Segment Information - Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 9,678	$ 9,010
Acquisitions	79	508
Foreign currency translation	(162)	162
Other		(2)
Ending balance	9,595	9,678
PacifiCorp [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	1,129	1,129
Acquisitions	0	0
Foreign currency translation	0	0
Other		0
Ending balance	1,129	1,129
MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	2,102	2,102
Acquisitions	0	0
Foreign currency translation	0	0
Other		0
Ending balance	2,102	2,102
NV Energy [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	2,369	2,369
Acquisitions	0	0
Foreign currency translation	0	0
Other		0
Ending balance	2,369	2,369
Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	991	930
Acquisitions	0	0
Foreign currency translation	(39)	61
Other		0
Ending balance	952	991
BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	73	75
Acquisitions	0	0
Foreign currency translation	0	0
Other		(2)
Ending balance	73	73
BHE Transmission [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	1,571	1,470
Acquisitions	0	0
Foreign currency translation	(123)	101
Other		0
Ending balance	1,448	1,571
BHE Renewables [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	95	95
Acquisitions	0	0
Foreign currency translation	0	0
Other		0
Ending balance	95	95
HomeServices [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	1,348	840
Acquisitions	79	508
Foreign currency translation	0	0
Other		0
Ending balance	1,427	1,348
Other [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	0	0
Acquisitions	0	0
Foreign currency translation	0	0
Other		0
Ending balance	$ 0	$ 0