COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - CONTRACTUAL COMMITMENTS 4 (Details) - Pio Pico [Member] $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)
Capital Leases [Line Items]
CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent	$ 0
CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears	0
CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears	38
CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFourYears	65
CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFiveYears	65
CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueThereafter	1,460
CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDue	1,628	[1]
CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsExecutoryCosts	(392)
CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsInterestIncludedInPayments	(736)	[2]
CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsPresentValueOfNetMinimumPayments	$ 500

[1] This amount will be recorded over the life of the lease as Cost of Electric Fuel and Purchased Power on Sempra Energy’s and SDG&E’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. This expense will receive ratemaking treatment consistent with purchased-power costs, which are recovered in rates.

[2] Amount necessary to reduce net minimum lease payments to estimated present value at the inception of the lease.