Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019		Sep. 30, 2018		Sep. 30, 2019		Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	$ 5,644		$ 5,637		$ 15,148		$ 15,070
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	795		667		2,243		2,110
Depreciation and amortization	806		681		2,278		2,147
Operating income	1,450		1,523		3,328		3,366
Interest expense	475		453		1,428		1,380
Capitalized interest	23		17		56		44
Allowance for equity funds	56		30		126		75
Interest and dividend income	25		27		91		85
(Losses) gains on marketable securities, net	(234)		260		(296)		(336)
Other, net	2		19		67		50
Income before income tax expense and equity income	847		1,423		1,944		1,904
Assets	97,913				97,913			$ 92,189
PacifiCorp [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	1,367		1,369		3,793		3,746
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	272		203		686		602
Operating income	333		386		885		917
Interest expense	101		96		299		288
Assets	24,789				24,789			23,478
MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	797		832		2,299		2,297
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	184		133		540		499
Operating income	234		278		444		444
Interest expense	74		61		223		185
Assets	21,806				21,806			20,029
NV Energy, Inc. [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	1,054		1,059		2,389		2,426
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	121		114		361		341
Operating income	313		307		547		540
Interest expense	55		52		173		169
Assets	14,477				14,477			14,119
Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	230		233		736		757
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	60		62		186		189
Operating income	98		102		337		360
Interest expense	33		34		102		107
Assets	7,334				7,334			7,427
BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	226		259		809		871
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	28		27		85		99
Operating income	87		105		398		388
Interest expense	14		11		38		31
Assets	5,775				5,775			5,511
BHE Transmission [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	184		174		527		531
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	59		61		177		184
Operating income	91		82		244		244
Interest expense	40		42		118		127
Assets	8,692				8,692			8,424
BHE Renewables [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	329		320		745		720
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	71		68		210		198
Operating income	183		176		298		308
Interest expense	44		49		132		150
Assets	9,650				9,650			8,666
HomeServices [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	1,307		1,218		3,419		3,252
Depreciation and amortization	11		14		35		37
Operating income	113		85		209		185
Interest expense	6		6		20		16
Assets	3,971				3,971			2,797
Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	150	[1]	173	[1]	431	[1]	470
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	0		(1)		(2)		(2)
Operating income	(2)		2		(34)		(20)
Interest expense	108		102		323		307
Assets	1,419				1,419			$ 1,738
UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	5,222		5,209		13,875		13,757
Income before income tax expense and equity income	728		1,290		1,546		1,501
UNITED KINGDOM
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	229		232		734		754
Income before income tax expense and equity income	49		59		228		220
CANADA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	183		174		526		531
Income before income tax expense and equity income	55		43		134		125
The Philippines and other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue	10		22		13		28
Income before income tax expense and equity income	$ 15		$ 31		$ 36		$ 58

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