Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		$ 19,844	$ 19,787	$ 18,614
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		2,965	2,933	2,580
Depreciation and amortization		3,011	2,984	2,646
Operating income (loss)		4,150	4,072	4,522
Interest expense		1,912	1,838	1,841
Capitalized interest		(77)	(61)	(45)
Allowance for equity funds		173	104	76
Other Interest and Dividend Income		117	113	111
Gain (Loss) on Investments		(288)	(538)	14
Other, net		97	(9)	(420)
Income before income tax expense and equity income		2,414	1,965	2,507
Income tax benefit		(598)	(583)	(554)
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		7,364	6,241	4,571
Property, plant and equipment, net		73,305	68,087	65,357
Assets		100,051	92,189	90,208
PacifiCorp [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		5,068	5,026	5,237
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		954	979	796
Operating income (loss)		1,072	1,051	1,440
Interest expense		401	384	381
Income tax benefit		61	5	362
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		2,175	1,257	769
Property, plant and equipment, net		20,973	19,570	19,183
Assets		24,861	23,478	23,086
MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		2,927	3,053	2,846
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		638	609	500
Operating income (loss)		549	550	544
Interest expense		302	247	237
Income tax benefit		(377)	(262)	(202)
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		2,810	2,332	1,776
Property, plant and equipment, net		18,377	16,169	14,221
Assets		22,664	20,029	18,444
NV Energy [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		3,037	3,039	3,015
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		482	456	422
Operating income (loss)		655	607	766
Interest expense		229	224	233
Income tax benefit		98	100	221
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		657	503	456
Property, plant and equipment, net		9,613	9,367	9,276
Assets		14,128	14,119	13,903
Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		1,013	1,020	949
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		254	250	214
Operating income (loss)		472	486	488
Interest expense		139	141	133
Income tax benefit		59	61	57
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		602	566	579
Property, plant and equipment, net		6,606	6,007	6,075
Assets		8,385	7,427	7,565
BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		1,131	1,203	993
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		115	126	159
Operating income (loss)		572	525	473
Interest expense		52	43	43
Income tax benefit		138	119	170
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		687	427	286
Property, plant and equipment, net		5,482	4,904	4,587
Assets		6,100	5,511	5,134
BHE Transmission [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		707	710	699
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		240	247	239
Operating income (loss)		323	313	322
Interest expense		157	167	169
Income tax benefit		11	7	(124)
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		247	270	334
Property, plant and equipment, net		6,157	5,824	6,330
Assets		8,776	8,424	9,009
BHE Renewables [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		932	908	838
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations		282	268	251
Operating income (loss)		336	325	316
Interest expense		174	201	204
Income tax benefit		(325)	(158)	(795)
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		122	817	323
Property, plant and equipment, net		5,976	6,155	5,637
Assets		9,961	8,666	7,687
HomeServices [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		4,473	4,214	3,443
Depreciation and amortization		47	51	66
Operating income (loss)		222	214	214
Interest expense		25	23	7
Income tax benefit		51	52	49
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		54	47	37
Property, plant and equipment, net		161	141	117
Assets		3,846	2,797	2,722
Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	[1]	556	614	594
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	[1]	(1)	(2)	(1)
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	[1]	(51)	1	(41)
Interest expense	[1]	433	408	434
Income tax benefit	[1]	(314)	(507)	(292)
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		10	22	11
Property, plant and equipment, net		(40)	(50)	(69)
Assets		1,330	1,738	2,658
UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		18,108	18,014	16,916
Income before income tax expense and equity income		1,866	1,425	1,927
Property, plant and equipment, net		60,634	56,362	53,065
UNITED KINGDOM
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		1,011	1,017	948
Income before income tax expense and equity income		326	307	313
Property, plant and equipment, net		6,504	5,895	5,953
CANADA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		706	710	699
Income before income tax expense and equity income		178	155	167
Property, plant and equipment, net		6,157	5,817	6,323
The Philippines and other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		19	46	51
Income before income tax expense and equity income		44	78	100
Property, plant and equipment, net		$ 10	$ 13	$ 16

[1] (1)The differences between the reportable segment amounts and the consolidated amounts, described as BHE and Other, relate to other corporate entities, including MidAmerican Energy Services, LLC, corporate functions and intersegment eliminations.