SEMPRA ENERGY - SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND EARNINGS PER SHARE - COMMON STOCK ACTIVITY (Details) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Common stock, shares authorized	750,000,000	750,000,000
Common stock par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common shares outstanding, January 1	248,298,080	246,330,884	244,461,327
Restricted stock units vesting	1,363,555	1,499,062	989,027
Stock options exercised	167,742	227,815	699,783
Savings plan issuance	653,607	652,631	398,042
Common stock investment plan	266,056	249,665	205,203
Shares repurchased	596,526	661,977	422,498
Common shares outstanding, December 31	250,152,514	248,298,080	246,330,884

Stock issued during period, shares, restricted stock units, vesting.

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Stock issued during period, shares, savings plan issuance.

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Face amount per share of no-par value common stock.

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The maximum number of common shares permitted to be issued by an entity's charter and bylaws.

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Number of shares of common stock outstanding. Common stock represent the ownership interest in a corporation.

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A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

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Number of shares issued during the period from a dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP). A dividend reinvestment plan allows the shareholders to reinvest dividends paid to them by the entity on new issues of stock by the entity.

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Number of share options (or share units) exercised during the current period.

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Number of shares that have been repurchased and retired during the period.

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