0001130310-24-000010 | 10-K | XBRL Viewer

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Subsequent Events (Details) - Subsequent Event - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jan. 10, 2024	Feb. 19, 2024
Louisiana And Mississippi Regulated Natural Gas Local Distribution Company Businesses \| Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Equity purchase agreement, purchase price		$ 1,200
Common Stock \| Maximum
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Sale of stock, gross sale price	$ 500

Related Party Transactions (Houston Electric and CERC) (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Schedule of Money Pool Investment and Borrowing

Houston Electric and CERC participate in a money pool through which they can borrow or invest on a short-term basis. Funding needs are aggregated and external borrowing or investing is based on the net cash position. The net funding requirements of the money pool are expected to be met with borrowings under CenterPoint Energy’s revolving credit facility or the sale of CenterPoint Energy’s commercial paper.

The table below summarizes money pool activity:


	December 31, 2023						December 31, 2022
	Houston Electric			CERC			Houston Electric			CERC
	(in millions, except interest rates)
Money pool investments (borrowings) (1)	$	238		$	1		$	(642)		$	—
Weighted average interest rate	5.59		%	5.59		%	4.75		%	4.75		%

(1)Included in Accounts and notes receivable (payable)–affiliated companies in Houston Electric’s and CERC’s Consolidated Balance Sheets, as applicable.

Schedule of Related Party Transactions

Houston Electric and CERC affiliate-related net interest income (expense) were as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023				2022				2021
	Houston Electric		CERC		Houston Electric		CERC		Houston Electric		CERC (1)
	(in millions)
Interest income (expense), net (2)	$	2	$	10	$	—	$	(18)	$	—	$	(38)

(1)Includes affiliate-related net interest expense of Indiana Gas and VEDO to reflect the Restructuring.

(2)Interest income is included in Other, net and interest expense is included in Interest expense and other finance charges on Houston Electric’s and CERC’s respective Statements of Consolidated Income.

Amounts charged for these services are included primarily in Operation and maintenance expenses:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023				2022				2021
	Houston Electric		CERC		Houston Electric		CERC		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Corporate service charges	$	173	$	236	$	167	$	237	$	189	$	257
Net affiliate service charges (billings)	(10)		10		15		(15)		(7)		7

The table below presents transactions among Houston Electric, CERC and their parent, Utility Holding.


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023				2022				2021
	Houston Electric		CERC		Houston Electric		CERC		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Cash dividends paid to parent	$	367	$	496	$	316	$	124	$	—	$	—
Cash dividend paid to parent related to the sale of the Arkansas and Oklahoma Natural Gas businesses	—		—		—		720		—		—
Cash contribution from parent	885		500		1,143		289		130		140
Net assets acquired in the Restructuring (1)	—		—		—		2,345		—		—
Non-cash capital contribution from parent in payment for property, plant and equipment below	—		—		38		54		—		—
Cash paid to parent for property, plant and equipment below	—		—		65		61		—		—
Property, plant and equipment from parent (2)	—		—		103		115		—		—

(1)The Restructuring was a common control transaction that required the recasting of financial information to the earliest period presented. Therefore, the net asset transfer is not reflected during the year ended December 31, 2022 on CERC’s Statements of Consolidated Changes in Equity.

(2)Property, plant and equipment purchased from CenterPoint Energy at its net carrying value on the date of purchase.

Revenue Recognition

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]

Revenue Recognition

In accordance with ASC 606, revenue is recognized when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services. The amount of revenue recognized reflects the consideration to which the Registrants expect to be entitled to receive in exchange for these goods or services.

ARPs are contracts between the utility and its regulators, not between the utility and a customer. The Registrants recognize ARP revenue as other revenues when the regulator-specified conditions for recognition have been met. Upon recovery of ARP revenue through incorporation in rates charged for utility service to customers, ARP revenue is reversed and recorded as revenue from contracts with customers. The recognition of ARP revenues and the reversal of ARP revenues upon recovery through rates charged for utility service may not occur in the same period.

The following tables disaggregate revenues by reportable segment and major source:

CenterPoint Energy


	Year Ended December 31, 2023
	Electric		Natural Gas		Corporate and Other		Total
	(in millions)
Revenue from contracts with customers	$	4,275	$	4,210	$	127	$	8,612
Other (1)	15		69		3		87
Eliminations	—		(3)		—		(3)
Total revenues	$	4,290	$	4,276	$	130	$	8,696


	Year Ended December 31, 2022
	Electric		Natural Gas		Corporate and Other		Total
	(in millions)
Revenue from contracts with customers	$	4,095	$	4,969	$	263	$	9,327
Other (1)	13		(23)		4		(6)
Total revenues	$	4,108	$	4,946	$	267	$	9,321

	Year Ended December 31, 2021
	Electric		Natural Gas		Corporate and Other		Total
	(in millions)
Revenue from contracts with customers	$	3,726	$	4,281	$	249	$	8,256
Other (1)	37		55		4		96
Total revenues	$	3,763	$	4,336	$	253	$	8,352

(1)Primarily consists of income from ARPs and leases. Total lease income was $8 million, $7 million and $7 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Houston Electric


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
	(in millions)
Revenue from contracts with customers	$	3,684	$	3,417	$	3,117
Other (1)	(7)		(5)		17
Total revenues	$	3,677	$	3,412	$	3,134

(1)Primarily consists of income from ARPs and leases. Lease income was not significant for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021.

