2.4.0.8040404 - Disclosure - OTHER FINANCIAL DATA - U.S. TREASURY GRANTS RECEIVABLE (Details)truefalseIn Millions, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1false USDfalsefalse$FROM_Apr01_2013_TO_Jun30_2013http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001032208duration2013-04-01T00:00:002013-06-30T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2false USDfalsefalse$FROM_Jan01_2013_TO_Mar31_2013http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001032208duration2013-01-01T00:00:002013-03-31T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$3false USDfalsefalse$FROM_Jan01_2013_TO_Jun30_2013http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001032208duration2013-01-01T00:00:002013-06-30T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$4false USDfalsefalse$AS_OF_Dec31_2012http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001032208instant2012-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$1true 2sre_USTreasuryGrantsReceivableDisclosureAbstractsre_falsenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0U S Treasury Grants Receivable Disclosure [Abstract]2false 3us-gaap_GrantsReceivableCurrentus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse164000000164USD$falsetruefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse164000000164USD$falsetruefalse4truefalsefalse258000000258[1]USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying amount as of the balance sheet date of amounts due under the terms of governmental, corporate, or foundation grants. For classified balance sheets, represents the current amount receivable, that is amounts expected to be collected within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.8) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 8 -Article 5 false2U.S. Treasury grants receivable3false 3sre_ReductionInTaxBenefitDueToSequestrationsre_falsedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse50000005falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryNo authoritative reference available.No definition available.false2Reduction in tax benefit due to sequestration4false 3sre_ProceedsFromUSTreasuryGrantssre_falsedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse7400000074falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse7400000074falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryNo authoritative reference available.No definition available.false2Proceeds From U S Treasury Grants5false 3sre_SequestrationOfUSTreasuryGrantsReceivablesre_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegatedLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse2300000023USD$falsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryNo authoritative reference available.No definition available.false2Sequestration of U.S. Treasury grants receivable1Derived from audited financial statements.falseOTHER FINANCIAL DATA - U.S. TREASURY GRANTS RECEIVABLE (Details) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.sempra.com/role/OTHERFINANCIALDATAUSTREASURYGRANTSRECEIVABLEDetails45