CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Net income	$ 330,000,000	$ 458,000,000
Before-Tax Amount [Member]
Net income	461,000,000	600,000,000
Comprehensive income, net of income tax
Foreign currency translation adjustments	68,000,000	(62,000,000)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net of Tax	2,000,000	2,000,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges, Net of Tax	(159,000,000)	(89,000,000)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total	(89,000,000)	(149,000,000)
Total Comprehensive Income	372,000,000	451,000,000
Income Tax (Expense) Benefit [Member]
Net income	(142,000,000)	(163,000,000)
Comprehensive income, net of income tax
Foreign currency translation adjustments	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net of Tax	(1,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges, Net of Tax	75,000,000	34,000,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total	74,000,000	33,000,000
Total Comprehensive Income	(68,000,000)	(130,000,000)
Net-of-Tax Amount [Member]
Net income	319,000,000	437,000,000
Comprehensive income, net of income tax
Foreign currency translation adjustments	68,000,000	(62,000,000)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net of Tax	1,000,000	1,000,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges, Net of Tax	(84,000,000)	(55,000,000)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total	(15,000,000)	(116,000,000)
Total Comprehensive Income	304,000,000	321,000,000
Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Net income	11,000,000	21,000,000
Comprehensive income, net of income tax
Foreign currency translation adjustments	5,000,000	(8,000,000)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net of Tax	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges, Net of Tax	(5,000,000)	(5,000,000)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total	0	(13,000,000)
Total Comprehensive Income	11,000,000	8,000,000
Total Equity [Member]
Net income	330,000,000	458,000,000
Comprehensive income, net of income tax
Foreign currency translation adjustments	73,000,000	(70,000,000)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net of Tax	1,000,000	1,000,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges, Net of Tax	(89,000,000)	(60,000,000)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total	(15,000,000)	(129,000,000)
Total Comprehensive Income	315,000,000	329,000,000
San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member]
Net income	130,000,000	151,000,000
San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member] | Before-Tax Amount [Member]
Net income	201,000,000	235,000,000
Comprehensive income, net of income tax
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges, Net of Tax	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total	0	0
Total Comprehensive Income	201,000,000	235,000,000
San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member] | Income Tax (Expense) Benefit [Member]
Net income	(72,000,000)	(88,000,000)
Comprehensive income, net of income tax
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges, Net of Tax	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total	0	0
Total Comprehensive Income	(72,000,000)	(88,000,000)
San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member] | Net-of-Tax Amount [Member]
Net income	129,000,000	147,000,000
Comprehensive income, net of income tax
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges, Net of Tax	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total	0	0
Total Comprehensive Income	129,000,000	147,000,000
San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member] | Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Net income	1,000,000	4,000,000
Comprehensive income, net of income tax
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges, Net of Tax	(2,000,000)	(2,000,000)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total	(2,000,000)	(2,000,000)
Total Comprehensive Income	(1,000,000)	2,000,000
San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member] | Total Equity [Member]
Net income	130,000,000	151,000,000
Comprehensive income, net of income tax
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges, Net of Tax	(2,000,000)	(2,000,000)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total	(2,000,000)	(2,000,000)
Total Comprehensive Income	128,000,000	149,000,000
Southern California Gas Company [Member]
Net income	195,000,000	214,000,000
Southern California Gas Company [Member] | Before-Tax Amount [Member]
Net income	282,000,000	309,000,000
Comprehensive income, net of income tax
Total Comprehensive Income	282,000,000	309,000,000
Southern California Gas Company [Member] | Income Tax (Expense) Benefit [Member]
Net income	(87,000,000)	(95,000,000)
Comprehensive income, net of income tax
Total Comprehensive Income	(87,000,000)	(95,000,000)
Southern California Gas Company [Member] | Net-of-Tax Amount [Member]
Net income	195,000,000	214,000,000
Comprehensive income, net of income tax
Total Comprehensive Income	$ 195,000,000	$ 214,000,000