Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		$ 20,952	$ 19,844	$ 19,787
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		(3,410)	(2,965)	(2,933)
Depreciation and amortization		3,455	3,011	2,984
Operating income (loss)		4,291	4,150	4,072
Interest expense		2,021	1,912	1,838
Capitalized interest		(80)	(77)	(61)
Allowance for equity funds		165	173	104
Other Interest and Dividend Income		71	117	113
Gain (Loss) on Investments		4,797	(288)	(538)
Other, net		88	97	(9)
Income before income tax expense and equity income		7,471	2,414	1,965
Income tax expense (benefit)		308	(598)	(583)
Net income attributable to BHE shareholders		6,943	2,950	2,568
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		6,765	7,364	6,241
Property, plant and equipment, net		(86,128)	(73,305)	(68,087)
Assets		127,316	100,051	92,189
PacifiCorp [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		5,341	5,068	5,026
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		(1,209)	(954)	(979)
Operating income (loss)		924	1,072	1,051
Interest expense		426	401	384
Income tax expense (benefit)		(75)	61	5
Net income attributable to BHE shareholders		741	773	739
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		2,540	2,175	1,257
Property, plant and equipment, net		(22,430)	(20,973)	(19,570)
Assets		26,862	24,861	23,478
MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		2,728	2,927	3,053
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		(716)	(638)	(609)
Operating income (loss)		454	549	550
Interest expense		322	302	247
Income tax expense (benefit)		(574)	(377)	(262)
Net income attributable to BHE shareholders		818	781	669
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		1,836	2,810	2,332
Property, plant and equipment, net		(19,279)	(18,377)	(16,169)
Assets		23,530	22,664	20,029
NV Energy [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		2,854	3,037	3,039
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		(502)	(482)	(456)
Operating income (loss)		649	655	607
Interest expense		227	229	224
Income tax expense (benefit)		61	98	100
Net income attributable to BHE shareholders		410	365	317
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		675	657	503
Property, plant and equipment, net		(9,865)	(9,613)	(9,367)
Assets		14,501	14,128	14,119
Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		1,022	1,013	1,020
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		(266)	(254)	(250)
Operating income (loss)		421	472	486
Interest expense		130	139	141
Income tax expense (benefit)		96	59	61
Net income attributable to BHE shareholders		201	256	239
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		682	602	566
Property, plant and equipment, net		(7,230)	(6,606)	(6,007)
Assets		8,782	8,385	7,427
BHE Transmission [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		659	707	710
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		(201)	(240)	(247)
Operating income (loss)		316	323	313
Interest expense		148	157	167
Income tax expense (benefit)		13	11	7
Net income attributable to BHE shareholders		231	229	210
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		372	247	270
Property, plant and equipment, net		(6,445)	(6,157)	(5,824)
Assets		9,208	8,776	8,424
HomeServices [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		5,396	4,473	4,214
Depreciation and amortization		45	47	51
Operating income (loss)		511	222	214
Interest expense		11	25	23
Income tax expense (benefit)		138	51	52
Net income attributable to BHE shareholders		375	160	145
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		36	54	47
Property, plant and equipment, net		(159)	(161)	(141)
Assets		4,955	3,846	2,797
Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	[1]	438	556	614
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	[1]	(1)	(1)	(2)
Operating income (loss)	[1]	(54)	(51)	1
Interest expense	[1]	517	433	408
Income tax expense (benefit)	[1]	1,089	(314)	(507)
Net income attributable to BHE shareholders		3,118	(467)	(467)
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		(130)	10	22
Property, plant and equipment, net		(22)	(40)	(50)
Assets		7,933	1,330	1,738
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Renewables [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		936	932	908
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		(284)	(282)	(268)
Operating income (loss)		291	336	325
Interest expense		166	174	201
Income tax expense (benefit)		(602)	(325)	(158)
Net income attributable to BHE shareholders		521	431	329
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		95	122	817
Property, plant and equipment, net		(5,645)	(5,976)	(6,155)
Assets		12,004	9,961	8,666
BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		1,578	1,131	1,203
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		(231)	(115)	(126)
Operating income (loss)		779	572	525
Interest expense		74	52	43
Income tax expense (benefit)		162	138	119
Net income attributable to BHE shareholders		528	422	387
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		659	687	427
Property, plant and equipment, net		(15,097)	(5,482)	(4,904)
Assets		19,541	6,100	5,511
UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		19,254	18,108	18,014
Income before income tax expense and equity income		6,954	1,866	1,425
Property, plant and equipment, net		(72,583)	(60,634)	(56,362)
UNITED KINGDOM
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		1,022	1,011	1,017
Income before income tax expense and equity income		338	326	307
Property, plant and equipment, net		(7,134)	(6,504)	(5,895)
CANADA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		653	706	710
Income before income tax expense and equity income		173	178	155
Property, plant and equipment, net		(6,401)	(6,157)	(5,817)
The Philippines and other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		23	19	46
Income before income tax expense and equity income		6	44	78
Property, plant and equipment, net		$ (10)	$ (10)	$ (13)

[1] The differences between the reportable segment amounts and the consolidated amounts, described as BHE and Other, relate to other corporate entities, including MidAmerican Energy Services, LLC, corporate functions and intersegment eliminations.