DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS 2 (Details) (USD $)					3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended				3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014 Cash Flow Hedges		Dec. 31, 2013 Cash Flow Hedges		Sep. 30, 2014 Cash Flow Hedges Maximum [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 Cash Flow Hedges Maximum [Member]		Sep. 30, 2014 Cash Flow Hedges Minimum [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 Cash Flow Hedges Minimum [Member]		Sep. 30, 2014 Fair Value Hedges	Dec. 31, 2013 Fair Value Hedges	Mar. 31, 2014 Fair Value Hedges First Traunch [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Fair Value Hedges Second Traunch [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Fair Value Hedges Third Traunch [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Fair Value Hedges Maximum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Fair Value Hedges Maximum [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member] Cash Flow Hedges		Dec. 31, 2013 San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member] Cash Flow Hedges
Schedule Of Notional Amounts Of Interest Rate Derivatives [Line Items]
Derivative Notional Amount	$ 404,000,000	[1]	$ 413,000,000	[1]									$ 300,000,000	$ 300,000,000	$ 200,000,000	$ 200,000,000	$ 100,000,000			$ 327,000,000	[1]	$ 335,000,000	[1]
Maturities of interest rate derivatives					2028	[1]	2028	[1]	2014	[1]	2014	[1]			2018	2019	2022	2016	2016	2019	[1]	2019	[1]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate At Period End															3.80%	6.01%	2.37%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage															6.15%	9.80%	2.875%

[1] Includes Otay Mesa VIE. All of SDG&E’s amounts relate to Otay Mesa VIE.