Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020		Jun. 30, 2019		Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019		Dec. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	$ 4,612		$ 4,894		$ 9,139	$ 9,504
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(725)		(728)		(1,534)	(1,448)
Depreciation and amortization	736		739		1,557	1,472
Operating income	936		959		1,855	1,878
Interest expense	503		476		986	953
Capitalized interest	19		17		36	33
Interest Costs Capitalized					36	33
Allowance for equity funds	38		38		72	70
Interest and dividend income	20		36		40	66
Gains (losses) on marketable securities, net	583		6		610	(62)
Other, net	52		30		25	65
Income before income tax expense and equity income	1,145		610		1,652	1,097
Assets	104,417				104,417			$ 100,051
PacifiCorp [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	1,144		1,167		2,350	2,426
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(210)		(209)		(462)	(414)
Operating income	256		268		490	552
Interest expense	110		102		212	198
Assets	26,128				26,128			24,861
MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	616		660		1,302	1,502
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(175)		(179)		(351)	(356)
Operating income	110		94		212	210
Interest expense	78		74		159	149
Assets	23,155				23,155			22,664
NV Energy, Inc. [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	695		721		1,317	1,335
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(125)		(120)		(249)	(240)
Operating income	161		150		240	234
Interest expense	57		56		115	118
Assets	14,420				14,420			14,128
Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	221		243		487	506
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(63)		(63)		(126)	(126)
Operating income	89		110		221	239
Interest expense	31		35		63	69
Assets	8,083				8,083			8,385
BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	225		212		626	583
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(25)		(29)		(89)	(57)
Operating income	92		68		341	311
Interest expense	15		12		29	24
Assets	6,182				6,182			6,100
BHE Transmission [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	169		175		341	343
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(55)		(60)		(115)	(118)
Operating income	81		77		157	153
Interest expense	35		39		73	78
Assets	8,616				8,616			8,776
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Renewables [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	244		249		422	416
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(71)		(69)		(142)	(139)
Operating income	84		97		101	115
Interest expense	42		44		84	88
Assets	11,134				11,134			9,961
HomeServices [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	1,193		1,327		2,086	2,112
Depreciation and amortization	12		11		23	24
Operating income	77		117		97	96
Interest expense	3		7		8	14
Assets	4,703				4,703			3,846
Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	105	[1]	140	[1]	208	281	[1]
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	0		(1)		0	(2)
Operating income	(14)		(22)		(4)	(32)
Interest expense	132		107		243	215
Assets	1,996				1,996			$ 1,330
UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	4,224		4,476		8,313	8,653
Income before income tax expense and equity income	1,027		482		1,381	818
UNITED KINGDOM
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	221		242		487	505
Income before income tax expense and equity income	59		76		168	179
CANADA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	167		175		338	343
Income before income tax expense and equity income	46		39		86	79
The Philippines and other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	0		1		1	3
Income before income tax expense and equity income	$ 13		$ 13		$ 17	$ 21

[1] (1)The BHE and Other reportable segment represents amounts related principally to other entities, corporate functions and intersegment eliminations.