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=34725769&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=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

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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

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Face (par) amount of the original debt instrument that was repurchased.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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

- Details

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

- Details

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

- Details

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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=bhe_SierraPacificPowerCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_Mortgagesecurities2.600SeriesUdue2026Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_Mortgagesecurities6.000SeriesMdue2016Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Period Type:

Recent Financing Transactions Recent Financing Transactions - Long-Term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Apr. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016
Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member] \| BHE Junior Subordinated Debentures [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Repurchased Face Amount		$ 500
Sierra Pacific Power Company [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member] \| Sierra Pacific Power Company [Member] \| Mortgage securities, 2.600%, Series U due 2026 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 400
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	2.60%
Sierra Pacific Power Company [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member] \| Sierra Pacific Power Company [Member] \| Mortgage securities, 6.000%, Series M due 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 450
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	6.00%