Employee Benefit Plans - MEC - Contributions and Benefit Payments (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
United States Pension Plan of US Entity [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plans, Estimated Future Employer Contributions in Next Fiscal Year	$ 14
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Next Twelve Months	219
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Two	226
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Three	224
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Four	221
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Five	214
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Five Fiscal Years Thereafter	1,002
Domestic Other Postretirement Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plans, Estimated Future Employer Contributions in Next Fiscal Year	4
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Next Twelve Months	56
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Two	57
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Three	57
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Four	60
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Five	57
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Five Fiscal Years Thereafter	259
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | United States Pension Plan of US Entity [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plans, Estimated Future Employer Contributions in Next Fiscal Year	8
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Next Twelve Months	60
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Two	60
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Three	62
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Four	62
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Five	60
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Five Fiscal Years Thereafter	278
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Domestic Other Postretirement Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plans, Estimated Future Employer Contributions in Next Fiscal Year	1
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Next Twelve Months	18
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Two	19
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Three	20
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Four	21
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Five	21
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Five Fiscal Years Thereafter	$ 97