v2.4.1.9

OTHER FINANCIAL DATA - COMPREHENSIVE INCOME AND EQUITY 3 (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2014
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Equity earnings, net of income tax. | $ 15 sre_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestmentsNetOfTax |  | $ 6 sre_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestmentsNetOfTax |
Interest expense | (134)us-gaap_InterestExpense |  | (136)us-gaap_InterestExpense |
Equity Earnings (Losses) Recorded Before Tax | 19 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments |  | 17 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments |
Revenues - energy related businesses | 260 us-gaap_UnregulatedOperatingRevenue |  | 310 us-gaap_UnregulatedOperatingRevenue |
Total before income tax | 606 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments |  | 387 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments |
Income tax (expense) benefit | (163)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit |  | (127)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit |
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest | (21)us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest |  | (19)us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest |
Grand total reclassifications for the period, net of tax | 0 sre_Totalamountreclassifiedfromaccumulatedothercomprehensiveincomelossnetofincometaxforalltypes |  | 12 sre_Totalamountreclassifiedfromaccumulatedothercomprehensiveincomelossnetofincometaxforalltypes |
San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Interest expense | (52)us-gaap_InterestExpense / dei_LegalEntityAxis = sre_SanDiegoGasAndElectricCompanyMember |  | (50)us-gaap_InterestExpense / dei_LegalEntityAxis = sre_SanDiegoGasAndElectricCompanyMember |
Total before income tax | 239 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / dei_LegalEntityAxis = sre_SanDiegoGasAndElectricCompanyMember |  | 184 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / dei_LegalEntityAxis = sre_SanDiegoGasAndElectricCompanyMember |
Income tax (expense) benefit | (88)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = sre_SanDiegoGasAndElectricCompanyMember |  | (83)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = sre_SanDiegoGasAndElectricCompanyMember |
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest | (4)us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest / dei_LegalEntityAxis = sre_SanDiegoGasAndElectricCompanyMember |  | (2)us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest / dei_LegalEntityAxis = sre_SanDiegoGasAndElectricCompanyMember |
Southern California Gas Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Interest expense | (19)us-gaap_InterestExpense / dei_LegalEntityAxis = sre_SouthernCaliforniaGasCompanyMember |  | (17)us-gaap_InterestExpense / dei_LegalEntityAxis = sre_SouthernCaliforniaGasCompanyMember |
Total before income tax | 309 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / dei_LegalEntityAxis = sre_SouthernCaliforniaGasCompanyMember |  | 116 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / dei_LegalEntityAxis = sre_SouthernCaliforniaGasCompanyMember |
Income tax (expense) benefit | (95)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = sre_SouthernCaliforniaGasCompanyMember |  | (38)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = sre_SouthernCaliforniaGasCompanyMember |
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member] |  |  |  |
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Income tax (expense) benefit | (1)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember |  | (2)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember |
Total reclassifications for the period, net of tax | 1 sre_Totalamountreclassifiedfromaccumulatedothercomprehensiveincomelossnetofincometax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember |  | 3 sre_Totalamountreclassifiedfromaccumulatedothercomprehensiveincomelossnetofincometax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember |
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member] | Amortization of Actuarial Loss [Member] |  |  |  |
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Pension and other postretirement benefit expense | 2 us-gaap_PensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitExpense / us-gaap_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeAxis = sre_AmortizationOfActuarialLossMember / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember | [1] | 5 us-gaap_PensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitExpense / us-gaap_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeAxis = sre_AmortizationOfActuarialLossMember / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember | [1]
Accumulated Net Gain Loss From Designated Or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member] |  |  |  |
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Total before income tax | 2 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |  | 18 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |
Income tax (expense) benefit | 1 us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |  | (6)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |
Net of Income Tax | 3 sre_Totalamountreclassifiedfromaccumulatedothercomprehensiveincomenetofincometaxandbeforeearningsattributabletononcontrollinginterest / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |  | 12 sre_Totalamountreclassifiedfromaccumulatedothercomprehensiveincomenetofincometaxandbeforeearningsattributabletononcontrollinginterest / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest | (4)us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |  | (3)us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |
Total reclassifications for the period, net of tax | (1)sre_Totalamountreclassifiedfromaccumulatedothercomprehensiveincomelossnetofincometax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |  | 9 sre_Totalamountreclassifiedfromaccumulatedothercomprehensiveincomelossnetofincometax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |
Accumulated Net Gain Loss From Designated Or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest | (3)us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest / dei_LegalEntityAxis = sre_SanDiegoGasAndElectricCompanyMember / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |  | (3)us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest / dei_LegalEntityAxis = sre_SanDiegoGasAndElectricCompanyMember / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |
Total reclassifications for the period, net of tax | 0 sre_Totalamountreclassifiedfromaccumulatedothercomprehensiveincomelossnetofincometax / dei_LegalEntityAxis = sre_SanDiegoGasAndElectricCompanyMember / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |  | 0 sre_Totalamountreclassifiedfromaccumulatedothercomprehensiveincomelossnetofincometax / dei_LegalEntityAxis = sre_SanDiegoGasAndElectricCompanyMember / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |
Accumulated Net Gain Loss From Designated Or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Interest Rate And Foreign Exchange Instruments [Member] |  |  |  |
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Interest expense | 6 us-gaap_InterestExpense / us-gaap_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeAxis = sre_InterestRateAndForeignExchangeInstrumentsMember / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |  | 3 us-gaap_InterestExpense / us-gaap_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeAxis = sre_InterestRateAndForeignExchangeInstrumentsMember / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |
Accumulated Net Gain Loss From Designated Or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Interest Rate Instruments [Member] |  |  |  |
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Gain on sale of equity interests and assets | 0 sre_Reclassificationadjustmentoutofaccumulatedothercomprehensiveincomegainonsaleofequityinterestsandassets / us-gaap_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeAxis = sre_InterestRateInstrumentsMember / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |  | 2 sre_Reclassificationadjustmentoutofaccumulatedothercomprehensiveincomegainonsaleofequityinterestsandassets / us-gaap_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeAxis = sre_InterestRateInstrumentsMember / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |
Equity Earnings (Losses) Recorded Before Tax | 3 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeAxis = sre_InterestRateInstrumentsMember / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |  | 3 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeAxis = sre_InterestRateInstrumentsMember / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |
Accumulated Net Gain Loss From Designated Or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Interest Rate Instruments [Member] | San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member] |  |  |  |
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Interest expense | 3 us-gaap_InterestExpense / dei_LegalEntityAxis = sre_SanDiegoGasAndElectricCompanyMember / us-gaap_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeAxis = sre_InterestRateInstrumentsMember / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |  | 3 us-gaap_InterestExpense / dei_LegalEntityAxis = sre_SanDiegoGasAndElectricCompanyMember / us-gaap_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeAxis = sre_InterestRateInstrumentsMember / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |
Accumulated Net Gain Loss From Designated Or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Commodity Contracts Not Subject To Rate Recovery [Member] |  |  |  |
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Revenues - energy related businesses | $ (7)us-gaap_UnregulatedOperatingRevenue / us-gaap_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeAxis = sre_CommodityContractsNotSubjectToRateRecoveryMember / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |  | $ 10 us-gaap_UnregulatedOperatingRevenue / us-gaap_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeAxis = sre_CommodityContractsNotSubjectToRateRecoveryMember / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember |
[1] | Amounts are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost (see "Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits" above).

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