Percent of outstanding debt that the interest rate swaps that fix the underlying interest rate on outstanding debt.

No definition available.

Name:	bhe_Percentofinterestrateswapsthatfixtheunderlyinginterestrateonoutstandingdebt
Namespace Prefix:	bhe_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34725769&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face (par) amount of the original debt instrument that was repurchased.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRepurchasedFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of restructured debt contingently payable based on the occurrence of future events or circumstances.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 60
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6402221&loc=d3e15765-112638

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TroubledDebtRestructuringDebtorSubsequentPeriodsContingentPaymentsAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Recent Financing Transactions Recent Financing Transactions - Long-Term Debt (Details) CAD in Millions, $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	May 31, 2016 USD ($)	May 31, 2016 CAD	Apr. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)
BHE [Member] \| BHE Junior Subordinated Debentures, due 2044 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Repurchased Face Amount	$ 500
BHE [Member] \| BHE Junior Subordinated Debentures Due 2043 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Repurchased Face Amount					$ 500
Sierra Pacific Power Company [Member] \| Tax-exempt bond obligations, fixed-rate series, due 2029 to 2036 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount		$ 139
Debt Instrument, Repurchased Face Amount		349
Sierra Pacific Power Company [Member] \| Tax-exempt bond obligations, variable rate series, due 2029 to 2036 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount		205
Debt Instrument, Repurchased Face Amount		125
Sierra Pacific Power Company [Member] \| General and Refunding Mortgage Bonds, Series V [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Subsequent Periods, Contingent Payments, Amount		$ 344
Sierra Pacific Power Company [Member] \| Mortgage securities, 2.600%, Series U due 2026 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount				$ 400
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage				2.60%
Sierra Pacific Power Company [Member] \| Mortgage securities, 6.000%, Series M due 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount				$ 450
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage				6.00%
Marshall Wind Energy, LLC [Member] \| Term Loan, Due June 2026 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 95
Percent of interest rate swaps that fix the underlying interest rate on outstanding debt	100.00%
AltaLink, L.P. [Member] \| AltaLink, L.P. Series 2016-1 Medium-Term Notes 2.747% due May 2026 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount \| CAD			CAD 350
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		2.75%	2.75%
Minimum [Member] \| Sierra Pacific Power Company [Member] \| Tax-exempt bond obligations, fixed-rate series, due 2029 to 2036 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		1.00%	1.00%
Maximum [Member] \| Sierra Pacific Power Company [Member] \| Tax-exempt bond obligations, fixed-rate series, due 2029 to 2036 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		3.00%	3.00%