CERC


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
	(in millions)
Revenue from contracts with customers	$	4,083	$	4,816	$	4,148
Other (1)	66		(16)		52
Total revenues	$	4,149	$	4,800	$	4,200

(1)Primarily consists of income from ARPs and leases. Lease income was $4 million, $3 million and $3 million, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.

Revenues from Contracts with Customers

Electric (CenterPoint Energy and Houston Electric). Houston Electric distributes electricity to customers over time and customers consume the electricity when delivered. Indiana Electric generates, distributes and transmits electricity to customers over time, and customers consume the electricity when delivered. Revenue, consisting of both volumetric and fixed tariff rates set by state regulators, such as the PUCT and the IURC, is recognized as electricity is delivered and represents amounts both billed and unbilled. Discretionary services requested by customers are provided at a point in time with control transferring upon the completion of the service. Revenue for discretionary services provided by Houston Electric is recognized upon completion of service based on the tariff rates set by the PUCT. Payments for electricity distribution and discretionary services are aggregated and received on a monthly basis. Houston Electric performs transmission services over time as a stand-ready obligation to provide a reliable network of transmission systems. Revenue is recognized upon time elapsed, and the monthly tariff rate set by the regulator. Payments are received on a monthly basis. Indiana Electric customers are billed monthly and payment terms, set by the regulator, require payment within a month of billing.

Natural Gas (CenterPoint Energy and CERC). CenterPoint Energy and CERC distribute and transport natural gas to customers over time, and customers consume the natural gas when delivered. Revenue, consisting of both volumetric and fixed tariff rates set by the state governing agency for that service area, is recognized as natural gas is delivered and represents amounts both billed and unbilled. Discretionary services requested by the customer are provided at a point in time with control transferring upon completion of the service. Revenue for discretionary services is recognized upon completion of service based on the tariff rates set by the applicable state regulator. Payments of natural gas distribution, transportation and discretionary services are aggregated and received on a monthly basis.

Contract Balances. When the timing of delivery of service is different from the timing of the payments made by customers and when the right to consideration is conditioned on something other than the passage of time, the Registrants recognize either a contract asset (performance precedes billing) or a contract liability (customer payment precedes performance). Those customers that prepay are represented by contract liabilities until the performance obligations are satisfied. The Registrants’ contract assets are included in Accrued unbilled revenues and contract liabilities are included in Accounts payable and Other current liabilities in their Consolidated Balance Sheets. CenterPoint Energy’s contract assets and contract liabilities primarily related to Energy Systems Group contracts where revenue was recognized using the input method prior to the sale of Energy Systems Group that was completed on June 30, 2023.

The opening and closing balances of accounts receivable, other accrued unbilled revenue, contract assets and contract liabilities from contracts with customers are as follows:

CenterPoint Energy


	Accounts Receivable		Other Accrued Unbilled Revenues		Contract Assets (1)		Contract Liabilities (1)
	(in millions)
Opening balance as of December 31, 2022	$	858	$	764	$	4	$	45
Closing balance as of December 31, 2023	652		516		—		2
Increase (decrease)	$	(206)	$	(248)	$	(4)	$	(43)

(1) Decrease primarily related to the completed sale of Energy Systems Group on June 30, 2023.

The amount of revenue recognized in the year ended December 31, 2023 that was included in the opening contract liability was $2 million.

Houston Electric


	Accounts Receivable		Other Accrued Unbilled Revenues		Contract Liabilities
	(in millions)
Opening balance as of December 31, 2022	$	271	$	142	$	2
Closing balance as of December 31, 2023	275		142		2
Increase	$	4	$	—	$	—

The amount of revenue recognized in the year ended December 31, 2023 that was included in the opening contract liability was $2 million.

CERC


	Accounts Receivable		Other Accrued Unbilled Revenues
	(in millions)
Opening balance as of December 31, 2022	$	478	$	573
Closing balance as of December 31, 2023	330		329
Decrease	$	(148)	$	(244)

CERC does not have any opening or closing contract asset or contract liability balances.

