Segment Information (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
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	$ 5,637		$ 5,283	$ 15,070		$ 14,003
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(667)		(635)	(2,110)		(1,905)
Depreciation and amortization	681		651	2,147		1,943
Operating income	1,523		1,640	3,366		3,652
Interest expense	453		464	1,380		1,379
Capitalized interest	17		14	44		34
Allowance for equity funds	30		24	75		59
Interest and dividend income	27		32	85		85
Gains (losses) on marketable securities, net	260		3	(336)		8
Other, net	19		(17)	50		8
Income before income tax expense and equity income	1,423		1,232	1,904		2,467
Assets	91,862			91,862			$ 90,208
PacifiCorp [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	1,369		1,430	3,746		3,956
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(203)		(200)	(602)		(598)
Operating income	386		461	917		1,133
Interest expense	96		95	288		285
Assets	23,501			23,501			23,086
MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	832		815	2,297		2,170
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(133)		(112)	(499)		(370)
Operating income	278		284	444		517
Interest expense	61		59	185		177
Assets	19,499			19,499			18,444
NV Energy, Inc. [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	1,059		1,047	2,426		2,384
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(114)		(105)	(341)		(315)
Operating income	307		393	540		683
Interest expense	52		57	169		173
Assets	14,078			14,078			13,903
Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	233		221	757		685
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(62)		(55)	(189)		(156)
Operating income	102		106	360		346
Interest expense	34		34	107		98
Assets	7,527			7,527			7,565
BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	259		193	871		700
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(27)		(42)	(99)		(115)
Operating income	105		66	388		328
Interest expense	11		11	31		33
Assets	5,285			5,285			5,134
BHE Transmission [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	174		182	531		506
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(61)		(58)	(184)		(165)
Operating income	82		86	244		236
Interest expense	42		45	127		125
Assets	8,863			8,863			9,009
BHE Renewables [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	320		283	720		647
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(68)		(63)	(198)		(187)
Operating income	176		157	308		256
Interest expense	49		51	150		153
Assets	8,590			8,590			7,687
HomeServices [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	1,218		961	3,252		2,502
Depreciation and amortization	14		16	37		38
Operating income	85		79	185		191
Interest expense	6		1	16		3
Assets	2,860			2,860			2,722
Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	173	[1]	151	470	[1]	453
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(1)		0	(2)		(1)
Operating income	2		8	(20)		(38)
Interest expense	102		111	307		332
Assets	1,659			1,659			$ 2,658
UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	5,209		4,869	13,757		12,793
Income before income tax expense and equity income	1,290		1,113	1,501		2,065
UNITED KINGDOM
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	232		221	754		685
Income before income tax expense and equity income	59		49	220		213
CANADA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	174		182	531		506
Income before income tax expense and equity income	43		47	125		127
The Philippines and other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	22		11	28		19
Income before income tax expense and equity income	$ 31		$ 23	$ 58		$ 62

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