Subsidiary Debt - BHE Pipeline Group (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	$ 39,634
Subsidiary Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	30,883
Other long-term debt	30,672	$ 27,573
BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	1,250
Other long-term debt	1,247	1,042
Northern Natural Gas [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Senior Notes, 4.25%, due 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	200
Other long-term debt	200	199
Northern Natural Gas [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Senior Bonds, 5.8%, due 2037 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	150
Other long-term debt	149	149
Northern Natural Gas [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Senior Bonds, 4.1%, due 2042 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	250
Other long-term debt	248	248
Northern Natural Gas [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Senior Bonds, 4.30%, due 2049 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	650
Other long-term debt	$ 650	$ 446
Northern Natural Gas [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | Senior Notes, 4.25%, due 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.25%	4.25%
Northern Natural Gas [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | Senior Bonds, 5.8%, due 2037 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	5.80%	5.80%
Northern Natural Gas [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | Senior Bonds, 4.1%, due 2042 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.10%	4.10%
Northern Natural Gas [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | Senior Bonds, 4.30%, due 2049 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.30%	4.30%