Remaining Performance Obligations (CenterPoint Energy). Following the completed sale of Energy Systems Group on June 30, 2023, CenterPoint Energy had no remaining performance obligations.

Practical Expedients and Exemption. Sales taxes and other similar taxes collected from customers are excluded from the transaction price. For contracts for which revenue from the satisfaction of the performance obligations is recognized in the amount invoiced, the practical expedient was elected and revenue expected to be recognized on these contracts has not been disclosed.

Allowance for Credit Losses and Bad Debt Expense

CenterPoint Energy and CERC segregate financial assets that fall under the scope of Topic 326, primarily trade receivables due in one year or less, into portfolio segments based on shared risk characteristics, such as geographical location and regulatory environment, for evaluation of expected credit losses. Historical and current information, such as average write-offs, are applied to each portfolio segment to estimate the allowance for losses on uncollectible receivables. Additionally, the allowance for losses on uncollectible receivables is adjusted for reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions, which can include changing weather, commodity prices, regulations, and macroeconomic factors, among others. Houston Electric had no material changes in its methodology to recognize losses on financial assets that fall under the scope of Topic 326, primarily due to the nature of its customers and regulatory environment. For a discussion of regulatory deferrals, see Note 7.

The table below summarizes the Registrants’ bad debt expense amounts for 2023, 2022 and 2021, net of regulatory deferrals, including those related to COVID-19:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023						2022						2021
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Bad debt expense	$	18	$	—	$	16	$	20	$	—	$	17	$	12	$	—	$	10
Bad debt expense deferred as regulatory asset	—		—		—		—		—		—		16		8		8

- Definition

The entire disclosure of revenue from contract with customer to transfer good or service and to transfer nonfinancial asset. Includes, but is not limited to, disaggregation of revenue, credit loss recognized from contract with customer, judgment and change in judgment related to contract with customer, and asset recognized from cost incurred to obtain or fulfill contract with customer. Excludes insurance and lease contracts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479806/606-10-50-9

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 606
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479806/606-10-50-10

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 606
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
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-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479806/606-10-50-15

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479806/606-10-50-12

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 606
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-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479806/606-10-50-12

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 606
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479806/606-10-50-12

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (d)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479806/606-10-50-12

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (e)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479806/606-10-50-12

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (b)(2)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479806/606-10-50-13

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//606/tableOfContent

+ Details

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CHANGES IN EQUITY (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Cumulative preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Cumulative preferred stock, authorized (in shares)	20,000,000	20,000,000	20,000,000
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, authorized (in shares)	1,000,000,000	1,000,000,000	1,000,000,000

Related Party Transactions (Houston Electric and CERC) - Schedule of Affiliated-Related Net Interest Income (Expense) (Details) - Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Houston Electric
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Interest income (expense), net	$ 2	$ 0	$ 0
CERC Corp
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Interest income (expense), net	$ 10	$ (18)	$ (38)

Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Tax Expense

The components of the Registrant’s income tax expense (benefit) were as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
	(in millions)
CenterPoint Energy - Continuing Operations
Current income tax expense (benefit):
Federal	$	106	$	294	$	—
State	33		46		(28)
Total current expense (benefit)	139		340		(28)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
Federal	119		16		78
State	(88)		4		60
Total deferred expense	31		20		138
Total income tax expense	$	170	$	360	$	110

CenterPoint Energy - Discontinued Operations
Current income tax expense:
Federal	$	—	$	—	$	91
State	—		—		35
Total current expense	—		—		126
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
Federal	—		—		127
State	—		—		(52)
Total deferred expense (benefit)	—		—		75
Total income tax expense (benefit)	$	—	$	—	$	201

Houston Electric
Current income tax expense (benefit):
Federal	$	(26)	$	23	$	22
State	34		16		22
Total current expense	8		39		44
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
Federal	159		86		31
State	1		—		1
Total deferred expense (benefit)	160		86		32
Total income tax expense	$	168	$	125	$	76


CERC - Continuing Operations
Current income tax expense (benefit):
Federal	$	12	$	30	$	—
State	3		28		(25)
Total current expense (benefit)	15		58		(25)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
Federal	95		164		67
State	(136)		14		34
Total deferred expense (benefit)	(41)		178		101
Total income tax expense (benefit)	$	(26)	$	236	$	76

Reconciliation of Expected Federal Income Tax Expense to Actual

A reconciliation of income tax expense (benefit) using the federal statutory income tax rate to the actual income tax expense and resulting effective income tax rate is as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023			2022			2021
	(in millions)
CenterPoint Energy - Continuing Operations (1) (2) (3)
Income before income taxes	$	1,087		$	1,417		$	778
Federal statutory income tax rate	21		%	21		%	21		%
Expected federal income tax expense	228			298			163
Increase (decrease) in tax expense resulting from:
State income tax expense, net of federal income tax	25			46			63
State valuation allowance, net of federal income tax	—			—			(15)
State law change, net of federal income tax	(69)			—			(23)

