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Regulatory Matters (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Schedule Of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]

Regulatory assets represent costs that are expected to be recovered in future regulated rates. The Company's regulatory assets reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of the following as of December 31 (in millions):


	Weighted
	Average
	Remaining Life	2020		2019

Employee benefit plans(1)	15 years	$	722	$	667
Asset retirement obligations	13 years	640		445
Asset disposition costs	Various	347		391
Deferred income taxes(2)	Various	283		223
Demand side management	10 years	197		9
Deferred net power costs	1 year	139		110
Deferred operating costs	11 years	124		134
Other	Various	988		902
Total regulatory assets		$	3,440	$	2,881

Reflected as:
Current assets		$	283	$	115
Noncurrent assets		3,157		2,766
Total regulatory assets		$	3,440	$	2,881

(1)Represents amounts not yet recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost that are expected to be included in regulated rates when recognized.

(2)Amounts primarily represent income tax benefits related to certain property-related basis differences and other various differences that were previously passed on to customers and will be included in regulated rates when the temporary differences reverse.

Regulatory Liabilities [Table Text Block]

Regulatory liabilities represent income to be recognized or amounts to be returned to customers in future periods. The Company's regulatory liabilities reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of the following as of December 31 (in millions):


	Weighted
	Average
	Remaining Life	2020		2019

Deferred income taxes(1)	Various	$	3,600	$	3,611
Cost of removal(2)	26 years	2,435		2,370
Asset retirement obligations	31 years	305		241
Levelized depreciation	29 years	281		304
Other	Various	854		785
Total regulatory liabilities		$	7,475	$	7,311

Reflected as:
Current liabilities		$	254	$	211
Noncurrent liabilities		7,221		7,100
Total regulatory liabilities		$	7,475	$	7,311

(1)Amounts primarily represent income tax liabilities related to the federal tax rate change from 35% to 21% that are probable to be passed on to customers, offset by income tax benefits related to certain property-related basis differences and other various differences that were previously passed on to customers and will be included in regulated rates when the temporary differences reverse.

(2)Amounts represent estimated costs, as accrued through depreciation rates and exclusive of ARO liabilities, of removing regulated property, plant and equipment in accordance with accepted regulatory practices. Amounts are deducted from rate base or otherwise accrue a carrying cost.

PacifiCorp [Member]

Schedule Of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]

Regulatory Assets [Table Text Block]

Regulatory assets represent costs that are expected to be recovered in future rates. PacifiCorp's regulatory assets reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of the following as of December 31 (in millions):


	Weighted
	Average
	Remaining
	Life	2020		2019


Employee benefit plans(1)	20 years	$	432	$	422
Utah mine disposition(2)	Various	117		125
Unamortized contract values	3 years	42		60
Deferred net power costs	1 year	78		106
Unrealized loss on derivative contracts	2 years	17		62
Asset retirement obligation	24 years	252		140
Demand side management (DSM)(3)	10 years	196		8
Other	Various	261		200
Total regulatory assets		$	1,395	$	1,123

Reflected as:
Current assets		$	116	$	63
Noncurrent assets		1,279		1,060
Total regulatory assets		$	1,395	$	1,123

(1)Represents amounts not yet recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost that are expected to be included in rates when recognized.

(2)Amounts represent regulatory assets established as a result of the Utah mine disposition in 2015 for the United Mine Workers of America ("UMWA") 1974 Pension Plan withdrawal and closure costs incurred to date considered probable of recovery.

(3)At December 31, 2019, DSM regulatory assets were substantially offset by amounts billed to Utah retail customers under the related Utah STEP program. In accordance with the Utah general rate case order issued in December 2020, $185 million of amounts billed to Utah customers under the Utah STEP program were used to accelerate depreciation of certain coal-fueled generation units as discussed in Note 3.

PacifiCorp had regulatory assets not earning a return on investment of $707 million and $609 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Regulatory Liabilities [Table Text Block]

Regulatory Liabilities

Regulatory liabilities represent income to be recognized or amounts to be returned to customers in future periods. PacifiCorp's regulatory liabilities reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of the following as of December 31 (in millions):


	Weighted
	Average
	Remaining
	Life	2020		2019

Cost of removal(1)	26 years	$	1,125	$	1,019
Deferred income taxes(2)	Various	1,463		1,653

Other	Various	254		297
Total regulatory liabilities		$	2,842	$	2,969

Reflected as:
Current liabilities		$	115	$	56
Noncurrent liabilities		2,727		2,913
Total regulatory liabilities		$	2,842	$	2,969

(1)Amounts represent estimated costs, as accrued through depreciation rates, of removing property, plant and equipment in accordance with accepted regulatory practices. Amounts are deducted from rate base or otherwise accrue a carrying cost.

