Subsidiary Debt - Maturity Schedule (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	$ 1,148
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	985
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	3,520
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four	2,070
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	1,589
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five	28,821
Par value	38,133
Subsidiary Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	27,314
PacifiCorp [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	81
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	57
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	589
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four	353
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	41
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five	6,083
Par value	7,204
MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	34
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	254
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	350
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four	500
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	1
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five	3,488
Par value	4,627
NV Energy [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	676
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	16
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	840
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four	519
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	336
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five	2,453
Par value	4,840
Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	0
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	0
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	59
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four	59
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	500
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five	2,117
Par value	2,735	[1]
BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	54
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	62
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	329
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four	0
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	0
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five	600
Par value	1,045
BHE Transmission [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	110
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	0
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	145
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four	145
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	235
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five	2,834
Par value	3,469	[2]
BHE Renewables [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	193
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	196
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	208
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four	494
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	126
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five	2,177
Par value	3,394
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	0
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	400
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	1,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four	0
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	350
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five	6,125
Par value	7,875
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Junior Subordinated Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	0
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	0
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	0
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four	0
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	0
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five	2,944
Par value	$ 2,944

[1] The par values for these debt instruments are denominated in sterling.

[2] (1)The par values for these debt instruments are denominated in Canadian dollars.