Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations		$ 14,621	$ 15,354	$ 15,182
Real estate		2,801	2,526	2,144
Revenues		17,422	17,880	17,326
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		2,560	2,399	2,028
Depreciation and amortization		2,591	2,428	2,057
Operating income (loss)		4,251	4,328	4,046
Interest expense		1,854	1,904	1,711
Capitalized interest		(139)	(74)	(89)
Allowance for equity funds		158	91	98
Investment Income, Interest and Dividend		120	107	38
Other, net		36	39	42
Income before income tax expense and equity income		2,850	2,735	2,602
Income tax expense		403	450	589
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		5,090	5,875	6,555
Property, plant and equipment, net		62,509	60,769	59,248
Assets		85,440	83,618	81,816
PacifiCorp [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations		5,201	5,232	5,252
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		783	780	745
Operating income (loss)		1,427	1,344	1,308
Interest expense		381	383	386
Income tax expense		341	328	310
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		903	916	1,066
Property, plant and equipment, net		19,162	19,039	18,755
Assets		23,563	23,550	23,404
MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations		2,631	2,515	2,844
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		479	407	351
Operating income (loss)		566	451	395
Interest expense		218	206	197
Income tax expense		(139)	(150)	(122)
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		1,637	1,448	1,527
Property, plant and equipment, net		12,835	11,737	10,535
Assets		17,571	16,315	15,164
NV Energy [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations		2,895	3,351	3,241
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		421	410	379
Operating income (loss)		770	812	791
Interest expense		250	262	283
Income tax expense		200	207	195
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		529	571	558
Property, plant and equipment, net		9,825	9,767	9,648
Assets		14,320	14,656	14,256
Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations		995	1,140	1,283
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		200	202	198
Operating income (loss)		494	593	674
Interest expense		136	145	151
Income tax expense		22	35	110
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		579	674	675
Property, plant and equipment, net		5,148	5,790	5,599
Assets		6,433	7,317	7,059
BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations		978	1,016	1,078
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		206	204	196
Operating income (loss)		455	464	439
Interest expense		50	66	76
Income tax expense		163	158	149
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		226	240	257
Property, plant and equipment, net		4,423	4,345	4,286
Assets		5,144	4,953	4,951
BHE Transmission [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations		502	592	62
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		241	185	13
Operating income (loss)		92	260	16
Interest expense		153	146	14
Income tax expense		26	63	28
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		466	966	222
Property, plant and equipment, net		5,810	5,301	5,567
Assets		8,378	7,553	7,979
BHE Renewables [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations		743	728	623
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		230	216	152
Operating income (loss)		256	255	314
Interest expense		198	193	175
Income tax expense		(32)	41	65
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		719	1,034	2,221
Property, plant and equipment, net		5,302	4,805	4,897
Assets		7,010	5,892	6,082
HomeServices [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate		2,801	2,526	2,144
Depreciation and amortization		31	29	29
Operating income (loss)		212	184	125
Interest expense		2	3	4
Income tax expense		81	72	44
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		20	16	17
Property, plant and equipment, net		78	70	68
Assets		1,776	1,705	1,622
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	[1]	676	780	799
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	[1]	0	(5)	(6)
Operating income (loss)	[1]	(21)	(35)	(16)
Interest expense	[1]	466	500	425
Income tax expense	[1]	(259)	(304)	(190)
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		11	10	12
Property, plant and equipment, net		(74)	(85)	(107)
Assets		1,245	1,677	1,299
UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		15,895	16,121	15,857
Income before income tax expense and equity income		2,264	2,034	2,001
Property, plant and equipment, net		51,671	49,680	47,918
United Kingdom
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		995	1,140	1,281
Income before income tax expense and equity income		382	472	557
Property, plant and equipment, net		5,020	5,757	5,563
CANADA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		506	600	78
Income before income tax expense and equity income		135	165	4
Property, plant and equipment, net		5,803	5,298	5,570
The Philippines and other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		26	19	110
Income before income tax expense and equity income		69	64	40
Property, plant and equipment, net		$ 15	$ 34	$ 197

[1] (1)The differences between the reportable segment amounts and the consolidated amounts, described as BHE and Other, relate to other corporate entities, including MidAmerican Energy Services, LLC, corporate functions and intersegment eliminations.