Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 4,121	$ 4,448	$ 8,162	$ 8,669
Sales revenue from energy operations	3,280	3,690	6,830	7,463
Real estate	841	758	1,332	1,206
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(640)	(604)	(1,259)	(1,185)
Depreciation and amortization	648	610	1,274	1,197
Operating income	854	1,007	1,807	1,937
Interest expense	468	476	941	948
Interest Costs Capitalized Adjustment	103	22	114	51
Allowance for equity funds	115	30	130	61
Interest and dividend income	27	26	54	52
Other, net	1	10	11	36
Income before income tax expense and equity income	632	619	1,175	1,189
Assets	84,607		84,607		$ 83,618
PacifiCorp [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	1,233	1,269	2,485	2,519
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(199)	(196)	(396)	(390)
Operating income	339	327	663	600
Interest expense	96	95	191	190
Assets	23,471		23,471		23,550
MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	585	576	1,211	1,303
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(110)	(99)	(220)	(199)
Operating income	140	112	240	213
Interest expense	55	50	109	100
Assets	16,643		16,643		16,315
NV Energy, Inc. [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	707	835	1,322	1,541
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(105)	(103)	(209)	(204)
Operating income	173	178	262	299
Interest expense	63	65	130	128
Assets	14,227		14,227		14,656
Northern Powergrid [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	249	263	528	587
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(50)	(50)	(100)	(98)
Operating income	125	130	283	323
Interest expense	36	36	72	71
Assets	6,832		6,832		7,317
BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	188	208	503	540
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(54)	(50)	(107)	(100)
Operating income	60	56	252	256
Interest expense	13	17	26	35
Assets	5,075		5,075		4,953
BHE Transmission [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	(18)	150	140	275
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(66)	(53)	(116)	(91)
Operating income	(122)	58	(46)	104
Interest expense	38	37	74	73
Assets	8,583		8,583		7,553
BHE Renewables [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	170	190	309	314
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(56)	(56)	(112)	(105)
Operating income	52	66	76	72
Interest expense	48	49	97	95
Assets	6,273		6,273		5,892
HomeServices [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate	841	758	1,332	1,206
Depreciation and amortization	9	6	15	12
Operating income	93	85	92	83
Interest expense	0	1	1	2
Assets	2,079		2,079		1,705
BHE And Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	166	199	332	384
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(1)	(3)	(1)	(2)
Operating income	(6)	(5)	(15)	(13)
Interest expense	119	126	241	254
Assets	1,424		1,424		$ 1,677
UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	3,889	4,032	7,488	7,801
Income before income tax expense and equity income	498	465	856	823
UNITED KINGDOM
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	249	263	528	587
Income before income tax expense and equity income	91	102	210	266
CANADA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(17)	153	143	280
Income before income tax expense and equity income	28	43	71	78
The Philippines and other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	3	1
Income before income tax expense and equity income	$ 15	$ 9	$ 38	$ 22