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Commitments and Guarantees Commitments and Guarantees (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2009 | Dec. 31, 1985
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items] |  |  |  |
percentage of output | 25.00% |  |  |
Operating Leases, Rent Expense | $ 9 | $ 9 | $ 7 |
Long-term Contract for Purchase of Electric Power, Estimated Annual Cost | 13 |  |  |
Future Minimum Sublease Rentals, Sale Leaseback Transactions, within One Year | 3 |  |  |
Future Minimum Sublease Rentals, Sale Leaseback Transactions, within Two Years | 2 |  |  |
Future Minimum Sublease Rentals, Sale Leaseback Transactions, within Five Years | 1 |  |  |
Operating Leases, Rent Expense, Sublease Rentals | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Ownership interest in Boardman sold |  |  |  | 15.00%
ownership interest in Pacific Northwest Intertie sold |  |  |  | 10.714%
maximum potential liability under power and transmission agreements | 74 |  |  |
Future Minimum Sublease Rentals, Sale Leaseback Transactions, within Three Years | 2 |  |  |
Future Minimum Sublease Rentals, Sale Leaseback Transactions, within Four Years | $ 2 |  |  |

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- Definition maximum potential liability under power and transmission agreements related to Boardman in the next year. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Ownership interest in Boardman sold in 1985. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition ownership interest in Pacific Northwest Intertie sold in 1985. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Cumulative maximum percentage defaulting purchasers output that PGE would be allocated. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition This element represents the total of minimum sublease rentals, if any, to be received under noncancelable subleases within the fifth year following the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 98 -Paragraph 18 -Subparagraph b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 840 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6456377&loc=d3e50824-112756 + Details
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- Definition This element represents the total of minimum sublease rentals, if any, to be received under noncancelable subleases within the fourth year following the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 98 -Paragraph 18 -Subparagraph b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 840 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6456377&loc=d3e50824-112756 + Details
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- Definition This element represents the total of minimum sublease rentals, if any, to be received under noncancelable subleases within one year of the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 98 -Paragraph 18 -Subparagraph b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 840 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6456377&loc=d3e50824-112756 + Details
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- Definition This element represents the total of minimum sublease rentals, if any, to be received under noncancelable subleases within the third year following the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 98 -Paragraph 18 -Subparagraph b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 840 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6456377&loc=d3e50824-112756 + Details
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- Definition This element represents the total of minimum sublease rentals, if any, to be received under noncancelable subleases within the second year following the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 98 -Paragraph 18 -Subparagraph b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 840 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6456377&loc=d3e50824-112756 + Details
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- Definition Rental expense incurred for leased assets including furniture and equipment which has not been recognized in costs and expenses applicable to sales and revenues; for example, cost of goods sold or other operating costs and expenses. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Estimated annual cost to purchase electricity under a long-term contract from a production plant constructed and financed by a public utility district, cooperative, or other organization. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 10 -Section D Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 980 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 10.D) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6499423&loc=d3e659339-123030 + Details
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- Definition The total amount of sublease rental income recognized during the period that reduces the entity's rent expense incurred under operating leases. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Topic 840 -SubTopic 10 -Section 55 -Paragraph 40 -Subparagraph (Note 3) -Name Accounting Standards Codification -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584154&loc=d3e38371-112697 + Details
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