Investments and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents and Investments (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]

Investments and Restricted Cash and Investments

Investments and restricted cash and cash equivalents and investments consists of the following (in millions):

	As of
	March 31,		December 31,
	2021		2020
Investments:
BYD Company Limited common stock	$	4,773	$	5,897
Rabbi trusts	452		440
Other	288		263
Total investments	5,513		6,600
Equity method investments:
BHE Renewables tax equity investments	5,399		5,626
Iroquois Gas Transmission System, L.P.	586		580
Electric Transmission Texas, LLC	581		594
JAX LNG, LLC	80		75
Bridger Coal Company	68		74
Other	113		118
Total equity method investments	6,827		7,067
Restricted cash and cash equivalents and investments:
Quad Cities Station nuclear decommissioning trust funds	697		676
Other restricted cash and cash equivalents	130		155
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents and investments	827		831
Total investments and restricted cash and cash equivalents and investments	$	13,167	$	14,498
Reflected as:
Current assets	$	157	$	178
Noncurrent assets	13,010		14,320
Total investments and restricted cash and cash equivalents and investments	$	13,167	$	14,498

Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments [Table Text Block]

(Losses) gains on marketable securities, net recognized during the period consists of the following (in millions):

	Three-Month Periods
	Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Unrealized (losses) gains recognized on marketable securities still held at the reporting date	$	(1,119)	$	25
Net gains recognized on marketable securities sold during the period	1		2
(Losses) gains on marketable securities, net	$	(1,118)	$	27

Schedule of Cash Flow, Supplemental Disclosures

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents consist of funds invested in money market mutual funds, United States Treasury Bills and other investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased. Cash and cash equivalents exclude amounts where availability is restricted by legal requirements, loan agreements or other contractual provisions. Restricted cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, consist substantially of funds restricted for the purpose of constructing solid waste facilities under tax-exempt bond obligation agreements and debt service obligations for certain of the Company's nonregulated renewable energy projects. A reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, as presented in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows is outlined below and disaggregated by the line items in which they appear on the Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions):

	As of
	March 31,		December 31,
	2021		2020
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,276	$	1,290
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	117		140
Investments and restricted cash and cash equivalents and investments	13		15
Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents	$	1,406	$	1,445

Eastern Energy Gas Holdings, LLC [Member]

Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]

Investments and Restricted Cash and Investments

Investments and restricted cash and cash equivalents consists of the following (in millions):

	As of
	March 31,		December 31,
	2021		2020
Investments:
Investment funds	$	12	$	—
Equity method investments:
Iroquois	250		244
Total investments	262		244
Restricted cash and cash equivalents:
Customer deposits	9		13
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents	9		13
Total investments and restricted cash and cash equivalents	$	271	$	257
Reflected as:
Current assets	$	9	$	13
Noncurrent assets	262		244
Total investments and restricted cash and cash equivalents	$	271	$	257

Schedule of Cash Flow, Supplemental Disclosures

A reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, as presented in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows is outlined below and disaggregated by the line items in which they appear on the Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions):

	As of
	March 31,		December 31,
	2021		2020
Cash and cash equivalents	$	106	$	35
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	9		13
Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents	$	115	$	48