Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 2,910	$ 2,570	$ 2,400
Net income (loss) attributable to parent	2,870	2,542	2,370
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Other Nonrecurring (Income) Expense	455	62	(8)
Depreciation and amortization	2,646	2,591	2,428
Allowance for equity funds	(76)	(158)	(91)
Equity (income) loss, net of distributions	151	(123)	(115)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments, Net of Dividends or Distributions	260	(67)	(38)
Changes in regulatory assets and liabilities	31	(34)	356
Deferred income taxes and amortization of investment tax credits	19	1,090	1,265
Other, net	(2)	(142)	19
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
Trade receivables and other assets	(86)	(158)	(9)
Derivative collateral, net	(22)	32	(14)
Pension and other postretirement benefit plans	(91)	(79)	(11)
Accrued property, income and other taxes	(28)	377	877
Accounts payable and other liabilities	50	(28)	(194)
Net cash flows from operating activities	6,066	6,056	6,980
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(4,571)	(5,090)	(5,875)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(1,113)	(66)	(164)
Increase in restricted cash and investments	(81)	(36)	(28)
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	(190)	(141)	(144)
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities	202	191	142
Equity method investments	(368)	(570)	(202)
Other, net	(12)	(34)	41
Net cash flows from investing activities	(6,133)	(5,746)	(6,230)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of BHE senior debt and junior subordinated debentures	(2,323)	(2,000)	(850)
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	(19)	0	(36)
Proceeds from subsidiary debt	1,763	2,327	2,479
Repayments of subsidiary debt	(1,000)	(1,831)	(1,354)
Net proceeds from (repayments of) short-term debt	2,361	879	(421)
Payment for Debt Extinguishment or Debt Prepayment Cost	(435)	0	0
Other, net	(73)	(65)	(73)
Net cash flows from financing activities	274	(690)	(255)
Effect of exchange rate changes	7	(7)	(4)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	214	(387)	491
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	721	1,108	617
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	935	721	1,108
Parent Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	2,873	2,545	2,373
Net income (loss) attributable to parent	2,870	2,542	2,370
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	4	4	3
Equity (income) loss, net of distributions	(3,441)	(2,805)	(2,646)
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
Net cash flows from operating activities	2,450	2,760	2,528
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investments in subsidiaries	1,566	1,080	1,506
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	(71)	(24)	(36)
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities	68	20	47
Repayment of (Issuance of) Notes Receivable with Related Parties, Net	(305)	(307)	19
Other, net	(8)	(5)	(7)
Net cash flows from investing activities	(1,882)	(1,396)	(1,483)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	(19)	0	(36)
Net proceeds from (repayments of) short-term debt	2,498	581	(142)
Payment for Debt Extinguishment or Debt Prepayment Cost	(406)	0	0
Notes payable to affiliate, net	0	69	4
Other, net	(5)	(4)	(1)
Net cash flows from financing activities	(255)	(1,354)	(1,025)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	313	10	20
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	33	23	3
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	346	33	23
Repayments of BHE senior debt	1,379	0	0
Repayments of BHE subordinated debt	944	2,000	850
PacifiCorp [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss) attributable to parent	768	763	695
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Utilities Operating Expense, Depreciation and Amortization	796	770	757
Allowance for equity funds	(20)	(27)	(33)
Changes in regulatory assets and liabilities	18	122	63
Deferred income taxes and amortization of investment tax credits	70	139	172
Other, net	9	4	6
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
Trade receivables and other assets	48	(20)	6
Derivative collateral, net	(6)	6	(47)
Increase (Decrease) in Inventories	10	(21)	(7)
Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense	(8)	(5)	(1)
Increase (Decrease) in Income Taxes Payable, Net of Income Taxes Receivable	(49)	0	116
Accounts payable and other liabilities	(61)	(163)	7
Net cash flows from operating activities	1,575	1,568	1,734
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(769)	(903)	(916)
Other, net	40	34	(2)
Net cash flows from investing activities	(729)	(869)	(918)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt	0	0	248
Net proceeds from (repayments of) short-term debt	(190)	250	0
Repayments of long-term debt and capital lease obligations (PacifiCorp)	(58)	(68)	(124)
Common stock dividends	(600)	(875)	(950)
Other, net	(1)	(1)	(1)
Net cash flows from financing activities	(849)	(694)	(827)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(3)	5	(11)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	17	12	23
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	14	17	12
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss) attributable to parent	605	542	462
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Utilities Operating Expense, Depreciation and Amortization	500	479	407
Deferred income taxes and amortization of investment tax credits	332	361	275
Increase (Decrease) in Other Current Assets and Liabilities, Net	1	8	12
Increase (Decrease) in Other Noncurrent Assets and Liabilities, Net	37	47	49
Other, net	(59)	(91)	(58)
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts and Other Receivables	58	61	(91)
Derivative collateral, net	2	5	33
Increase (Decrease) in Inventories	19	(27)	(53)
Pension and other postretirement benefit plans	(11)	(6)	(8)
Accrued property, income and other taxes	(41)	107	217
