Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 4,440	$ 4,166
Sales revenue from energy operations	3,679	3,581
Real estate	761	585
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(704)	(610)
Depreciation and amortization	716	622
Operating income	871	967
Interest expense	466	458
Capitalized interest	12	10
Allowance for equity funds	21	17
Interest and dividend income	26	26
Realized and unrealized (loss) gain on marketable securities, net	(209)
Gain on Sale of Investments		3
Other, net	30	26
Income before income tax expense and equity income	285	591
Assets	90,912		$ 90,208
PacifiCorp [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	1,184	1,281
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(202)	(196)
Operating income	247	339
Interest expense	96	95
Assets	22,989		23,086
MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	747	696
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(158)	(117)
Operating income	79	102
Interest expense	63	59
Assets	18,707		18,444
NV Energy, Inc. [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	617	584
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(113)	(104)
Operating income	89	98
Interest expense	58	58
Assets	13,911		13,903
Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	278	245
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(63)	(49)
Operating income	147	140
Interest expense	37	31
Assets	7,897		7,565
BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	376	315
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(42)	(30)
Operating income	226	208
Interest expense	10	12
Assets	5,252		5,134
BHE Transmission [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	180	166
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(62)	(54)
Operating income	81	77
Interest expense	43	41
Assets	8,762		9,009
BHE Renewables [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	154	144
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(64)	(61)
Operating income	28	15
Interest expense	52	50
Assets	7,790		7,687
HomeServices [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate	761	585
Depreciation and amortization	12	12
Operating income	(8)	2
Interest expense	4	1
Assets	2,739		2,722
Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	143	150
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	0	1
Operating income	(18)	(14)
Interest expense	103	111
Assets	2,865		$ 2,658
UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	3,978	3,747
Income before income tax expense and equity income	118	423
UNITED KINGDOM
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	277	245
Income before income tax expense and equity income	112	102
CANADA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	180	166
Income before income tax expense and equity income	41	42
The Philippines and other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	5	8
Income before income tax expense and equity income	$ 14	$ 24