OTHER FINANCIAL DATA - INVENTORY (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Inventory [Line Items]
Energy Related Inventory, Natural Gas in Storage	$ 288	$ 240
Energy Related Inventory, Liquefied Natural Gas	8	16
Energy Related Inventory, Materials And Supplies	167	152
Inventory, Total	463	408	[1]
S D G E Segment [Member]
Inventory [Line Items]
Energy Related Inventory, Natural Gas in Storage	5	3
Energy Related Inventory, Liquefied Natural Gas	0	0
Energy Related Inventory, Materials And Supplies	73	79
Inventory, Total	78	82
So Cal Gas Segment [Member]
Inventory [Line Items]
Energy Related Inventory, Natural Gas in Storage	150	128
Energy Related Inventory, Liquefied Natural Gas	0	0
Energy Related Inventory, Materials And Supplies	27	23
Inventory, Total	177	151
Sempra South American Utilities Segment [Member]
Inventory [Line Items]
Energy Related Inventory, Natural Gas in Storage	0	0
Energy Related Inventory, Liquefied Natural Gas	0	0
Energy Related Inventory, Materials And Supplies	43	34
Inventory, Total	43	34
Sempra Mexico Segment [Member]
Inventory [Line Items]
Energy Related Inventory, Natural Gas in Storage	0	0
Energy Related Inventory, Liquefied Natural Gas	3	8
Energy Related Inventory, Materials And Supplies	16	8
Inventory, Total	19	16
Sempra Natural Gas Segment [Member]
Inventory [Line Items]
Energy Related Inventory, Natural Gas in Storage	133	109
Energy Related Inventory, Liquefied Natural Gas	5	8
Energy Related Inventory, Materials And Supplies	6	5
Inventory, Total	144	122
Sempra Renewables Segment [Member]
Inventory [Line Items]
Energy Related Inventory, Natural Gas in Storage	0	0
Energy Related Inventory, Liquefied Natural Gas	0	0
Energy Related Inventory, Materials And Supplies	2	3
Inventory, Total	$ 2	$ 3

[1] Derived from audited financial statements.