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Income Taxes Income Taxes (Policies) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
Income Taxes [Abstract] |  |
Valuation Allowance, Commentary | PGE believes that it is more likely than not that its deferred income tax assets as of December 31, 2011 will be realized; accordingly, no valuation allowance has been recorded. | As of December 31, 2010, PGE believed the benefit from state credit carryforwards expiring in 2011 would not be realized and, in recognition of this risk, the Company recorded a valuation allowance of $2 million on the deferred tax assets relating to these state credit carryforwards.

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- Definition Describes the facts and circumstances that resulted in an assessment that it is more likely than not that all or a portion of that deferred tax asset will not be realized. Includes in this description the following: (1) the amount of taxable income and the periods over which it must be earned to allow for the realization of the deferred tax asset; (2) actual levels of past taxable income; (3) reasons for significant differences in actual levels of past taxable income and pretax book income; and (4) known trends, events or transactions that are expected to affect future levels of taxable income. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Valuation Allowance -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6528051 + Details
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