v3.8.0.1

GENERAL INFORMATION AND OTHER FINANCIAL DATA - RECLASSIFICATION FROM ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Mar. 31, 2018 | Mar. 31, 2017
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |
Interest expense | $ (216) | $ (169) | [1]
Other income, net | 153 | 174 | [1]
Equity losses | (20) | (5) | [1]
Revenues: Energy-Related Businesses | 364 | 333 | [1]
Income before income taxes and equity (losses) earnings of certain unconsolidated subsidiaries | 667 | 752 | [1]
Income Tax Benefit (Expense) | (289) | (295) | [1]
Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests | 17 | (11) | [1]
Earnings (losses) | 347 | 441 |
Total reclassifications for the period, net of tax | (6) | 8 |
Gains (Losses) on Cash Flow hedges Attributable to Parent [Member] |  |  |
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |
Total reclassifications for the period, net of tax | (8) | 6 |
Gain (Loss) on Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits [Member] |  |  |
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |
Amortization of actuarial loss(2) | 3 | 3 |
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits [Member] |  |  |
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |
Income tax expense | (1) | (1) |
Total reclassifications for the period, net of tax | 2 | 2 |
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Gains (Losses) on Cash Flow hedges [Member] |  |  |
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |
Income before income taxes and equity (losses) earnings of certain unconsolidated subsidiaries | (16) | 12 |
Income Tax Benefit (Expense) | 3 | (4) |
Net of income tax | (13) | 8 |
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Gains (Losses) on Cash Flow hedges [Member] | Interest rate and foreign exchange instruments [Member] |  |  |
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |
Interest expense | (2) | (3) |
Other income, net | (18) | 0 |
Equity losses | 4 | 4 |
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Gains (Losses) on Cash Flow hedges [Member] | Foreign exchange instruments [Member] |  |  |
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |
Revenues: Energy-Related Businesses | 0 | 2 |
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Gains (Losses) on 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 | 0 | 9 |
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Gains (Losses) on Cash Flow hedges Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests [Member] |  |  |
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |
Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests | 5 | (2) |
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Gains (Losses) on Cash Flow hedges Attributable to Parent [Member] |  |  |
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |
Earnings (losses) | (8) | 6 |
San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member] |  |  |
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |
Interest expense | (52) | (49) | [1]
Other income, net | 28 | 22 | [1]
Income before income taxes and equity (losses) earnings of certain unconsolidated subsidiaries | 225 | 247 | [1]
Income Tax Benefit (Expense) | (56) | (90) | [1]
Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests | 1 | (2) | [1]
Total reclassifications for the period, net of tax | 0 | 0 |
San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Gains (Losses) on Cash Flow hedges [Member] | Interest rate instruments [Member] |  |  |
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |
Interest expense | 3 | 3 |
San Diego Gas and Electric Company [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Gains (Losses) on Cash Flow hedges Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests [Member] |  |  |
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |
Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests | (3) | (3) |
Southern California Gas Company [Member] |  |  |
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |
Interest expense | (27) | (25) | [1]
Other income, net | 33 | 14 | [1]
Income before income taxes and equity (losses) earnings of certain unconsolidated subsidiaries | 284 | 301 | [1]
Income Tax Benefit (Expense) | (59) | (98) | [1]
Total reclassifications for the period, net of tax | $ 0 | $ 0 |
[1] | As adjusted for the retrospective adoption of ASU 2017-07, which we discuss in Note 2, and a reclassification to conform to current year presentation, which we discuss in Note 1.

X
- Definition Income (Loss) From Equity Investments + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sre_IncomeLossFromEquityInvestments
Namespace Prefix: | sre_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of income (loss) from continuing operations before deduction of income tax expense (benefit) and income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest, and addition of income (loss) from equity method investments. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)(1)(i)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount after tax of income (loss) from continuing operations including portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 19 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96868048&loc=SL4569616-111683 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a),(b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32639-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450988&loc=d3e26243-108391 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28555-108399 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.9) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InterestExpense
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04(22)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(18)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(20)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of Net Income (Loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 55 -Paragraph 4J -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84234705&loc=SL4591551-111686 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1A -Subparagraph (a)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84161450&loc=SL4573702-111684 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The aggregate amount of income or expense from ancillary business-related activities (that is to say, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.7) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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_ReclassificationAdjustmentOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount before tax of reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84228862&loc=SL7669686-108580 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodBeforeTax
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount after tax of reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84228862&loc=SL7669686-108580 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 55 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84158357&loc=d3e1436-108581 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of tax expense (benefit) of reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 11 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79507043&loc=d3e39076-109324 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 12 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84228862&loc=d3e640-108580 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAociCurrentPeriodTax
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of unregulated operating revenues recognized during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_UnregulatedOperatingRevenue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis=us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis=us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetUnamortizedGainLossMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis=us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeAxis=us-gaap_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis=us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromCashFlowHedgesIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_CrossCurrencyInterestRateContractMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=sre_CommodityContractsNotSubjectToRateRecoveryMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis=us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromCashFlowHedgesAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=sre_SanDiegoGasAndElectricCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateContractMember
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: |