Percent of outstanding debt that the interest rate swaps that fix the underlying interest rate on outstanding debt.

No definition available.

Name:	bhe_Percentofinterestrateswapsthatfixtheunderlyinginterestrateonoutstandingdebt
Namespace Prefix:	bhe_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of shares converted in a noncash (or part noncash) transaction. Noncash is defined as transactions during a period that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4332-108586

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4304-108586

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4313-108586

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConversionOfStockSharesConverted1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

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

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The cash inflow during the period from additional borrowings in aggregate debt. Includes proceeds from short-term and long-term debt.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Recent Financing Transactions Recent Financing Transactions - Long-Term Debt (Details) £ in Millions, $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2017 GBP (£)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) shares	Jul. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2017 GBP (£)	May 31, 2017 USD ($)	Apr. 01, 2017 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2017 USD ($)
BHE [Member] \| BHE Junior Subordinated Debentures, due 2044 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Repurchased Face Amount		$ 550
BHE [Member] \| BHE Junior Subordinated Debentures, due June 2057 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount		$ 100
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		10.00%
Conversion of Stock, Shares Converted \| shares		181,819
Alamo 6, LLC [Member] \| Alamo 6, LLC Senior Secured Notes, 4.17%, due March 2018 through March 2042 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount					$ 232
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage					4.17%
MidAmerican Energy Company and Subsidiaries [Member] \| MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 3.10%, Due May 2027 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount							$ 375
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage							3.10%
MidAmerican Energy Company and Subsidiaries [Member] \| MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 3.95%, Due 2047 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount							$ 475
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage							3.95%
MidAmerican Energy Company and Subsidiaries [Member] \| MEC Notes, 5.95% Series, due 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage							5.95%
Debt Instrument, Repurchased Face Amount							$ 250
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member] \| Secured amortizing corporate facility, due June 2026 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount \| £				£ 200
Proceeds from Issuance of Debt \| £	£ 120
Percent of interest rate swaps that fix the underlying interest rate on outstanding debt			85.00%	85.00%
Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| Kern River [Member] \| Kern River Senior Notes, 4.893%, Due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage						4.893%
Debt Instrument, Repurchased Face Amount						$ 175
Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member] \| Cordova Funding Corporation [Member] \| Cordova Funding Corporation Bonds, 8.48% to 9.07%, due 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Repurchased Face Amount			$ 89
Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member] \| CE Generation, LLC [Member] \| CE Generation Bonds 7.416% due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage			7.416%	7.416%
Debt Instrument, Repurchased Face Amount			$ 51
Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member] \| Salton Sea Funding Corporation [Member] \| Salton Sea Funding Corporation Bonds 7.475% due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage			7.475%	7.475%
Debt Instrument, Repurchased Face Amount			$ 20
Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| Cordova Funding Corporation [Member] \| Cordova Funding Corporation Bonds, 8.48% to 9.07%, due 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage			8.48%	8.48%
Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Cordova Funding Corporation [Member] \| Cordova Funding Corporation Bonds, 8.48% to 9.07%, due 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage			9.07%	9.07%
Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| MidAmerican Funding [Member] \| MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 3.10%, Due May 2027 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount							$ 375
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage							3.10%
Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| MidAmerican Funding [Member] \| MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 3.95%, Due 2047 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount							$ 475
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage							3.95%
Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| MidAmerican Funding [Member] \| MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] \| MEC Notes, 5.95% Series, due 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage							5.95%