Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 2,400	$ 2,122	$ 1,676
Net income attributable to BHE shareholders	2,370	2,095	1,636
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	2,428	2,057	1,560
Allowance for equity funds	(91)	(98)	(78)
Equity (income) loss, net of distributions	(115)	(109)	35
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments, Net of Dividends or Distributions	(38)	(79)	52
Changes in regulatory assets and liabilities	356	(168)	(6)
Deferred income taxes and amortization of investment tax credits	1,265	2,335	996
Other, net	11	147	20
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
Trade receivables and other assets	(9)	(44)	75
Derivative collateral, net	(14)	(70)	48
Pension and other postretirement benefit plans	(11)	86	(42)
Accrued property, income and other taxes	877	(1,117)	189
Accounts payable and other liabilities	(194)	(25)	179
Net cash flows from operating activities	6,980	5,146	4,669
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(5,875)	(6,555)	(4,307)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(164)	(2,956)	(5,536)
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash and investments	(28)	173	(234)
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	(144)	(150)	(228)
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities	142	118	191
Equity method investments	(202)	(37)	(93)
Other, net	41	(11)	13
Net cash flows from investing activities	(6,230)	(9,418)	(10,194)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from BHE senior debt	0	1,478	1,981
Proceeds from BHE junior subordinated debentures	0	1,500	2,594
Proceeds from issuance of BHE common stock	0	0	1,000
Repayments of BHE senior debt and junior subordinated debentures	(850)	(550)	0
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	(36)	0	0
Proceeds from subsidiary debt	2,479	1,257	2,460
Repayments of subsidiary debt	(1,354)	(971)	(1,156)
Net (repayments of) proceeds from short-term debt	(421)	1,055	(849)
Other, net	(73)	(44)	(104)
Net cash flows from financing activities	(255)	3,725	5,926
Effect of exchange rate changes	(4)	(11)	(2)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	491	(558)	399
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	617	1,175	776
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,108	617	1,175
Parent Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	2,373	2,097	1,637
Net income attributable to BHE shareholders	2,370	2,095	1,636
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	3	3	1
Equity (income) loss, net of distributions	(2,646)	(2,402)	(1,679)
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
Net cash flows from operating activities	2,528	1,937	2,295
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investments in subsidiaries	1,506	4,937	6,522
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	(36)	(56)	(106)
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities	47	35	89
Repayment of (Issuance of) Notes Receivable with Related Parties, Net	19	(55)	(37)
Other, net	(7)	(7)	(16)
Net cash flows from investing activities	(1,483)	(5,020)	(6,592)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from BHE senior debt	0	1,478	1,981
Proceeds from BHE junior subordinated debentures	0	1,500	2,594
Proceeds from issuance of BHE common stock	0	0	1,000
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	(36)	0	0
Net (repayments of) proceeds from short-term debt	(142)	395	(825)
Notes payable to affiliate, net	4	(30)	(173)
Other, net	(1)	1	(1)
Net cash flows from financing activities	(1,025)	2,794	4,576
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	20	(289)	279
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	3	292	13
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	23	3	292
Repayments of BHE senior debt	0	250	0
Repayments of BHE subordinated debt	850	300	0
PacifiCorp [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income attributable to BHE shareholders	695	698	682
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Utilities Operating Expense, Depreciation and Amortization	757	726	675
Allowance for equity funds	(33)	(51)	(57)
Changes in regulatory assets and liabilities	63	(112)	(32)
Deferred income taxes and amortization of investment tax credits	172	297	230
Other, net	6	22	21
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
Trade receivables and other assets	5	5	(7)
Derivative collateral, net	(47)	(16)	43
Increase (Decrease) in Inventories	(7)	37	14
Increase (Decrease) in Income Taxes Payable, Net of Income Taxes Receivable	116	(155)	(26)
Accounts payable and other liabilities	7	119	10
Net cash flows from operating activities	1,734	1,570	1,553
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(916)	(1,066)	(1,065)
Other, net	(2)	(13)	16
Net cash flows from investing activities	(918)	(1,079)	(1,049)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt	248	422	297
Net (repayments of) proceeds from short-term debt	0	20	0
Repayments of long-term debt and capital lease obligations (PacifiCorp)	(124)	(238)	(284)
Redemption of preferred stock	0	0	(40)
Common stock dividends	(950)	(725)	(500)
Preferred stock dividends	0	0	(2)
Other, net	(1)	0	(2)
Net cash flows from financing activities	(827)	(521)	(531)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(11)	(30)	(27)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	23	53	80
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	12	23	53
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	462	417	350
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Utilities Operating Expense, Depreciation and Amortization	407	351	403
Deferred income taxes and amortization of investment tax credits	275	300	103
Increase (Decrease) in Other Current Assets and Liabilities, Net	12	1	22
Increase (Decrease) in Other Noncurrent Assets and Liabilities, Net	49	47	57
Other, net	(58)	(57)	(27)
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts and Other Receivables	(91)	3	58
Derivative collateral, net	33	(53)	5
Increase (Decrease) in Inventories	(53)	44	13
