v3.4.0.3

NUCLEAR PLANT - REGULATORY ASSET (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	[1]
Regulatory Asset [Line Items]
Regulatory Assets, Noncurrent	$ 3,336	$ 3,273
San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member]
Regulatory Asset [Line Items]
Regulatory Assets Current	119	107
Regulatory Assets, Noncurrent	968	977
Southern California Gas Company [Member]
Regulatory Asset [Line Items]
Regulatory Assets Current	8	7
Regulatory Assets, Noncurrent	686	$ 636
Nuclear Plant Closure [Member]
Regulatory Asset [Line Items]
Regulatory Asset, Nuclear Plant Closure	243
Regulatory Assets Current	43
Regulatory Assets, Noncurrent	200
Nuclear Plant Closure [Member] | San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member]
Regulatory Asset [Line Items]
Regulatory Asset, Nuclear Plant Closure	243
Regulatory Assets Current	43
Regulatory Assets, Noncurrent	$ 200
[1] Derived from audited financial statements.

X

- Definition

Regulatory Asset, Nuclear Plant Closure.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sre_RegulatoryAssetNuclearPlantClosure
Namespace Prefix:	sre_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of capitalized costs of regulated entities that are expected to be recovered through revenue sources within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Such costs are capitalized if they meet both of the following criteria: a. It is probable that future revenue in an amount at least equal to the capitalized cost will result from inclusion of that cost in allowable costs for rate-making purposes. b. Based on available evidence, the future revenue will be provided to permit recovery of the previously incurred cost rather than to provide for expected levels of similar future costs. If the revenue will be provided through an automatic rate-adjustment clause, this criterion requires that the regulator's intent clearly be to permit recovery of the previously incurred cost.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 980
-SubTopic 340
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6499975&loc=d3e44250-110382

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetsCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of capitalized costs of regulated entities that are not expected to be recovered through revenue sources within one year or the normal operating cycle if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 980
-SubTopic 340
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6499975&loc=d3e44250-110382

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetsNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=sre_SanDiegoGasAndElectricCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=sre_SouthernCaliforniaGasCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis=us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationCostsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: