Segment Information - Goodwill (Details) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
12/31/2014	$ 9,343
Acquisitions	58
Foreign currency translation	(239)
Other	(19)
9/30/2015	9,143
PacifiCorp [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
12/31/2014	1,129
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency translation	0
Other	0
9/30/2015	1,129
MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
12/31/2014	2,102
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency translation	0
Other	0
9/30/2015	2,102
NV Energy [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
12/31/2014	2,369
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency translation	0
Other	0
9/30/2015	2,369
Northern Powergrid [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
12/31/2014	1,100
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency translation	(23)
Other	0
9/30/2015	1,077
BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
12/31/2014	127
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency translation	0
Other	(19)
9/30/2015	108
BHE Transmission [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
12/31/2014	1,657
Acquisitions	31
Foreign currency translation	(216)
Other	0
9/30/2015	1,472
BHE Renewables [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
12/31/2014	95
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency translation	0
Other	0
9/30/2015	95
HomeServices [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
12/31/2014	761
Acquisitions	27
Foreign currency translation	0
Other	0
9/30/2015	788
Other [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
12/31/2014	3
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency translation	0
Other	0
9/30/2015	$ 3