(2)Amounts primarily represent income tax liabilities related to the federal tax rate change from 35% to 21% that are probable of being passed on to customers, offset by income tax benefits related to certain property-related basis differences and other various differences that were previously passed on to customers and will be included in regulated rates when the temporary differences reverse.

MidAmerican Energy Company [Member]

Schedule Of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]

Regulatory Assets [Table Text Block]

Regulatory assets represent costs that are expected to be recovered in future regulated rates. MidAmerican Energy's regulatory assets reflected on the Balance Sheets consist of the following as of December 31 (in millions):


	Weighted
	Average
	Remaining Life	2020		2019


Asset retirement obligations(1)	6 years	$	298	$	223
Employee benefit plans(2)	15 years	66		26
Unrealized loss on regulated derivative contracts	1 year	—		7
Other	Various	28		33
Total		$	392	$	289

(1)Amount predominantly relates to AROs for fossil-fueled and wind-powered generating facilities. Refer to Note 11 for a discussion of AROs.

(2)Represents amounts not yet recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost that are expected to be included in regulated rates when recognized.

Regulatory Liabilities [Table Text Block]

Regulatory liabilities represent amounts expected to be returned to customers in future periods. MidAmerican Energy's regulatory liabilities reflected on the Balance Sheets consist of the following as of December 31 (in millions):


	Weighted
	Average
	Remaining Life	2020		2019

Cost of removal accrual(1)	29 years	$	466	$	572
Asset retirement obligations(2)	32 years	300		241
Deferred income taxes(3)	Various	263		478
Pre-funded AFUDC on transmission MVPs(4)	52 years	35		35
Employee benefit plans(5)	9 years	20		32
Iowa electric revenue sharing accrual(6)	1 year	—		22

Other	Various	27		26
Total		$	1,111	$	1,406

(1)Amounts represent estimated costs, as accrued through depreciation rates and exclusive of ARO liabilities, of removing utility plant in accordance with accepted regulatory practices. Amounts are deducted from rate base or otherwise accrue a carrying cost.

(2)Amount represents the excess of nuclear decommission trust assets over the related ARO. Refer to Note 11 for a discussion of AROs.

(3)Amounts primarily represent income tax liabilities primarily related to the federal tax rate change from 35% to 21% that are probable to be passed on to customers, offset by income tax benefits related to state accelerated tax depreciation and certain property-related basis differences that were previously passed on to customers and will be included in regulated rates when the temporary differences reverse.

(4)Represents AFUDC accrued on transmission MVPs that is deducted from rate base as a result of the inclusion of related construction work-in-progress in rate base.

(5)Represents amounts not yet recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost that are to be returned to customers in future periods when recognized.

(6)Represents current-year accruals under a regulatory arrangement in Iowa in which equity returns exceeding specified thresholds reduce utility plant upon final determination.

Nevada Power Company [Member]

Schedule Of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]

Regulatory Assets [Table Text Block]

Regulatory assets represent costs that are expected to be recovered in future rates. Nevada Power's regulatory assets reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of the following as of December 31 (in millions):


	Weighted
	Average
	Remaining Life	2020		2019

Decommissioning costs(2)	3 years	$	230	$	241
Deferred operating costs	9 years	119		136
Merger costs from 1999 merger	24 years	115		120
Asset retirement obligations	6 years	70		67
Employee benefit plans(1)	8 years	50		87
Legacy meters	12 years	45		49
ON Line deferrals	33 years	43		45
Deferred energy costs	1 year	39		—

Abandoned projects	None	—		12
Other	Various	83		44
Total regulatory assets		$	794	$	801

Reflected as:
Current assets		$	48	$	1
Noncurrent assets		746		800
Total regulatory assets		$	794	$	801

(1)Represents amounts not yet recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost that are expected to be included in regulated rates when recognized.

