Basis of Presentation (Notes)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Basis of Presentation [Abstract]
BASIS OF PRESENTATION	BASIS OF PRESENTATION Nature of Business Portland General Electric Company (PGE or the Company) is a single, vertically integrated electric utility engaged in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution, and retail sale of electricity in the State of Oregon. The Company also participates in the wholesale market by purchasing and selling electricity and natural gas in an effort to obtain reasonably-priced power for its retail customers. PGE operates as a single segment, with revenues and costs related to its business activities maintained and analyzed on a total electric operations basis. The Company’s corporate headquarters is located in Portland, Oregon and its approximately 4,000 square mile, state-approved service area allocation, located entirely within the State of Oregon, encompasses 51 incorporated cities, of which Portland and Salem are the largest. As of March 31, 2017, PGE served approximately 865,000 retail customers with a service area population of approximately 1.9 million, comprising approximately 46% of the state’s population. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements These condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such regulations, although PGE believes that the disclosures provided are adequate to make the interim information presented not misleading. To conform with the 2017 presentation, PGE has reclassified Decoupling mechanism deferrals, net of amortization from Other non-cash income and expenses, net of $4 million within the operating activities section and reclassified both Payments on capital leases of $1 million and Debt issuance costs of $1 million to Other within the financing activities section of the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The financial information included herein for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 is unaudited; however, such information reflects all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the condensed consolidated financial position, condensed consolidated income and comprehensive income, and condensed consolidated cash flows of the Company for these interim periods. The financial information as of December 31, 2016 is derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2016, included in Item 8 of PGE’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on February 17, 2017, which should be read in conjunction with such condensed consolidated financial statements. Comprehensive Income PGE recorded a net $1 million loss in other comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2017 due to the combination of changes in compensation retirement benefit liability and amortization, net of taxes of an immaterial amount, and other miscellaneous adjustments. No material change occurred in the three months ended March 31, 2016. Use of Estimates The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosures of gain or loss contingencies, as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Certain costs are estimated for the full year and allocated to interim periods based on estimates of operating time expired, benefit received, or activity associated with the interim period; accordingly, such costs may not be reflective of amounts to be recognized for a full year. Due to seasonal fluctuations in electricity sales, as well as the price of wholesale energy and natural gas, interim financial results do not necessarily represent those to be expected for the year. Recent Accounting Pronouncements Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (ASU 2014-09), creates a new Topic 606 and supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and most industry-specific guidance throughout the Industry Topics of the Codification. ASU 2014-09 provides a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized that consists of: i) identify the contract with the customer; ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; iii) determine the transaction price; iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations; and v) recognize revenue when or as each performance obligation is satisfied. Companies can transition to the requirements of this ASU either retrospectively (full retrospective method) or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the effective date (modified retrospective method), which is January 1, 2018 for calendar year-end public entities. The Company is evaluating which transition method it will elect. The Company does not anticipate any material changes to its revenue policy for tariff-based revenues, which comprises a majority of PGE’s retail revenues, as performance obligations are expected to be satisfied in a similar recognition pattern. PGE continues to evaluate the impacts the new guidance may have on its consolidated financial position, consolidated results of operations, and consolidated cash flows, particularly related to recognizing revenue for certain contracts where collectibility may be in question, certain matters of presentation of alternative revenue programs (such as decoupling), wholesale, and other operating revenue contracts. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) which supersedes the current lease accounting requirements for lessees and lessors within Topic 840, Leases. Pursuant to the new standard, lessees will be required to recognize all leases, including operating leases, on the balance sheet and record corresponding right-of-use assets and lease liabilities. Accounting for lessors is substantially unchanged from current accounting principles. Lessees will be required to classify leases as either finance leases or operating leases. Initial balance sheet measurement is similar for both types of leases; however, expense recognition and amortization of right-of-use assets will differ. Operating leases will reflect lease expense on a straight-line basis, while finance leases will result in the separate presentation of interest expense on the lease liability (as calculated using the effective interest method) and amortization expense of the right-of-use asset. Quantitative and qualitative disclosures will also be required surrounding significant judgments made by management. The provisions of this pronouncement are effective for calendar year-end, public entities on January 1, 2019 and must be applied on a modified retrospective basis as of the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented. The new standard also provides reporting entities the option to elect a package of practical expedients for existing leases that commenced before the effective date. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact to its consolidated financial position, consolidated results of operations, and consolidated cash flows of the adoption of ASU 2016-02. In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230), Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (ASU 2016-15), with the intention to reduce diversity in practice, as well as simplify elements of classification within the statement of cash flows for certain transactions. The new ASU prescribes specific clarification guidance for the following eight classes of transactions: debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs, settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments, contingent consideration payments made after a business combination, proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims, proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance (COLI) policies, distributions received from equity method investments, beneficial interest in securitization transactions, and separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principal. For calendar year-end public entities, the update will be effective for annual periods beginning January 1, 2018 and requires application using a retrospective transition method. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact to its presentation of consolidated cash flows. In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715), Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost (ASU 2017-07). Pursuant to this ASU, only the service cost component of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit costs will be eligible for capitalization and should be applied on a prospective basis upon implementation. Also, the non-service components are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside the subtotal of income from operations and should be applied on a retrospective basis upon implementation. For calendar year-end public entities, the update will be effective for annual periods beginning January 1, 2018. The Company does not plan to early adopt. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact the guidance may have on its consolidated financial position and consolidated results of operations.

