Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Net income	$ 364	$ 203	$ 839	$ 771
Other Comprehensive Income
Unrecognized prior service credit (net of income tax of $5 and $7 in the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $15 and $18 in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively)	7	9	19	28
Unrecognized net gain (net of income tax of $12 and $6 in the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $38 and $17 in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively)	18	8	58	23
Unrecognized net transition obligation (net of income tax of $2 and $3 in the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $6 and $7 in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively)	4	4	12	12
Transfer to regulatory account (net of income tax of $14 and $8 in the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $44 and $26 in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively)	(21)	(13)	(63)	(37)
Total other comprehensive income	8	8	26	26
Comprehensive Income	372	211	865	797
Preferred stock dividend requirement of subsidiary	3	3	10	10
Comprehensive Income Attributable to Common Shareholders	369	208	855	787
Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]
Net income	340	196	798	756
Other Comprehensive Income
Unrecognized prior service credit (net of income tax of $5 and $7 in the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $15 and $18 in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively)	7	9	19	28
Unrecognized net gain (net of income tax of $12 and $6 in the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $38 and $17 in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively)	18	8	58	23
Unrecognized net transition obligation (net of income tax of $2 and $3 in the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $6 and $7 in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively)	4	4	12	12
Transfer to regulatory account (net of income tax of $14 and $8 in the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $44 and $26 in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively)	(21)	(13)	(63)	(37)
Total other comprehensive income	8	8	26	26
Comprehensive Income	$ 348	$ 204	$ 824	$ 782