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

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=64930739&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=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

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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

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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

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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

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

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_BHEJuniorSubordinatedDebenturesdue2044Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=bhe_SubsidiaryDebtMember
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- Details

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Balance Type:
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- Details

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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_KernRiverSeniorNotes4.893Due2018Member
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- Details

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- Details

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Recent Financing Transactions Recent Financing Transactions - Long-Term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Apr. 01, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Feb. 28, 2017
BHE [Member] \| BHE Junior Subordinated Debentures, due 2044 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Repurchased Face Amount		$ 200
Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member] \| Kern River [Member] \| Kern River Senior Notes, 4.893%, Due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.89%
Debt Instrument, Repurchased Face Amount	$ 175
Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| MidAmerican Funding [Member] \| MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 3.10%, Due May 2027 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount			$ 0
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage			3.10%
Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| MidAmerican Funding [Member] \| MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 3.95%, Due 2047 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount			$ 0
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage			3.95%
Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| MidAmerican Funding [Member] \| MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| MEC Notes, 5.95% Series, due 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage			5.95%
Debt Instrument, Repurchased Face Amount			$ 250