Segment Information - Goodwill (Details) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 9,076
Acquisitions	46
Foreign currency translation	(18)
Other	(19)
Ending balance	9,085
PacifiCorp [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	1,129
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency translation	0
Other	0
Ending balance	1,129
MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	2,102
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency translation	0
Other	0
Ending balance	2,102
NV Energy, Inc. [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	2,369
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency translation	0
Other	0
Ending balance	2,369
Northern Powergrid [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	1,056
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency translation	(92)
Other	0
Ending balance	964
BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	101
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency translation	0
Other	(19)
Ending balance	82
BHE Transmission [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	1,428
Acquisitions	4
Foreign currency translation	77
Other	0
Ending balance	1,509
BHE Renewables [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	95
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency translation	0
Other	0
Ending balance	95
HomeServices [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	794
Acquisitions	41
Foreign currency translation	0
Other	0
Ending balance	835
Other [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	2
Acquisitions	1
Foreign currency translation	(3)
Other	0
Ending balance	$ 0