Subsidiary Debt - MidAmerican Funding (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		$ 38,133
Equity Restrictions		12,700
Subsidiary Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		27,314
Other long-term debt		27,214	$ 26,848
MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		4,627
Other long-term debt		4,560	4,323
Eligible Property Subject To Lien Of Mortgages		13,000
MidAmerican Funding, LLC and Subsidiaries [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Equity Restrictions		3,100
MidAmerican Funding LLC [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | Senior Notes, 6.927%, due 2029 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		325
Other long-term debt		$ 289	$ 289
MidAmerican Funding LLC [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | Senior Notes, 6.927%, due 2029 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		6.927%	6.927%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		$ 4,302
Other long-term debt		4,271	$ 4,034
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | Tax-exempt bond obligations, variable rate, due 2016-2038 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		195
Other long-term debt		194	194
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 2.40%, Due March 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		500
Other long-term debt		499	498
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 3.70%, Due September 2023 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		250
Other long-term debt		248	248
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 3.50%, due 2024 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		500
Other long-term debt		502	296
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 4.80%, due 2043 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		350
Other long-term debt		345	345
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 4.40%, Due October 2044 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		400
Other long-term debt		394	394
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 4.25%, Due May 2046 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		450
Other long-term debt		444	0
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MEC Notes, 5.95% Series, due 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		250
Other long-term debt		250	250
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MEC Notes, 5.3% Series, due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		350
Other long-term debt		349	349
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MEC Notes, 6.75% Series, due 2031 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		400
Other long-term debt		395	395
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MEC Notes, 5.75% Series, due 2035 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		300
Other long-term debt		298	298
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MEC Notes, 5.8% Series, due 2036 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		350
Other long-term debt		347	347
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | Turbine Purchase Obligation, 1.43%, Due December 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	[1]	0
Other long-term debt	[1]	0	420
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MEC Transmission Upgrade Obligation, 4.449%, Due Through 2035 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		5
Other long-term debt		4	0
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | Capital Lease Obligations, 4.16%, Due Through 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		2
Other long-term debt		$ 2	$ 0
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | Tax-exempt bond obligations, variable rate, due 2016-2038 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable interest rate		0.03%	0.07%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 2.40%, Due March 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		2.40%	2.40%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 3.70%, Due September 2023 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		3.70%	3.70%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 3.50%, due 2024 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		3.50%	3.50%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 4.80%, due 2043 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		4.80%	4.80%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 4.40%, Due October 2044 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		4.40%	4.40%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 4.25%, Due May 2046 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		4.25%	0.00%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MEC Notes, 5.95% Series, due 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		5.95%	5.95%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MEC Notes, 5.3% Series, due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		5.30%	5.30%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MEC Notes, 6.75% Series, due 2031 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		6.75%	6.75%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MEC Notes, 5.75% Series, due 2035 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		5.75%	5.75%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MEC Notes, 5.8% Series, due 2036 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		5.80%	5.80%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | Turbine Purchase Obligation, 1.43%, Due December 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Vendor Financing, Discount Rate Applied		0.00%	1.43%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MEC Transmission Upgrade Obligation, 4.449%, Due Through 2035 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Vendor Financing, Discount Rate Applied		4.45%	0.00%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | Capital Lease Obligations, 4.16%, Due Through 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Vendor Financing, Discount Rate Applied		4.16%	0.00%
MidAmerican Funding LLC [Member] | MidAmerican Funding, LLC and Subsidiaries [Domain] | Senior Notes, 6.927%, due 2029 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		$ 325
Other long-term debt		$ 326	$ 326

[1] In conjunction with the construction of wind-powered generating facilities in 2012, MidAmerican Energy accrued as property, plant and equipment amounts for turbine purchases it was not contractually obligated to pay until December 2015. The amount ultimately payable was discounted and recognized upon delivery of the equipment as long-term debt. The discount was amortized as interest expense over the period until payment was due using the effective interest method.