Jointly Owned Utility Facilities (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Facility in Service	$ 6,767
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	2,944
Construction Work in Progress	332
PacifiCorp [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Facility in Service	3,250
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	1,267
Construction Work in Progress	62
PacifiCorp [Member] | Jim Bridger Nos. 1-4 [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Company Share	67.00%
Facility in Service	1,087
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	505
Construction Work in Progress	33
PacifiCorp [Member] | Hunter No 1 [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Company Share	94.00%
Facility in Service	391
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	143
Construction Work in Progress	19
PacifiCorp [Member] | Hunter No. 2 [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Company Share	60.00%
Facility in Service	301
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	81
Construction Work in Progress	0
PacifiCorp [Member] | Wyodak [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Company Share	80.00%
Facility in Service	450
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	158
Construction Work in Progress	2
PacifiCorp [Member] | Colstrip Nos. 3 and 4 [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Company Share	10.00%
Facility in Service	223
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	119
Construction Work in Progress	1
PacifiCorp [Member] | Hermiston [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Company Share	50.00%	[1]
Facility in Service	172	[1]
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	56	[1]
Construction Work in Progress	1	[1]
Percentage Of Remaining Output The Entity Has Contracted To Purchase	50.00%
PacifiCorp [Member] | Craig Nos. 1 and 2 [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Company Share	19.00%
Facility in Service	177
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	92
Construction Work in Progress	4
PacifiCorp [Member] | Hayden No. 1 [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Company Share	25.00%
Facility in Service	55
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	24
Construction Work in Progress	1
PacifiCorp [Member] | Hayden No. 2 [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Company Share	13.00%
Facility in Service	32
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	16
Construction Work in Progress	0
PacifiCorp [Member] | Foote Creek [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Company Share	79.00%
Facility in Service	37
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	20
Construction Work in Progress	0
PacifiCorp [Member] | Transmission and distribution facilities [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Company Share	Various
Facility in Service	325
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	53
Construction Work in Progress	1
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Facility in Service	3,176
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	1,494
Construction Work in Progress	270
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Transmission and distribution facilities [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Company Share	Various
Facility in Service	238
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	75
Construction Work in Progress	0
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Louisa No. 1 [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Company Share	88.00%
Facility in Service	738
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	368
Construction Work in Progress	1
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Walter Scott, Jr. No. 3 [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Company Share	79.00%
Facility in Service	542
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	269
Construction Work in Progress	1
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Walter Scott, Jr. No. 4 [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Company Share	60.00%	[2]
Facility in Service	437	[2]
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	65	[2]
Construction Work in Progress	1	[2]
Revenue Sharing Credits Netted Against Facility In Service	319
Revenue Sharing Credits Netted Against Accumulated Depreciation	46
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Quad Cities Nos 1 and 2 [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Company Share	25.00%	[3]
Facility in Service	595	[3]
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	272	[3]
Construction Work in Progress	37	[3]
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Ottumwa No. 1 [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Company Share	52.00%
Facility in Service	274
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	166
Construction Work in Progress	88
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | George Neal No. 3 [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Company Share	72.00%
Facility in Service	181
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	136
Construction Work in Progress	71
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | George Neal No. 4 [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Company Share	41.00%
Facility in Service	171
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	143
Construction Work in Progress	71
MidAmerican Energy Pipeline Group [Member] | MidAmerican Energy Pipeline Group - common facilities [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Company Share	Various
Facility in Service	341
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization	183
Construction Work in Progress	$ 0

[1] PacifiCorp has contracted to purchase the remaining 50% of the output of the Hermiston generating facility.

[2] Facility in service and accumulated depreciation and amortization amounts are net of credits applied under Iowa revenue sharing arrangements totaling $319 million and $46 million, respectively.

[3] Includes amounts related to nuclear fuel.