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DEBT AND CREDIT FACILITIES (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified											3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011 Line Of Credit Facility, Sempra Energy Consolidated [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Line Of Credit Facility, Sempra Energy Consolidated [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Line Of Credit Facility, Sempra Energy [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Line Of Credit Facility, Sempra Global [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Line Of Credit Facility, Sempra Global [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Line Of Credit Facility, Sempra Utilities Combined [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Line Of Credit Facility, S D G E [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Line Of Credit Facility, So Cal Gas [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Fowler Ridge I I Wind Farm [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Other Long Term Debt, Fixed Rate Due 2014 Member Sempra Energy [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Other Long Term Debt, Fixed Rate Due 2014 Member Chilquinta Energia [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Other Long Term Debt, Floating Rate Due 2014 Member Sempra Energy [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Other Long Term Debt, Fixed Rate Due 2011 To 2015 Member Luz Del Sur [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Other Long Term Debt, Fixed Rate Due 2012 To 2016 Member Luz Del Sur [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Other Long Term Debt, Fixed Rate Due 2030 Member Chilquinta Energia [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Committed lines of credit, maximum borrowing capacity			$ 3,800		$ 1,000	$ 2,000		$ 800	$ 600	$ 600
Committed lines of credit, maximum ratio of indebtedness to total capitalization					65.00%	65.00%		65.00%
Committed lines of credit, remaining borrowing capacity			2,900						363	563
Committed lines of credit, capacity for issuance of letters of credit					400			200
Outstanding commercial paper supported by committed lines of credit						639
Other instruments supported by committed lines of credit					20				237
Weighted average interest rate on total short-term debt outstanding			0.56%	0.46%
Commercial paper noncurrent	200	800				200	800
Guarantees [Abstract]
Net trading liabilities of RBS Sempra Commodities supported by Sempra Energy's guarantees	66
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage in equity method investee											50.00%
Long-term debt outstanding											348
Proceeds from return of capital											180
Liability for guarantee obligation associated with cash flow requirements											9
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount												$ 500	$ 25	$ 300	$ 181	$ 40	$ 219
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage												2.00%	2.75%				4.25%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate At Period End														1.01%
Debt Instrument Interest Rate Stated Percentage Rate Range Minimum															0.0578	0.0545
Debt Instrument Interest Rate Stated Percentage Rate Range Maximum															0.0791	0.0675