investments in 2006, which is substantially offset by an accrued liability established at that time. We provide additional information about these investments in Note 4.