Name:	bhe_ScheduleOfRegulatoryAssetsAndLiabilitiesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	bhe_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage of domestic federal statutory tax rate applicable to pretax income (loss).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32687-109319

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 6.I)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34349781&loc=d3e330036-122817

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32698-109319

Name:	us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of loss contingency liability expected to be resolved within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14326-108349

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

Amount of public utility's approved rate increase (decrease) by regulatory agency.

No definition available.

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

Percentage of public utility's requested rate increase (decrease) with regulatory agency.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesRequestedRateIncreaseDecreasePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

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

Name:	us-gaap_TaxPeriodAxis=bhe_TaxCutsandJobsActof2017Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesRegulatoryProceedingAxis=bhe_TaxCutsandJobsActof2017Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

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