Class of Stock [Domain] Class of Stock [Domain] Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 4.50% redeemable First Preferred Stock, Cumulative, Par Value $25 Per Share, 4.50% Redeemable [Member] First Preferred Stock, Cumulative, Par Value $25 Per Share, 4.50% Redeemable [Member] Entity Listings, Exchange [Axis] Entity Listings, Exchange [Axis] Class of Stock [Axis] Class of Stock [Axis] Security Exchange Name Security Exchange Name Pacific Gas & Electric Co Pacific Gas & Electric Co [Member] Pacific Gas & Electric Co [Member] First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 6% nonredeemable First Preferred Stock, Cumulative, Par Value $25 Per Share, 6% Nonredeemable [Member] First Preferred Stock, Cumulative, Par Value $25 Per Share, 6% Nonredeemable [Member] Entity Address, City or Town Entity Address, City or Town Soliciting Material Soliciting Material Cover page. Cover [Abstract] First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 5% nonredeemable First Preferred Stock, Cumulative, Par Value $25 Per Share, 5% Nonredeemable [Member] First Preferred Stock, Cumulative, Par Value $25 Per Share, 5% Nonredeemable [Member] Legal Entity [Axis] Legal Entity [Axis] City Area Code City Area Code 6.000% Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock 6.000% Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock [Member] 6.000% Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock Amendment Flag Amendment Flag Entity Tax Identification Number Entity Tax Identification Number First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 5.50% nonredeemable First Preferred Stock, Cumulative, Par Value $25 Per Share, 5.50% Nonredeemable [Member] First Preferred Stock, Cumulative, Par Value $25 Per Share, 5.50% Nonredeemable [Member] Entity Registrant Name Entity Registrant Name Trading Symbol Trading Symbol Pre-commencement Tender Offer Pre-commencement Tender Offer First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 4.36% series A redeemable First Preferred Stock, Cumulative, Par Value $25 Per Share, 4.36% Series A Redeemable [Member] First Preferred Stock, Cumulative, Par Value $25 Per Share, 4.36% Series A Redeemable [Member] First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 4.80% redeemable First Preferred Stock, Cumulative, Par Value $25 Per Share, 4.80% Redeemable [Member] First Preferred Stock, Cumulative, Par Value $25 Per Share, 4.80% Redeemable [Member] Entity Emerging Growth Company Entity Emerging Growth Company NYSE American LLC NYSE AMERICAN LLC [Member] NYSE AMERICAN LLC [Member] Common stock, no par value Common Stock, No Par Value [Member] Common Stock, No Par Value [Member] The New York Stock Exchange NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, INC. [Member] First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 5% series A redeemable First Preferred Stock, Cumulative, Par Value $25 Per Share, 5% Series A Redeemable [Member] First Preferred Stock, Cumulative, Par Value $25 Per Share, 5% Series A Redeemable [Member] Entity Central Index Key Entity Central Index Key Entity File Number Entity File Number Entity Address, State or Province Entity Address, State or Province Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer Entity Address, Address Line One Entity Address, Address Line One Document Information [Table] Document Information [Table] Entity Address, Postal Zip Code Entity Address, Postal Zip Code Written Communications Written Communications Local Phone Number Local Phone Number Entity [Domain] Entity [Domain] Exchange [Domain] Exchange [Domain] Title of 12(b) Security Title of 12(b) Security First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 5% redeemable First Preferred Stock, Cumulative, Par Value $25 Per Share, 5% Redeemable [Member] First Preferred Stock, Cumulative, Par Value $25 Per Share, 5% Redeemable [Member] Document Period End Date Document Period End Date Entity Information [Line Items] Entity Information [Line Items] Document Type Document Type