Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 4,554	$ 4,121	$ 8,720	$ 8,162
Sales revenue from energy operations	3,598	3,280	7,179	6,830
Real estate	956	841	1,541	1,332
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(660)	(640)	(1,270)	(1,259)
Depreciation and amortization	670	648	1,292	1,274
Operating income	1,049	854	2,020	1,807
Interest expense	457	468	915	941
Interest Costs Capitalized Adjustment	10	103	20	114
Allowance for equity funds	18	115	35	130
Interest and dividend income	27	27	53	54
Other, net	(3)	1	22	11
Income before income tax expense and equity income	644	632	1,235	1,175
Assets	87,809		87,809		$ 85,440
PacifiCorp [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	1,245	1,233	2,526	2,485
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(202)	(199)	(398)	(396)
Operating income	338	339	683	663
Interest expense	95	96	190	191
Assets	23,626		23,626		23,563
MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	659	585	1,355	1,211
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(141)	(110)	(258)	(220)
Operating income	136	140	243	240
Interest expense	59	55	118	109
Assets	18,261		18,261		17,571
NV Energy, Inc. [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	753	707	1,337	1,322
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(106)	(105)	(210)	(209)
Operating income	191	173	289	262
Interest expense	58	63	116	130
Assets	14,188		14,188		14,320
Northern Powergrid [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	219	249	464	528
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(52)	(50)	(101)	(100)
Operating income	94	125	227	283
Interest expense	33	36	64	72
Assets	6,940		6,940		6,433
BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	192	188	507	503
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(43)	(54)	(73)	(107)
Operating income	55	60	263	252
Interest expense	10	13	22	26
Assets	4,900		4,900		5,144
BHE Transmission [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	158	(18)	324	140
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(53)	(66)	(107)	(116)
Operating income	73	(122)	150	(46)
Interest expense	39	38	80	74
Assets	8,794		8,794		8,378
BHE Renewables [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	220	170	364	309
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	(63)	(56)	(124)	(112)
Operating income	84	52	99	76
Interest expense	52	48	102	97
Assets	7,643		7,643		7,010
HomeServices [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate	956	841	1,541	1,332
Depreciation and amortization	10	9	22	15
Operating income	110	93	112	92
Interest expense	1	0	2	1
Assets	2,061		2,061		1,776
BHE And Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales revenue from energy operations	152	166	302	332
Depreciation and amortization - energy operations	0	1	1	1
Operating income	(32)	(6)	(46)	(15)
Interest expense	110	119	221	241
Assets	1,396		1,396		$ 1,245
UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	4,177	3,889	7,924	7,488
Income before income tax expense and equity income	529	498	952	856
UNITED KINGDOM
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	219	249	464	528
Income before income tax expense and equity income	62	91	164	210
CANADA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	158	(17)	324	143
Income before income tax expense and equity income	38	28	80	71
The Philippines and other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	8	3
Income before income tax expense and equity income	$ 15	$ 15	$ 39	$ 38