Business Acquisitions Business Acquisitions - Pro Forma (Details) (NV Energy Transaction [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
NV Energy Transaction [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Pro forma operating revenue	$ 3,634
Pro forma net income attributable to Berkshire Hathaway Energy shareholders	$ 441

The pro forma net Income or Loss for the period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (h)(2)-(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25497992&loc=d3e1392-128463

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration