Public Utilities, Reduction in revenue requirement

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Regulatory stipulation that limits the amount of lost revenues that can be requested.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bhe_RegulatoryStipulationLostRevenueLimit
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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Discloses the amount of any reduction to the carrying amounts of regulated assets that result from impairment (for example, rate actions of a regulator).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 980
-SubTopic 340
-Section 35
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6066304&loc=d3e44026-110379

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Current regulatory liabilities generally represent obligations to make refunds to customers for various reasons including overpayment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CustomerRefundLiabilityCurrent
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of public utility's approved rate increase (decrease) by regulatory agency.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesApprovedRateIncreaseDecreaseAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- 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_PublicUtilitiesGeneralDisclosuresLineItems
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

The amount of disallowed costs for rate making purposes for recently completed plants in regulated industries when this becomes probable. Such charges do not meet the requirements of an extraordinary item.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 980
-SubTopic 360
-Section 35
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6500292&loc=d3e45799-110387

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 980
-SubTopic 360
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 10.E)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6500719&loc=d3e660019-123033

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 10
-Section E

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of public utility's amended requested rate increase (decrease) with regulatory agency.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesRequestedRateIncreaseDecreaseAmendedAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of public utility's requested rate increase (decrease) with regulatory agency.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesRequestedRateIncreaseDecreaseAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesRegulatoryProceedingAxis=bhe_EnergyEfficiencyRateCaseMember
Namespace Prefix:
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RegulatoryAgencyAxis=bhe_PublicUtilitiesCommissionNevadaMember
Namespace Prefix:
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesRegulatoryProceedingAxis=bhe_GeneralRateCaseCompanionMember
Namespace Prefix:
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesRegulatoryProceedingAxis=bhe_A2013FERCTransmissionRateCaseMember
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RegulatoryAgencyAxis=bhe_FederalEnergyRegulatoryCommissionMember
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=bhe_NVEnergyTransactionMember
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Regulatory Matters - SPPC - Other (Details) - Sierra Pacific Power Company [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2014	Aug. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Energy Efficiency Rate Case [Member] \| Public Utilities Commission, Nevada [Member]
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Public Utilities, Reduction in revenue requirement		$ 1
Customer Refund Liability, Current			$ 3	$ 2
General Rate Case Companion [Member] \| Public Utilities Commission, Nevada [Member]
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Public Utilities, Requested Rate Increase (Decrease), Amount			10
Public Utilities, Property, Plant and Equipment, Amount of Disallowed Costs for Recently Completed Plant				7
Amount of Impairment to Carrying Amount of Regulatory Assets				1
2013 FERC Transmission Rate Case [Member] \| Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Member]
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Public Utilities, Requested Rate Increase (Decrease), Amended, Amount				$ 17
Public Utilities, Approved Rate Increase (Decrease), Amount			$ 4
NV Energy Transaction [Member]
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Regulatory Stipulation, Lost Revenue Limit	50.00%			50.00%