BANKRUPTCY FILING (Narrative) (Details)				12 Months Ended
	Oct. 11, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 23, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 22, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) structure	Feb. 14, 2020 USD ($)	Feb. 13, 2020 USD ($)	Jan. 22, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 06, 2019 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
TCC RSA settlement				$ 13,500,000,000					$ 13,500,000,000
Compensation of insurance subrogation claimants				11,000,000,000.0
Payment for settlement of claims				1,000,000,000.0
Professional fees				99,000,000
Equity raise		$ 9,000,000,000.0
Insurance from wildfire events				2,200,000,000
Debt commitment letters, required equity funding, preferred equity				2,000,000,000.0
Equity offering		$ 12,000,000,000.0
Backstop commitment letters, tax benefits				$ 1,350,000,000
Reorganization, weighted average earning base rate				0.95
Reorganization, weighted average earning				$ 48,000,000,000
Aggregate liability for prepetition wildfire related claims, cannot exceed amount				$ 25,500,000,000
Number of days for effective date for confirmation order				60 days
Maximum number of structures that can be destroyed during current fiscal year | structure				500
Asserted administrative expense claims, maximum				$ 250,000,000
Maximum number of structures that can be destroyed in wildfire in 2019 | structure				500
Backstop commitment letters, cash proceeds				$ 3,000,000,000.0
Backstop commitment letters, premium				6.364%
Legal Advisor
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Professional fees and expenses				$ 17,000,000
Financial Advisor
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Professional fees and expenses				19,000,000
PG&E Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum amount able to be drawn				12,000,000,000.0
Legal fees				6,000,000
Payments for reorganization items				15,000,000
Pacific Gas & Electric Co
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
TCC claims settlement, amount			$ 11,000,000,000.0
Subrogation claims, professional fees			$ 55,000,000	47,500,000
Payments for reorganization items				223,000,000
Subsequent Event
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Subrogation claims, professional fees							$ 99,000,000
Subsequent Event | PG&E Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amendment, debt and equity amount					$ 5,000,000,000.0	$ 7,000,000,000.0
Amendment, other funding, increase amount					2,000,000,000.0
Subsequent Event | Pacific Gas & Electric Co
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amendment, debt and equity amount					33,350,000,000	$ 30,000,000,000.0
Amendment, other funding, increase amount					$ 6,000,000,000.0
Bridge Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	$ 10,825,000,000
Debt Instrument, term	364 days
DIP Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, face value								$ 11,900,000,000
Post-petition interest rate								2.59%
Fire Victim Trust
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance				6,750,000,000
New PG&E Corporation Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance				4,750,000,000
New Utility Debt | PG&E Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance				23,775,000,000
New Utility Short-Term Notes | PG&E Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance				1,750,000,000
Debt, face value				$ 875,000,000
Stated interest rate				3.75%
New Debt Securities or Bank Debt | PG&E Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance				$ 11,925,000,000
Expected repayment				6,000,000,000.0
Utility Short-Term Senior Notes | PG&E Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, face value				1,750,000,000
Utility Short-Term Secured Notes Due 2025 | PG&E Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, face value				$ 875,000,000
Stated interest rate				3.45%
Senior Note Due March 1, 2034 | PG&E Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate				6.05%
Utility Long-Term Senior Notes | PG&E Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, face value				$ 6,200,000,000
Stated interest rate				5.00%
Utility Long-Term Secured Notes Due 2030 | PG&E Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, face value				$ 3,100,000,000
Stated interest rate				4.55%
New Utility Long-Term Notes | PG&E Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance				$ 6,200,000,000
Debt, face value				$ 3,100,000,000
Stated interest rate				4.95%
Senior Note Due December 1, 2047 | PG&E Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate				3.95%
Utility Reinstated Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, face value								$ 9,580,000,000
Utility Reinstated Senior Notes | PG&E Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, outstanding				$ 9,575,000,000
Utility Funded Debt | PG&E Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, face value				$ 1,949,000,000
Stated interest rate				3.15%
New Utility Funded Debt Exchange Notes | PG&E Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance				$ 3,900,000,000
Debt, face value				$ 1,949,000,000
Stated interest rate				4.50%
Senior Secured Superpriority Debt | Bridge Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	$ 5,825,000,000
Senior Secured Superpriority Debt | DIP Credit Agreement | Line of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount arranged										$ 5,500,000,000
Unsecured Debt | Bridge Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	$ 5,000,000,000.00