Revenue from Contracts with Customers Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2019		Sep. 30, 2018		Sep. 30, 2019		Sep. 30, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		$ 4,213		$ 4,270		$ 11,329		$ 11,358
Operating revenue		5,644		5,637		15,148		15,070
Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		124		149		400		460
Electricity and natural gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		4,337		4,419		11,729		11,818
PacifiCorp [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,354		1,343		3,736		3,637
Operating revenue		1,367		1,369		3,793		3,746
PacifiCorp [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		13		26		57		109
MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		793		828		2,281		2,279
Operating revenue		797		832		2,299		2,297
MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		4		4		18		18
NV Energy, Inc. [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,047		1,052		2,367		2,405
Operating revenue		1,054		1,059		2,389		2,426
NV Energy, Inc. [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		7		7		22		21
Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		204		206		661		692
Operating revenue		230		233		736		757
Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		26		27		75		65
BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		221		283		805		893
Operating revenue		226		259		809		871
BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue	[1]	5		(24)		4		(22)
BHE Transmission [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		184		174		527		531
Operating revenue		184		174		527		531
BHE Transmission [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		0		0		0		0
BHE Renewables [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		276		235		599		538
Operating revenue		329		320		745		720
BHE Renewables [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		53		85		146		182
Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		134	[2]	149	[2]	353	[2]	383
Operating revenue		150	[2]	173	[2]	431	[2]	470
Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		16	[2]	24	[2]	78	[2]	87
Regulated Operation [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		3,753		3,844		10,223		10,297
Regulated Operation [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		2,968		2,971		7,356		7,303
Regulated Operation [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		77		96		490		500
Regulated Operation [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		69		80		311		306
Regulated Operation [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		443		439		1,346		1,385
Regulated Operation [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		196		258		719		802
Regulated Operation [Member] | Other customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		1		1
Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,354		1,343		3,736		3,637
Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,320		1,323		3,613		3,534
Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		8		(10)	[3]	47		21
Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		26		30		76		82
Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Other customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		784		826		2,256		2,272
Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		651		647		1,561		1,538
Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		61		83		416		428
Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		56		82		232		262
Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		16		14		47		44
Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Other customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,047		1,052		2,367		2,404
Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		998		1,002		2,183		2,232
Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		16		13		74		72
Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		6		9		34		26
Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		27		28		75		73
Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member] | Other customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		1		1
Regulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		195		196		634		661
Regulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Regulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Regulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Regulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		195		196		634		661
Regulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Regulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member] | Other customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		221		283		805		893
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		221		283		805		893
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Other customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		179		171		514		525
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		179		171		514		525
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member] | Other customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member] | Other customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Regulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		(27)	[2]	(27)	[2]	(89)	[2]	(95)
Regulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		(1)	[2]	(1)	[2]	(1)	[2]	(1)
Regulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		(1)	[2]	(1)	[2]	(2)	[2]	(3)
Regulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		(25)	[2]	(25)	[2]	(86)	[2]	(91)
Regulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member] | Other customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]	0
Unregulated Operation [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		460		426		1,106		1,061
Unregulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Unregulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		9		2		25		7
Unregulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		1
Unregulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		9		10		27		31
Unregulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0		0		0		0
Unregulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		5		3		13		6
Unregulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		276		235		599		538
Unregulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		161	[2]	176	[2]	442	[2]	478
PacifiCorp [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		1,367		1,369		3,793		3,746
PacifiCorp [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		13		26		57		109
PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,354		1,343		3,736		3,637
PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,303		1,307		3,558		3,479
PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		8		(10)	[4]	47		21
PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		26		30		76		82
PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Other customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		$ 17		$ 16		$ 55		$ 55

[1] (3)Includes net payments to counterparties for the financial settlement of certain derivative contracts at BHE Pipeline Group.

[2] (1)The BHE and Other reportable segment represents amounts related principally to other entities, corporate functions and intersegment eliminations.

[3] (2)Includes net payments to counterparties for the financial settlement of certain non-derivative forward contracts for energy sales at PacifiCorp.

[4] (1)Includes net payments to counterparties for the financial settlement of certain non-derivative forward contracts for energy sales.