content: Securities and Exchange Commission
                                   
                         Washington, DC  20549
                                   
                               Form 8-K
                                   
                            Current Report
                                   
                Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                     Securities Exchange Act 1934
                                   
                                   
                    Date of Report October 13, 1998
                   (Date of earliest event reported)
                                   
                                   
                                   
                        CalEnergy Company, Inc.
        (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                                   
  
  
      Delaware                  1-9874                 94-2213782
  (State of other          (Commission File          (IRS Employer
   jurisdiction of             Number)              Identification No.)
   incorporation)
  
  
  
   302 South 36th Street, Suite 400, Omaha, NE           68131
      (Address of principal executive offices)          Zip Code
  
  
  
  
  Registrant's Telephone Number, including area code:    (402) 341-4500
  
  
  
  
                                N/A
   (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
  <PAGE>
  Item 5.  Other Events
  
        On  October  13, 1998, the Registrant and MidAmerican  Energy
  Holdings Company announced that the waiting period under the  Hart-
  Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 expired and federal
  antitrust clearance has therefore been obtained for their  proposed
  merger.   Completion of the merger is expected to occur by the  end
  of the first quarter of 1999.
  
        Certain information included in this report contains forward-
  looking   statements  made  pursuant  to  the  Private   Securities
  Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("Reform Act").  Such statements  are
  based  on  current expectations and involve a number of  known  and
  unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results
  and  performance  of the Registrant to differ materially  from  any
  expected  future results or performance, expressed or  implied,  by
  the forward-looking statements including expectations regarding the
  future  results of operations of Registrant and MidAmerican  Energy
  Holdings  Company and the combined company, the intended  financing
  of  the  merger and receipt of regulatory approvals.  In connection
  with  the  safe harbor provisions of the Reform Act, the Registrant
  has identified important factors that could cause actual results to
  differ  materially  from such expectations,  including  development
  uncertainty,   operating   uncertainty,  acquisition   uncertainty,
  uncertainties  relating to doing business  outside  of  the  United
  States,    uncertainties   relating   to   geothermal    resources,
  uncertainties  relating  to  domestic  and  international  (and  in
  particular,  Indonesian)  economic  and  political  conditions  and
  uncertainties  regarding  the impact  of  regulations,  changes  in
  government   policy,   industry   deregulation   and   competition.
  Reference is made to all of the Registrant's SEC Filings, including
  the  Proxy Statement and the Registrant's Report on Form 8-K  dated
  March  6, 1998, incorporated herein by reference, for a description
  of  such factors.  The Company assumes no responsibility to  update
  forward-looking information contained herein.
  
  
  Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits
  
  Exhibit 1 - Joint Press Release dated October 13, 1998
  
  <PAGE>
  
                             SIGNATURE
  
  
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
  1934,  the  Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed  on
  its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
                                     CalEnergy Company, Inc.
  
  
  
  
                                  By: \s\ Douglas L. Anderson
                                          Douglas L. Anderson
                                          Assistant Secretary and
                                          Assistant General Counsel
  
  
  
  
  Dated: October 13, 1998
  <PAGE>
  
                               EXHIBIT 1
  
  
  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
  
            CalEnergy and MidAmerican Announce Clearance of
    Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Waiting Period for Proposed Merger
  
       OMAHA, NEBRASKA and DES MOINES, IOWA, October 13, 1998 ---
  CalEnergy Company, Inc. (NYSE:  CE) and MidAmerican Energy Holdings
  Company (NYSE:  MEC) today announced that the waiting period under
  the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 expired
  and that federal antitrust clearance has therefore been obtained
  for their proposed merger.  Completion of the merger is expected to
  occur by the end of the first quarter of 1999.
  
