SHAREOWNERS’ EQUITY - Shares of GE Preferred Stock (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended
	Jan. 20, 2016	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Apr. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock issued		$ 6,000,000	$ 6,000,000		$ 6,000,000
GE
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock issued		5,461,000,000
Preferred stock dividends		$ 37,000,000	$ 34,000,000
GE | Subsequent Event
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock issued				$ 5,944,000,000
GE | Series D Preferred Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock issued	$ 5,694,000,000
Fixed interest rate	5.00%
Floating rate	3.33%
GE | Series A, B and C Preferred Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate	4.07%
Preferred stock, value outstanding	$ 250,000,000