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=64930739&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=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
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

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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

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

- Definition

Fair value amount of debt instrument that was repurchased.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ 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 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_PollutionControlRevenueBondsVariableRateSeries2006due2036Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_PollutionControlRevenueBondsVariableRateSeries2006Adue2036Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_Securedcreditfacility400millionexpiringJune2020Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=bhe_NVEHoldingsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_NPCPollutionControlRefundingRevenueBonds1.60Series2017Due2036Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_NPCPollutionControlRefundingRevenueBonds1.80Series2017Adue2032Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_NPCPollutionControlRefundingRevenueBonds1.60Series2017Bdue2039Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_NPCGeneralandRefundingMortgageNotesSeriesAANo.AA1Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_NPCGeneralandRefundingMortgageNotesSeriesAANo.AA2Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_PollutionControlRevenueBondsVariableRateSeries2006Bdue2036Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Recent Financing Transactions Recent Financing Transactions - NPC (Details) - Nevada Power Company [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2017	May 31, 2017	Jan. 31, 2017
Pollution Control Revenue Bonds, Variable-Rate, Series 2006 due 2036 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Repurchase Amount			$ 38.0
Pollution Control Revenue Bonds, Variable-Rate, Series 2006A due 2032 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Repurchase Amount			$ 38.0
Line of Credit [Member] \| Secured credit facility, $400 million, expiring June 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	$ 400.0
NVE Holdings [Member] \| Pollution Control Revenue Bonds, Variable-Rate, Series 2006 due 2036 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Repurchase Amount		$ 39.5
NVE Holdings [Member] \| Pollution Control Revenue Bonds, Variable-Rate, Series 2006A due 2032 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Repurchase Amount		40.0
NVE Holdings [Member] \| Pollution Control Refunding Revenue Bonds, 1.60%, Series 2017, Due 2036 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount		$ 39.5
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		1.60%
NVE Holdings [Member] \| NPC Pollution Control Refunding Revenue Bonds, 1.80%, Series 2017A, due 2032 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount		$ 40.0
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		1.80%
NVE Holdings [Member] \| NPC Pollution Control Refunding Revenue Bonds, 1.60%, Series 2017B, due 2039 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount		$ 13.0
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		1.60%
NVE Holdings [Member] \| NPC General and Refunding Mortgage Notes, Series AA, No. AA-1 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount		$ 39.5
NVE Holdings [Member] \| NPC General and Refunding Mortgage Notes, Series AA, No. AA-2 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount		53.0
NVE Holdings [Member] \| Pollution Control Revenue Bonds, Variable-Rate, Series 2006B due 2036 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Repurchase Amount		$ 13.0