Commitments and Contingencies - MEC - Commitments Table (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) number_of_projects	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Contractual Obligation [Line Items]
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Next Twelve Months	$ 141
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Two Years	122
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Three Years	101
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Four Years	87
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Five Years	73
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due Thereafter	1,085
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due	1,609
Contractual Obligation, Due in Next Twelve Months	3,666
Contractual Obligation, Due in Second Year	1,997
Contractual Obligation, Due in Third Year	1,768
Contractual Obligation, Due in Fourth Year	1,482
Contractual Obligation, Due in Fifth Year	1,264
Contractual Obligation, Due after Fifth Year	11,865
Contractual Obligation	22,042
Capital Addition Purchase Commitments [Member]
Contractual Obligation [Line Items]
Purchase Obligation, Due in Next Twelve Months	852
Purchase Obligation, Due in Second Year	49
Purchase Obligation, Due in Third Year	66
Purchase Obligation, Due in Fourth Year	1
Purchase Obligation, Due in Fifth Year	1
Purchase Obligation, Due after Fifth Year	4
Purchase Obligation	973
Maintenance, service and other contracts [Member]
Contractual Obligation [Line Items]
Purchase Obligation, Due in Next Twelve Months	303
Purchase Obligation, Due in Second Year	220
Purchase Obligation, Due in Third Year	212
Purchase Obligation, Due in Fourth Year	186
Purchase Obligation, Due in Fifth Year	180
Purchase Obligation, Due after Fifth Year	723
Purchase Obligation	1,824
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member]
Contractual Obligation [Line Items]
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Next Twelve Months	20
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Two Years	20
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Three Years	20
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Four Years	19
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Five Years	19
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due Thereafter	624
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due	722
Contractual Obligation, Due in Next Twelve Months	754
Contractual Obligation, Due in Second Year	248
Contractual Obligation, Due in Third Year	198
Contractual Obligation, Due in Fourth Year	151
Contractual Obligation, Due in Fifth Year	140
Contractual Obligation, Due after Fifth Year	916
Contractual Obligation	$ 2,407
Number of Construction Projects | number_of_projects	2
Operating leases, rent expense, net	$ 4	$ 4	$ 4
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Fuel contracts
Contractual Obligation [Line Items]
Purchase Obligation, Due in Next Twelve Months	141
Purchase Obligation, Due in Second Year	73
Purchase Obligation, Due in Third Year	40
Purchase Obligation, Due in Fourth Year	0
Purchase Obligation, Due in Fifth Year	0
Purchase Obligation, Due after Fifth Year	0
Purchase Obligation	254
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Electric capacity and transmission
Contractual Obligation [Line Items]
Purchase Obligation, Due in Next Twelve Months	37
Purchase Obligation, Due in Second Year	29
Purchase Obligation, Due in Third Year	29
Purchase Obligation, Due in Fourth Year	28
Purchase Obligation, Due in Fifth Year	25
Purchase Obligation, Due after Fifth Year	59
Purchase Obligation	207
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Natural gas contracts for gas operations
Contractual Obligation [Line Items]
Purchase Obligation, Due in Next Twelve Months	137
Purchase Obligation, Due in Second Year	34
Purchase Obligation, Due in Third Year	13
Purchase Obligation, Due in Fourth Year	12
Purchase Obligation, Due in Fifth Year	10
Purchase Obligation, Due after Fifth Year	23
Purchase Obligation	229
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Capital Addition Purchase Commitments [Member]
Contractual Obligation [Line Items]
Purchase Obligation, Due in Next Twelve Months	347
Purchase Obligation, Due in Second Year	2
Purchase Obligation, Due in Third Year	5
Purchase Obligation, Due in Fourth Year	0
Purchase Obligation, Due in Fifth Year	0
Purchase Obligation, Due after Fifth Year	0
Purchase Obligation	354
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Maintenance, service and other contracts [Member]
Contractual Obligation [Line Items]
Purchase Obligation, Due in Next Twelve Months	72
Purchase Obligation, Due in Second Year	90
Purchase Obligation, Due in Third Year	91
Purchase Obligation, Due in Fourth Year	92
Purchase Obligation, Due in Fifth Year	86
Purchase Obligation, Due after Fifth Year	210
Purchase Obligation	$ 641