Financial Risk Management Activities (Schedule Of Derivative Instruments Designated As Cash Flow Hedges) (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
PSEG [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Recognized in AOCI on Derivatives (Effective Portion)	$ 28	[1]	$ 80	[1]	$ 102	[1]
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives (Ineffective Portion)	1	[1]	(2)	[1]	1	[1]
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Reclassified from AOCI into Energy Costs (Effective Portion)	70	[1]	214	[1]	219	[1]
Power [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Recognized in AOCI on Derivatives (Effective Portion)	28		80		102
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives (Ineffective Portion)	1		(2)		1
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Reclassified from AOCI into Energy Costs (Effective Portion)	70		215		220
Operating Revenues [Member] | PSEG [Member] | Energy-Related Contracts [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Recognized in AOCI on Derivatives (Effective Portion)	32	[1]	84	[1]	101	[1]
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives (Ineffective Portion)	1	[1]	(2)	[1]	1	[1]
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Reclassified from AOCI into Operating Revenues (Effective Portion)	79	[1]	213	[1]	222	[1]
Operating Revenues [Member] | Power [Member] | Energy-Related Contracts [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Recognized in AOCI on Derivatives (Effective Portion)	32		84		101
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives (Ineffective Portion)	1		(2)		1
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Reclassified from AOCI into Operating Revenues (Effective Portion)	79		213		222
Energy Costs [Member] | PSEG [Member] | Energy-Related Contracts [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Recognized in AOCI on Derivatives (Effective Portion)	(4)	[1]	(4)	[1]	1	[1]
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives (Ineffective Portion)	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Reclassified from AOCI into Energy Costs (Effective Portion)	(9)	[1]	2	[1]	(2)	[1]
Energy Costs [Member] | Power [Member] | Energy-Related Contracts [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Recognized in AOCI on Derivatives (Effective Portion)	(4)		(4)		1
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives (Ineffective Portion)	0		0		0
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Reclassified from AOCI into Energy Costs (Effective Portion)	(9)		2		(2)
Interest Expense [Member] | PSEG [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) attributed to Cash Flow Hedges Recognized in AOCI on Derivatives (Effective Portion)	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives (Ineffective Portion)	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Amount of gain (loss) attributed to cash flow hedges reclassified from AOCI into Earnings (effective portion)	$ 0	[1]	$ (1)	[1]	$ (1)	[1]

[1] Includes amounts for PSEG parent.