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable	69	39	(76)
Increase (Decrease) in Other Current Assets and Liabilities, Net	1	8	12
Net cash flows from operating activities	1,396	1,403	1,351
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(1,773)	(1,636)	(1,446)
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	(143)	(138)	(142)
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities	137	158	135
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash and Investments	98	10	0
Other, net	3	11	3
Net cash flows from investing activities	(1,874)	(1,615)	(1,450)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt	990	62	649
Net proceeds from (repayments of) short-term debt	(99)	99	(50)
Repayments of Long-term Debt	(255)	(38)	(426)
Net cash flows from financing activities	636	123	173
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	158	(89)	74
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	14	103	29
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	172	14	103
MidAmerican Funding, LLC and Subsidiaries [Domain]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss) attributable to parent	574	532	458
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Other Nonrecurring (Income) Expense	29	0	0
Utilities Operating Expense, Depreciation and Amortization	500	479	407
Deferred income taxes and amortization of investment tax credits	334	362	276
Increase (Decrease) in Other Current Assets and Liabilities, Net	(1)	8	12
Increase (Decrease) in Other Noncurrent Assets and Liabilities, Net	37	47	49
Other, net	(58)	(92)	(69)
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts and Other Receivables	60	61	(93)
Derivative collateral, net	2	5	33
Increase (Decrease) in Inventories	19	(27)	(53)
Pension and other postretirement benefit plans	(11)	(6)	(8)
Accrued property, income and other taxes	(54)	107	213
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable	69	39	(76)
Increase (Decrease) in Other Current Assets and Liabilities, Net	(1)	8	12
Net cash flows from operating activities	1,380	1,393	1,335
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(1,773)	(1,636)	(1,446)
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	(143)	(138)	(142)
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities	137	158	135
Proceeds from Sales of Business, Affiliate and Productive Assets	2	2	13
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash and Investments	98	10	0
Other, net	(2)	10	2
Net cash flows from investing activities	(1,877)	(1,614)	(1,438)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt	990	62	649
Net proceeds from (repayments of) short-term debt	(99)	99	(50)
Payment for Debt Extinguishment or Debt Prepayment Cost	(29)	0	0
Repayments of Long-term Debt	(341)	(38)	(426)
Increase (Decrease) in Notes Payable, Related Parties, Current	133	9	3
Other, net	0	1	0
Net cash flows from financing activities	654	133	176
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	157	(88)	73
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	15	103	30
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	172	15	103
Nevada Power Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss) attributable to parent	255	279	288
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Other Nonrecurring (Income) Expense	(1)	1	(3)
Utilities Operating Expense, Depreciation and Amortization	308	303	297
Allowance for equity funds	(1)	(2)	(4)
Changes in regulatory assets and liabilities	50	131	4
Deferred Energy Change	(16)	(21)	176
Amortization Income (Expense) of Deferred Energy	16	(107)	36
Deferred income taxes and amortization of investment tax credits	94	78	162
Other, net	(3)	0	13
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
Trade receivables and other assets	8	26	(40)
Increase (Decrease) in Inventories	6	7	9
Accrued property, income and other taxes	(26)	63	0
Accounts payable and other liabilities	(23)	13	(46)
Net cash flows from operating activities	667	771	892
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(270)	(335)	(320)
Payments for Previous Acquisition	(77)	0	0
Proceeds from Sale of Other Property, Plant, and Equipment	4	0	9
Other, net	0	0	10
Net cash flows from investing activities	(343)	(335)	(301)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt	91	0	0
Repayments of Long-term Debt	(89)	(224)	(262)
Common stock dividends	(548)	(469)	(13)
Net cash flows from financing activities	(546)	(693)	(275)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(222)	(257)	316
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	279	536	220
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	57	279	536
Sierra Pacific Power Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss) attributable to parent	109	84	83
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Other Nonrecurring (Income) Expense	0	5	0
Utilities Operating Expense, Depreciation and Amortization	114	118	113
Allowance for equity funds	(4)	1	(2)
Changes in regulatory assets and liabilities	17	(17)	(21)
Deferred Energy Change	(20)	53	81
Amortization Income (Expense) of Deferred Energy	(47)	(54)	17
Deferred income taxes and amortization of investment tax credits	55	49	47
Other, net	(3)	0	(9)
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
Trade receivables and other assets	4	7	15
Increase (Decrease) in Inventories	(3)	(6)	1
Accrued property, income and other taxes	1	(3)	0
Accounts payable and other liabilities	(41)	6	17
Net cash flows from operating activities	182	243	342
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(186)	(194)	(252)
Other, net	0	0	2
Net cash flows from investing activities	(186)	(194)	(250)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt	0	1,089	0
Repayments of Long-term Debt	(2)	(1,138)	(1)
Common stock dividends	(45)	(51)	(7)
Net cash flows from financing activities	(47)	(100)	(8)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(51)	(51)	84
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	55	106	22
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 4	$ 55	$ 106