ACQUISITIONS, DIVESTITURES AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS - DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($) company
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Income from discontinued operations, net of income tax	$ 0	$ 80
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	(8)
Earnings from discontinued operations attributable to Sempra Energy	$ 0	72
Discontinued Operations, Held-for-sale [Member] | Sempra South American Utilities [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Revenues		400
Cost of sales		(253)
Operating expenses		(46)
Income before income taxes		101
Income tax expense		(21)
Income from discontinued operations, net of income tax		80
Earnings from discontinued operations attributable to Sempra Energy		$ 72
Chilquinta Energia [Member] | Discontinued Operations, Held-for-sale [Member] | Sempra South American Utilities [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Ownership interest (as a percent)		100.00%
Luz Del Sur [Member] | Discontinued Operations, Held-for-sale [Member] | Sempra South American Utilities [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Ownership interest (as a percent)		83.60%
Number of energy services companies | company		2