The ratio of consolidated debt, including current maturities, to total capitalization required by the debt agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	bhe_DebtToCapitalizationRatio
Namespace Prefix:	bhe_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775744&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775985&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

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

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
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

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face (par) amount of the original debt instrument that was repurchased.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=bhe_MidamericanEnergyCompanyAndSubsidiariesMember
Namespace Prefix:
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_MECFirstMortgageBonds3.65DueApril2029Member
Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_MECFirstMortgageBonds4.25DueJuly2049Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_MECFirstMortgageBonds2.40DueMarch2019Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_Unsecuredcreditfacility400millionexpiringAugust2020Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_Unsecuredcreditfacility900millionexpiringJune2022Member
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Recent Financing Transactions Recent Financing Transactions - MEC (Details) - MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2019	Aug. 31, 2019 USD ($)	May 31, 2019 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2019 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2019 USD ($)
MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 3.65%, Due April 2029 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount					$ 600
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage					3.65%
MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 4.25%, Due July 2049 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount					$ 900
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage					4.25%
MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 2.40%, Due March 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage				2.40%
Debt Instrument, Repurchased Face Amount				$ 500
Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt To Capitalization Ratio	0.65
Line of Credit [Member] \| Unsecured credit facility, $400 million, expiring August 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 400
Line of Credit [Member] \| Unsecured credit facility, $900 million, expiring June 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity			$ 900