Subsidiary Debt - Maturity Schedule (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	$ 1,006
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	3,544
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	2,099
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four	1,552
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	823
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five	27,271
Par value	36,295
Subsidiary Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	27,476
PacifiCorp [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	58
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	588
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	352
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four	40
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	425
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five	5,657
Par value	7,120
MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	251
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	351
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	500
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four	2
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	1
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five	3,552
Par value	4,657
NV Energy [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	18
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	840
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	519
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four	336
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	27
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five	2,829
Par value	4,569
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	49
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	49
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four	418
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	0
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five	1,835
Par value	2,351	[1]
BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	66
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	329
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	200
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five	400
Par value	995
BHE Transmission [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	151
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	151
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four	245
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	3
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five	3,518
Par value	4,068	[2]
BHE Renewables [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	213
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	236
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	528
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four	161
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	167
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five	2,411
Par value	3,716
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	400
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	1,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	0
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four	350
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	0
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	944
Par value	$ 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.