Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Line Items]

Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]

Income tax expense (benefit) consists of the following for the years ended December 31 (in millions):

	2015			2014			2013
Current:
Federal	$	(929	)	$	(1,872	)	$	(985	)
State	29			(3		)	(2		)
Foreign	84			129			121
	(816		)	(1,746		)	(866		)
Deferred:
Federal	1,310			2,296			1,306
State	(53		)	37			(247		)
Foreign	17			11			(59		)
	1,274			2,344			1,000
Investment tax credits	(8		)	(9		)	(4		)
Total	$	450		$	589		$	130

Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

A reconciliation of the federal statutory income tax rate to the effective income tax rate applicable to income before income tax expense is as follows for the years ended December 31:

	2015		2014		2013
Federal statutory income tax rate	35	%	35	%	35	%
Income tax credits	(11	)	(10	)	(14	)
State income tax, net of federal income tax benefit	(1	)	1		(9	)
Income tax effect of foreign income	(7	)	(3	)	(6	)
Equity income (loss)	2		2		(1	)
Other, net	(2	)	(2	)	2
Effective income tax rate	16	%	23	%	7	%

Components of Net Deferred Income Tax Liability [Table Text Block]

The net deferred income tax liability consists of the following as of December 31 (in millions):

	2015			2014
Deferred income tax assets:
Federal, state and foreign carryforwards	$	865		$	781
Regulatory liabilities	834			812
AROs	317			249
Employee benefits	190			187
Derivative contracts	83			62
Other	815			781
Total deferred income tax assets	3,104			2,872
Valuation allowances	(35		)	(23		)
Total deferred income tax assets, net	3,069			2,849
Deferred income tax liabilities:
Property-related items	(13,157		)	(11,989		)
Regulatory assets	(1,446		)	(1,374		)
Investments	(852		)	(699		)
Other	(299		)	(301		)
Total deferred income tax liabilities	(15,754		)	(14,363		)
Net deferred income tax liability	$	(12,685	)	$	(11,514	)

Summary of Operating Loss Carryforwards [Table Text Block]

The following table provides the Company's net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards and expiration dates as of December 31, 2015 (in millions):

	Federal		State
Net operating loss carryforwards(1)	$	185	$	10,084
Deferred income taxes on net operating loss carryforwards	$	69	$	589
Expiration dates	2023-2026		2016-2035
Foreign and other tax credits(2)	$	176	$	31
Expiration dates	2023- indefinite		2016- indefinite

(1) The federal net operating loss carry forwards relate principally to net operating loss carry forwards of subsidiaries that are tax residents in both the United States and the United Kingdom. The net operating loss carry forwards were generated prior to Berkshire Hathaway Inc.'s ownership and will begin to expire in 2022.

(2) Includes $102 million of deferred foreign tax credits associated with the federal income tax on unremitted tax earnings and profit pools that will begin to be creditable and expire 10 years after the date the foreign earnings are repatriated through actual or deemed dividends. As of December 31, 2015 the statute of limitation had not begun on the foreign tax credit carryforwards.

Net Unrecognized Tax Benefits Roll Forward [Table Text Block]

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the Company's net unrecognized tax benefits is as follows for the years ended December 31 (in millions):

	2015			2014
Beginning balance	$	220		$	211
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	3			11
Additions for tax positions of prior years	46			48
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(58		)	(50		)
Statute of limitations	(6		)	(1		)
Settlements	(6		)	—
Interest and penalties	(1		)	1
Ending balance	$	198		$	220

PacifiCorp [Member]

Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Line Items]

Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]

Income tax expense (benefit) consists of the following for the years ended December 31 (in millions):

	2015			2014			2013
Current:
Federal	$	130		$	2		$	54
State	26			10			13
Total	156			12			67
Deferred:
Federal	148			260			204
State	29			43			29
Total	177			303			233
Investment tax credits	(5		)	(6		)	(3		)
Total income tax expense	$	328		$	309		$	297

Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

A reconciliation of the federal statutory income tax rate to the effective income tax rate applicable to income before income tax expense is as follows for the years ended December 31:

	2015		2014		2013
Federal statutory income tax rate	35	%	35	%	35	%
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit	3		3		3
Federal income tax credits	(6	)	(7	)	(7	)
Other	—		—		(1	)
Effective income tax rate	32	%	31	%	30	%

Components of Net Deferred Income Tax Liability [Table Text Block]

The net deferred income tax liability consists of the following as of December 31 (in millions):

