Is Berkshire Hathaway Energy a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway?

Berkshire Hathaway Energy is not a separate subsidiary but rather the energy and utilities division of Berkshire Hathaway. It operates as a wholly-owned brand within Berkshire Hathaway's diversified business portfolio.

Is Berkshire Hathaway Energy publicly traded?

Berkshire Hathaway Energy itself is not separately traded. However, parent company Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A, BRK.B) is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange, allowing investors to own shares in Berkshire Hathaway and its energy operations.

When did Berkshire Hathaway acquire Berkshire Hathaway Energy?

Berkshire Hathaway began acquiring shares of MidAmerican Energy in 2000 and increased its stake to 91.1% by 2010. The company was renamed Berkshire Hathaway Energy in 2014.

Who founded Berkshire Hathaway Energy?

Berkshire Hathaway Energy traces its origins to Iowa Power and Light Company, founded in 1926. The company was later acquired by Berkshire Hathaway and renamed to reflect its ownership.

What is Berkshire Hathaway Energy's market position?

Berkshire Hathaway Energy is one of the largest regulated utility companies in the United States and a leading renewable energy producer. The company serves millions of customers across multiple states and operates significant wind and solar generation capacity.

Energy & Utilities

Who Owns Berkshire Hathaway Energy?

Berkshire Hathaway Energy is owned by Berkshire Hathaway, a publicly traded American multinational conglomerate. Berkshire Hathaway acquired a controlling stake in Berkshire Hathaway Energy (formerly MidAmerican Energy) in 2000. The company is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, USA.

Parent Company

Berkshire Hathaway

Acquired

2000

Status

Publicly Traded

Headquarters

Des Moines, Iowa, USA

Berkshire Hathaway Energy Timeline

1839

Berkshire Hathaway

Parent company established in Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Company Founded

1926

Berkshire Hathaway Energy

Founded by Iowa Power and Light Company (original)

Founded

2000

Acquired by Berkshire Hathaway

Berkshire Hathaway acquired Berkshire Hathaway Energy

Acquired

mid rangemass marketUnited Statesall-agesrenewable energycarbon reductionenergy efficiencysustainable infrastructureOfficial Website

Who Owns Berkshire Hathaway Energy?

Parent Company: Berkshire Hathaway
Ownership Type: Wholly owned
Acquisition Year: 2000
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock Ticker: NYSE: BRK.A

Brand	Parent Company	Ownership Type
Berkshire Hathaway Energy	Berkshire Hathaway	Wholly owned

History of Berkshire Hathaway Energy

Founded: 1926
Founders: Iowa Power and Light Company (original)
Acquired by Berkshire Hathaway: 2000

Berkshire Hathaway Energy traces its origins to 1926 with the founding of Iowa Power and Light Company. The company developed as a regulated utility provider serving customers across Iowa and neighboring states. Throughout the 20th century, the company expanded its service territory and modernized its infrastructure.

In 2000, Berkshire Hathaway began acquiring shares of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company (which had acquired Iowa Power and Light). By 2006, Berkshire Hathaway had increased its stake to 76.2%, and by 2010, it owned 91.1% of the company. In 2014, the company was renamed Berkshire Hathaway Energy to reflect its ownership structure.

Under Berkshire Hathaway ownership, the company has expanded significantly into renewable energy, including wind and solar power generation. Berkshire Hathaway Energy has become one of the largest renewable energy producers in the United States, investing billions in clean energy infrastructure.

About Berkshire Hathaway

What does Berkshire Hathaway own?
Berkshire Hathaway owns a diverse portfolio of over 100 wholly-owned subsidiaries and significant equity investments. Key holdings include GEICO (auto insurance), BNSF Railway (freight transportation), Berkshire Hathaway Energy (utilities), Precision Castparts (aerospace components), Duracell (batteries), See's Candies (confectionery), Dairy Queen (fast food), and NetJets (private aviation). The company also holds substantial investments in publicly traded companies including Apple, Bank of America, and American Express.

Is Berkshire Hathaway publicly traded?
Yes. Berkshire Hathaway is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under two ticker symbols: BRK.A (Class A shares) and BRK.B (Class B shares). Class A shares have significantly higher voting rights and are priced much higher than Class B shares. Class B shares were created in 1996 to make Berkshire stock more accessible to retail investors. The company has been publicly traded since 1988 and has never paid a dividend.

Who founded Berkshire Hathaway?
The original Berkshire Hathaway textile company was founded in 1839 by Oliver Chace in Valley Falls, Rhode Island. The modern Berkshire Hathaway was shaped by Warren Buffett, who began acquiring shares in 1962 and gained control in 1965, transforming the struggling textile manufacturer into a diversified holding company. The original textile operations were closed in 1985.

Where is Berkshire Hathaway headquartered?
Berkshire Hathaway is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. The company has maintained its headquarters in Omaha since Warren Buffett took control, reflecting its commitment to a conservative, Midwestern approach to business despite its global scale. The corporate headquarters employs only approximately 25 people, reflecting the extreme decentralization of the organization.

How many companies does Berkshire Hathaway own?
Berkshire Hathaway owns over 100 wholly-owned subsidiaries across insurance, railroads, utilities, manufacturing, consumer products, and services. The exact number fluctuates as Berkshire makes new acquisitions and occasionally sells businesses. The company also holds significant minority stakes in publicly traded companies.

Who owns Berkshire Hathaway?
Berkshire Hathaway is owned by its shareholders, with no single controlling shareholder. Major institutional investors including Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street hold significant stakes. Warren Buffett remains the largest individual shareholder and serves as Executive Chairman, while Greg Abel serves as CEO. The company has a widely dispersed shareholder base typical of large public corporations.

