Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 5,283	$ 5,092	$ 14,003	$ 13,254
Sales revenue from energy operations	4,322	4,272	11,501	11,102
Real estate	961	820	2,502	2,152
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(635)	(639)	(1,905)	(1,898)
Depreciation and amortization	651	648	1,943	1,922
Operating income	1,624	1,585	3,644	3,392
Interest expense	464	460	1,379	1,401
Interest Costs Capitalized Adjustment	14	14	34	128
Allowance for equity funds	24	17	59	147
Interest and dividend income	32	39	85	93
Other, net	2	15	24	26
Income before income tax expense and equity income	1,232	1,210	2,467	2,385
Assets	91,054		91,054		$ 85,440
PacifiCorp [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	1,430	1,434	3,956	3,919
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(200)	(193)	(598)	(589)
Operating income	467	445	1,150	1,108
Interest expense	95	95	285	286
Assets	23,578		23,578		23,563
MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	815	797	2,170	2,008
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(112)	(118)	(370)	(338)
Operating income	288	284	531	524
Interest expense	59	55	177	164
Assets	19,019		19,019		17,571
NV Energy, Inc. [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	1,047	987	2,384	2,309
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(105)	(106)	(315)	(315)
Operating income	393	394	682	656
Interest expense	57	60	173	190
Assets	14,344		14,344		14,320
Northern Powergrid [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	221	220	685	748
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(55)	(49)	(156)	(149)
Operating income	81	90	308	373
Interest expense	34	33	98	105
Assets	7,280		7,280		6,433
BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	193	201	700	704
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(42)	(53)	(115)	(160)
Operating income	65	68	328	320
Interest expense	11	13	33	39
Assets	4,958		4,958		5,144
BHE Transmission [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	182	169	506	309
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(58)	(61)	(165)	(177)
Operating income	86	81	236	35
Interest expense	45	40	125	114
Assets	9,182		9,182		8,378
BHE Renewables [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	283	273	647	582
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(63)	(57)	(187)	(169)
Operating income	157	157	256	233
Interest expense	51	51	153	148
Assets	7,492		7,492		7,010
HomeServices [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate	961	820	2,502	2,152
Depreciation and amortization	16	9	38	24
Operating income	79	87	191	179
Interest expense	1	1	3	2
Assets	2,834		2,834		1,776
BHE And Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	151	191	453	523
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	0	(2)	1	(1)
Operating income	8	(21)	(38)	(36)
Interest expense	111	112	332	353
Assets	2,367		2,367		$ 1,245
UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	4,869	4,697	12,793	12,185
Income before income tax expense and equity income	1,113	1,089	2,065	1,945
UNITED KINGDOM
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	221	220	685	748
Income before income tax expense and equity income	49	74	213	284
CANADA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	182	170	506	313
Income before income tax expense and equity income	47	43	127	114
The Philippines and other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	11	5	19	8
Income before income tax expense and equity income	$ 23	$ 4	$ 62	$ 42