Risk Management and Hedging Activities - Balance Sheet Location (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		$ (237)	$ (197)
Cash Collateral, Net Receivable (Payable), Offset Against Derivative Positions		103	75
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net		(134)	(122)
Other Current Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		28	41
Cash Collateral, Net Receivable (Payable), Offset Against Derivative Positions		0	0
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net		28	41
Other Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		75	67
Cash Collateral, Net Receivable (Payable), Offset Against Derivative Positions		0	0
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net		75	67
Other Current Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		(145)	(153)
Cash Collateral, Net Receivable (Payable), Offset Against Derivative Positions		40	56
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net		(105)	(97)
Other Long-Term Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		(195)	(152)
Cash Collateral, Net Receivable (Payable), Offset Against Derivative Positions		63	19
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net		(132)	(133)
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		(188)	(158)
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Current Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		28	40
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		72	66
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Current Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		(109)	(127)
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Long-Term Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		(179)	(137)
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		(49)	(39)
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Current Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		0	1
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		3	1
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Current Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		(36)	(26)
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Long-Term Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		(16)	(15)
Commodity Contract [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement	[1]	106	135
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement	[1]	(292)	(291)
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		(186)	(156)
Net Regulatory Asset (Liability), Unrealized Loss (Gain) On Derivative Contracts		250	223	$ 182	$ 235
Commodity Contract [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Current Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement	[1]	25	47
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement	[1]	(4)	(11)
Commodity Contract [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement	[1]	72	66
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement	[1]	0	0
Commodity Contract [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Current Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement	[1]	7	21
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement	[1]	(113)	(146)
Commodity Contract [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Long-Term Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement	[1]	2	1
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement	[1]	(175)	(134)
Commodity Contract [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		3	8
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		(50)	(44)
Commodity Contract [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Current Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		0	1
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		0	0
Commodity Contract [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		0	0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		0	0
Commodity Contract [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Current Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		1	5
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		(33)	(27)
Commodity Contract [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Long-Term Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		2	2
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		(17)	(17)
Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		7	4
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		(9)	(6)
Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Current Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		7	4
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		0	0
Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		0	0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		0	0
Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Current Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		0	0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		(3)	(2)
Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Long-Term Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		0	0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		(6)	(4)
Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		3	1
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		(5)	(4)
Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Current Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		0	0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		0	0
Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		3	1
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		0	0
Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Current Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		0	0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		(4)	(4)
Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Long-Term Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		0	0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		$ (1)	$ 0

[1] The Company's commodity derivatives not designated as hedging contracts are generally included in regulated rates, and as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, a net regulatory asset of $250 million and $223 million, respectively, was recorded related to the net derivative liability of $186 million and $156 million, respectively. The difference between the net regulatory asset and the net derivative liability relates primarily to a power purchase agreement derivative at BHE Renewables.