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Contingencies and commitments - Narrative (Details) |  |  | 1 Months Ended | 2 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 10 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
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Oct. 31, 2023 USD ($) Cases | Jul. 29, 2022 a People Structure | Dec. 31, 2024 USD ($) Complaint Plaintiff | Oct. 31, 2024 USD ($) Trial Plaintiff | Sep. 30, 2024 USD ($) | Apr. 30, 2024 USD ($) | Jan. 31, 2024 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2023 Plaintiff | Nov. 30, 2021 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2020 a Wildfire Structure | Mar. 31, 2025 USD ($) Plaintiff | Oct. 31, 2024 USD ($) shares | Mar. 31, 2025 USD ($) Plaintiff Cases | Mar. 31, 2024 USD ($) | Jan. 31, 2025 Plaintiff Complaint | Mar. 31, 2025 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)
Pilot [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Remaining noncontrolling interests acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2,600,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
BHE [Member] | Common Class B [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of shares exchanged | shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,291,631 |  |  |  |  |
Value of shares exchanged |  |  |  | $ 1,045,000,000.000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,045,000,000.000 |  |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of outstanding common stock repurchased |  |  |  |  | 5.85% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Consideration for repurchase of common stock held by noncontrolling shareholders |  |  |  |  | $ 2,900,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Beachie Creek Fire [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of acres burned | a |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 193,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | South Obenchain Fire [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of acres burned | a |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 33,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | Echo Mountain Complex Fire [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of acres burned | a |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | 242 Fire [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of acres burned | a |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 14,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | HomeServices of America [Member] | Antitrust Cases [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, sought amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 9,000,000,000 |  |  |  |
Number of cases | Cases |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] | HomeServices of America [Member] | Antitrust Burnett Case [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, awarded value | $ 1,800,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Legal settlements amount paid |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 67,000,000 |
Litigation settlement, scheduled payments term |  |  |  |  |  | 4 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Settlement payments to be paid |  |  |  |  |  | $ 250,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of cases | Cases | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
NICO [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency accrual |  |  |  |  | 535,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net loss contingency accrual |  |  |  |  | 490,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency recoverable from a third party, received |  |  |  |  | $ 45,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
PacifiCorp [Member] | Wildfires [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated pre-tax probable loss |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2,750,000,000 |  | $ 2,750,000,000 |  |  | 2,750,000,000 |
Legal settlements amount paid |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,300,000,000 |  |  |  |
Unpaid estimated liability |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,400,000,000 |  | 1,400,000,000 |  |  | $ 1,400,000,000 |
Loss contingency accrual |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | $ 0 |  |  |
Insurance recoveries |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 530,000,000
PacifiCorp [Member] | 2020 Wildfires [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, sought amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 51,000,000,000 |  |  |  |
PacifiCorp [Member] | 2020 Wildfires, Economic and Noneconomic Damages [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, sought amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 48,000,000,000 |  |  |  |
PacifiCorp [Member] | 2022 Wildfire [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
PacifiCorp [Member] | Beachie Creek Fire [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of fires caused | Wildfire |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
PacifiCorp [Member] | James Case Multnomah County Circuit Court [Member] | 2020 Wildfires [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of named plaintiffs | Plaintiff |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,591 |  |
Number of additional plaintiffs | Plaintiff |  |  | 8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of plaintiffs per trial | Plaintiff |  |  |  | 10 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of complaints | Complaint |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6 |  |
Number of plaintiffs dismissed | Plaintiff |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 |  |
Number of additional complaints filed | Complaint |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of additional damages phase trials | Trial |  |  |  | 9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
PacifiCorp [Member] | James Case Multnomah County Circuit Court First Trial [Member] | 2020 Wildfires [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of named plaintiffs | Plaintiff |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 17 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
PacifiCorp [Member] | James Case Multnomah County Circuit Court First and Second Trial [Member] | 2020 Wildfires [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, awarded value |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 210,000,000 |  |  |
Multiplier used to determine economic and non-economic damages |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0.25 |  |  |
Loss contingency, accrual interest rate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9.00% |  |  |
PacifiCorp [Member] | James Case Multnomah County Circuit Court First and Second Trial [Member] | Economic Damages [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, awarded value |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 32,000,000 |  |  |
PacifiCorp [Member] | James Case Multnomah County Circuit Court First and Second Trial [Member] | Non-Economic Damages [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, awarded value |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 147,000,000 |  |  |
PacifiCorp [Member] | James Case Multnomah County Circuit Court First and Second Trial [Member] | Punitive Damages [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, awarded value |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 41,000,000 |  |  |
PacifiCorp [Member] | James Case Multnomah County Circuit Court Third Trial and Fourth [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of named plaintiffs | Plaintiff |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15 |  |  |  |  |  |
PacifiCorp [Member] | James Case Multnomah County Circuit Court Third Trial and Fourth [Member] | 2020 Wildfires [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of named plaintiffs | Plaintiff |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15 |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, sought amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 97,000,000 |  |  |  |
PacifiCorp [Member] | James Case Multnomah County Circuit Court Third Trial and Fourth [Member] | Economic Damages [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, sought amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 13,000,000 |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, awarded value |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 6,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
PacifiCorp [Member] | James Case Multnomah County Circuit Court Third Trial and Fourth [Member] | Non-Economic Damages [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, awarded value |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 66,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
PacifiCorp [Member] | James Case Multnomah County Circuit Court Third Trial and Fourth [Member] | Punitive Damages [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, sought amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 18,000,000 |  |  |  |
PacifiCorp [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Wildfires [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, sought amount |  |  | $ 900,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
PacifiCorp [Member] | Minimum [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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
PacifiCorp [Member] | Minimum [Member] | 2022 Wildfire [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of acres aggregate of wildfire | a |  | 60,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
PacifiCorp [Member] | Minimum [Member] | James Case Multnomah County Circuit Court [Member] | Economic Damages [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, sought amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 600,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
PacifiCorp [Member] | Minimum [Member] | James Case Multnomah County Circuit Court [Member] | Non-Economic Damages [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency, sought amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,000,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member] | BHE [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of outstanding common stock repurchased |  |  |  | 2.12% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2.12% |  |  |  |  |

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