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Contingencies and commitments - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions |  |  |  |  | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 27 Months Ended
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Feb. 13, 2024 Plaintiff | Feb. 01, 2024 USD ($) | Oct. 31, 2023 USD ($) Cases | Jul. 29, 2022 a Structure People | May 06, 2024 USD ($) | Apr. 30, 2024 USD ($) Plaintiff | Mar. 31, 2024 USD ($) Plaintiff | Jan. 31, 2024 USD ($) Plaintiff | Sep. 30, 2023 Trial | Jun. 30, 2023 USD ($) Plaintiff Wildfire | Sep. 30, 2020 a Structure | Mar. 31, 2024 USD ($) Cases | Mar. 31, 2023 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2024 USD ($)
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Wildfires [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated pre-tax probable loss |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2,400 |  |  |  |  | $ 2,400 |  | $ 2,400
Legal settlements amount paid |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 700
Unpaid estimated liability |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,700 |  |  |  |  | 1,700 |  | $ 1,700
Accrued losses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 400 |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Wildfires [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Legal settlements amount paid |  |  |  |  | $ 52 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | 2020 Wildfires [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of wildfires associated to complaints | Wildfire |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4 |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, sought amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7,000 |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | 2020 Wildfires [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unpaid estimated liability |  |  |  |  | $ 23 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | 2022 Wildfire [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of acres aggregate of wildfire | a |  |  |  | 60,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of structures destroyed | Structure |  |  |  | 185 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of structures damaged | Structure |  |  |  | 11 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of injuries in wildfire | People |  |  |  | 12 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of fatalities in wildfire | People |  |  |  | 4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | James Case [Member] | 2020 Wildfires [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of named plaintiffs | Plaintiff |  |  |  |  |  | 1,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | James Case [Member] | Economic Damages [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, sought amount |  |  |  |  |  | $ 5,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | James Case [Member] | Non-Economic Damages [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, sought amount |  |  |  |  |  | 25,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Economic and Property Damages [Member] | 2020 Wildfires [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, awarded value |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 4 |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | James Case Multnomah County Circuit Court [Member] | 2020 Wildfires [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of named plaintiffs | Plaintiff | 17 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 17 |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, awarded value |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 92 |  | $ 90 |  |  |  |
Multiplier used to determine economic and non-economic damages |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0.25 |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, accrual interest rate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, number of trials | Trial |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | James Case Multnomah County Circuit Court [Member] | Commercial Timber Plaintiffs [Member] | Settled Litigation [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of named plaintiffs | Plaintiff |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | James Case Multnomah County Circuit Court [Member] | Non-Economic Damages [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, awarded value |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 68 |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | James Case Multnomah County Circuit Court [Member] | Punitive Damages [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, awarded value |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 18 |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | James Case Multnomah County Circuit Court First Trial [Member] | 2020 Wildfires [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of named plaintiffs | Plaintiff |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9 |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, awarded value |  | $ 84 |  |  |  |  |  | $ 62 |  |  |  |  |  |
Multiplier used to determine economic and non-economic damages |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0.25 |  |  |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | James Case Multnomah County Circuit Court First Trial [Member] | 2020 Wildfires [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, awarded value |  |  |  |  |  | $ 80 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | James Case Multnomah County Circuit Court First Trial [Member] | Economic Damages [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, awarded value |  | 12 |  |  |  |  |  | $ 6 |  |  |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | James Case Multnomah County Circuit Court First Trial [Member] | Non-Economic Damages [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, awarded value |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 56 |  |  |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | James Case Multnomah County Circuit Court First Trial [Member] | Punitive Damages [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, awarded value |  | $ 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | James Case Multnomah County Circuit Court Second Trial [Member] | 2020 Wildfires [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of named plaintiffs | Plaintiff |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, awarded value |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 42 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Multiplier used to determine economic and non-economic damages |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0.25 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | James Case Multnomah County Circuit Court Second Trial [Member] | Non-Economic Damages [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, awarded value |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 23 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | James Case Multnomah County Circuit Court Second Trial [Member] | Doubled Economic Damages [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, awarded value |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | James Case Multnomah County Circuit Court Second Trial [Member] | Punitive Damages [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, awarded value |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Multnomah County Circuit Court [Member] | 2020 Wildfires [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of named plaintiffs | Plaintiff |  |  |  |  |  | 1,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company [Member] | HomeServices of America [Member] | Antitrust Cases [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, sought amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 9,000 |  |
Loss contingency, awarded value |  |  | $ 1,800 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of cases | Cases |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company [Member] | HomeServices of America [Member] | Antitrust Cases [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Litigation settlement, scheduled payments term |  |  |  |  |  | 4 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unpaid estimated liability |  |  |  |  |  | $ 250 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company [Member] | HomeServices of America [Member] | Antitrust Cases [Member] | Trial Commenced [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of cases | Cases |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company [Member] | Minimum [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | 2020 Wildfires [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of acres aggregate of wildfire | a |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 500,000 |  |  |
Number of structures destroyed | Structure |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,000 |  |  |
Subsidiaries [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of subsidiary ownership |  |  |  |  |  |  | 92.00% |  |  |  |  | 92.00% |  | 92.00%

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