Subsidiary Debt - Summary (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		$ 37,014
Other Long-term Debt, Noncurrent		25,991	$ 26,210
NV Energy [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		4,321
Other long-term debt		4,318	4,581
Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	[1]	2,621
Other long-term debt		2,626	2,805
Subsidiary Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		28,263
Other long-term debt		28,097	28,641
Other Long-term Debt, Current		2,106	2,431
Other Long-term Debt, Noncurrent		25,991	26,210
Subsidiary Debt [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		7,076
Other long-term debt		7,036	7,025
Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		5,668
Other long-term debt		5,599	5,259
Subsidiary Debt [Member] | NV Energy [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		4,321
Other long-term debt		4,318	4,581
Subsidiary Debt [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		2,621
Other long-term debt		2,626	2,805
Subsidiary Debt [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		1,050
Other long-term debt		1,042	796
Subsidiary Debt [Member] | BHE Transmission [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	[2]	3,856
Other long-term debt		3,842	4,334
Subsidiary Debt [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		3,438
Other long-term debt		3,401	3,594
Subsidiary Debt [Member] | HomeServices [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		233
Other long-term debt		$ 233	$ 247

[1] (1)The par values for these debt instruments are denominated in sterling.

[2] ns): Par Value(1) 2018 2017AltaLink Investments, L.P.: Series 12-1 Senior Bonds, 3.674%, due 2019$147 $148 $162Series 13-1 Senior Bonds, 3.265%, due 2020147 148 161Series 15-1 Senior Bonds, 2.244%, due 2022147 146 158Total AltaLink Investments, L.P.441 442 481 AltaLink, L.P.: Series 2008-1 Notes, 5.243%, due 2018— — 159Series 2013-2 Notes, 3.621%, due 202092 92 99Series 2012-2 Notes, 2.978%, due 2022202 201 218Series 2013-4 Notes, 3.668%, due 2023366 366 397Series 2014-1 Notes, 3.399%, due 2024256 256 278Series 2016-1 Notes, 2.747%, due 2026256 255 277Series 2006-1 Notes, 5.249%, due 2036110 109 119Series 2010-1 Notes, 5.381%, due 204092 91 99Series 2010-2 Notes, 4.872%, due 2040110 109 119Series 2011-1 Notes, 4.462%, due 2041202 201 218Series 2012-1 Notes, 3.990%, due 2042385 380 412Series 2013-3 Notes, 4.922%, due 2043256 256 278Series 2014-3 Notes, 4.054%, due 2044216 215 233Series 2015-1 Notes, 4.090%, due 2045256 255 277Series 2016-2 Notes, 3.717%, due 2046330 328 356Series 2013-1 Notes, 4.446%, due 2053183 183 198Series 2014-2 Notes, 4.274%, due 206495 95 103Total AltaLink, L.P.3,407 3,392 3,840 Other: Construction Loan, 5.660%, due 20208 8 13 Total BHE Transmission$3,856 $3,842 $4,334(1)The par values for these debt instruments are denominated in Canadian dollars.