Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 296	$ 513
Restricted cash ($88 and $51 related to energy recovery bonds at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively)	418	380
Accounts receivable
Customers (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $85 and $81 at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively)	1,185	992
Accrued unbilled revenue	779	763
Regulatory balancing accounts	908	1,082
Other	665	839
Regulatory assets ($0 and $336 related to energy recovery bonds at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively)	567	1,090
Inventories
Gas stored underground and fuel oil	158	159
Materials and supplies	296	261
Income taxes receivable	19	183
Other	302	218
Total current assets	5,593	6,480
Property, Plant, and Equipment
Electric	37,635	35,851
Gas	12,280	11,931
Construction work in progress	2,095	1,770
Other	1	15
Total property, plant, and equipment	52,011	49,567
Accumulated depreciation	(16,361)	(15,912)
Net property, plant, and equipment	35,650	33,655
Other Noncurrent Assets
Regulatory assets	6,527	6,506
Nuclear decommissioning trusts	2,155	2,041
Income taxes receivable	333	386
Other	610	682
Total other noncurrent assets	9,625	9,615
TOTAL ASSETS	50,868	49,750
Current Liabilities
Short-term borrowings	397	1,647
Long-term debt, classified as current	0	50
Energy recovery bonds, classified as current	110	423
Accounts payable
Trade creditors	1,054	1,177
Disputed claims and customer refunds	164	673
Regulatory balancing accounts	459	374
Other	423	420
Interest payable	821	843
Income taxes payable	15	110
Deferred income taxes	0	196
Other	1,993	1,836
Total current liabilities	5,436	7,749
Noncurrent Liabilities
Long-term debt	12,915	11,766
Regulatory liabilities	5,107	4,733
Pension and other postretirement benefits	3,570	3,396
Asset retirement obligations	1,661	1,609
Deferred income taxes	6,724	6,008
Other	2,070	2,136
Total noncurrent liabilities	32,047	29,648
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 10)
Shareholders' Equity
Preferred stock
Common stock	8,362	7,602
Reinvested earnings	4,957	4,712
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(186)	(213)
Total shareholders' equity	13,133	12,101
Noncontrolling Interest - Preferred Stock of Subsidiary	252	252
Total equity	13,385	12,353
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	50,868	49,750
Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	86	304
Restricted cash ($88 and $51 related to energy recovery bonds at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively)	418	380
Accounts receivable
Customers (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $85 and $81 at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively)	1,185	992
Accrued unbilled revenue	779	763
Regulatory balancing accounts	908	1,082
Other	667	840
Regulatory assets ($0 and $336 related to energy recovery bonds at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively)	567	1,090
Inventories
Gas stored underground and fuel oil	158	159
Materials and supplies	296	261
Income taxes receivable	0	242
Other	295	213
Total current assets	5,359	6,326
Property, Plant, and Equipment
Electric	37,635	35,851
Gas	12,280	11,931
Construction work in progress	2,095	1,770
Total property, plant, and equipment	52,010	49,552
Accumulated depreciation	(16,360)	(15,898)
Net property, plant, and equipment	35,650	33,654
Other Noncurrent Assets
Regulatory assets	6,527	6,506
Nuclear decommissioning trusts	2,155	2,041
Income taxes receivable	331	384
Other	324	331
Total other noncurrent assets	9,337	9,262
TOTAL ASSETS	50,346	49,242
Current Liabilities
Short-term borrowings	397	1,647
Long-term debt, classified as current	0	50
Energy recovery bonds, classified as current	110	423
Accounts payable
Trade creditors	1,054	1,177
Disputed claims and customer refunds	164	673
Regulatory balancing accounts	459	374
Other	444	417
Interest payable	811	838
Income taxes payable	29	118
Deferred income taxes	0	199
Other	1,777	1,628
Total current liabilities	5,245	7,544
Noncurrent Liabilities
Long-term debt	12,566	11,417
Regulatory liabilities	5,107	4,733
Pension and other postretirement benefits	3,496	3,325
Asset retirement obligations	1,661	1,609
Deferred income taxes	6,888	6,160
Other	2,006	2,070
Total noncurrent liabilities	31,724	29,314
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 10)
Shareholders' Equity
Preferred stock	258	258
Common stock	1,322	1,322
Additional paid-in capital	4,511	3,796
Reinvested earnings	7,461	7,210
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(175)	(202)
Total shareholders' equity	13,377	12,384
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$ 50,346	$ 49,242