Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - MEC - Inventory (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Inventory [Line Items]
Inventory, Raw Materials and Supplies, Gross	$ 786	$ 616
Replacement cost under stated LIFO value		2
Replacement cost of inventory	10
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member]
Inventory [Line Items]
Inventory, Raw Materials and Supplies, Gross	129	128
Public utility inventory, coal	119	66
Public utility inventory - natural gas in storage	26	28
Replacement cost under stated LIFO value		$ (2)
Replacement cost of inventory	$ 10

The amount replacement cost is below the stated LIFO (last in first out) inventory value at the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	bhe_ReplacementCostUnderStatedLIFOValue
Namespace Prefix:	bhe_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of coal, which is a combustible rock or minerals which are extracted from the ground and used as fuel.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.6(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of natural gas stored underground in depleted gas reservoirs, aquifers, or salt caverns to meet seasonal and peak load demands, and also as insurance against unforeseen supply disruptions, and deemed to be a current asset because it is expected to be used within twelve months or in the normal operating cycle.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

The excess of replacement or current cost over the stated LIFO (last in first out) inventory value when the LIFO inventory method is utilized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.6(c))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ExcessOfReplacementOrCurrentCostsOverStatedLIFOValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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_InventoryLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Gross amount of unprocessed materials to be used in manufacturing or production process and supplies that will be consumed.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.6(a)(4),(5))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=bhe_MidamericanEnergyCompanyAndSubsidiariesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: