Commitments And Contingencies (Legal And Regulatory Contingencies) (Details) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrued legal liabilities		$ 63,000		$ 55,000
Amount of capital included in property plant and equipment		664,000
Customer bill credit		400,000
CPUC Imposed Penalty Per Day Per Violation		50
Payment To State General Fund		100,000	[1]	200,000
Total Penalty Decision Fines And Remedies		907,000
Disallowed capital expenditures		407,000		116,000	$ 196,000
Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Disallowed capital expenditures		$ 407,000		$ 116,000	$ 196,000
Butte Fire [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number Of Deaths		2
Number Of Houses Destroyed		571
Number Of Structures Destroyed		965
Loss Contingency Range Of Possible Loss Maximum		$ 350,000
Loss Contingency Range Of Possible Loss Minimum		$ 450,000
Criminal Investigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Dismissed pipeline safety acts counts		15
Maximum [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Energy Efficiency Award For Two Thousand And Six Through Two Thousand And Eight Program Cycle		$ 180,000
Maximum [Member] | Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
S E D fines for self reported violations		16,800
Minimum [Member] | Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
S E D fines for self reported violations		50
Penalty Decision Future Charges and Costs [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Disallowed Revenue For Pipeline Safety Expenses	[2]	161,000
Total Penalty Decision Fines And Remedies		443,000
Disallowed capital expenditures	[3]	282,000
Penalty Decision Cumulative Charges [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Customer bill credit		400,000
Payment To State General Fund	[1]	300,000
Total Penalty Decision Fines And Remedies		1,107,000
Disallowed capital expenditures	[3]	407,000
Total Penalty Decision [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Customer bill credit		400,000
C P U C Remedial Measures	[4]	50,000
Disallowed Revenue For Pipeline Safety Expenses	[2]	161,000
Payment To State General Fund	[1]	300,000
Total Penalty Decision Fines And Remedies		1,600,000
Disallowed capital expenditures	[3]	689,000
Carmel Incident [Member] | Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
CPUC Imposed Penalty		$ 10,850
Original Indictment [Member] | Criminal Investigation [Member] | Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of Felony Counts		12
Superceeding Indictment [Member] | Criminal Investigation [Member] | Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of Felony Counts		15
Penalty for each count of alleged violation		$ 500
Total maximum penalties		6,500
Gross gain derived from alleged violation		281,000
Gross loss derived from alleged violation		$ 562,000
Alleged Obstruction of NTSB Investigation [Member] | Criminal Investigation [Member] | Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of Felony Counts		1

[1] In March 2015, the Utility increased its accrual from $200 million at December 31, 2014 to $300 million.

[2] These costs are being expensed as incurred. Future GT&S revenues will be reduced for these unrecovered expenses.

[3] The Penalty Decision prohibits the Utility from recovering certain expenses and capital spending associated with pipeline safety-related projects and programs that the CPUC will identify in the final decision to be issued in the Utility’s 2015 GT&S rate case. The Utility estimates that approximately $407 million of capital spending (which include less than $1 million for remedy related capital costs) in the year ended December 31, 2015 is probable of disallowance, subject to adjustment based on the final 2015 GT&S rate case decision.

[4] In the Penalty Decision, the CPUC estimated that the Utility would incur $50 million to comply with the remedies specified in the Penalty Decision and does not reflect the Utility’s remedy-related costs already incurred nor the Utility’s estimated future remedy-related costs. These costs are being expensed as incurred.