Equity AFUDC	(13)			(8)			(6)
Excess deferred income tax amortization	(44)			(51)			(75)
Goodwill impairment	—			84			—

Sale of Energy Systems Group	28			—			—
Other, net	15			(9)			3
Total	(58)			62			(53)
Total income tax expense	$	170		$	360		$	110
Effective tax rate	16		%	25		%	14		%
CenterPoint Energy - Discontinued Operations (4)
Income before income taxes	$	—		$	—		$	1,019
Federal statutory income tax rate	—		%	—		%	21		%
Expected federal income tax expense	—			—			214
Increase (decrease) in tax expense resulting from:
State income tax expense, net of federal income tax	—			—			14

State law change, net of federal income tax	—			—			(27)






Total	—			—			(13)
Total income tax expense	$	—		$	—		$	201
Effective tax rate	—		%	—		%	20		%
Houston Electric (5) (6) (7)
Income before income taxes	$	761		$	635		$	457
Federal statutory income tax rate	21		%	21		%	21		%
Expected federal income tax expense	160			133			96
Increase (decrease) in tax expense resulting from:
State income tax expense, net of federal income tax	27			13			18


Excess deferred income tax amortization	(17)			(18)			(41)
Other, net	(2)			(3)			3
Total	8			(8)			(20)
Total income tax expense	$	168		$	125		$	76
Effective tax rate	22		%	20		%	17		%


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023			2022			2021
	(in millions)
CERC - Continuing Operations (8) (9) (10)
Income before income taxes	$	486		$	961		$	466
Federal statutory income tax rate	21		%	21		%	21		%
Expected federal income tax expense	102			202			98
Increase (decrease) in tax expense resulting from:
State income tax expense, net of federal income tax	(40)			35			31
State law change, net of federal income tax	(66)			—			(9)
State valuation allowance, net of federal income tax	—			—			(15)

Goodwill impairment	—			30			—
Excess deferred income tax amortization	(23)			(28)			(30)

Other, net	1			(3)			1
Total	(128)			34			(22)
Total income tax expense (benefit)	$	(26)		$	236		$	76
Effective tax rate	(5)		%	25		%	16		%

(1)Recognized a $69 million benefit for the impact of state apportionment changes that resulted in the remeasurement of state deferred taxes of the unitary group, a $44 million benefit for the amortization of the net regulatory EDIT liability as decreed by regulators in certain jurisdictions, a $13 million benefit for the impact of AFUDC equity, and a $28 million expense for the gain on the Energy Systems Group sale.

(2)Recognized a $51 million benefit for the amortization of the net regulatory EDIT liability as decreed by regulators in certain jurisdictions, an $8 million benefit for the impact of AFUDC equity, and a $84 million expense for the goodwill impairment on the Arkansas and Oklahoma Natural Gas business sale.

(3)Recognized a $75 million benefit for the amortization of the net regulatory EDIT liability as decreed by regulators in certain jurisdictions, a $23 million benefit for the impact of state law changes that resulted in the remeasurement of state deferred taxes in those jurisdictions, a $6 million benefit for the impact of AFUDC equity, and a $15 million benefit for the impact of a change in the NOL carryforward period in Louisiana from 20 years to an indefinite period allowing for the release of the valuation allowance on certain Louisiana NOLs.

(4)Recognized a $27 million benefit for the impact of state law changes that resulted in the remeasurement of state deferred taxes in those jurisdictions.

(5)Recognized a $17 million benefit for the amortization of the net regulatory EDIT liability as decreed by regulators in certain jurisdictions.

(6)Recognized a $18 million benefit for the amortization of the net regulatory EDIT liability as decreed by regulators in certain jurisdictions.

(7)Recognized a $41 million benefit for the amortization of the net regulatory EDIT liability as decreed by regulators in certain jurisdictions.

(8)Recognized a $66 million benefit for the impact of state apportionment changes that resulted in the remeasurement of state deferred taxes of the unitary group, and a $23 million benefit for the amortization of the net regulatory EDIT liability as decreed by regulators in certain jurisdictions.

(9)Recognized a $28 million benefit for the amortization of the net regulatory EDIT liability as decreed by regulators in certain jurisdictions, and a $30 million expense for the goodwill impairment on the Arkansas and Oklahoma Natural Gas business sale.

(10)Recognized a $9 million benefit for the impact of state law changes that resulted in the remeasurement of state deferred taxes in those jurisdictions, a $30 million benefit for the amortization of the net regulatory EDIT liability as decreed by regulators in certain jurisdictions, and a $15 million benefit for the impact of a change in the NOL carryforward period in Louisiana from 20 years to an indefinite period allowing for the release of the valuation allowance on certain Louisiana NOLs.

