Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 4,041	$ 4,221
Sales revenue from energy operations	3,550	3,773
Real estate	491	448
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	619	581
Depreciation and amortization	626	587
Operating income	953	930
Interest expense	473	472
Capitalized interest	11	29
Allowance for equity funds	15	31
Interest and dividend income	27	26
Other, net	10	26
Income before income tax expense and equity income	543	570
Assets	84,246		$ 83,618
PacifiCorp [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	1,252	1,250
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	197	194
Operating income	324	273
Interest expense	95	95
Assets	23,590		23,550
MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	626	727
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	110	100
Operating income	100	101
Interest expense	54	50
Assets	16,330		16,315
NV Energy, Inc. [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	615	706
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	104	101
Operating income	89	121
Interest expense	67	63
Assets	14,438		14,656
Northern Powergrid [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	279	324
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	50	48
Operating income	158	193
Interest expense	36	35
Assets	7,272		7,317
BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	315	332
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	53	50
Operating income	192	200
Interest expense	13	18
Assets	5,101		4,953
BHE Transmission [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	158	125
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	50	38
Operating income	76	46
Interest expense	36	36
Assets	8,136		7,553
BHE Renewables [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	139	124
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	56	49
Operating income	24	6
Interest expense	49	46
Assets	6,156		5,892
HomeServices [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate	491	448
Depreciation and amortization	6	6
Operating income	(1)	(2)
Interest expense	1	1
Assets	1,684		1,705
BHE And Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	166	185
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	0	1
Operating income	(9)	(8)
Interest expense	122	128
Assets	1,539		$ 1,677
UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	3,599	3,769
Income before income tax expense and equity income	358	358
UNITED KINGDOM
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	279	324
Income before income tax expense and equity income	119	164
CANADA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	160	127
Income before income tax expense and equity income	43	35
The Philippines and other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	3	1
Income before income tax expense and equity income	$ 23	$ 13