Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019		Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	$ 4,610		$ 4,440
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(720)		(704)
Depreciation and amortization	733		716
Operating income	919		871
Interest expense	477		466
Capitalized interest	16		12
Allowance for equity funds	32		21
Interest and dividend income	30		26
Losses on marketable securities, net	(68)		(209)
Other, net	35		30
Income before income tax expense and equity income	487		285
Assets	94,545			$ 92,189
PacifiCorp [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	1,259		1,184
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(205)		(202)
Operating income	284		247
Interest expense	96		96
Assets	24,211			23,478
MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	842		747
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(177)		(158)
Operating income	116		79
Interest expense	75		63
Assets	20,845			20,029
NV Energy, Inc. [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	614		617
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(120)		(113)
Operating income	84		89
Interest expense	62		58
Assets	14,105			14,119
Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	263		278
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(63)		(63)
Operating income	129		147
Interest expense	34		37
Assets	7,626			7,427
BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	371		376
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(28)		(42)
Operating income	243		226
Interest expense	12		10
Assets	5,579			5,511
BHE Transmission [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	168		180
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(58)		(62)
Operating income	76		81
Interest expense	39		43
Assets	8,567			8,424
BHE Renewables [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	167		154
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(70)		(64)
Operating income	18		28
Interest expense	44		52
Assets	8,654			8,666
HomeServices [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	785		761
Depreciation and amortization	13		12
Operating income	(21)		(8)
Interest expense	7		4
Assets	3,427			2,797
Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	141	[1]	143
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(1)		0
Operating income	(10)		(18)
Interest expense	108		103
Assets	1,531			$ 1,738
UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	4,177		3,978
Income before income tax expense and equity income	336		118
UNITED KINGDOM
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	263		277
Income before income tax expense and equity income	103		112
CANADA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	168		180
Income before income tax expense and equity income	40		41
The Philippines and other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	2		5
Income before income tax expense and equity income	$ 8		$ 14

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