Segment Information - Goodwill (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
12/31/2014	$ 9,343us-gaap_Goodwill
Acquisitions	31us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
Foreign currency translation	(182)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments
Other	(6)us-gaap_GoodwillOtherChanges
3/31/2015	9,186us-gaap_Goodwill
PacifiCorp [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
12/31/2014	1,129
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency translation	0
Other	0
3/31/2015	1,129
MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
12/31/2014	2,102
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency translation	0
Other	0
3/31/2015	2,102
NV Energy [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
12/31/2014	2,369
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency translation	0
Other	0
3/31/2015	2,369
Northern Powergrid [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
12/31/2014	1,100
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency translation	(40)
Other	0
3/31/2015	1,060
BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
12/31/2014	127
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency translation	0
Other	(6)
3/31/2015	121
BHE Transmission [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
12/31/2014	1,657
Acquisitions	31
Foreign currency translation	(142)
Other	0
3/31/2015	1,546
BHE Renewables [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
12/31/2014	95
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency translation	0
Other	0
3/31/2015	95
HomeServices [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
12/31/2014	761
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency translation	0
Other	0
3/31/2015	761
Other [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
12/31/2014	3
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency translation	0
Other	0
3/31/2015	$ 3

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

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- Definition

Amount of increase in asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized resulting from a business combination.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

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Amount of other (increase) decrease of an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

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- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) from foreign currency translation adjustments of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

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