Revenue from Contract with Customer Revenue from Contract with Customer (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		$ 14,972
Revenues		19,787		$ 18,614	$ 17,422
PacifiCorp [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		4,890
Revenues		5,026		5,237	5,201
MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		3,032
Revenues		3,053		2,846	2,631
NV Energy, Inc. [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		3,011
Revenues		3,039
Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		931
Revenues		1,020		949	995
BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,232
Revenues		1,203
BHE Transmission [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		710
Revenues		710		699	502
BHE Renewables [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		673
Revenues		908
Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	[1]	493
Revenues	[2]	614	[1]	594	676
Regulated Operation [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		13,612
Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		4,890
Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		3,018
Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		3,011
Regulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		892
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,232
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		700
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Regulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	[1]	(131)
Other customer revenue [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		2
Other customer revenue [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Other customer revenue [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Other customer revenue [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		2
Other customer revenue [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Other customer revenue [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Other customer revenue [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Other customer revenue [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Other customer revenue [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	[1]	0
Nonregulated products and services [Member] | Nonregulated Operation [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,360
Nonregulated products and services [Member] | Nonregulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Nonregulated products and services [Member] | Nonregulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		14
Nonregulated products and services [Member] | Nonregulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Nonregulated products and services [Member] | Nonregulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		39
Nonregulated products and services [Member] | Nonregulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Nonregulated products and services [Member] | Nonregulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		10
Nonregulated products and services [Member] | Nonregulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		673
Nonregulated products and services [Member] | Nonregulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	[1]	624
Regulated interstate pipeline [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,107
Regulated interstate pipeline [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Regulated interstate pipeline [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Regulated interstate pipeline [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Regulated interstate pipeline [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Regulated interstate pipeline [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,232
Regulated interstate pipeline [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Regulated interstate pipeline [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Regulated interstate pipeline [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	[1]	(125)
Regulated transmission and distribution [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,846
Regulated transmission and distribution [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		103
Regulated transmission and distribution [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		56
Regulated transmission and distribution [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		96
Regulated transmission and distribution [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		892
Regulated transmission and distribution [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Regulated transmission and distribution [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		700
Regulated transmission and distribution [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Regulated transmission and distribution [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	[1]	(1)
Regulated wholesale [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		501
Regulated wholesale [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		55
Regulated wholesale [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		411
Regulated wholesale [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		39
Regulated wholesale [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Regulated wholesale [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Regulated wholesale [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Regulated wholesale [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Regulated wholesale [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	[1]	(4)
Regulated retail gas [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		737
Regulated retail gas [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Regulated retail gas [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		636
Regulated retail gas [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		101
Regulated retail gas [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Regulated retail gas [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Regulated retail gas [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Regulated retail gas [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Regulated retail gas [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	[1]	0
Regulated retail electric [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		9,419
Regulated retail electric [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		4,732
Regulated retail electric [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,915
Regulated retail electric [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		2,773
Regulated retail electric [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Regulated retail electric [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Regulated retail electric [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Regulated retail electric [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0
Regulated retail electric [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	[1]	(1)
Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	[3]	601
Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	[3]	136
Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	[3]	21
Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	[3]	28
Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	[3]	89
Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	[3]	(29)
Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	[3]	0
Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	[3]	235
Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	[1],[3]	121
Electricity and natural gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues		15,573		15,171	14,621
Nevada Power Company [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues		2,184		2,206	2,083
Unbilled Contracts Receivable		106		111
Nevada Power Company [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		2,160
Nevada Power Company [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		2,107
Nevada Power Company [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues		24
Nevada Power Company [Member] | Regulated wholesale, transmission and other [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		53
PacifiCorp [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues		5,026		5,237	$ 5,201	$ 5,232	$ 5,252
Unbilled Contracts Receivable		229		$ 255
PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		4,890
PacifiCorp [Member] | Other customer revenue [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		76
PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		103
PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		55
PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		4,656
PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Residential [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,737
PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Commercial [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,513
PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Industrial [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,172
PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		234
PacifiCorp [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues		$ 136

[1] (1)The BHE and Other reportable segment represents amounts related principally to other entities, corporate functions and intersegment eliminations.

[2] (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.

[3] (2)Includes net payments to counterparties for the financial settlement of certain derivative contracts at BHE Pipeline Group.