BUSINESSES HELD FOR SALE AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 25, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Assets of business to be disposed of	$ 6,791	$ 6,791		$ 6,791			$ 14,815
Liabilities business to be disposed of	990	990		990			4,158
Proceeds from sale of business to Suez				1,018	$ 53,250
Held-for-sale, not discontinued operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Assets of business to be disposed of	2,369	2,369		2,369			1,745
Liabilities business to be disposed of	561	561		561			656
Discontinued operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Assets of business to be disposed of	6,791	6,791		6,791			14,815
Liabilities business to be disposed of	990	990		990			$ 4,158
After-tax gain recognized		14	$ (389)	$ (86)	$ (1,261)
Discontinued operations | Lower limit
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Term of various services under the TSAs				12 months
Discontinued operations | Maximum
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Term of various services under the TSAs				24 months
Industrial Solutions | Power | Held-for-sale, not discontinued operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Assets of business to be disposed of						$ 2,220
Liabilities business to be disposed of						561
Consideration for business to be disposed of						$ 2,600
Water | Power | Not discontinued operations, disposed of by sale
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of business to Suez	3,041
After-tax gain recognized		$ 1,872
Water | Power | GE Capital | Not discontinued operations, disposed of by sale
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Sale of receivables from GE Capital to Suez	$ 122