Name:	bhe_InvestmentsIncludingEquityMethodAndRestrictedCashAndInvestmentsLineItems
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Carrying amount of investments in debt and equity securities categorized as available-for-sale securities, reported at fair value and not expected to be used in operations within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes restricted cash and investments primarily related to (a) funds held in trust for nuclear decommissioning and (b) debt service requirements that are restricted by certain project debt agreements to be used only for the related project. Includes equity method investments. Includes Rabbi trusts that hold corporate-owned life insurance on certain key executives and directors and represents the cash surrender value, net of any amounts borrowed against the cash surrender value.

No definition available.

Name:	bhe_InvestmentsIncludingEquityMethodInvestmentsAndRestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	bhe_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

The percentage of ownership of nuclear decommissioning trust fund investments owned by investment type.

No definition available.

Name:	bhe_NuclearDecommissioningTrustFundOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	bhe_
Data Type:	dtr-types1:percentItemType
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Period Type:	instant

The fair value of investments held in a trust fund to pay for the costs of decontaminating and decommissioning facilities, whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure on the balance sheet. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481850/410-20-50-1

Name:	us-gaap_DecommissioningTrustAssetsAmount
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

This item represents the amount that could be realized under a life insurance contract or contracts owned by the Entity as of the date of the statement of financial position. Such Entity-owned life insurance policies are commonly known as corporate-owned life insurance (COLI) or bank-owned life insurance (BOLI).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(12))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480566/210-10-S99-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 325
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 25
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481612/325-30-25-1

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Period Type:	instant

Amount of investments classified as other.

Name:	us-gaap_OtherInvestments
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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

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Name:	bhe_NuclearDecommissioningTrustFundsAxis=us-gaap_USGovernmentCorporationsAndAgenciesSecuritiesMember
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Name:	bhe_NuclearDecommissioningTrustFundsAxis=us-gaap_DomesticCorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
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