Tax Assets and Liabilities

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows:


	December 31,
	2023		2022
	(in millions)
CenterPoint Energy
Deferred tax assets:
Benefits and compensation	$	131	$	121
Regulatory liabilities	365		378
Loss and credit carryforwards	76		84
Asset retirement obligations	96		95


Other	124		49
Valuation allowance	(10)		(10)
Total deferred tax assets	782		717
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment	3,580		3,228

Regulatory assets	401		601
Investment in ZENS and equity securities related to ZENS	788		722

Other	92		152
Total deferred tax liabilities	4,861		4,703
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	4,079	$	3,986

Houston Electric
Deferred tax assets:
Benefits and compensation	$	10	$	10

Regulatory liabilities	176		184
Asset retirement obligations	6		6
Other	18		13
Total deferred tax assets	210		213
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment	1,497		1,330
Regulatory assets	119		112

Total deferred tax liabilities	1,616		1,442
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	1,406	$	1,229
CERC
Deferred tax assets:
Benefits and compensation	$	21	$	9
Regulatory liabilities	145		151
Loss and credit carryforwards	276		466
Asset retirement obligations	86		86
Other	65		25

Total deferred tax assets	593		737
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment	1,602		1,427
Regulatory assets	171		381
Other	66		191
Total deferred tax liabilities	1,839		1,999
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	1,246	$	1,262

Schedule of Unrecognized Tax Benefits Roll Forward

A reconciliation of CenterPoint Energy’s beginning and ending balance of unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties, for 2023 and 2022 are as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022
	(in millions)
Balance, beginning of year	$	26	$	3



Increases related to tax positions of prior years	—		26
Decreases related to tax positions of prior years	—		(3)

Lapse of statute of limitations	(1)		—

Balance, end of year	$	25	$	26

Cover Page - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
Cover Page - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2023	Feb. 12, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2023
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-31447
Entity Registrant Name	CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
Entity Tax Identification Number	74-0694415
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	TX
Entity Address, Address Line One	1111 Louisiana
Entity Address, City or Town	Houston,
Entity Address, State or Province	TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	77002
City Area Code	(713)
Local Phone Number	207-1111
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Document Financial Statement Error Correction [Flag]	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 18,251,183,835
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		631,594,706
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Portions of the definitive proxy statement relating to the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of CenterPoint Energy, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of December 31, 2023, are incorporated by reference in Item 10, Item 11, Item 12, Item 13 and Item 14 of Part III of this Form 10-K.
Entity Central Index Key	0001130310
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2023
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Common Stock, $0.01 par value \| New York Stock Exchange
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.01 par value
Trading Symbol	CNP
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Common Stock, $0.01 par value \| NYSE Chicago
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.01 par value
Trading Symbol	CNP
Security Exchange Name	CHX
CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity File Number	1-3187
Entity Registrant Name	CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC
Entity Tax Identification Number	22-3865106
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	TX
Entity Address, Address Line One	1111 Louisiana
Entity Address, City or Town	Houston,
Entity Address, State or Province	TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	77002
City Area Code	(713)
Local Phone Number	207-1111
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Document Financial Statement Error Correction [Flag]	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			0
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,000
Entity Central Index Key	0000048732
CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC \| 6.95% General Mortgage Bonds due 2033 \| New York Stock Exchange
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	6.95% General Mortgage Bonds due 2033
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
No Trading Symbol Flag	true
CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity File Number	1-13265
Entity Registrant Name	CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.
Entity Tax Identification Number	76-0511406
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Address, Address Line One	1111 Louisiana
Entity Address, City or Town	Houston,
Entity Address, State or Province	TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	77002
City Area Code	(713)
Local Phone Number	207-1111
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Document Financial Statement Error Correction [Flag]	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 0
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,000
Entity Central Index Key	0001042773
CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp. \| 6.625% Senior Notes due 2037 \| New York Stock Exchange
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	6.625% Senior Notes due 2037
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
No Trading Symbol Flag	true

Fair Value Measurements - Schedule of Estimated Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Carrying amount
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Long-term debt, fair value	$ 18,609	$ 16,338
Carrying amount \| Houston Electric
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Long-term debt, fair value	7,587	6,353
Carrying amount \| CERC Corp
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Long-term debt, fair value	4,670	4,826
Fair value
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Long-term debt, fair value	17,804	14,990
Fair value \| Houston Electric
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Long-term debt, fair value	6,917	5,504
Fair value \| CERC Corp
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Long-term debt, fair value	$ 4,627	$ 4,637

Related Party Transactions (Houston Electric and CERC)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

The table below summarizes money pool activity:


	December 31, 2023						December 31, 2022
	Houston Electric			CERC			Houston Electric			CERC
	(in millions, except interest rates)
Money pool investments (borrowings) (1)	$	238		$	1		$	(642)		$	—
Weighted average interest rate	5.59		%	5.59		%	4.75		%	4.75		%

(1)Included in Accounts and notes receivable (payable)–affiliated companies in Houston Electric’s and CERC’s Consolidated Balance Sheets, as applicable.

