Fair Value Measurements - MEC - Level 3 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Auction Rate Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets (Liabilities), Net, Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		$ 44	$ 45	$ 44
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Gain (Loss) Included in Earnings		5	0	0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Gain (Loss) Included in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		8	(1)	1
Fair Value, Measurements with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Gain (Loss) Included In Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net		0	0	0
Purchases		0	0	0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Sales		57	0	0
Settlements		0	0	0
Ending balance		0	44	45
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Derivative [Member]
Fair Value, Assets (Liabilities), Net, Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		(6)	12	(3)
Fair Value, Measurements With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Transferred To Affiliate		(4)	0	0
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Gain (Loss) Included in Earnings	[1]	0	11	12
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Gain (Loss) Included in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		0	(7)	0
Fair Value, Measurements with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Gain (Loss) Included In Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net		(6)	(25)	6
Purchases		0	1	1
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Sales		0	0	0
Settlements		14	2	(4)
Ending balance		(2)	(6)	12
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives and Commodity Contracts			8	16
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Auction Rate Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets (Liabilities), Net, Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		26	26	23
Fair Value, Measurements With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Transferred To Affiliate		0	0	0
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Gain (Loss) Included in Earnings		5	0	0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Gain (Loss) Included in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		4	0	3
Fair Value, Measurements with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Gain (Loss) Included In Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net		0	0	0
Purchases		0	0	0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Sales		35	0	0
Settlements		0	0	0
Ending balance		$ 0	$ 26	$ 26

[1] (1)Changes included in earnings related to MidAmerican Energy's unregulated retail services business that was transferred to an affiliate of BHE. Refer to Note 3 for a discussion of discontinued operations. Net unrealized (losses) gains included in earnings for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, related to commodity derivatives held at December 31, 2015 and 2014, totaled $8 million and $16 million, respectively.