Revenue from Contracts with Customers Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2018		Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018		Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Unbilled Contracts Receivable		$ 624			$ 624			$ 665
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		4,270			11,358
Operating revenue		5,637		$ 5,283	15,070		$ 14,003
Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		149			460
Electricity and natural gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		4,419		4,322	11,818		11,501
PacifiCorp [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,343			3,637
Operating revenue		1,369		1,430	3,746		3,956
PacifiCorp [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		26			109
MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		828			2,279
Operating revenue		832		815	2,297		2,170
MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		4			18
NV Energy, Inc. [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,052			2,405
Operating revenue		1,059		1,047	2,426		2,384
NV Energy, Inc. [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		7			21
Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		206			692
Operating revenue		233		221	757		685
Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		27			65
BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		283			893
Operating revenue		259			871
BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue	[1]	(24)			(22)
BHE Transmission [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		174			531
Operating revenue		174		182	531		506
BHE Transmission [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		0			0
BHE Renewables [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		235			538
Operating revenue		320			720
BHE Renewables [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		85			182
Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	[2]	149			383
Operating revenue		173	[2]	151	470	[2]	453
Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue	[2]	24			87
Regulated Operation [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		3,844			10,297
Regulated Operation [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		2,971			7,303
Regulated Operation [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		96			500
Regulated Operation [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		80			306
Regulated Operation [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		439			1,385
Regulated Operation [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		258			802
Regulated Operation [Member] | Other customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			1
Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,343			3,637
Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,323			3,534
Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		(10)	[3]		21
Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		30			82
Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Other customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		826			2,272
Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		647			1,538
Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		83			428
Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		82			262
Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		14			44
Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Other customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,052			2,404
Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,002			2,232
Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		13			72
Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		9			26
Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		28			73
Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member] | Other customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			1
Regulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		196			661
Regulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		196			661
Regulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member] | Other customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		283			893
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		283			893
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Other customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		171			525
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		171			525
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member] | Other customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member] | Other customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	[2]	(27)			(95)
Regulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	[2]	(1)			(1)
Regulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	[2]	0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	[2]	(1)			(3)
Regulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	[2]	0			0
Regulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	[2]	(25)			(91)
Regulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member] | Other customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	[2]	0			0
Unregulated Operation [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		426			1,061
Unregulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Unregulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		2			7
Unregulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			1
Unregulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		10			31
Unregulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0			0
Unregulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		3			6
Unregulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		235			538
Unregulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	[2]	176			478
PacifiCorp [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Unbilled Contracts Receivable		229			229			$ 255
Operating revenue		1,369		$ 1,430	3,746		$ 3,956
PacifiCorp [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		26			109
PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,343			3,637
PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,307			3,479
PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		(10)			21
PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		30			82
PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Other customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		$ 16			$ 55

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

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

[3] (2)Includes net payments to counterparties for the financial settlement of certain non-derivative forward contracts for energy sales at PacifiCorp.