Revenue from Contracts with Customers Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		$ 3,516	$ 3,687
Operating revenue		4,527	4,610
Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		118	138
Electricity and natural gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		3,634	3,825
PacifiCorp [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,170	1,239
Operating revenue		1,206	1,259
PacifiCorp [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		36	20
MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		682	835
Operating revenue		686	842
MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		4	7
NV Energy, Inc. [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		615	607
Operating revenue		622	614
NV Energy, Inc. [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		7	7
Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		240	238
Operating revenue		266	263
Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		26	25
BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		400	372
Operating revenue		401	371
BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue	[1]	1	(1)
BHE Transmission [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		172	168
Operating revenue		172	168
BHE Transmission [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		0	0
BHE Renewables [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		159	126
Operating revenue		178	167
BHE Renewables [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		19	41
Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	[2]	78	102
Operating revenue	[2]	103	141
Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue	[2]	25	39
Regulated Operation [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		3,213	3,407
Regulated Operation [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		2,061	2,156
Regulated Operation [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		234	297
Regulated Operation [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		77	156
Regulated Operation [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		462	462
Regulated Operation [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		352	335
Regulated Operation [Member] | Other customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		27	1
Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,170	1,239
Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,122	1,186
Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0	28	[3]
Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		22	25
Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		0	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Other customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		26	0
Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		676	829
Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		410	443
Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		187	260
Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		64	110
Regulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		15	16
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
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
Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		614	607
Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		529	527
Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member] | Regulated retail gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		47	37
Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		14	18
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		23	24
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
Regulated Operation [Member] | NV Energy, Inc. [Member] | Other customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1	1
Regulated Operation [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		233	230
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
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
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
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		233	230
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
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
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		400	372
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
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
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
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
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Regulated interstate pipeline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		400	372
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
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		169	167
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
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
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		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		169	167
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
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
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		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
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
Regulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		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
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
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
Regulated Operation [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy And Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	[2]	(49)	(37)
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	[2]	0	0
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	[2]	0	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	[2]	(1)	0
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	[2]	0	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	[2]	(48)	(37)
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	[2]	0	0
Unregulated Operation [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		303	280
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
Unregulated Operation [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		6	6
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		1	0
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		7	8
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
Unregulated Operation [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		3	1
Unregulated Operation [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member] | Nonregulated products and services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		159	126
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	[2]	127	139
PacifiCorp [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		1,206	1,259
PacifiCorp [Member] | Non-contracts with customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue		36	20
PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,170	1,239
PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Regulated retail electric [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,122	1,170
PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Regulated wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	[4]	0	28
PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Regulated transmission and distribution [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		22	25
PacifiCorp [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Other customer revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		$ 26	$ 16

[1] 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)

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