DERIVATIVE NOTIONALS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cash Flow Hedges
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability Notional Amount	[1]	$ 381	$ 384
Cash Flow Hedges | Cross Currency Interest Rate Contract [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability Notional Amount		$ 408	$ 408
Cash Flow Hedges | Minimum [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Maturities of interest rate derivatives		2016	2016
Cash Flow Hedges | Minimum [Member] | Cross Currency Interest Rate Contract [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Maturities of interest rate derivatives		2018	2018
Cash Flow Hedges | Maximum [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Maturities of interest rate derivatives		2028	2028
Cash Flow Hedges | Maximum [Member] | Cross Currency Interest Rate Contract [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Maturities of interest rate derivatives		2023	2023
Fair Value Hedges
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability Notional Amount		$ 300	$ 300
Fair Value Hedges | Maximum [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Maturities of interest rate derivatives		2016	2016
Undesignated Derivatives | Foreign Exchange Instrument
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability Notional Amount		$ 550	$ 0
Undesignated Derivatives | Maximum [Member] | Foreign Exchange Instrument
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Maturities of interest rate derivatives		2016	0
San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member] | Cash Flow Hedges
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability Notional Amount	[1]	$ 312	$ 315
San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member] | Cash Flow Hedges | Minimum [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Maturities of interest rate derivatives		2016	2016
San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member] | Cash Flow Hedges | Maximum [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Maturities of interest rate derivatives		2019	2019

[1] Amounts include Otay Mesa VIE. All of SDG&E’s interest rate derivative activity relates to Otay Mesa VIE.