Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019		Jun. 30, 2018		Jun. 30, 2019		Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	$ 4,894		$ 4,993		$ 9,504		$ 9,433
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	728		739		1,448		1,443
Depreciation and amortization	739		750		1,472		1,466
Operating income	959		972		1,878		1,843
Interest expense	476		461		953		927
Capitalized interest	17		15		33		27
Allowance for equity funds	38		24		70		45
Interest and dividend income	36		32		66		58
Gains (losses) on marketable securities, net	6		(387)		(62)		(596)
Other, net	30		1		65		31
Income before income tax expense and equity income	610		196		1,097		481
Assets	96,142				96,142			$ 92,189
PacifiCorp [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	1,167		1,193		2,426		2,377
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	209		197		414		399
Operating income	268		284		552		531
Interest expense	102		96		198		192
Assets	24,528				24,528			23,478
MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	660		718		1,502		1,465
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	179		208		356		366
Operating income	94		87		210		166
Interest expense	74		61		149		124
Assets	21,140				21,140			20,029
NV Energy, Inc. [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	721		750		1,335		1,367
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	120		114		240		227
Operating income	150		144		234		233
Interest expense	56		59		118		117
Assets	14,189				14,189			14,119
Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	243		246		506		524
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	63		64		126		127
Operating income	110		111		239		258
Interest expense	35		36		69		73
Assets	7,587				7,587			7,427
BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	212		236		583		612
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	29		30		57		72
Operating income	68		57		311		283
Interest expense	12		10		24		20
Assets	5,627				5,627			5,511
BHE Transmission [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	175		177		343		357
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	60		61		118		123
Operating income	77		81		153		162
Interest expense	39		42		78		85
Assets	8,720				8,720			8,424
BHE Renewables [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	249		246		416		400
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	69		66		139		130
Operating income	97		104		115		132
Interest expense	44		49		88		101
Assets	8,942				8,942			8,666
HomeServices [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	1,327		1,273		2,112		2,034
Depreciation and amortization	11		11		24		23
Operating income	117		108		96		100
Interest expense	7		6		14		10
Assets	4,056				4,056			2,797
Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	140	[1]	154	[1]	281	[1]	297
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(1)		(1)		(2)		(1)
Operating income	(22)		(4)		(32)		(22)
Interest expense	107		102		215		205
Assets	1,353				1,353			$ 1,738
UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	4,476		4,570		8,653		8,548
Income before income tax expense and equity income	482		93		818		211
UNITED KINGDOM
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	242		245		505		522
Income before income tax expense and equity income	76		49		179		161
CANADA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	175		177		343		357
Income before income tax expense and equity income	39		41		79		82
The Philippines and other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	1		1		3		6
Income before income tax expense and equity income	$ 13		$ 13		$ 21		$ 27

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