Related Party Transactions (MEC) (MidAmerican Energy Company and Subsidiaries [Member])

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

MidAmerican Energy Company and Subsidiaries [Member]

Related Party Transactions [Line Items]

Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block]

(19) Related Party Transactions

The companies identified as affiliates of MidAmerican Energy are Berkshire Hathaway and its subsidiaries, including MEHC and its subsidiaries. The basis for the following transactions is provided for in service agreements between MidAmerican Energy and the affiliates.

MidAmerican Energy is reimbursed for charges incurred on behalf of its affiliates. The majority of these reimbursed expenses are for employee wages and benefits, insurance, building rent, computer costs, administrative services, travel expense, and general and administrative expense, such as treasury, legal and accounting functions. The amount of such reimbursements was $51 million, $48 million and $48 million for 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

MidAmerican Energy reimbursed MEHC in the amount of $7 million, $11 million and $15 million in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, for its share of corporate expenses.

Northern Natural Gas Company ("NNG"), a wholly owned subsidiary of MEHC, is one of MidAmerican Energy's suppliers of natural gas transportation and storage capacity. MidAmerican Energy's net purchases of natural gas transportation and storage capacity from NNG totaled $59 million, $59 million and $58 million in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

MidAmerican Energy had accounts receivable from affiliates of $5 million as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, that are included in receivables on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. MidAmerican Energy also had accounts payable to affiliates of $7 million and $11 million as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, that are included in accounts payable on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

MidAmerican Energy recognizes the full amount of the funded status for its pension and postretirement plans, and amounts attributable to MidAmerican Energy's affiliates that have not previously been recognized through income are recognized as an intercompany balance with such affiliates. MidAmerican Energy adjusts these balances when changes to the funded status of the respective plans are recognized and does not intend to settle the balances currently. Amounts receivable from affiliates attributable to the funded status of employee benefit plans totaled $16 million and $17 million as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and similar amounts payable to affiliates totaled $20 million and $13 million as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. See Note 11 for further information pertaining to pension and postretirement accounting.