Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		$ 19,787		$ 18,614	$ 17,422
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		2,933		2,580	2,560
Depreciation and amortization		2,984		2,646	2,591
Operating income (loss)		4,072		4,522	4,247
Interest expense		1,838		1,841	1,854
Capitalized interest		(61)		(45)	(139)
Allowance for equity funds		104		76	158
Investment Income, Interest and Dividend		113		111	120
Gain (Loss) on Investments		(538)		14	10
Other, net		(9)		(420)	30
Income before income tax expense and equity income		1,965		2,507	2,850
Income tax (benefit) expense		(583)		(554)	403
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		6,241		4,571	5,090
Property, plant and equipment, net		68,595		65,871	62,509
Assets		92,189		90,208	85,440
PacifiCorp [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		5,026		5,237	5,201
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		979		796	783
Operating income (loss)		1,051		1,440	1,429
Interest expense		384		381	381
Income tax (benefit) expense		5		362	341
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		1,257		769	903
Property, plant and equipment, net		19,591		19,203	19,162
Assets		23,478		23,086	23,563
MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		3,053		2,846	2,631
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		609		500	479
Operating income (loss)		550		544	551
Interest expense		247		237	218
Income tax (benefit) expense		(262)		(202)	(139)
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		2,332		1,776	1,637
Property, plant and equipment, net		16,171		14,221	12,835
Assets		20,029		18,444	17,571
NV Energy [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		3,039		3,015	2,895
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		456		422	421
Operating income (loss)		607		766	774
Interest expense		224		233	250
Income tax (benefit) expense		100		221	200
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		503		456	529
Property, plant and equipment, net		9,852		9,770	9,825
Assets		14,119		13,903	14,320
Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		1,020		949	995
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		250		214	200
Operating income (loss)		486		488	500
Interest expense		141		133	136
Income tax (benefit) expense		61		57	22
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		566		579	579
Property, plant and equipment, net		6,007		6,075	5,148
Assets		7,427		7,565	6,433
BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		1,203		993	978
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		126		159	206
Operating income (loss)		525		473	455
Interest expense		43		43	50
Income tax (benefit) expense		119		170	163
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		427		286	226
Property, plant and equipment, net		4,904		4,587	4,423
Assets		5,511		5,134	5,144
BHE Transmission [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		710		699	502
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		247		239	241
Operating income (loss)		313		322	92
Interest expense		167		169	153
Income tax (benefit) expense		7		(124)	26
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		270		334	466
Property, plant and equipment, net		5,824		6,330	5,810
Assets		8,424		9,009	8,378
BHE Renewables [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		908		838	743
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		268		251	230
Operating income (loss)		325		316	256
Interest expense		201		204	198
Income tax (benefit) expense		(158)		(795)	(32)
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		817		323	719
Property, plant and equipment, net		6,155		5,637	5,302
Assets		8,666		7,687	7,010
HomeServices [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		4,214		3,443	2,801
Depreciation and amortization		51		66	31
Operating income (loss)		214		214	212
Interest expense		23		7	2
Income tax (benefit) expense		52		49	81
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		47		37	20
Property, plant and equipment, net		141		117	78
Assets		2,797		2,722	1,776
Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	[2]	614	[1]	594	676
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	[2]	(2)		(1)	0
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	[2]	1		(41)	(22)
Interest expense	[2]	408		434	466
Income tax (benefit) expense	[2]	(507)		(292)	(259)
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		22		11	11
Property, plant and equipment, net		(50)		(69)	(74)
Assets		1,738		2,658	1,245
UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		18,014		16,916	15,895
Income before income tax expense and equity income		1,425		1,927	2,264
Property, plant and equipment, net		56,870		53,579	51,671
UNITED KINGDOM
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		1,017		948	995
Income before income tax expense and equity income		307		313	382
Property, plant and equipment, net		5,895		5,953	5,020
CANADA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		710		699	506
Income before income tax expense and equity income		155		167	135
Property, plant and equipment, net		5,817		6,323	5,803
The Philippines and other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		46		51	26
Income before income tax expense and equity income		78		100	69
Property, plant and equipment, net		$ 13		$ 16	$ 15

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

[2] (1)The differences between the reportable segment amounts and the consolidated amounts, described as BHE and Other, relate to other corporate entities, including MidAmerican Energy Services, LLC, corporate functions and intersegment eliminations.