INCOME TAXES - RECONCILIATION TO EFFECTIVE TAX RATE (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent [Abstract]
U.S. federal statutory income tax rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Utility depreciation	4.00%	5.00%	5.00%
U.S. tax on repatriation of foreign earnings	(1.00%)	1.00%	2.00%
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit	1.00%	1.00%	0.00%
Utility repairs expenditures	(4.00%)	(5.00%)	(5.00%)
Tax credits	(3.00%)	(4.00%)	(4.00%)
Self-developed software expenditures	(3.00%)	(3.00%)	(3.00%)
Resolution of prior years’ income tax items	0.00%	(3.00%)	(1.00%)
Non-U.S. earnings taxed at lower statutory income tax rates	(3.00%)	(2.00%)	(2.00%)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(2.00%)	(2.00%)	(2.00%)
Foreign exchange and inflation effects	(2.00%)	(2.00%)	(2.00%)
Share-based compensation	(2.00%)	0.00%	0.00%
International tax reform	1.00%	0.00%	(1.00%)
Other, net	0.00%	(1.00%)	(2.00%)
Effective income tax rate	21.00%	20.00%	20.00%
Reversal of previous income tax expense	$ 20
Distributions from non-U.S. subsidiaries			$ 288
Distributions from non-U.S. subsidiaries previously taxed			100
Income Tax Expense Louisiana valuation allowance release			25
SONGS tax regulatory asset write-off			17
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	773	$ 1,189	1,014
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Foreign	1,057	515	510
Income before income taxes	$ 1,830	$ 1,704	$ 1,524
San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent [Abstract]
U.S. federal statutory income tax rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Utility depreciation	5.00%	4.00%	4.00%
SONGS tax regulatory asset write-off	0.00%	0.00%	2.00%
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%
Utility repairs expenditures	(4.00%)	(4.00%)	(4.00%)
Self-developed software expenditures	(3.00%)	(3.00%)	(3.00%)
Resolution of prior years’ income tax items	(1.00%)	(2.00%)	(2.00%)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(2.00%)	(2.00%)	(2.00%)
Share-based compensation	(1.00%)	0.00%	0.00%
Variable interest entity	0.00%	(1.00%)	(1.00%)
Other, net	(1.00%)	0.00%	0.00%
Effective income tax rate	33.00%	32.00%	34.00%
Income before income taxes	$ 845	$ 890	$ 797
Southern California Gas Company [Member]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent [Abstract]
U.S. federal statutory income tax rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Utility depreciation	9.00%	8.00%	8.00%
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit	2.00%	4.00%	4.00%
Utility repairs expenditures	(9.00%)	(10.00%)	(9.00%)
Self-developed software expenditures	(6.00%)	(6.00%)	(5.00%)
Resolution of prior years’ income tax items	2.00%	(3.00%)	(2.00%)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(2.00%)	(2.00%)	(2.00%)
Share-based compensation	(1.00%)	0.00%	0.00%
Other, net	(1.00%)	(1.00%)	0.00%
Effective income tax rate	29.00%	25.00%	29.00%
Income before income taxes	$ 493	$ 558	$ 472

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Percentage of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.

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Percentage of domestic federal statutory tax rate applicable to pretax income (loss).

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Amount of increase (decrease) to previously recorded tax expense. Includes, but is not limited to, significant settlements of income tax disputes, and unusual tax positions or infrequent actions taken by the entity, including tax assessment reversal, and IRS tax settlement.

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