Segment Information - MEC (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) TheNumberOfReportableSegments OperatingSegments	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Reportable Segments | OperatingSegments	8
Revenues	$ 20,952	$ 19,844	$ 19,787
Operating income (loss)	4,291	4,150	4,072
Interest expense	2,021	1,912	1,838
Income tax (benefit) expense	308	(598)	(583)
Net income attributable to BHE shareholders	6,943	2,950	2,568
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	6,765	7,364	6,241
Assets	$ 127,316	100,051	92,189
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Reportable Segments | TheNumberOfReportableSegments	2
Revenues	$ 2,720	2,925	3,049
Depreciation and amortization	716	639	609
Operating income (loss)	448	548	551
Interest expense	304	281	227
Income tax (benefit) expense	(570)	(371)	(255)
Net income attributable to BHE shareholders	826	793	682
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	1,836	2,810	2,332
Assets	21,437	20,564	17,920
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	8	28	12
Operating income (loss)	0	4	1
Income tax (benefit) expense	0	1	2
Net income attributable to BHE shareholders	1	2	0
Assets	1	3	3
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Natural Gas US Regulated
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	573	660	754
Depreciation and amortization	49	46	44
Operating income (loss)	64	71	81
Interest expense	23	22	19
Income tax (benefit) expense	14	12	16
Net income attributable to BHE shareholders	45	52	54
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	132	126	109
Assets	1,544	1,468	1,406
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Electricity US Regulated
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	2,139	2,237	2,283
Depreciation and amortization	667	593	565
Operating income (loss)	384	473	469
Interest expense	281	259	208
Income tax (benefit) expense	(584)	(384)	(273)
Net income attributable to BHE shareholders	780	739	628
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	1,704	2,684	2,223
Assets	$ 19,892	$ 19,093	$ 16,511