OTHER FINANCIAL DATA - INVENTORY (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Total Inventory [Line Items]
Energy Related Inventory, Natural Gas in Storage	$ 261	$ 246
Energy Related Inventory, Liquefied Natural Gas	11	14
Energy Related Inventory, Materials And Supplies	144	136
Inventory, Total	416	396	[1]
S D G E Segment [Member]
Total Inventory [Line Items]
Energy Related Inventory, Natural Gas in Storage	4	8
Energy Related Inventory, Liquefied Natural Gas	0	0
Energy Related Inventory, Materials And Supplies	67	65
Inventory, Total	71	73
So Cal Gas Segment [Member]
Total Inventory [Line Items]
Energy Related Inventory, Natural Gas in Storage	162	155
Energy Related Inventory, Liquefied Natural Gas	0	0
Energy Related Inventory, Materials And Supplies	30	26
Inventory, Total	192	181
Sempra South American Utilities Segment [Member]
Total Inventory [Line Items]
Energy Related Inventory, Natural Gas in Storage	0	0
Energy Related Inventory, Liquefied Natural Gas	0	0
Energy Related Inventory, Materials And Supplies	34	33
Inventory, Total	34	33
Sempra Mexico Segment [Member]
Total Inventory [Line Items]
Energy Related Inventory, Natural Gas in Storage	0	0
Energy Related Inventory, Liquefied Natural Gas	7	9
Energy Related Inventory, Materials And Supplies	10	9
Inventory, Total	17	18
Sempra Natural Gas Segment [Member]
Total Inventory [Line Items]
Energy Related Inventory, Natural Gas in Storage	95	83
Energy Related Inventory, Liquefied Natural Gas	4	5
Energy Related Inventory, Materials And Supplies	1	1
Inventory, Total	100	89
Sempra Renewables Segment [Member]
Total Inventory [Line Items]
Energy Related Inventory, Natural Gas in Storage	0	0
Energy Related Inventory, Liquefied Natural Gas	0	0
Energy Related Inventory, Materials And Supplies	2	2
Inventory, Total	$ 2	$ 2

[1] Derived from audited financial statements.