	2015			2014
Deferred income tax assets:
Regulatory liabilities	$	374		$	362
Employee benefits	189			184
Derivative contracts and unamortized contract values	94			79
State carryforwards	68			68
Loss contingencies	67			70
Asset retirement obligations	81			47
Other	88			92
	961			902
Deferred income tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment	(5,030		)	(4,780		)
Regulatory assets	(639		)	(647		)
Other	(42		)	(56		)
	(5,711		)	(5,483		)
Net deferred income tax liability	$	(4,750	)	$	(4,581	)

Summary of Operating Loss Carryforwards [Table Text Block]

The following table provides PacifiCorp's net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards and expiration dates as of December 31, 2015 (in millions):

	State
Net operating loss carryforwards	$	1,416
Deferred income taxes on net operating loss carryforwards	$	52
Expiration dates	2016 - 2032
Tax credit carryforwards	$	16
Expiration dates	2016 - indefinite

MidAmerican Energy Company [Member]

Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Line Items]

Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]

MidAmerican Energy's income tax benefit consists of the following for the years ended December 31 (in millions):

	2015			2014			2013
Current:
Federal	$	(405	)	$	(401	)	$	(196	)
State	(10		)	(3		)	(10		)
	(415		)	(404		)	(206		)
Deferred:
Federal	281			299			101
State	(6		)	2			3
	275			301			104
Investment tax credits	(1		)	(1		)	(1		)
Total	$	(141	)	$	(104	)	$	(103	)

Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

A reconciliation of the federal statutory income tax rate to MidAmerican Energy's effective income tax rate applicable to income before income tax benefit is as follows for the years ended December 31:

	2015		2014		2013
Federal statutory income tax rate	35	%	35	%	35	%
Income tax credits	(65	)	(59	)	(70	)
State income tax, net of federal income tax benefit	(3	)	—		(2	)
Effects of ratemaking	(12	)	(8	)	(3	)
Other, net	1		(1	)	(2	)
Effective income tax rate	(44	)%	(33	)%	(42	)%

Components of Net Deferred Income Tax Liability [Table Text Block]

MidAmerican Energy's net deferred income tax liability consists of the following as of December 31 (in millions):

	2015			2014
Deferred income tax assets:
Regulatory liabilities	$	327		$	332
Employee benefits	66			68
Derivative contracts	29			30
Asset retirement obligations	214			185
Other	59			59
Total deferred income tax assets	695			674
Deferred income tax liabilities:
Depreciable property	(3,321		)	(2,945		)
Regulatory assets	(418		)	(366		)
Other	(17		)	(25		)
Total deferred income tax liabilities	(3,756		)	(3,336		)
Net deferred income tax liability	$	(3,061	)	$	(2,662	)

Net Unrecognized Tax Benefits Roll Forward [Table Text Block]

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of MidAmerican Energy's net unrecognized tax benefits is as follows for the years ended December 31 (in millions):

	2015			2014
Beginning balance	$	26		$	29
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	3			6
Additions for tax positions of prior years	47			38
Reductions based on tax positions related to the current year	(6		)	(4		)
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(46		)	(40		)
Statute of limitations	(5		)	(3		)
Settlements	(6		)	—
Interest and penalties	(3		)	—
Ending balance	$	10		$	26

MidAmerican Funding, LLC and Subsidiaries [Domain]

Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Line Items]

Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]

MidAmerican Funding's income tax benefit consists of the following for the years ended December 31 (in millions):

	2015			2014			2013
Current:
Federal	$	(408	)	$	(404	)	$	(200	)
State	(12		)	(4		)	(12		)
	(420		)	(408		)	(212		)
Deferred:
Federal	282			297			100
State	(5		)	2			3
	277			299			103
Investment tax credits	(1		)	(1		)	(1		)
Total	$	(144	)	$	(110	)	$	(110	)

Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

A reconciliation of the federal statutory income tax rate MidAmerican Funding's the effective income tax rate applicable to income before income tax benefit is as follows for the years ended December 31:

	2015		2014		2013
Federal statutory income tax rate	35	%	35	%	35	%
Income tax credits	(67	)	(61	)	(75	)
State income tax, net of federal income tax benefit	(3	)	(1	)	(3	)
Effects of ratemaking	(12	)	(9	)	(3	)
Other, net	1		(1	)	(2	)
Effective income tax rate	(46	)%	(37	)%	(48	)%

Components of Net Deferred Income Tax Liability [Table Text Block]

MidAmerican Funding's net deferred income tax liability consists of the following as of December 31 (in millions):

	2015			2014
Deferred income tax assets:
Regulatory liabilities	$	327		$	332
Employee benefits	66			68
Derivative contracts	29			30
Asset retirement obligations	214			185
Other	68			70
Total deferred income tax assets	704			685
Deferred income tax liabilities:
Depreciable property	(3,326		)	(2,950		)
Regulatory assets	(418		)	(366		)
Other	(16		)	(25		)
Total deferred income tax liabilities	(3,760		)	(3,341		)
Net deferred income tax liability	$	(3,056	)	$	(2,656	)

