Subsidiary Debt Subsidiary Debt - MEC (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	$ 39,634
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current	212	$ 227
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	7,276
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current	43	56
Other long-term debt	7,208	$ 5,379
Eligible Property Subject To Lien Of Mortgages	20,000
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 3.65%, Due April 2029 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	850
Other long-term debt	$ 864
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.65%	0.00%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 4.25%, Due July 2049 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	$ 900
Other long-term debt	$ 872
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.25%	0.00%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 3.15%, Due April 2050 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	$ 600
Other long-term debt	$ 591
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.15%	0.00%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 2.40%, Due March 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	$ 0
Other long-term debt	0	$ 500
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		2.40%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 3.70%, Due September 2023 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	250
Other long-term debt	$ 249	$ 249
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.70%	3.70%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 3.50%, Due October 2024 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	$ 500
Other long-term debt	$ 501	$ 500
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.50%	3.50%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 3.10%, Due May 2027 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	$ 375
Other long-term debt	$ 373	$ 372
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.10%	3.10%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 4.80%, Due September 2043 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	$ 350
Other long-term debt	$ 346	$ 346
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.80%	4.80%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 4.40%, Due October 2044 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	$ 400
Other long-term debt	$ 395	$ 395
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.40%	4.40%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 4.25%, Due May 2046 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	$ 450
Other long-term debt	$ 445	$ 445
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.25%	4.25%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 3.95%, Due 2047 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	$ 475
Other long-term debt	$ 470	$ 470
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.95%	3.95%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 3.65, Due 2048 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	$ 700
Other long-term debt	$ 688	$ 688
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.65%	3.65%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| MEC Notes, 6.75% Series, due 2031 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	$ 400
Other long-term debt	$ 396	$ 396
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	6.75%	6.75%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| MEC Notes, 5.75% Series, due 2035 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	$ 300
Other long-term debt	$ 298	$ 298
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	5.75%	5.75%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| MEC Notes, 5.8% Series, due 2036 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	$ 350
Other long-term debt	$ 348	$ 347
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	5.80%	5.80%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| MEC Transmission Upgrade Obligations, 4.45% and 3.42% Due Through 2035 and 2036 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	$ 6
Other long-term debt	$ 4	$ 5
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| Tax-exempt bond obligations, variable rate, due 2016-2046 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Percentage Bearing Variable Interest, Percentage Rate	1.66%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| MEC Transmission Upgrade Obligation, 4.449%, Due Through 2035 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Vendor Financing, Discount Rate Applied		4.45%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| Variable Rate Tax Exempt Obligation Series due 2023, issued 1993 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	$ 7
Other long-term debt	7	$ 7
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| Variable Rate Tax Exempt Obligation Series Due 2023, issued in 2008 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	57
Other long-term debt	57	57
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| Variable-rate tax-exempt obligation series due 2024 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	35
Other long-term debt	35	35
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| Variable-rate tax-exempt obligation series, due 2025 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	13
Other long-term debt	13	13
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| Variable-rate tax-exempt obligation series, due 2036 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	33
Other long-term debt	33	33
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| Variable-rate tax-exempt obligation series, due 2038 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	45
Other long-term debt	45	45
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| Variable-rate tax-exempt obligation series, due 2046 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	30
Other long-term debt	29	29
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| Variable Rate Tax Exempt Obligation Series Due 2047 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	150
Other long-term debt	$ 149	$ 149
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| Tax-exempt bond obligations, variable rate, due 2016-2038 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Percentage Bearing Variable Interest, Percentage Rate		1.74%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| Committed Common Equity Percentage To Regulators [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Common equity to total capitalization percentage	42.00%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| Committed Common Equity Percentage To Regulators Beyond Companies Control [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Common equity to total capitalization percentage below which reasonable efforts to maintain agreed to percentage is not required	39.00%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| Dividend Restriction For Common Equity Commitment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount Available for Dividend Distribution without Affecting Capital Adequacy Requirements	$ 2,000
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| Common Equity Level To Total Capitalization [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Common Equity Level To Total Capitalization	51.00%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| MEC Transmission Upgrade Obligations, 4.45% and 3.42% Due Through 2035 and 2036 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Vendor Financing, Discount Rate Applied	4.45%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| MEC Transmission Upgrade Obligations, 4.45% and 3.42% Due Through 2035 and 2036 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Vendor Financing, Discount Rate Applied	3.42%	3.42%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| Variable Rate Tax Exempt Obligation Series Due 2047 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current	$ 32

The percentage of common equity to total capitalization computed on a basis with its commitment to regulators.

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- Definition

Represents the minimum common equity to total capitalization percentage allowed under acquisition commitment without prior regulatory approval, unless there are circumstances beyond the entity’s control.

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In the event there are circumstances beyond the entity’s control, represents the minimum common equity to total capitalization percentage allowed under acquisition commitment without prior regulatory approval.

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- Definition

Represents the amount of eligible property that was subject to lien of mortgage (based on original cost).

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No definition available.

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Discount rate applied to vendor financing.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

The amount of dividends that can be declared or paid without affecting the banking or savings institution's regulatory capital position.

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- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

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- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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The interest rate applicable to the portion of the carrying amount of long-term borrowings outstanding as of the balance sheet date, including current maturities, which accrues interest at a rate subject to change from time to time.

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Amount of long-term debt classified as other.

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- Definition

Amount of cash and cash equivalents restricted as to withdrawal or usage, classified as current. Cash includes, but is not limited to, currency on hand, demand deposits with banks or financial institutions, and other accounts with general characteristics of demand deposits. Cash equivalents include, but are not limited to, short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.

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