Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 6,189	$ 7,014	$ 2,968
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
(Gains) losses on marketable securities, net	(1,823)	(4,797)	288
Losses on other items, net	112	54	43
Depreciation and amortization	3,881	3,455	3,011
Allowance for equity funds	(126)	(165)	(173)
Equity loss, net of distributions	380	248	93
Changes in regulatory assets and liabilities	(668)	(415)	153
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits, net	646	1,880	290
Other, net	(169)	(77)	23
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
Trade receivables and other assets	553	(1,318)	(372)
Derivative collateral, net	82	43	(25)
Pension and other postretirement benefit plans	(39)	(65)	(51)
Accrued property, income and other taxes, net	(489)	(134)	(16)
Accounts payable and other liabilities	163	501	(26)
Net cash flows from operating activities	8,692	6,224	6,206
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(6,611)	(6,765)	(7,364)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(122)	(2,397)	(27)
Purchases of marketable securities	(297)	(370)	(262)
Proceeds from sales of marketable securities	273	325	238
Purchases of other investments	(20)	(1,323)	0
Proceeds from other investments	1,300	13	18
Equity method investments	(212)	(2,724)	(1,617)
Other, net	(74)	76	51
Net cash flows from investing activities	(5,763)	(13,165)	(8,963)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock	0	3,750	0
Preferred stock redemptions	(2,100)	0	0
Preferred dividends	(132)	(7)	0
Common stock purchases	0	(126)	(293)
Proceeds from BHE senior debt	0	5,212	0
Repayments of BHE senior debt	(450)	(350)	0
Proceeds from subsidiary debt	2,409	2,688	4,699
Repayments of subsidiary debt	(2,024)	(2,841)	(1,914)
Net (repayments of) proceeds from short-term debt	(276)	(939)	684
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	0	(33)	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(488)	(122)	(23)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	9	5	8
Other, net	(79)	(134)	(37)
Net cash flows from financing activities	(3,131)	7,103	3,124
Effect of exchange rate changes	1	15	18
Net change in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents	(201)	177	385
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,445	1,268	883
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 1,244	$ 1,445	$ 1,268