MidAmerican Energy Co.

MidAmerican Energy Company, commonly known as MidAmerican Energy, is an American energy company headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. Formed in 1995 through the merger of Iowa-Illinois Gas and Electric Company and Midwest Resources, Inc., the company is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy. As of early 2023, MidAmerican Energy had approximately 3,400 employees. Its estimated annual revenue is around $855.3 million, though some sources indicate a peak revenue of $12.4 billion in 2024.

MidAmerican Energy operates as a rate-regulated utility, providing electricity and natural gas services to over 1.6 million customers across Iowa, Illinois, South Dakota, and Nebraska. The company manages a diverse energy portfolio, including significant investments in renewable energy, particularly wind power, alongside traditional coal and natural gas generation. It is recognized as one of the largest owners of wind-powered generation among investor-owned utilities in the U.S. Beyond energy delivery, MidAmerican also engages in energy efficiency programs and supports electric vehicle infrastructure.

MidAmerican Energy's patent litigation posture is that of an operating company defending its interests rather than an NPE asserting patents. The company is recorded as a plaintiff in one case before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). This stance is typical for utilities seeking to challenge the validity of patents that may impact their operations or face assertions from patent holders.

The sole tracked case, Wisconsin Power & Light Co. et al. v. Birchtech Corp., shows MidAmerican Energy Co. as a petitioner at the PTAB, alongside co-petitioner Wisconsin Power & Light Co. This case involves Inter Partes Review (IPR) petitions challenging patents held by Birchtech Corp., a clean tech company focused on sustainable air and water treatment, particularly mercury emissions reduction technologies. MidAmerican, along with other utilities and its parent Berkshire Hathaway Energy, initiated these challenges against Birchtech's patents related to mercury emissions. In related proceedings, the Director of the USPTO has reviewed the institution of multiple IPR petitions by PacifiCorp and MidAmerican against Birchtech patents, emphasizing that generally only one petition per patent should proceed unless exceptional circumstances exist. MidAmerican has reportedly reached a settlement in the specific PTAB case, leading to a joint motion to terminate the proceeding with respect to MidAmerican.