Houston Electric and CERC affiliate-related net interest income (expense) were as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023				2022				2021
	Houston Electric		CERC		Houston Electric		CERC		Houston Electric		CERC (1)
	(in millions)
Interest income (expense), net (2)	$	2	$	10	$	—	$	(18)	$	—	$	(38)

(1)Includes affiliate-related net interest expense of Indiana Gas and VEDO to reflect the Restructuring.

CenterPoint Energy provides some corporate services to Houston Electric and CERC. The costs of services have been charged directly to Houston Electric and CERC using methods that management believes are reasonable. These methods include negotiated usage rates, dedicated asset assignment and proportionate corporate formulas based on operating expenses, assets, gross margin, employees and a composite of assets, gross margin and employees. Houston Electric provides certain

services to CERC. These services are billed at actual cost, either directly or as an allocation and include fleet services, shop services, geographic services, surveying and right-of-way services, radio communications, data circuit management and field operations. Additionally, CERC provides certain services to Houston Electric. These services are billed at actual cost, either directly or as an allocation and include line locating and other miscellaneous services. These charges are not necessarily indicative of what would have been incurred had Houston Electric and CERC not been affiliates.

Amounts charged for these services are included primarily in Operation and maintenance expenses:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023				2022				2021
	Houston Electric		CERC		Houston Electric		CERC		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Corporate service charges	$	173	$	236	$	167	$	237	$	189	$	257
Net affiliate service charges (billings)	(10)		10		15		(15)		(7)		7

The table below presents transactions among Houston Electric, CERC and their parent, Utility Holding.


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023				2022				2021
	Houston Electric		CERC		Houston Electric		CERC		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Cash dividends paid to parent	$	367	$	496	$	316	$	124	$	—	$	—
Cash dividend paid to parent related to the sale of the Arkansas and Oklahoma Natural Gas businesses	—		—		—		720		—		—
Cash contribution from parent	885		500		1,143		289		130		140
Net assets acquired in the Restructuring (1)	—		—		—		2,345		—		—
Non-cash capital contribution from parent in payment for property, plant and equipment below	—		—		38		54		—		—
Cash paid to parent for property, plant and equipment below	—		—		65		61		—		—
Property, plant and equipment from parent (2)	—		—		103		115		—		—

(2)Property, plant and equipment purchased from CenterPoint Energy at its net carrying value on the date of purchase.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for related party transactions. Examples of related party transactions include transactions between (a) a parent company and its subsidiary; (b) subsidiaries of a common parent; (c) and entity and its principal owners; and (d) affiliates.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480990/946-20-50-2

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
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-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480990/946-20-50-5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480990/946-20-50-6

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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-SubTopic 235
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-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
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-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481062/946-235-50-2

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 235
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (e)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481062/946-235-50-2

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147483326/850-10-50-1

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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-SubTopic 220
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-07(2)(g)(3))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147483575/946-220-S99-1

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-07(2)(c))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147483575/946-220-S99-1

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 220
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-07(2)(e))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147483575/946-220-S99-1

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 850
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//850/tableOfContent

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147483326/850-10-50-6

Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147483326/850-10-50-1

Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147483326/850-10-50-1

+ Details

Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Debt

Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt: As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Registrants had the following short-term borrowings and long-term debt outstanding:


	December 31, 2023				December 31, 2022
	Long-Term		Current (1)		Long-Term		Current (1)
	(in millions)
CenterPoint Energy:
ZENS due 2029 (2)	$	—	$	5	$	—	$	7
CenterPoint Energy senior notes 1.45% to 5.989% due 2024 to 2049	3,250		850		3,050		—
CenterPoint Energy pollution control bonds 5.125% due 2028 (3)	68		—		68		—
CenterPoint Energy commercial paper (4)	1,036		—		1,770		—




SIGECO first mortgage bonds 3.450% to 6.00% due 2024 to 2055 (5)	825		22		277		11
SIGECO securitization bonds 5.026% to 5.172% due 2036 to 2041 (6)	324		17		—		—
Other debt	—		—		—		4
Unamortized debt issuance costs	(35)		—		(15)		—
Unamortized discount and premium, net	(5)		—		(6)		—
Houston Electric debt (see details below)	7,426		161		6,197		156
CERC debt (see details below)	4,670		4		3,495		1,842

