BANKRUPTCY FILING (Schedule of Liabilities Subject to Compromise) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Oct. 23, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Liabilities Subject to Compromise, Period Increase (Decrease) [Roll Forward]
Financing debt, beginning balance	$ 23,116.0
Wildfire-related claims, beginning balance	25,548.0
Trade creditors, beginning balance	1,188.0
Non-qualified benefit plan, beginning balance	157.0
2001 bankruptcy disputed claims, beginning balance	234.0
Customer deposits & advances, beginning balance	71.0
Other, beginning balance	232.0
Liabilities Subject to Compromise, beginning balance	50,546.0
Financing debt, ending balance	0.0
Wildfire-related claims, ending balance	0.0
Trade creditors, ending balance	0.0
Non-qualified benefit plan, ending balance	0.0
2001 bankruptcy disputed claims, ending balance	0.0
Customer deposits & advances, ending balance	0.0
Other, ending balance	0.0
Liabilities Subject to Compromise, ending balance	0.0
Accounts payable - other	719.0			$ 566.0
Disputed claims and customer refunds	240.0			0.0
Interest payable	327.0			4.0
Short-term borrowings	2,432.0			0.0
Other current liabilities	2,010.0			1,254.0
Other non-current liabilities	4,415.0			2,573.0
Pension and other post-retirement benefits	1,894.0			1,884.0
Accounts payable - trade creditors	2,756.0			1,954.0
Wildfire-related Claims	1,975.0			0.0
Change in Estimated Allowed Claim
Liabilities Subject to Compromise, Period Increase (Decrease) [Roll Forward]
Financing debt, change	351.0
Wildfire-related claims, change	18.0
Trade creditors, change	6.0
Non-qualified benefit plan, change	0.0
2011 bankruptcy disputed claims, change	4.0
Customer deposits & advances, change	12.0
Other, change	59.0
Liabilities Subject to Compromise, change	450.0
Cash Payment
Liabilities Subject to Compromise, Period Increase (Decrease) [Roll Forward]
Financing debt, change	0.0
Wildfire-related claims, change	(23.0)
Trade creditors, change	(14.0)
Non-qualified benefit plan, change	0.0
2011 bankruptcy disputed claims, change	0.0
Customer deposits & advances, change	0.0
Other, change	0.0
Liabilities Subject to Compromise, change	(37.0)
Reclassified
Liabilities Subject to Compromise, Period Increase (Decrease) [Roll Forward]
Financing debt, change	(23,467.0)
Wildfire-related claims, change	(25,543.0)
Trade creditors, change	(1,180.0)
Non-qualified benefit plan, change	(157.0)
2011 bankruptcy disputed claims, change	(238.0)
Customer deposits & advances, change	(83.0)
Other, change	(291.0)
Liabilities Subject to Compromise, change	(50,959.0)
Accounts payable - other			$ 8.6
Disputed claims and customer refunds			237.6
Interest payable			1,347.4
Debt financial instrument			21,425.7
Short-term borrowings			300.0
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities			450.0
Other current liabilities			301.0
Other non-current liabilities			97.9
Pension and other post-retirement benefits			121.3
Accounts payable - trade creditors			1,126.9
Wildfire-related Claims			$ 25,542.7
Pacific Gas & Electric Co
Liabilities Subject to Compromise, Period Increase (Decrease) [Roll Forward]
Financing debt, beginning balance	22,450.0
Wildfire-related claims, beginning balance	25,548.0
Trade creditors, beginning balance	1,183.0
Non-qualified benefit plan, beginning balance	20.0
2001 bankruptcy disputed claims, beginning balance	234.0
Customer deposits & advances, beginning balance	71.0
Other, beginning balance	230.0
Liabilities Subject to Compromise, beginning balance	49,736.0
Financing debt, ending balance	0.0
Wildfire-related claims, ending balance	0.0
Trade creditors, ending balance	0.0
Non-qualified benefit plan, ending balance	0.0
2001 bankruptcy disputed claims, ending balance	0.0
Customer deposits & advances, ending balance	0.0
Other, ending balance	0.0
Liabilities Subject to Compromise, ending balance	0.0
Accounts payable - other	759.0			675.0
Disputed claims and customer refunds	240.0			0.0
Interest payable	298.0			4.0
Short-term borrowings	2,432.0			0.0
Other current liabilities	1,998.0			1,263.0
Other non-current liabilities	4,456.0			2,626.0
Pension and other post-retirement benefits	1,797.0			1,884.0
Accounts payable - trade creditors	2,719.0			1,949.0
Wildfire-related Claims	1,975.0			$ 0.0
Pacific Gas & Electric Co | Subsequent event
Liabilities Subject to Compromise, Period Increase (Decrease) [Roll Forward]
Accounts payable, trade		$ 801.0
PG&E Corporation
Liabilities Subject to Compromise, Period Increase (Decrease) [Roll Forward]
Financing debt, beginning balance	666.0
Wildfire-related claims, beginning balance	0.0
Trade creditors, beginning balance	5.0
Non-qualified benefit plan, beginning balance	137.0
2001 bankruptcy disputed claims, beginning balance	0.0
Customer deposits & advances, beginning balance	0.0
Other, beginning balance	2.0
Liabilities Subject to Compromise, beginning balance	810.0
Financing debt, ending balance	0.0
Wildfire-related claims, ending balance	0.0
Trade creditors, ending balance	0.0
Non-qualified benefit plan, ending balance	0.0
2001 bankruptcy disputed claims, ending balance	0.0
Customer deposits & advances, ending balance	0.0
Other, ending balance	0.0
Liabilities Subject to Compromise, ending balance	$ 0.0
PG&E Corporation | Subsequent event
Liabilities Subject to Compromise, Period Increase (Decrease) [Roll Forward]
Accounts payable, trade		$ 5.0