Revenue from Contracts with Customers Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Unbilled Contracts Receivable	$ 582		$ 665
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	3,524
Energy	3,679	$ 3,581
Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Energy	155
MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	741
Energy	747	696
MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Energy	6
PacifiCorp [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,140
Energy	1,184	1,281
PacifiCorp [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Energy	44
NV Energy, Inc. [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	610
Energy	617	584
NV Energy, Inc. [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Energy	7
Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	260
Energy	278	245
Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Energy	18
BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	374
Energy	376	315
BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Energy	2
BHE Transmission [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	180
Energy	180	166
BHE Transmission [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Energy	0
BHE Renewables [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	117
Energy	154	144
BHE Renewables [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Energy	37
Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	102
Energy	143	$ 150
Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Energy	41
Regulated Operation [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	3,252
Regulated Operation [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	2,021
Regulated Operation [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	286
Regulated Operation [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	125
Regulated Operation [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	487
Regulated Operation [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	333
Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	741
Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	386
Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	246
Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	93
Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	16
Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,140
Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,096
Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	22
Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	22
Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	610
Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	539
Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	40
Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	11
Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	20
Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	249
Regulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	249
Regulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	374
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	374
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	180
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	180
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	(42)
Regulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	(1)
Regulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	(41)
Unregulated Operation [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	272
Unregulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Unregulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Unregulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Unregulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	11
Unregulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Unregulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0
Unregulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	117
Unregulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 144