(2)Amount includes regulatory assets with an indeterminate life of $11 million and $104 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Regulatory Liabilities [Table Text Block]

Regulatory liabilities represent amounts that are expected to be returned to customers in future periods. Nevada Power's regulatory liabilities reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of the following as of December 31 (in millions):


	Weighted
	Average
	Remaining Life	2020		2019

Deferred income taxes(1)	Various	$	647	$	681
Cost of removal(2)	32 years	340		332
Impact fees(3)	2 years	54		72


Other	Various	172		171
Total regulatory liabilities		$	1,213	$	1,256

Reflected as:
Current liabilities		$	50	$	93
Noncurrent liabilities		1,163		1,163
Total regulatory liabilities		$	1,213	$	1,256

(1)Amounts primarily represent income tax liabilities related to the federal tax rate change from 35% to 21% that are probable to be passed on to customers, offset by income tax benefits related to accelerated tax depreciation and certain property-related basis differences that were previously passed on to customers and will be included in regulated rates when the temporary differences reverse.

(3)Amounts reduce rate base or otherwise accrue a carrying cost.

Sierra Pacific Power Company [Member]

Schedule Of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]

Regulatory Assets [Table Text Block]

Regulatory assets represent costs that are expected to be recovered in future rates. Sierra Pacific's regulatory assets reflected on the Balance Sheets consist of the following as of December 31 (in millions):


	Weighted
	Average
	Remaining Life	2020		2019

Employee benefit plans(1)	8 years	$	81	$	107
Merger costs from 1999 merger	26 years	68		71
Natural disaster protection plan	1 year	45		8
Deferred operating costs	11 years	27		23
Abandoned projects	6 years	22		24
Deferred energy costs	1 year	22		4

Losses on reacquired debt	15 years	15		17

Other	Various	54		41
Total regulatory assets		$	334	$	295

Reflected as:
Current assets		$	67	$	12
Noncurrent assets		267		283
Total regulatory assets		$	334	$	295

(1)Represents amounts not yet recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost that are expected to be included in regulated rates when recognized.

Regulatory Liabilities [Table Text Block]

Regulatory liabilities represent amounts that are expected to be returned to customers in future periods. Sierra Pacific's regulatory liabilities reflected on the Balance Sheets consist of the following as of December 31 (in millions):


	Weighted
	Average
	Remaining Life	2020		2019

Deferred income taxes(1)	Various	$	249	$	263
Cost of removal(2)	37 years	197		217


Other	Various	51		58
Total regulatory liabilities		$	497	$	538

Reflected as:
Current liabilities		$	34	$	49
Noncurrent liabilities		463		489
Total regulatory liabilities		$	497	$	538

(1)Amounts primarily represent income tax liabilities related to the federal tax rate change from 35% to 21% that are probable to be passed on to customers, offset by income tax benefits related to accelerated tax depreciation and certain property-related basis differences and other various differences that were previously passed on to customers and will be included in regulated rates when the temporary differences reverse.

Eastern Energy Gas Holdings, LLC [Member]

Schedule Of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]

Regulatory Assets [Table Text Block]

Eastern Energy Gas' regulatory assets reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of the following as of December 31 (in millions):




	Weighted Average Remaining Life	2020		2019

Employee benefit plans(1)	Various	$	70	$	—

Interest rate hedges(2)	Various	—		32
Other	Various	12		16






Total regulatory assets		$	82	$	48

Reflected as:
Current assets		$	8	$	8
Noncurrent assets		74		40
Total regulatory assets		$	82	$	48

(1)Represents costs expected to be recovered through future rates generally over the expected remaining service period of plan participants by certain rate-regulated subsidiaries.

(2)Reflects interest rate hedges recoverable from or refundable to customers. Certain of these instruments are settled and any related payments are being amortized into interest expense over the life of the related debt.

Regulatory Liabilities [Table Text Block]

Eastern Energy Gas' regulatory liabilities reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of the following as of December 31 (in millions):




	Weighted Average Remaining Life	2020		2019

Income taxes refundable through future rates(1)	Various	$	473	$	560
Other postretirement benefit costs(2)	Various	115		133
Provision for future cost of removal and AROs(3)	Various	89		113

Other	Various	32		35

Total regulatory liabilities		$	709	$	841

Reflected as:
Current liabilities		$	40	$	41
Noncurrent liabilities		669		800
Total regulatory liabilities		$	709	$	841

(2)Reflects a regulatory liability for the collection of postretirement benefit costs allowed in rates in excess of expense incurred.

(3)Rates charged to customers by Eastern Energy Gas' regulated businesses include a provision for the cost of future activities to remove assets that are expected to be incurred at the time of retirement.