Pension and other postretirement benefit plans	(8)	(2)	8
Accrued property, income and other taxes	217	(252)	(164)
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable	(76)	30	23
Increase (Decrease) in Other Current Assets and Liabilities, Net	(12)	(1)	(22)
Net cash flows from operating activities	1,351	823	735
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(1,446)	(1,526)	(1,026)
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	(142)	(88)	(114)
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities	135	80	102
Proceeds from Sales of Business, Affiliate and Productive Assets	0	8	15
Other, net	3	5	11
Net cash flows from investing activities	(1,450)	(1,521)	(1,012)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from subsidiary debt	649	840	940
Net (repayments of) proceeds from short-term debt	(50)	50	0
Repayments of Long-term Debt	426	356	670
Redemption of preferred stock	0	0	(28)
Common stock dividends	0	0	(125)
Other, net	0	(1)	0
Net cash flows from financing activities	173	533	117
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	74	(165)	(160)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	29	194	354
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	103	29	194
MidAmerican Funding, LLC and Subsidiaries [Domain]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	458	409	341
Net income attributable to BHE shareholders	458	409	340
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Utilities Operating Expense, Depreciation and Amortization	407	351	403
Deferred income taxes and amortization of investment tax credits	276	298	102
Increase (Decrease) in Other Current Assets and Liabilities, Net	12	0	22
Increase (Decrease) in Other Noncurrent Assets and Liabilities, Net	49	47	57
Other, net	(69)	(49)	(29)
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts and Other Receivables	(93)	2	60
Derivative collateral, net	33	(53)	5
Increase (Decrease) in Inventories	(53)	44	13
Pension and other postretirement benefit plans	(8)	(2)	8
Accrued property, income and other taxes	213	(253)	(164)
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable	(76)	30	23
Increase (Decrease) in Other Current Assets and Liabilities, Net	(12)	0	(22)
Net cash flows from operating activities	1,335	820	721
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(1,446)	(1,526)	(1,026)
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	(142)	(88)	(114)
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities	135	80	102
Proceeds from Sales of Business, Affiliate and Productive Assets	13	10	16
Other, net	2	5	10
Net cash flows from investing activities	(1,438)	(1,519)	(1,012)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from subsidiary debt	649	840	940
Net (repayments of) proceeds from short-term debt	(50)	50	0
Repayments of Long-term Debt	426	356	670
Increase (Decrease) in Notes Payable, Related Parties, Current	3	1	(111)
Payments for Repurchase of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest	0	0	28
Net cash flows from financing activities	176	535	131
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	73	(164)	(160)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	30	194	354
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	103	30	194
Nevada Power Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income attributable to BHE shareholders	288	227	145
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Other Nonrecurring (Income) Expense	(3)	15	0
Utilities Operating Expense, Depreciation and Amortization	297	274	277
Allowance for equity funds	(4)	(1)	(8)
Changes in regulatory assets and liabilities	4	2	103
Deferred Energy Change	176	(44)	(105)
Amortization of Deferred Charges	(36)	(79)	54
Deferred income taxes and amortization of investment tax credits	162	130	95
Other, net	13	68	69
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
Trade receivables and other assets	(40)	(19)	(5)
Increase (Decrease) in Inventories	9	(15)	10
Accounts payable and other liabilities	(46)	(12)	21
Net cash flows from operating activities	892	704	548
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(320)	(371)	(233)
Proceeds from Sale of Other Property, Plant, and Equipment	9	0	14
Other, net	10	0	3
Net cash flows from investing activities	(301)	(371)	(216)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of Long-term Debt	262	9	229
Common stock dividends	(13)	(230)	(178)
Net cash flows from financing activities	(275)	(239)	(407)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	316	94	(75)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	220	126	201
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	536	220	126
Sierra Pacific Power Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income attributable to BHE shareholders	83	87	55
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Other Nonrecurring (Income) Expense	0	14	0
Utilities Operating Expense, Depreciation and Amortization	113	105	123
Allowance for equity funds	(2)	(3)	(2)
Changes in regulatory assets and liabilities	21	23	(74)
Deferred Energy Change	(81)	30	24
Amortization of Deferred Charges	(17)	(19)	(43)
Deferred income taxes and amortization of investment tax credits	47	47	36
Other, net	(9)	20	14
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
Trade receivables and other assets	15	28	(8)
Increase (Decrease) in Inventories	1	3	17
Accounts payable and other liabilities	17	(21)	(16)
Net cash flows from operating activities	342	246	226
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(252)	(186)	(139)
Other, net	2	0	0
Net cash flows from investing activities	(250)	(186)	(139)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt	0	0	247
Repayments of Long-term Debt	1	1	251
Common stock dividends	(7)	(105)	(77)
Other, net	0	(1)	0
Net cash flows from financing activities	(8)	(105)	(81)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	84	(45)	6
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	22	67	61
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 106	$ 22	$ 67