Debt Required To Be Tendered

No definition available.

Name:	bhe_DebtRequiredToBeTendered
Namespace Prefix:	bhe_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Long-term Debt and Capital and Financial Lease Obligations

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bhe_LongtermDebtandCapitalandFinancialLeaseObligations
Namespace Prefix:	bhe_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Long-term Debt and Capital and Financial Lease Obligations, Current

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bhe_LongtermDebtandCapitalandFinancialLeaseObligationsCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	bhe_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Total Long-term Debt and Capital and Financial Lease Obligations

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bhe_TotalLongtermDebtandCapitalandFinancialLeaseObligations
Namespace Prefix:	bhe_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- 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=34725769&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=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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

Percentage price of original principal amount of debt at which debt can be redeemed by the issuer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 470
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph e
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6479336&loc=d3e64711-112823

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPricePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Gross amount of debt extinguished.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Including both current and noncurrent portions, carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of other forms of debt not elsewhere specified in the taxonomy with initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ 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)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19, 20, 22
-Article 5

+ Details

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

- Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=bhe_SubsidiaryDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=bhe_NVEHoldingsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_Mortgagesecurities5.875SeriesLdue2015Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_Mortgagesecurities5.950SeriesMdue2016Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_Mortgagesecurities6.500SeriesOdue2018Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_Mortgagesecurities6.500SeriesSdue2018Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_Mortgagesecurities7.125SeriesVdue2019Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_Mortgagesecurities6.650SeriesNdue2036Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_Mortgagesecurities6.750SeriesRdue2037Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_Mortgagesecurities5.375SeriesXdue2040Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_MortgageSecurities5.450SeriesYdue2041Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_PollutionControlRevenueBondsVariableRateSeries2006Adue2032Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_PollutionControlRevenueBondsVariableRateSeries2006Adue2036Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_Capitalleaseobligations2.75to11.60duethrough2054Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Subsidiary Debt Subsidiary Debt - NPC - Capital and Financial Lease Obligations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value			$ 38,133
Nevada Power Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value			3,322
Total Long-term Debt and Capital and Financial Lease Obligations			3,285	$ 3,544
Long-term Debt and Capital and Financial Lease Obligations, Current			225	264
Long-term Debt and Capital and Financial Lease Obligations			3,060	3,280
Debt Required To Be Tendered		$ 3,000
Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage		101.00%
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount	$ 5
Subsidiary Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value			27,314
Other long-term debt			27,214	26,848
NV Energy [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Mortgage Securities, 5.875%, Series L due 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value			0
NV Energy [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Mortgage Securities, 5.950%, Series M due 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value			210
NV Energy [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Mortgage Securities, 6.500%, Series O due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value			324
NV Energy [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Mortgage Securities, 6.500%, Series S due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value			499
NV Energy [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Mortgage Securities, 7.125%, Series V due 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value			500
NV Energy [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Mortgage Securities, 6.650%, Series N due 2036 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value			367
NV Energy [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Mortgage Securities, 6.750%, Series R due 2037 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value			349
NV Energy [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Mortgage Securities, 5.375%, Series X due 2040 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value			250
NV Energy [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Mortgage Securities, 5.450%, Series Y due 2041 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value			250
NV Energy [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Pollution Control Revenue Bonds, Variable-Rate, Series 2006A due 2032 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value			38
NV Energy [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Pollution Control Revenue Bonds, Variable-Rate, Series 2006 due 2036 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value			38
NV Energy [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Capital lease obligations, 2.75% to 11.60%, due through 2054 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value			497
NV Energy [Member] \| Subsidiary Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value			4,840
Other long-term debt			4,860	5,118
NV Energy [Member] \| Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value			3,322
Other long-term debt			3,285	3,544
NV Energy [Member] \| Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Mortgage Securities, 5.875%, Series L due 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Other long-term debt			0	250
NV Energy [Member] \| Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Mortgage Securities, 5.950%, Series M due 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Other long-term debt			210	209
NV Energy [Member] \| Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Mortgage Securities, 6.500%, Series O due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Other long-term debt			323	322
NV Energy [Member] \| Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Mortgage Securities, 6.500%, Series S due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Other long-term debt			498	497
NV Energy [Member] \| Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Mortgage Securities, 7.125%, Series V due 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Other long-term debt			499	499
NV Energy [Member] \| Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Mortgage Securities, 6.650%, Series N due 2036 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Other long-term debt			356	356
NV Energy [Member] \| Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Mortgage Securities, 6.750%, Series R due 2037 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Other long-term debt			345	345
NV Energy [Member] \| Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Mortgage Securities, 5.375%, Series X due 2040 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Other long-term debt			247	247
NV Energy [Member] \| Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Mortgage Securities, 5.450%, Series Y due 2041 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Other long-term debt			235	234
NV Energy [Member] \| Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Pollution Control Revenue Bonds, Variable-Rate, Series 2006A due 2032 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Other long-term debt			38	38
NV Energy [Member] \| Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Pollution Control Revenue Bonds, Variable-Rate, Series 2006 due 2036 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Other long-term debt			37	37
NV Energy [Member] \| Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Capital lease obligations, 2.75% to 11.60%, due through 2054 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Other long-term debt			$ 497	$ 510