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

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

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

Detail information of subsequent event by type. User is expected to use existing line items from elsewhere in the taxonomy as the primary line items for this disclosure, which is further associated with dimension and member elements pertaining to a subsequent event.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_MecNotes595SeriesDue2017Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	bhe_LongTermDebtIssuerAxis=bhe_MidamericanEnergyCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_MECFirstMortgageBonds3.10DueMay2027Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_MECFirstMortgageBonds3.95Due2047Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Subsequent Events (MEC) Subsequent Events - MEC (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Feb. 28, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Par value		$ 36,295
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Par value		4,332
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| MEC Notes, 5.95% Series, due 2017 [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Par value		$ 250
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		5.95%	5.95%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member] \| MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 3.10%, Due May 2027 [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Par value	$ 375
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.10%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member] \| MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 3.95%, Due 2047 [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Par value	$ 475
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.95%
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member] \| MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| MEC Notes, 5.95% Series, due 2017 [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	5.95%
Debt Instrument, Repurchased Face Amount	$ 250