Represents the amount of eligible property that was subject to lien of mortgage (based on original cost).

No definition available.

Name:	bhe_EligiblePropertySubjectToLienOfMortgages
Namespace Prefix:	bhe_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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
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+ Details

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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

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
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+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow for the extinguishment of long-term borrowing, with the highest claim on the assets of the entity in case of bankruptcy or liquidation, before its maturity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3291-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EarlyRepaymentOfSeniorDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
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+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=bhe_SubsidiaryDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=bhe_NevadaPowerCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=bhe_NVEHoldingsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_MortgageSecurities2.750SeriesBBdue2020Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_MortgageSecurities2.400SeriesDDdue2030Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bhe_MortgageSecurities3.125SeriesEEdue2050Member
Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
Period Type:

Subsidiary Debt Subsidiary Debt - NPC (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		$ 39,634
Long-term Debt		39,353	$ 36,774
Subsidiary Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		30,883
Nevada Power Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		2,384
Eligible Property Subject To Lien Of Mortgages		8,700
Long-term Debt		2,351	$ 2,353
Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Subsidiary Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt		2,351
NV Energy [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		3,836
NV Energy [Member] \| Subsidiary Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		3,836
NV Energy [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		2,384
NV Energy [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Mortgage Securities, 2.750%, Series BB due 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		575
NV Energy [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Subsidiary Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		$ 2,384
NV Energy [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| Mortgage Securities, 2.750%, Series BB due 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		2.75%	2.75%
Long-term Debt			$ 574
NV Energy [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member] \| Mortgage Securities, 2.400%, Series DD due 2030 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	$ 425
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	2.40%
NV Energy [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member] \| Mortgage Securities, 3.125%, Series EE due 2050 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	$ 300
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.125%
NV Energy [Member] \| Nevada Power Company [Member] \| Subsidiary Debt [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member] \| Mortgage Securities, 2.750%, Series BB due 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	$ 575
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	2.75%
Early Repayment of Senior Debt	$ 575