SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	$ 46	$ 38	$ 40
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Tax Benefit from Compensation Expense	(18)	(15)	(16)
Employee Service Share-Based Compensation, Compensation Expense, Net Of Tax	28	23	24
Employee Service Share-Based Compensation, Compensation Expense, Net Of Tax, Per Basic Share	$ 0.11	$ 0.09	$ 0.1
Employee Service Share-Based Compensation, Compensation Expense, Net Of Tax, Per Diluted Share	$ 0.11	$ 0.09	$ 0.1
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs, Capitalized Amount	5	4	4
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number, Beginning Balance	1,459,145
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price, Beginning of Period	$ 53.18
Exercised Stock Options	(699,783)sre_ExercisedStockOptions
Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 52.48
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period, Total Intrinsic Value	33	41	45
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Forfeitures and Expirations in Period	(1,950)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Forfeitures and Expirations in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 45.36
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number, Ending Balance	757,412	1,459,145
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price, End of Period	$ 53.84	$ 53.18
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	3.2
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Intrinsic Value	44
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Number	757,412
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 53.84
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	3.2
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	44
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Exercisable, Number	757,412
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 53.84
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	3.2
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Exercisable, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	44
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award, Options, Vested In Period, Total Fair Value	1	2	4
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Cash Received from Exercise of Stock Options	37
Restricted Stock Units Issued By Subsidiary,Outstanding	962,122
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized	6,562,347
Restricted stock units issued by subsidary	468,339	1,014,899
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant	6,562,347
San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	8	8	8
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs, Capitalized Amount	3	3	3
Southern California Gas Company [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	8	8	7
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs, Capitalized Amount	$ 2	$ 1	$ 1

Employee service share-based compensation, compensation expense, net of tax.

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Employee service share-based compensation, compensation expense, net of tax, per basic share.

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Employee service share-based compensation, compensation expense, net of tax, per diluted share.

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Exercised stock options.

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Restricted stock units issued by subsidary.

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Share-based compensation arrangement by share-based payment award, options, vested in period, total fair value.

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Share-based compensation arrangement by share-based payment award, options, outstanding, weighted average remaining contractual term.

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Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

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Represents the compensation cost capitalized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, units, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

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Aggregate proceeds received by the entity during the annual period from exercises of stock or unit options and conversion of similar instruments granted under equity-based payment arrangements.

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The total recognized tax benefit related to compensation cost for equity-based payment arrangements recognized in income during the period.

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The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), net of any subsequent amendments and adjustments, for awards under the equity-based compensation plan. As stock or unit options and equity instruments other than options are awarded to participants, the shares or units remain authorized and become reserved for issuance under outstanding awards (not necessarily vested).

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The difference between the maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) authorized for issuance under the plan (including the effects of amendments and adjustments), and the sum of: 1) the number of shares (or other type of equity) already issued upon exercise of options or other equity-based awards under the plan; and 2) shares (or other type of equity) reserved for issuance on granting of outstanding awards, net of cancellations and forfeitures, if applicable.

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Amount of accumulated difference between fair value of underlying shares on dates of exercise and exercise price on options exercised (or share units converted) into shares.

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For presentations that combine terminations, the number of shares under options that were cancelled during the reporting period as a result of occurrence of a terminating event specified in contractual agreements pertaining to the stock option plan or that expired.

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Weighted average price of options that were either forfeited or expired.

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Amount by which the current fair value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of options outstanding.

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Number of options outstanding, including both vested and non-vested options.

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Weighted average price at which grantees can acquire the shares reserved for issuance under the stock option plan.

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Amount of difference between fair value of the underlying shares reserved for issuance and exercise price of fully vested and expected to vest options that are exercisable.

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The number of exercisable share options (fully vested and expected to vest) that may be converted as of the balance sheet date.

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As of the balance sheet date, the weighted-average exercise price (at which grantees can acquire the shares reserved for issuance) for exercisable stock options that are fully vested or expected to vest.

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Amount by which the current fair value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of fully vested and expected to vest options outstanding.

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As of the balance sheet date, the number of shares into which fully vested and expected to vest stock options outstanding can be converted under the option plan.

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As of the balance sheet date, the weighted-average exercise price for outstanding stock options that are fully vested or expected to vest.

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Weighted average price at which option holders acquired shares when converting their stock options into shares.

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