       CalEnergy is a global energy company that manages and owns
  interests in over 5,000 net megawatts of power generation
  facilities in operation, construction and development worldwide.
  Through its U.K. subsidiary, CalEnergy supplies and distributes
  electricity and gas to approximately 2.0 million customers in the
  United Kingdom. CalEnergy produces and develops energy from
  diversified fuel sources including geothermal, natural gas and
  hydroelectric.  CalEnergy conducts business in the U.S., U.K., the
  Philippines, Indonesia, Poland and Australia, and employs more than
  4,200 people worldwide.  In the year ended December 31, 1997,
  CalEnergy generated revenues of over $2.2 billion and had assets of
  approximately $7.5 billion.  CalEnergy's headquarters are based in
  Omaha, Nebraska.  Information about CalEnergy is available on the
  Internet at http://www.calenergy.com.
  
       MidAmerican, Iowa's largest energy company, provides electric
  service to 648,000 customers and natural gas service to 619,000
  customers in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota.  Company
  headquarters are in Des Moines, Iowa.  In the year ended December
  31, 1997, MidAmerican generated revenues of over $1.9 billion and
  had assets of approximately $4.3 billion.  Information about
  MidAmerican is available on the Internet at
  http://www.midamerican.com.
  
       This press release contains forward-looking statements which
  are based on current expectations and involve a number of
  uncertainties.  Reference is made to all of each company's SEC
  filings including CalEnergy's Report on Form 8-K dated March 6,
  1998, incorporated herein by reference, for a description of such
  uncertainties.
  
  
  <PAGE>
  Press Contacts:
  
  MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company
   Kevin Waetke, Manager, Media Relations            (515) 281-2785
   Jene Spurgin, Manager, Investor Relations         (515) 281-2204
  
  CalEnergy Company, Inc.
   Patti McAtee, Director, Corporate Communications  (402) 231-1519
   Craig Allen, Manager, Investor Relations          (402) 231-1673
   Kate Inverarity, Brunswick                        (212) 333-3810
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metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CALENERGY CO INC", "cik": "0000720556", "assigned-sic": "4991", "irs-number": "942213782", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-09874", "film-number": "98724379"}, "business-address": {"street1": "302 S 36TH ST", "street2": "STE 400", "city": "OMAHA", "state": "NE", "zip": "68131", "phone": "4023414500"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "302 SOUTH 36TH STREET", "street2": "SUITE 400-A", "city": "OMAHA", "state": "NE", "zip": "68131"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "CALIFORNIA ENERGY CO INC", "date-changed": "19920703"}}
text: Securities and Exchange Commission
                                   
                         Washington, DC  20549
                                   
                               Form 8-K
                                   
                            Current Report
                                   
                Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                     Securities Exchange Act 1934
                                   
                                   
                    Date of Report October 13, 1998
                   (Date of earliest event reported)
                                   
                                   
                                   
                        CalEnergy Company, Inc.
        (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                                   
  
      Delaware                  1-9874                 94-2213782
  (State of other          (Commission File          (IRS Employer
   jurisdiction of             Number)              Identification No.)
   incorporation)
  
   302 South 36th Street, Suite 400, Omaha, NE           68131
      (Address of principal executive offices)          Zip Code
  
  Registrant's Telephone Number, including area code:    (402) 341-4500
  
                                N/A
   (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
  Item 5.  Other Events
  
        On  October  13, 1998, the Registrant and MidAmerican  Energy
  Holdings Company announced that the waiting period under the  Hart-
  Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 expired and federal
  antitrust clearance has therefore been obtained for their  proposed
  merger.   Completion of the merger is expected to occur by the  end
  of the first quarter of 1999.
  
