Schedule I Condensed Statements of Cash Flows Schedule I Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash flows from operating activities	$ 6,206	$ 6,770	$ 6,078
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of marketable securities	(262)	(329)	(190)
Proceeds from sale of investments	238	287	202
Other, net	69	83	(12)
Net cash flows from investing activities	(8,963)	(6,989)	(6,079)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from BHE senior debt	0	3,166	0
Payment for Debt Extinguishment or Debt Prepayment Cost	0	0	(435)
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	293	107	19
Net proceeds from (repayments of) short-term debt	684	(1,946)	2,361
Other, net	(52)	(41)	(73)
Net cash flows from financing activities	3,124	(174)	274
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	627
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,040	627
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash flows from operating activities	1,780	1,885	2,450
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investments in subsidiaries	(1,972)	(1,791)	(1,566)
Purchases of marketable securities	(42)	(44)	(71)
Proceeds from sale of investments	42	45	68
Notes receivable from affiliate, net	(112)	(72)	(305)
Other, net	(5)	(22)	(8)
Net cash flows from investing activities	(2,089)	(1,884)	(1,882)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from BHE senior debt	0	3,166	0
Repayments of BHE senior debt	0	(1,045)	(1,379)
Repayments of BHE subordinated debt	0	0	(944)
Payment for Debt Extinguishment or Debt Prepayment Cost	0	0	(406)
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	293	107	19
Net proceeds from (repayments of) short-term debt	607	(2,348)	2,498
Other, net	(1)	(4)	(5)
Net cash flows from financing activities	313	(338)	(255)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents	4	(337)	313
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	9	346	33
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents at end of period	13	9	346
MidAmerican Funding LLC [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash flows from operating activities	(12)	2	(15)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net cash flows from investing activities	0	0	0
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of Long-term Debt	0	0	(86)
Payment for Debt Extinguishment or Debt Prepayment Cost	0	0	(29)
Net change in amounts payable to subsidiary	12	(2)	130
Net cash flows from financing activities	12	(2)	15
Net change in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0