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Nature of Business

Portland General Electric Company (PGE or the Company) is a single, vertically integrated electric utility engaged in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution, and retail sale of electricity in the State of Oregon. The Company also participates in the wholesale market by purchasing and selling electricity and natural gas in an effort to obtain reasonably-priced power for its retail customers. PGE operates as a single segment, with revenues and costs related to its business activities maintained and analyzed on a total electric operations basis. The Company’s corporate headquarters is located in Portland, Oregon and its approximately 4,000 square mile, state-approved service area allocation, located entirely within the State of Oregon, encompasses 51 incorporated cities, of which Portland and Salem are the largest. As of March 31, 2017, PGE served approximately 865,000 retail customers with a service area population of approximately 1.9 million, comprising approximately 46% of the state’s population.

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

These condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such regulations, although PGE believes that the disclosures provided are adequate to make the interim information presented not misleading.

To conform with the 2017 presentation, PGE has reclassified Decoupling mechanism deferrals, net of amortization from Other non-cash income and expenses, net of $4 million within the operating activities section and reclassified both Payments on capital leases of $1 million and Debt issuance costs of $1 million to Other within the financing activities section of the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

The financial information included herein for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 is unaudited; however, such information reflects all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the condensed consolidated financial position, condensed consolidated income and comprehensive income, and condensed consolidated cash flows of the Company for these interim periods. The financial information as of December 31, 2016 is derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2016, included in Item 8 of PGE’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on February 17, 2017, which should be read in conjunction with such condensed consolidated financial statements.

Comprehensive Income

PGE recorded a net $1 million loss in other comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2017 due to the combination of changes in compensation retirement benefit liability and amortization, net of taxes of an immaterial amount, and other miscellaneous adjustments. No material change occurred in the three months ended March 31, 2016.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosures of gain or loss contingencies, as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Certain costs are estimated for the full year and allocated to interim periods based on estimates of operating time expired, benefit received, or activity associated with the interim period; accordingly, such costs may not be reflective of amounts to be recognized for a full year. Due to seasonal fluctuations in electricity sales, as well as the price of wholesale energy and natural gas, interim financial results do not necessarily represent those to be expected for the year.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (ASU 2014-09), creates a new Topic 606 and supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and most industry-specific guidance throughout the Industry Topics of the Codification. ASU 2014-09 provides a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized that consists of: i) identify the contract with the customer; ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; iii) determine the transaction price; iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations; and v) recognize revenue when or as each performance obligation is satisfied. Companies can transition to the requirements of this ASU either retrospectively (full retrospective method) or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the effective date (modified retrospective method), which is January 1, 2018 for calendar year-end public entities. The Company is evaluating which transition method it will elect. The Company does not anticipate any material changes to its revenue policy for tariff-based revenues, which comprises a majority of PGE’s retail revenues, as performance obligations are expected to be satisfied in a similar recognition pattern. PGE continues to evaluate the impacts the new guidance may have on its consolidated financial position, consolidated results of operations, and consolidated cash flows, particularly related to recognizing revenue for certain contracts where collectibility may be in question, certain matters of presentation of alternative revenue programs (such as decoupling), wholesale, and other operating revenue contracts.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) which supersedes the current lease accounting requirements for lessees and lessors within Topic 840, Leases. Pursuant to the new standard, lessees will be required to recognize all leases, including operating leases, on the balance sheet and record corresponding right-of-use assets and lease liabilities. Accounting for lessors is substantially unchanged from current accounting principles. Lessees will be required to classify leases as either finance leases or operating leases. Initial balance sheet measurement is similar for both types of leases; however, expense recognition and amortization of right-of-use assets will differ. Operating leases will reflect lease expense on a straight-line basis, while finance leases will result in the separate presentation of interest expense on the lease liability (as calculated using the effective interest method) and amortization expense of the right-of-use asset. Quantitative and qualitative disclosures will also be required surrounding significant judgments made by management. The provisions of this pronouncement are effective for calendar year-end, public entities on January 1, 2019 and must be applied on a modified retrospective basis as of the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented. The new standard also provides reporting entities the option to elect a package of practical expedients for existing leases that commenced before the effective date. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact to its consolidated financial position, consolidated results of operations, and consolidated cash flows of the adoption of ASU 2016-02.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230), Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (ASU 2016-15), with the intention to reduce diversity in practice, as well as simplify elements of classification within the statement of cash flows for certain transactions. The new ASU prescribes specific clarification guidance for the following eight classes of transactions: debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs, settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments, contingent consideration payments made after a business combination, proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims, proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance (COLI) policies, distributions received from equity method investments, beneficial interest in securitization transactions, and separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principal. For calendar year-end public entities, the update will be effective for annual periods beginning January 1, 2018 and requires application using a retrospective transition method. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact to its presentation of consolidated cash flows.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715), Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost (ASU 2017-07). Pursuant to this ASU, only the service cost component of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit costs will be eligible for capitalization and should be applied on a prospective basis upon implementation. Also, the non-service components are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside the subtotal of income from operations and should be applied on a retrospective basis upon implementation. For calendar year-end public entities, the update will be effective for annual periods beginning January 1, 2018. The Company does not plan to early adopt. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact the guidance may have on its consolidated financial position and consolidated results of operations.