Total CenterPoint Energy debt	$	17,559	$	1,059	$	14,836	$	2,020





Houston Electric:

General mortgage bonds 2.35% to 6.95% due 2026 to 2053 (7)	$	7,512	$	—	$	6,112	$	—
Other	1		—		1		—






Bond Company IV:
Transition bonds 3.028% due 2024	—		161		161		156
Unamortized debt issuance costs	(59)		—		(50)		—
Unamortized discount and premium, net	(28)		—		(27)		—
Total Houston Electric debt	$	7,426	$	161	$	6,197	$	156





CERC (8):
Short-term borrowings:
Inventory financing (9)	$	—	$	4	$	—	$	11
Term loan	—		—		—		500
Total CERC short-term borrowings	—		4		—		511
Long-term debt:
Senior notes 1.75% to 6.625% due 2026 to 2047	$	4,120	$	—	$	2,620	$	1,331
Indiana Gas senior notes 6.34% to 7.08% due 2025 to 2029	96		—		96		—
Commercial paper (4)	484		—		805		—
Unamortized debt issuance costs	(31)		—		(22)		—
Unamortized discount and premium, net	1		—		(4)		—


Total CERC debt	$	4,670	$	4	$	3,495	$	1,842

(1)Includes amounts due or exchangeable within one year of the date noted.

(2)CenterPoint Energy’s ZENS obligation is bifurcated into a debt component and an embedded derivative component. For additional information regarding ZENS, see Note 11(b). As ZENS are exchangeable for cash at any time at the option of the holders, these notes are classified as a current portion of long-term debt.

(3)These pollution control bonds were secured by general mortgage bonds of Houston Electric as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and are not reflected in Houston Electric’s consolidated financial statements because of the contingent nature of the obligations.

(4)Commercial paper issued by CenterPoint Energy and CERC Corp. has maturities up to 60 days and 30 days, respectively, and are backstopped by the respective issuer’s long-term revolving credit facility. Commercial paper is classified as long-term because the termination date of the facility that backstops the commercial paper is more than one year from the balance sheet date.

(5)The first mortgage bonds issued by SIGECO subject SIGECO’s properties to a lien under the related mortgage indenture as further discussed below.

(6)Scheduled final payment dates are November 15, 2036 and May 15, 2041. The SIGECO Securitization Bonds will be repaid over time through a securitization charge imposed on retail electric customers in SIGECO’s service territory.

(7)The general mortgage bonds issued by Houston Electric subject Houston Electric’s properties to a lien under the General Mortgage as further discussed below.

(8)Issued by CERC Corp.

(9)Represents AMA transactions accounted for as an inventory financing.

Schedule of Revolving Credit Facilities and Utilization of Such Facilities

During 2023, the following debt instruments were issued or incurred:


Registrant	Issuance Date	Debt Instrument	Aggregate Principal Amount		Interest Rate	Maturity Date
		(in millions, except for interest rates)
Houston Electric (1)	March 2023	General Mortgage Bonds	$	600	4.95%	2033
Houston Electric (1)	March 2023	General Mortgage Bonds	300		5.30%	2053
Houston Electric (2)	September 2023	General Mortgage Bonds	500		5.20%	2028
		Total Houston Electric	1,400
CERC (3)	February 2023	Term Loan	500		SOFR (4) + 0.85%	2024
CERC (5)	February 2023	Senior Notes	600		5.25%	2028
CERC (5)	February 2023	Senior Notes	600		5.40%	2033
CERC (6)	May 2023	Senior Notes	300		5.25%	2028
		Total CERC	2,000
CenterPoint Energy (7)	March 2023	First Mortgage Bonds	100		4.98%	2028
CenterPoint Energy (7)	March 2023	First Mortgage Bonds	80		5.04%	2033
CenterPoint Energy (8)	March 2023	Term Loan	250		SOFR (4) + 1.50%	2023
CenterPoint Energy (9)	June 2023	Securitization Bonds	341		5.026% - 5.172%	2038-2043
CenterPoint Energy (10)	August 2023	Convertible Notes	1,000		4.25%	2026
CenterPoint Energy (11)	August 2023	Senior Notes	400		5.25%	2026
CenterPoint Energy (12)	October 2023	First Mortgage Bonds	470		5.75% - 6.00%	2029-2034
		Total CenterPoint Energy	$	6,041

(1)Total proceeds from Houston Electric’s March 2023 issuances of general mortgage bonds, net of transaction expenses and fees, were approximately $890 million. Approximately $593 million of such proceeds were used for general limited liability company purposes, including capital expenditures, working capital and the repayment of all or a portion of Houston Electric’s borrowings under the CenterPoint Energy money pool, and approximately $296 million of such proceeds will be disbursed or allocated to finance or refinance, in part or in full, new or existing projects that meet stated criteria.

