Segment Information - MEC (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) OperatingSegments TheNumberOfReportableSegments	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Reportable Segments | OperatingSegments									8
Revenues									$ 17,422	$ 17,880	$ 17,326
Operating income (loss)									4,251	4,328	4,046
Interest expense									1,854	1,904	1,711
Income tax (benefit) expense									403	450	589
Net income attributable to BHE shareholders									2,542	2,370	2,095
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									5,090	5,875	6,555
Assets	$ 85,440				$ 83,618				$ 85,440	83,618	81,816
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Reportable Segments | TheNumberOfReportableSegments									2
Electric Domestic Regulated Revenue									$ 1,985	1,837	1,817
Revenues	621	$ 795	$ 584	$ 625	528	$ 680	$ 572	$ 722	2,625	2,502	2,822
Utilities Operating Expense, Depreciation and Amortization									479	407	351
Operating income (loss)	42	284	139	100	29	208	112	100	565	449	394
Interest expense									196	183	174
Income tax (benefit) expense									(132)	(147)	(116)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent					(3)	233	126	90	542	446	401
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent					6	1	5	4	0	16	16
Net income attributable to BHE shareholders	15	$ 320	$ 131	$ 76	3	$ 234	$ 131	$ 94	542	462	417
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									1,636	1,446	1,526
Assets	15,459				14,385				15,459	14,385	13,234
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Regulated Electric [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Electric Domestic Regulated Revenue									1,985	1,837	1,817
Utilities Operating Expense, Depreciation and Amortization									436	366	312
Operating income (loss)									497	385	319
Interest expense									178	166	157
Income tax (benefit) expense									(156)	(163)	(138)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent									512	413	361
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									1,564	1,365	1,429
Assets	14,113				12,970				14,113	12,970	11,850
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Regulated Gas [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gas Domestic Regulated Revenue									637	661	996
Utilities Operating Expense, Depreciation and Amortization									43	41	39
Operating income (loss)									68	64	75
Interest expense									18	17	17
Income tax (benefit) expense									22	16	22
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent									32	33	40
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									72	81	97
Assets	1,345				1,251				1,345	1,251	1,217
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other Revenue, Net									3	4	9
Income tax (benefit) expense									2	0	0
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent									(2)	0	0
Assets	$ 1				$ 164				$ 1	$ 164	$ 167