Risk Management and Hedging Activities - Balance Sheet Location (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		$ (77)	$ (237)
Cash Collateral, Net Receivable (Payable), Offset Against Derivative Positions		74	103
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net		(3)	(134)
Other Current Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		48	28
Cash Collateral, Net Receivable (Payable), Offset Against Derivative Positions		0	0
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net		48	28
Other Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		94	75
Cash Collateral, Net Receivable (Payable), Offset Against Derivative Positions		0	0
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net		94	75
Other Current Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		(60)	(145)
Cash Collateral, Net Receivable (Payable), Offset Against Derivative Positions		13	40
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net		(47)	(105)
Other Long-Term Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		(159)	(195)
Cash Collateral, Net Receivable (Payable), Offset Against Derivative Positions		61	63
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net		(98)	(132)
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		(66)	(188)
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Current Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		47	28
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		86	72
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Current Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		(45)	(109)
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Long-Term Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		(154)	(179)
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		(11)	(49)
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Current Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		1	0
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		8	3
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Current Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		(15)	(36)
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Long-Term Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		(5)	(16)
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]	135	106
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement	[1]	(206)	(292)
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		(71)	(186)
Net Regulatory Asset (Liability), Unrealized Loss (Gain) On Derivative Contracts		148	250	$ 223	$ 182
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]	42	25
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement	[1]	(10)	(4)
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]	86	72
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]	5	7
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement	[1]	(46)	(113)
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	2
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement	[1]	(150)	(175)
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		6	3
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		(22)	(50)
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		1	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 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		2	1
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		(14)	(33)
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		3	2
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		(8)	(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		15	7
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		(10)	(9)
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		15	7
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		(4)	(3)
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)	(6)
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		8	3
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		(3)	(5)
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		8	3
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		(3)	(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		$ 0	$ (1)

[1] The Company's commodity derivatives not designated as hedging contracts are generally included in regulated rates, and as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, a net regulatory asset of $148 million and $250 million, respectively, was recorded related to the net derivative liability of $71 million and $186 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.