        Certain information included in this report contains forward-
  looking   statements  made  pursuant  to  the  Private   Securities
  Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("Reform Act").  Such statements  are
  based  on  current expectations and involve a number of  known  and
  unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results
  and  performance  of the Registrant to differ materially  from  any
  expected  future results or performance, expressed or  implied,  by
  the forward-looking statements including expectations regarding the
  future  results of operations of Registrant and MidAmerican  Energy
  Holdings  Company and the combined company, the intended  financing
  of  the  merger and receipt of regulatory approvals.  In connection
  with  the  safe harbor provisions of the Reform Act, the Registrant
  has identified important factors that could cause actual results to
  differ  materially  from such expectations,  including  development
  uncertainty,   operating   uncertainty,  acquisition   uncertainty,
  uncertainties  relating to doing business  outside  of  the  United
  States,    uncertainties   relating   to   geothermal    resources,
  uncertainties  relating  to  domestic  and  international  (and  in
  particular,  Indonesian)  economic  and  political  conditions  and
  uncertainties  regarding  the impact  of  regulations,  changes  in
  government   policy,   industry   deregulation   and   competition.
  Reference is made to all of the Registrant's SEC Filings, including
  the  Proxy Statement and the Registrant's Report on Form 8-K  dated
  March  6, 1998, incorporated herein by reference, for a description
  of  such factors.  The Company assumes no responsibility to  update
  forward-looking information contained herein.
  
  Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits
  
  Exhibit 1 - Joint Press Release dated October 13, 1998
  SIGNATURE
  
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
  1934,  the  Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed  on
  its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
                                     CalEnergy Company, Inc.
  
                                  By: \s\ Douglas L. Anderson
                                          Douglas L. Anderson
                                          Assistant Secretary and
                                          Assistant General Counsel
  
  Dated: October 13, 1998
  EXHIBIT 1
  
  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
  
            CalEnergy and MidAmerican Announce Clearance of
    Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Waiting Period for Proposed Merger
  
       OMAHA, NEBRASKA and DES MOINES, IOWA, October 13, 1998 ---
  CalEnergy Company, Inc. (NYSE:  CE) and MidAmerican Energy Holdings
  Company (NYSE:  MEC) today announced that the waiting period under
  the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 expired
  and that federal antitrust clearance has therefore been obtained
  for their proposed merger.  Completion of the merger is expected to
  occur by the end of the first quarter of 1999.
  
       CalEnergy is a global energy company that manages and owns
  interests in over 5,000 net megawatts of power generation
  facilities in operation, construction and development worldwide.
  Through its U.K. subsidiary, CalEnergy supplies and distributes
  electricity and gas to approximately 2.0 million customers in the
  United Kingdom. CalEnergy produces and develops energy from
  diversified fuel sources including geothermal, natural gas and
  hydroelectric.  CalEnergy conducts business in the U.S., U.K., the
  Philippines, Indonesia, Poland and Australia, and employs more than
  4,200 people worldwide.  In the year ended December 31, 1997,
  CalEnergy generated revenues of over $2.2 billion and had assets of
  approximately $7.5 billion.  CalEnergy's headquarters are based in
  Omaha, Nebraska.  Information about CalEnergy is available on the
  Internet at http://www.calenergy.com.
  
       MidAmerican, Iowa's largest energy company, provides electric
  service to 648,000 customers and natural gas service to 619,000
  customers in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota.  Company
  headquarters are in Des Moines, Iowa.  In the year ended December
  31, 1997, MidAmerican generated revenues of over $1.9 billion and
  had assets of approximately $4.3 billion.  Information about
  MidAmerican is available on the Internet at
  http://www.midamerican.com.
  
       This press release contains forward-looking statements which
  are based on current expectations and involve a number of
  uncertainties.  Reference is made to all of each company's SEC
  filings including CalEnergy's Report on Form 8-K dated March 6,
  1998, incorporated herein by reference, for a description of such
  uncertainties.
  Press Contacts:
  
  MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company
   Kevin Waetke, Manager, Media Relations            (515) 281-2785
   Jene Spurgin, Manager, Investor Relations         (515) 281-2204
  
  CalEnergy Company, Inc.
   Patti McAtee, Director, Corporate Communications  (402) 231-1519
   Craig Allen, Manager, Investor Relations          (402) 231-1673
   Kate Inverarity, Brunswick                        (212) 333-3810