COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - CONTRACTUAL COMMITMENTS (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012
Luz Del Sur [Member]
Payments Under Contractual Commitments [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) In Purchased Power Commitments, Payments Due, Current	$ (39)
Increase (Decrease) In Purchased Power Commitments, Payments Due In Two Years	38
Increase (Decrease) In Purchased Power Commitments, Payments Due In Three Years	23
Increase (Decrease) In Purchased Power Commitments, Payments Due In Four Years	24
Increase (Decrease) In Purchased Power Commitments, Payments Due In Five Years	26
Increase (Decrease) In Purchased Power Commitments, Payments Due Thereafter	209
Chilquinta Energia [Member]
Payments Under Contractual Commitments [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) In Purchased Power Commitments, Payments Due, Current	(49)
Increase (Decrease) In Purchased Power Commitments, Payments Due In Two Years	29
Increase (Decrease) In Purchased Power Commitments, Payments Due In Three Years	32
Increase (Decrease) In Purchased Power Commitments, Payments Due In Four Years	34
Increase (Decrease) In Purchased Power Commitments, Payments Due In Five Years	33
Increase (Decrease) In Purchased Power Commitments, Payments Due Thereafter	316
San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member]
Payments Under Contractual Commitments [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) In Purchased Power Commitments, Payments Due, Current	(6)
Increase (Decrease) In Purchased Power Commitments, Payments Due In Two Years	1
Increase (Decrease) In Purchased Power Commitments, Payments Due In Three Years	(4)
Increase (Decrease) In Purchased Power Commitments, Payments Due In Four Years	(4)
Increase (Decrease) In Purchased Power Commitments, Payments Due In Five Years	(4)
Increase (Decrease) In Purchased Power Commitments, Payments Due Thereafter	(148)
Increase (Decrease) In Purchase Commitment Amount	(165)
Southern California Gas Company [Member]
Payments Under Contractual Commitments [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) In Natural Gas Contracts Commitments	(25)
Decrease In Natural Gas Contracts Commitments, Fulfillment	222
Increase In Natural Gas Contracts Commitments, New Contracts	197
Increase (Decrease) In Natural Gas Contracts Commitments, Payments Due, Current	(78)
Increase (Decrease) In Natural Gas Contracts Commitments, Payments Due In Two Years	51
Increase (Decrease) In Natural Gas Contracts Commitments, Payments Due In Three Years	2
Sempra South American Utilities [Member]
Payments Under Contractual Commitments [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) In Purchase Commitment Amount	676
Sempra Mexico [Member]
Payments Under Contractual Commitments [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) In Natural Gas Contracts Commitments	(121)
Increase (Decrease) In Natural Gas Contracts Commitments, Payments Due, Current	(51)
Increase (Decrease) In Natural Gas Contracts Commitments, Payments Due In Two Years	(31)
Increase (Decrease) In Natural Gas Contracts Commitments, Payments Due In Three Years	(39)
Sempra Natural Gas [Member]
Payments Under Contractual Commitments [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) In Liquefied Natural Gas Commitments, Payments Due, Current	(221)
Increase (Decrease) In Liquefied Natural Gas Commitments, Payments Due In Two Years	(83)
Increase (Decrease) In Liquefied Natural Gas Commitments, Payments Due In Three Years	(67)
Increase (Decrease) In Liquefied Natural Gas Commitments, Payments Due In Four Years	(57)
Increase (Decrease) In Liquefied Natural Gas Commitments, Payments Due In Five Years	(55)
Increase (Decrease) In Liquefied Natural Gas Commitments, Payments Due Thereafter	(912)
Increase (Decrease) In Natural Gas Contracts Commitments	41
Increase (Decrease) In Natural Gas Contracts Commitments, Payments Due, Current	(1)
Increase (Decrease) In Natural Gas Contracts Commitments, Payments Due In Two Years	10
Increase (Decrease) In Natural Gas Contracts Commitments, Payments Due In Three Years	9
Increase (Decrease) In Natural Gas Contracts Commitments, Payments Due In Four Years	8
Increase (Decrease) In Natural Gas Contracts Commitments, Payments Due In Five Years	8
Increase (Decrease) In Natural Gas Contracts Commitments, Payments Due Thereafter	7
Natural Gas Infrastructure Construction [Member] | Southern California Gas Company [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Long-term Purchase Commitment, Amount	49
Electric Distribution And Generation Plant [Member] | San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Long-term Purchase Commitment, Amount	22
Biological Monitoring Construction [Member] | San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiary [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Long-term Purchase Commitment, Amount	$ 8