Net Unrecognized Tax Benefits Roll Forward [Table Text Block]

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of MidAmerican Funding's net unrecognized tax benefits is as follows for the years ended December 31 (in millions):

	2015			2014
Beginning balance	$	26		$	29
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	4			6
Additions for tax positions of prior years	46			38
Reductions based on tax positions related to the current year	(6		)	(4		)
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(46		)	(40		)
Statute of limitations	(5		)	(3		)
Settlements	(6		)	—
Interest and penalties	(3		)	—
Ending balance	$	10		$	26

Nevada Power Company [Member]

Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Line Items]

Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]

Income tax expense (benefit) consists of the following for the years ended December 31 (in millions):

	2015			2014			2013
Current – Federal	$	—		$	—		$	(1	)
Deferred – Federal	163			131			96
Investment tax credits	(1		)	(1		)	(1		)
Total income tax expense	$	162		$	130		$	94

Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

A reconciliation of the federal statutory income rate to the effective income tax rate applicable to income before income tax expense is as follows for the years ended December 31:

	2015		2014		2013
Federal statutory income tax rate	35	%	35	%	35	%
Non-deductible BHE Merger related expenses	—		—		3
Effects of ratemaking	1		1		1
Effective income tax rate	36	%	36	%	39	%

Components of Net Deferred Income Tax Liability [Table Text Block]

The net deferred income tax liability consists of the following as of December 31 (in millions):

	2015			2014
Deferred income tax assets:
Federal net operating loss and credit carryforwards	$	15		$	158
Capital and financial leases	174			178
Employee benefits	30			22
Regulatory liabilities	47			37
Other	39			57
Total deferred income tax assets	305			452
Valuation allowance	(5		)	(2		)
Total deferred income tax assets, net	300			450
Deferred income tax liabilities:
Property related items	(1,242		)	(1,175		)
Regulatory assets	(275		)	(341		)
Capital and financial leases	(169		)	(174		)
Other	(19		)	(29		)
Total deferred income tax liabilities	(1,705		)	(1,719		)
Net deferred income tax liability	$	(1,405	)	$	(1,269	)

Summary of Operating Loss Carryforwards [Table Text Block]

The following table provides Nevada Power's federal net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards and expiration dates as of December 31, 2015 (in millions):

Net operating loss carryforwards	$	4
Deferred income taxes on federal net operating loss carryforwards	$	1
Expiration dates	2031 - 2035
Other tax credits	$	14
Expiration dates	2016 - 2035

Sierra Pacific Power Company [Member]

Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Line Items]

Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]

Income tax expense (benefit) consists of the following for the years ended December 31 (in millions):

	2015			2014			2013
Current – Federal	$	—		$	—		$	(2	)
Deferred:
Federal	48			48			38
State	—			—			(2		)
Total deferred	48			48			36
Investment tax credits	(1		)	(1		)	(1		)
Total income tax expense	$	47		$	47		$	33

Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

A reconciliation of the federal statutory income rate to the effective income tax rate applicable to income before income tax expense is as follows for the years ended December 31:

	2015		2014		2013
Federal statutory income tax rate	35	%	35	%	35	%
Non-deductible BHE Merger related expenses	—		—		1
Effects of ratemaking	1		1		1
Other	—		(1	)	—
Effective income tax rate	36	%	35	%	37	%

Components of Net Deferred Income Tax Liability [Table Text Block]

The net deferred income tax liability consists of the following as of December 31 (in millions):

	2015			2014
Deferred income tax assets:
Net operating loss and credit carryforwards	$	39		$	56
Employee benefit plans	25			22
Regulatory liabilities	19			21
Capital and financial lease liabilities	13			9
Customer Advances	8			7
Other	12			15
Total deferred income tax assets	$	116		$	130
Deferred income tax liabilities:
Property related items	$	(538	)	$	(478	)
Regulatory assets	(121		)	(147		)
Capital and financial leases	(13		)	(9		)
Other	(14		)	(20		)
Total deferred income tax liabilities	$	(686	)	$	(654	)
Net deferred income tax liability	$	(570	)	$	(524	)

Summary of Operating Loss Carryforwards [Table Text Block]

The following table provides Sierra Pacific's federal net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards and expiration dates as of December 31, 2015 (in millions):

Net operating loss carryforwards	$	95
Deferred income taxes on federal net operating loss carryforwards	$	33
Expiration dates	2031 - 2035
Other tax credits	$	5
Expiration dates	2016 - 2035