What is Berkshire Hathaway's revenue?
For full-year 2025, Berkshire Hathaway reported operating earnings of $44.49 billion, down from $47.44 billion in 2024. The decline was primarily driven by weaker insurance underwriting results. The company maintains one of the strongest balance sheets in corporate America with cash and equivalents exceeding $150 billion and insurance float exceeding $170 billion.

Who is the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway?
Greg Abel serves as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, having succeeded Warren Buffett on January 1, 2026. Abel had long been considered Buffett's successor and previously led Berkshire's non-insurance operations. Warren Buffett remains Executive Chairman and continues to be involved in major capital allocation decisions.

Founded: 1839
Headquarters: Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock: NYSE: BRK.A
Revenue: $44.49 billion operating earnings (FY2025)
Employees: Approximately 380,000

Visit Berkshire Hathaway website

View full company profile for Berkshire Hathaway

Where Is Berkshire Hathaway Energy Made / Based?

Headquarters: Des Moines, Iowa, USA
Manufacturing / Operations: United States

Berkshire Hathaway Energy Categories & Tags

Energy Utilities Renewable Energy Power American Brand Electric Utility

Berkshire Hathaway Energy Sustainability & Ethics

Berkshire Hathaway Energy operates a decarbonization strategy focused on renewable energy investment and environmental stewardship while maintaining reliability and affordability for customers.

Decarbonization Strategy: BHE has committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with an intermediate target of a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030 compared to 2005 baseline levels. The company plans to retire all coal units by 2049 and all natural gas units by 2050.

Renewable Energy Investment: Through September 2023, Berkshire Hathaway Energy had invested $38.7 billion in renewable generation and energy storage, with an additional $5.8 billion planned through 2025. The company's 2023 to 2025 capital expenditure plan totals $31.4 billion, with $20.5 billion, or 65%, allocated to solar and wind generation combined with transmission and distribution system improvements.

Clean Energy Leadership: 47% of BHE's owned generation capacity comes from non-carbon sources, ranking first among investor-owned utilities for clean power generation capacity in operation. The portfolio includes wind, solar, and hydroelectric assets across its service territories.

Transmission Infrastructure: BHE is investing in transmission infrastructure to support renewable energy deployment and grid reliability. PacifiCorp, a BHE subsidiary, operates 17,100 miles of transmission lines across ten western states.

Wildfire Risk Mitigation: BHE has implemented wildfire risk mitigation programs, particularly in western states where climate change has increased wildfire risks. The company received eight grant awards in 2024 for wildfire and reliability focused system upgrades.

Awards & Recognition

Berkshire Hathaway Energy has received recognition primarily for its renewable energy leadership, capital investment programs, and grid modernization initiatives, though the company maintains a modest public awards profile compared to its industry significance.

Grant Awards for System Upgrades: In 2024, BHE received eight grant awards for wildfire and reliability focused system upgrades, along with four grant awards for hydroelectric system improvements.

Clean Energy Leadership Recognition: Industry analysts and energy sector publications have recognized BHE as a leader in clean energy investment and deployment, citing its ranking as first among investor-owned utilities for clean power generation capacity.

Transmission Innovation Awards: BHE's transmission projects, including the Boardman-Hemingway 500-kV transmission line, on which construction began in June 2025, have been recognized for advancing grid modernization.

Financial Strength Recognition: The company's structure, including its practice of retaining free cash flow for reinvestment rather than distributing dividends to Berkshire Hathaway, has been cited as a model for utility industry capital allocation.

Berkshire Hathaway Energy Recalls & Controversies

Berkshire Hathaway Energy has faced environmental scrutiny and regulatory challenges related to its coal-fired power plant operations, though the company maintains a strong operational record and a proactive approach to environmental compliance.

Coal Plant Environmental Impact: A 2025 Reuters investigation reported that Berkshire Hathaway Energy operates several of the most polluting coal-fired power plants in the United States. Despite substantial investments in renewable energy, the company faced criticism for its decision to continue operating these plants until at least 2049, raising public health and environmental concerns from environmental advocacy groups.

Coal Phase-Out Timeline Controversy: Environmental groups have questioned BHE's decision to retire coal units gradually between 2025 and 2049, arguing that the extended timeline conflicts with urgent climate action needs. The company defends this approach as necessary to maintain grid reliability while managing the capital requirements for renewable energy replacement.

Wildfire Risk Management Scrutiny: Like other western utilities, BHE has faced scrutiny regarding wildfire prevention and grid safety, particularly following major wildfires in California and other western states.

Regulatory Rate Cases: BHE subsidiaries have faced regulatory challenges in various jurisdictions regarding rate increases needed to fund renewable energy investments and grid modernization, reflecting tension between funding energy transition and maintaining affordable rates for customers.

Current Status: BHE continues to operate under its existing coal retirement timeline as of early 2026, with no regulatory order forcing an accelerated phase-out. The company reports ongoing compliance with environmental permits at its coal facilities while continuing renewable energy buildout.

Berkshire Hathaway Energy Ownership: Pros & Cons

Advantages

+Access to Berkshire Hathaway's substantial financial resources
+Long-term investment perspective enabling infrastructure development
+Significant investment in renewable energy and clean power
+Regulated utility model providing stable, predictable cash flows
+Strong balance sheet and credit ratings
+Integration with Berkshire's broader business ecosystem

Considerations

-Regulatory oversight of utility operations and rate-setting
-Dependency on Berkshire Hathaway's corporate policies
-Exposure to energy market volatility and policy changes
-Environmental and sustainability pressures
-Integration with larger corporate structure
-Continued scrutiny over its coal-fired generation timeline

Frequently Asked Questions About Berkshire Hathaway Energy

Sources & Further Reading

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