Commitments and Contingencies - Commitments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2019	Oct. 01, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
ContractualObligationFiscalYearMaturityScheduleTable [Line Items]
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due	[1]			$ 692
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Equity Method Investments		$ 3,504		2,440
Property, plant and equipment, net		71,324		68,087
Nevada Power Company [Member]
ContractualObligationFiscalYearMaturityScheduleTable [Line Items]
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due	[2]			24
PacifiCorp [Member]
ContractualObligationFiscalYearMaturityScheduleTable [Line Items]
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due				$ 20
PacifiCorp [Member] | Klamath Hydroelectric System [Member]
ContractualObligationFiscalYearMaturityScheduleTable [Line Items]
Dam removal cost limit		200
PacifiCorp [Member] | Klamath Hydroelectric System [Member] | CALIFORNIA
ContractualObligationFiscalYearMaturityScheduleTable [Line Items]
Dam removal cost limit		16
Additional dam removal costs, California bond measure		250
Capital Addition Purchase Commitments [Member] | PacifiCorp and MidAmerican Energy [Member]
ContractualObligationFiscalYearMaturityScheduleTable [Line Items]
Purchase Obligation		1,100
Capital Addition Purchase Commitments [Member] | MidAmerican Energy Company [Member]
ContractualObligationFiscalYearMaturityScheduleTable [Line Items]
Purchase Obligation		337
Capital Addition Purchase Commitments [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
ContractualObligationFiscalYearMaturityScheduleTable [Line Items]
Purchase Obligation		754
Maintenance, service and other contracts [Member] | PacifiCorp and MidAmerican Energy [Member]
ContractualObligationFiscalYearMaturityScheduleTable [Line Items]
Purchase Obligation		618
Maintenance, service and other contracts [Member] | MidAmerican Energy Company [Member]
ContractualObligationFiscalYearMaturityScheduleTable [Line Items]
Purchase Obligation		377
Maintenance, service and other contracts [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
ContractualObligationFiscalYearMaturityScheduleTable [Line Items]
Purchase Obligation		$ 241
Counterparty Bankruptcy [Member] | Topaz [Member]
ContractualObligationFiscalYearMaturityScheduleTable [Line Items]
Entity Legal Form		1
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Revenue, Performance Obligation, Description of Payment Terms		1
Property, plant and equipment, net		$ 1,000
Non-Recourse Debt		$ 900
Counterparty Bankruptcy [Member] | Agua Caliente [Member]
ContractualObligationFiscalYearMaturityScheduleTable [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage		49.00%
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Revenue, Performance Obligation, Description of Payment Terms		1
Equity Method Investments		$ 70
Non-Recourse Debt		800
Easements [Member] | PacifiCorp and MidAmerican Energy [Member]
ContractualObligationFiscalYearMaturityScheduleTable [Line Items]
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due		593
Easements [Member] | MidAmerican Energy Company [Member]
ContractualObligationFiscalYearMaturityScheduleTable [Line Items]
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due		341
Easements [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
ContractualObligationFiscalYearMaturityScheduleTable [Line Items]
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due		$ 252
Subsequent Event [Member] | Fuel, capacity and transmission contract commitments [Member] | Nevada Power Company [Member]
ContractualObligationFiscalYearMaturityScheduleTable [Line Items]
Purchase Obligation, Future Minimum Payments, Remainder of Fiscal Year, Terminated			$ 60
Purchase Obligation, Due in Second Year, Terminated			60
Purchase Obligation, Due in Third Year, Terminated			60
Purchase Obligation, Due in Fourth Year, Terminated			60
Purchase Obligation, Due in Fifth Year, Terminated			60
Purchase Obligation, Due after Fifth Year, Terminated			$ 1,145

[1] (1) Amounts included for comparability and accounted for in accordance with ASC 840, "Leases".

[2] Amounts included for comparability and accounted for in accordance with ASC Topic 840, "Leases".