Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	$ 242	$ 236
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning	503	584
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(26)	(27)
Deferred income taxes and tax credits, net	166	146
Other	57	73
Effect of changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	209	221
Inventories	55	50
Accounts payable	(56)	(213)
Income taxes receivable/payable	49	29
Other current assets and liabilities	(242)	(70)
Regulatory assets, liabilities, and balancing accounts, net	(133)	(171)
Other noncurrent assets and liabilities	45	73
Net cash provided by operating activities	869	931
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(1,249)	(1,094)
Decrease (Increase) in restricted cash	26	(5)
Proceeds from sales and maturities of nuclear decommissioning trust investments	363	351
Purchases of nuclear decommissioning trust investments	(364)	(370)
Other	17	25
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,207)	(1,093)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net repayments of commercial paper, net of discount of $1 in 2012	(2)	(245)
Energy recovery bonds matured	0	(102)
Common stock issued	426	387
Common stock dividends paid	(191)	(182)
Other	(18)	48
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	215	(94)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(123)	(256)
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1	401	513
Cash and cash equivalents at March 31	278	257
Cash received (paid) for:
Interest, net of amounts capitalized	(197)	(204)
Income taxes, net	36	0
Supplemental disclosures of noncash investing and financing activities
Common stock dividends declared but not yet paid	201	193
Capital expenditures financed through accounts payable	257	276
Noncash common stock issuances	6	6
Terminated capital leases	0	136
Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	237	231
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning	503	584
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(26)	(27)
Deferred income taxes and tax credits, net	163	153
Other	37	57
Effect of changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	203	218
Inventories	55	50
Accounts payable	2	(182)
Income taxes receivable/payable	51	30
Other current assets and liabilities	(230)	(69)
Regulatory assets, liabilities, and balancing accounts, net	(133)	(171)
Other noncurrent assets and liabilities	45	75
Net cash provided by operating activities	907	949
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(1,249)	(1,094)
Decrease (Increase) in restricted cash	26	(5)
Proceeds from sales and maturities of nuclear decommissioning trust investments	363	351
Purchases of nuclear decommissioning trust investments	(364)	(370)
Other	5	3
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,219)	(1,115)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net repayments of commercial paper, net of discount of $1 in 2012	(2)	(245)
Energy recovery bonds matured	0	(102)
Preferred stock dividends paid	(3)	(3)
Common stock dividends paid	(179)	(179)
Equity contribution	370	385
Other	(15)	51
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	171	(93)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(141)	(259)
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1	194	304
Cash and cash equivalents at March 31	53	45
Cash received (paid) for:
Interest, net of amounts capitalized	(197)	(204)
Income taxes, net	36	0
Supplemental disclosures of noncash investing and financing activities
Capital expenditures financed through accounts payable	257	276
Terminated capital leases	$ 0	$ 136