Employee Benefit Plans - MEC - Funded Status (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
United States Pension Plan of US Entity [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 2,489	$ 2,718
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Employer	78	13
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Plan Participants	0	0
Defined Benefit Plan, Actual Return on Plan Assets	163	(17)
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefits Paid	(194)	(202)
Ending balance	2,525	2,489	$ 2,718
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	2,934	3,119
Defined Benefit Plan, Service Cost	29	33	36
Defined Benefit Plan, Interest Cost	126	121	131
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Plan Participants	0	0
Defined Benefit Plan, Actuarial Gain (Loss)	67	(110)
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefits Paid	(194)	(202)
Ending balance	2,952	2,934	3,119
Defined Benefit Plan, Accumulated Benefit Obligation	2,929	2,906
Defined Benefit Plan, Funded Status of Plan [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Funded Status of Plan	(427)	(445)
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits, Noncurrent	26	7
Other current liabilities	(15)	(15)
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities, Noncurrent	(438)	(437)
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet	(427)	(445)
Domestic Other Postretirement Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	662	858
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Employer	2	2
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Plan Participants	10	9
Defined Benefit Plan, Actual Return on Plan Assets	41	0
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefits Paid	(49)	(57)
Ending balance	666	662	858
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	740	936
Defined Benefit Plan, Service Cost	9	11	14
Defined Benefit Plan, Interest Cost	31	31	46
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Plan Participants	10	9
Defined Benefit Plan, Actuarial Gain (Loss)	(7)	(43)
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefits Paid	(49)	(57)
Ending balance	734	740	936
Defined Benefit Plan, Funded Status of Plan [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Funded Status of Plan	(68)	(78)
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits, Noncurrent	19	15
Other current liabilities	0	0
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities, Noncurrent	(87)	(93)
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet	(68)	(78)
Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans, Supplemental Employee Retirement Plans [Abstract]
Life Insurance, Corporate or Bank Owned, Amount	242	228
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans, Supplemental Employee Retirement Plans [Abstract]
Life Insurance, Corporate or Bank Owned, Amount	184	175
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | United States Pension Plan of US Entity [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	678	730
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Employer	7	7
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Plan Participants	0	0
Defined Benefit Plan, Actual Return on Plan Assets	57	4
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefits Paid	(58)	(63)
Ending balance	684	678	730
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	785	840
Defined Benefit Plan, Service Cost	10	12	14
Defined Benefit Plan, Interest Cost	34	32	35
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Plan Participants	0	0
Defined Benefit Plan, Actuarial Gain (Loss)	2	(36)
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefits Paid	(58)	(63)
Ending balance	773	785	840
Defined Benefit Plan, Accumulated Benefit Obligation	764	773
Defined Benefit Plan, Funded Status of Plan [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Funded Status of Plan	(89)	(107)
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits, Noncurrent	26	7
Other current liabilities	(8)	(8)
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities, Noncurrent	(107)	(106)
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet	(89)	(107)
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Domestic Other Postretirement Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	249	259
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Employer	1	1
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Plan Participants	1	1
Defined Benefit Plan, Actual Return on Plan Assets	14	0
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefits Paid	(13)	(12)
Ending balance	252	249	259
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	234	249
Defined Benefit Plan, Service Cost	5	7	6
Defined Benefit Plan, Interest Cost	10	9	10
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Plan Participants	1	1
Defined Benefit Plan, Actuarial Gain (Loss)	(4)	(20)
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefits Paid	(13)	(12)
Ending balance	233	234	$ 249
Defined Benefit Plan, Funded Status of Plan [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Funded Status of Plan	19	15
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits, Noncurrent	19	15
Other current liabilities	0	0
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities, Noncurrent	0	0
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet	19	15
BHE [Member] | MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans, Supplemental Employee Retirement Plans [Abstract]
Life Insurance, Corporate or Bank Owned, Amount	166	156
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans, Supplemental Employee Retirement Plans [Abstract]
Life Insurance, Corporate or Bank Owned, Amount	$ 110	$ 104