Investments and Restricted Cash and Investments (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Investments, Including Equity Method And Restricted Cash And Investments [Line Items]

Investments and Restricted Cash and Investments [Text Block]

Investments and Restricted Cash and Investments

Investments and restricted cash and investments consists of the following as of December 31 (in millions):

	2016		2015
Investments:
BYD Company Limited common stock	$	1,185	$	1,238
Rabbi trusts	403		380
Other	106		130
Total investments	1,694		1,748
Equity method investments:
Electric Transmission Texas, LLC	672		585
Bridger Coal Company	165		190
BHE Renewables tax equity investments	741		168
Other	142		160
Total equity method investments	1,720		1,103
Restricted cash and investments:
Quad Cities Station nuclear decommissioning trust funds	460		429
Solar Star and Topaz Projects	64		95
Other	218		129
Total restricted cash and investments	742		653
Total investments and restricted cash and investments	$	4,156	$	3,504
Reflected as:
Current assets	$	211	$	137
Noncurrent assets	3,945		3,367
Total investments and restricted cash and investments	$	4,156	$	3,504

Investments

BHE's investment in BYD Company Limited common stock is accounted for as an available-for-sale security with changes in fair value recognized in AOCI. The fair value of BHE's investment in BYD Company Limited common stock reflects a pre-tax unrealized gain of $953 million and $1,006 million as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Rabbi trusts primarily hold corporate-owned life insurance on certain current and former key executives and directors. The Rabbi trusts were established to hold investments used to fund the obligations of various nonqualified executive and director compensation plans and to pay the costs of the trusts. The amount represents the cash surrender value of all of the policies included in the Rabbi trusts, net of amounts borrowed against the cash surrender value.

Equity Method Investments

BHE, through a subsidiary, owns 50% of Electric Transmission Texas, LLC, which owns and operates electric transmission assets in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas footprint. BHE, through a subsidiary, owns 66.67% of Bridger Coal Company ("Bridger Coal"), which is a coal mining joint venture that supplies coal to the Jim Bridger generating facility. Bridger Coal is being accounted for under the equity method of accounting as the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact Bridger Coal's economic performance are shared with the joint venture partner.

The Company has also invested in projects sponsored by third parties, commonly referred to as tax equity investments. Under the terms of these tax equity investments, the Company has entered into equity capital contribution agreements with the project sponsors that require contributions. The Company has made contributions of $170 million in 2015 and $584 million in 2016 pursuant to these equity capital contribution agreements as the various projects achieve commercial operation. Once a project achieves commercial operation, the Company enters into a partnership agreement with the project sponsor that directs and allocates the operating profits and tax benefits from the project.

Restricted Cash and Investments

MidAmerican Energy has established a trust for the investment of funds for decommissioning the Quad Cities Nuclear Station Units 1 and 2 ("Quad Cities Station"). These investments in debt and equity securities are classified as available-for-sale and are reported at fair value. Funds are invested in the trust in accordance with applicable federal and state investment guidelines and are restricted for use as reimbursement for costs of decommissioning the Quad Cities Station, which are currently licensed for operation until December 2032.

MidAmerican Energy Company [Member]

Investments, Including Equity Method And Restricted Cash And Investments [Line Items]

Investments and Restricted Cash and Investments [Text Block]

Investments and Restricted Cash and Investments

Investments and restricted cash and investments consists of the following amounts as of December 31 (in millions):

	2016		2015
Nuclear decommissioning trust	$	460	$	429
Rabbi trusts	184		175
Auction rate securities	—		26
Other	9		4
Total	$	653	$	634

MidAmerican Energy has established a trust for the investment of funds for decommissioning the Quad Cities Station. These investments in debt and equity securities are classified as available-for-sale and are reported at fair value. Funds are invested in the trust in accordance with applicable federal and state investment guidelines and are restricted for use as reimbursement for costs of decommissioning the Quad Cities Station, which is currently licensed for operation until December 2032. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the fair value of the trust's funds was invested as follows: 54% and 56%, respectively, in domestic common equity securities, 35% and 31%, respectively, in United States government securities, 8% and 9%, respectively, in domestic corporate debt securities and 3% and 4%, respectively, in other securities.

Rabbi trusts primarily hold corporate-owned life insurance on certain current and former key executives and directors. The Rabbi trusts were established to hold investments used to fund the obligations of various nonqualified executive and director compensation plans and to pay the costs of the trusts. The amount represents the cash surrender value of all of the policies included in the Rabbi trusts, net of amounts borrowed against the cash surrender value. Changes in the cash surrender value of the policies are reflected in other income and (expense) - other, net on the Statements of Operation.

MidAmerican Energy had investments in interest bearing auction rate securities with a par value of $35 million as of December 31, 2015. MidAmerican Energy considered the securities to be temporarily impaired, except for an other-than-temporary impairment of $3 million, after-tax, recorded in 2008, and had recorded unrealized losses on the securities of $3 million, after tax, in AOCI as of December 31, 2015. All of the securities were redeemed at par value during 2016, and MidAmerican Energy recorded a $3 million after-tax gain as a result of the previous other-than-temporary impairment.

MidAmerican Funding, LLC and Subsidiaries [Domain]

Investments, Including Equity Method And Restricted Cash And Investments [Line Items]

Investments and Restricted Cash and Investments [Text Block]

Investments and Restricted Cash and Investments

Refer to Note 7 of MidAmerican Energy's Notes to Financial Statements in Item 8 of this Form 10-K. In addition to MidAmerican Energy's investments and restricted cash and investments, MHC had corporate-owned life insurance policies in a Rabbi trust owned by MHC with a total cash surrender value of $2 million as of December 31, 2016 and 2015.