Name:	bhe_ContractualobligationfiscalyearmaturityscheduletableLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	bhe_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Easement, Expense

No definition available.

Name:	bhe_EasementExpense
Namespace Prefix:	bhe_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Minimum amount of purchase arrangement in which the entity has agreed to expend funds to procure goods or services from a supplier.

No definition available.

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

Amount of purchase arrangement to be paid after fifth fiscal year following current fiscal year. Includes, but is not limited to, recorded and unrecorded purchase obligations, long-term purchase commitment, and short-term purchase commitment. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

No definition available.

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

Amount of purchase arrangement to be paid in fifth fiscal year following current fiscal year. Includes, but is not limited to, recorded and unrecorded purchase obligations, long-term purchase commitment, and short-term purchase commitment. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

No definition available.

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

Amount of purchase arrangement to be paid in fourth fiscal year following current fiscal year. Includes, but is not limited to, recorded and unrecorded purchase obligations, long-term purchase commitment, and short-term purchase commitment. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

No definition available.

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

Amount of purchase arrangement to be paid in next fiscal year following current fiscal year. Includes, but is not limited to, recorded and unrecorded purchase obligations, long-term purchase commitment, and short-term purchase commitment. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

No definition available.

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

Amount of purchase arrangement to be paid in second fiscal year following current fiscal year. Includes, but is not limited to, recorded and unrecorded purchase obligations, long-term purchase commitment, and short-term purchase commitment. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

No definition available.

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

Amount of purchase arrangement to be paid in third fiscal year following current fiscal year. Includes, but is not limited to, recorded and unrecorded purchase obligations, long-term purchase commitment, and short-term purchase commitment. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

No definition available.

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

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentByCategoryOfItemPurchasedAxis=us-gaap_CapitalAdditionsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentByCategoryOfItemPurchasedAxis=bhe_EasementsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentByCategoryOfItemPurchasedAxis=bhe_MaintenanceServiceAndOtherContractsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

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

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentByCategoryOfItemPurchasedAxis=bhe_ElectricityContractsCommerciallyOperableMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentByCategoryOfItemPurchasedAxis=bhe_ElectricityContractsNonCommerciallyOperableMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentByCategoryOfItemPurchasedAxis=bhe_FuelContractsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: