Document And Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Feb. 07, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Registrant Name	PG&E CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0001004980
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Trading Symbol	PCG
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Public Float			$ 31,807
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		507,782,249
Pacific Gas And Electric Company [Member]
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Registrant Name	PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000075488
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Trading Symbol	PCG
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		264,374,809