BUSINESSES HELD FOR SALE AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Nov. 13, 2017	Sep. 25, 2017
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Assets planned to be disposed of						$ 20,000
Assets		$ 5,912	$ 5,912	$ 14,815
Liabilities		706	706	4,158
Consideration received, net of obligations assumed and cash transferred			1,464	59,890	$ 79,615
Held for Sale, Not Discontinued Operation
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Assets		4,243	4,243	1,745		1,676
Liabilities		1,339	$ 1,339	$ 656		$ 791
Pre-tax gain (loss) on disposal		(1,425)
After-tax gain (loss) recognized		(1,337)
Power | Held for Sale, Not Discontinued Operation | Industrial Solutions
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Assets							$ 2,201
Liabilities							548
Consideration received							$ 2,600
Power | Disposed of by Sale | Water Business
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Pre-tax gain (loss) on disposal		1,943
After-tax gain (loss) recognized		$ 1,920
Consideration received, net of obligations assumed and cash transferred	$ 3,062
Power | Disposed of by Sale | Water Business | GE Capital
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Sale of receivables originated in Water business	$ 122