BHE Shareholders' Equity - Restricted Net Assets (Details) $ in Billions	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]
BHE restricted net assets	$ 15.1
BHE's subsidiaries restricted net assets	$ 17.6

Amount of restricted net assets of consolidated and unconsolidated subsidiaries as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(e)(3)(ii))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

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