Employee Benefit Plans - MEC - Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
United States Pension Plan of US Entity [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Service Cost	$ 29	$ 33	$ 36
Defined Benefit Plan, Interest Cost	126	121	131
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Return on Plan Assets	(160)	(169)	(164)
Defined Benefit Plan Net Amortization	46	53	44
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost	41	38	47
Domestic Other Postretirement Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Service Cost	9	11	14
Defined Benefit Plan, Interest Cost	31	31	46
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Return on Plan Assets	(41)	(45)	(53)
Defined Benefit Plan Net Amortization	(12)	(11)	(3)
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost	(13)	(14)	4
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | United States Pension Plan of US Entity [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Service Cost	10	12	14
Defined Benefit Plan, Interest Cost	34	32	35
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Return on Plan Assets	(44)	(46)	(45)
Defined Benefit Plan Net Amortization	2	2	1
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost	2	0	5
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Domestic Other Postretirement Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Service Cost	5	7	6
Defined Benefit Plan, Interest Cost	10	9	10
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Return on Plan Assets	(13)	(15)	(15)
Defined Benefit Plan Net Amortization	(4)	(3)	(3)
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost	(2)	(2)	(2)
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | United States Pension Plan of US Entity [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost	(2)	(4)	1
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Domestic Other Postretirement Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost	$ (1)	$ 0	$ 0