Commitments and Guarantees Commitments and Guarantees (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011
Commitments and Guarantees [Abstract]
Minimum Guarantees, Policy [Policy Text Block]	PGE enters into financial agreements and power and natural gas purchase and sale agreements that include indemnification provisions relating to certain claims or liabilities that may arise relating to the transactions contemplated by these agreements. Generally, a maximum obligation is not explicitly stated in the indemnification provisions and, therefore, the overall maximum amount of the obligation under such indemnifications cannot be reasonably estimated. PGE periodically evaluates the likelihood of incurring costs under such indemnities based on the Company’s historical experience and the evaluation of the specific indemnities.

Disclosure of accounting policy for minimum guarantees, including the nature of each guarantee given to contract holders under long-duration contracts, and the methods of determining the amounts of the guarantees reflected as liabilities in the balance sheet or disclosed.

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