(2)Total proceeds from Houston Electric’s September 2023 issuances of general mortgage bonds, net of transaction expenses and fees, of approximately $496 million were used for general limited liability company purposes, including capital expenditures, working capital and the repayment of all of Houston Electric’s borrowings under the CenterPoint Energy money pool.

(3)Total proceeds, net of transaction expenses and fees, of approximately $500 million were used for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of CERC’s outstanding commercial paper balances.

(4)As defined in the term loan agreement, which includes an adjustment of 0.10% per annum.

(5)Total proceeds from CERC’s February 2023 issuances of senior notes, net of transaction expenses and fees, of approximately $1.2 billion were used for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of (i) all or a portion of CERC’s outstanding 0.700% senior notes due 2023, (ii) all or a portion of CERC’s outstanding floating rate senior notes due 2023 and (iii) a portion of CERC’s outstanding commercial paper balances.

(6)Total proceeds, including issuance premiums and approximately $3 million of accrued interest, and net of transaction expenses and fees, of approximately $308 million were used for general corporate purposes, including repayment of a portion of CERC’s outstanding $500 million term loan due February 2024.

(7)Issued by SIGECO. Total proceeds from SIGECO’s March 2023 issuances of first mortgage bonds, net of transaction expenses and fees, of approximately $179 million were used for general corporate purposes, including repaying short-term debt.

(8)Total proceeds, net of transaction expenses and fees, of approximately $250 million were used for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of CenterPoint Energy’s outstanding commercial paper balances. The full outstanding amount of the term loan, including accrued and unpaid interest, was repaid in March 2023 and, following the repayment, the term loan agreement was terminated.

(9)Issued by SIGECO Securitization Subsidiary. Total proceeds from SIGECO Securitization Subsidiary’s June 2023 issuance of SIGECO Securitization Bonds, net of transaction expenses and fees, of approximately $337 million were used to pay SIGECO the purchase price of the securitization property. SIGECO used the net proceeds from the sale of the securitization property (after payment of upfront financing costs) to reimburse or pay for qualified costs approved by the IURC related to the completed retirement of its A.B. Brown 1 and 2 coal-powered generation units. See Notes 2 and 7 for further details.

(10)Total proceeds, net of discounts, transaction fees and expenses, of $985 million were used for general corporate purposes, including the redemption of CenterPoint Energy’s Series A Preferred Stock after its September 1, 2023 redemption date, and the repayment of a portion of CenterPoint Energy’s outstanding commercial paper. See additional information below.

(11)Total proceeds, net of discounts, transaction fees and expenses, of $397 million were used for general corporate purposes and the repayment of a portion of CenterPoint Energy’s outstanding commercial paper.

(12)SIGECO issued in three tranches: (i) $180 million first mortgage bonds bearing interest at 5.75% due 2029; (ii) $105 million first mortgage bonds bearing interest at 5.91% due 2030; and (iii) $185 million first mortgage bonds bearing interest at 6.00% due 2034. The net proceeds of $467 million were used for general corporate purposes.

The Registrants had the following revolving credit facilities as of December 31, 2023:


Execution Date	Registrant	Size of Facility		Draw Rate of SOFR plus (1)	Financial Covenant Limit on Debt for Borrowed Money to Capital Ratio		Debt for Borrowed Money to Capital Ratio as of December 31, 2023 (2)	Termination Date
		(in millions)
December 6, 2022	CenterPoint Energy	$	2,400	1.500%	65%	(3)	59.6%	December 6, 2027
December 6, 2022	CenterPoint Energy (4)	250		1.125%	65%		46.5%	December 6, 2027
December 6, 2022	Houston Electric	300		1.250%	67.5%	(3)	52.6%	December 6, 2027
December 6, 2022	CERC	1,050		1.125%	65%		40.2%	December 6, 2027
	Total	$	4,000

(1)Based on credit ratings as of December 31, 2023.

(2)As defined in the revolving credit facility agreement, excluding Securitization Bonds.

(3)For CenterPoint Energy and Houston Electric, the financial covenant limit will temporarily increase to 70% if Houston Electric experiences damage from a natural disaster in its service territory and CenterPoint Energy certifies to the

administrative agent that Houston Electric has incurred system restoration costs reasonably likely to exceed $100 million in a consecutive 12-month period, all or part of which Houston Electric intends to seek to recover through securitization financing. Such temporary increase in the financial covenant would be in effect from the date CenterPoint Energy delivers its certification until the earliest to occur of (i) the completion of the securitization financing, (ii) the first anniversary of CenterPoint Energy’s certification or (iii) the revocation of such certification.

(4)This credit facility was issued by SIGECO.

The Registrants, as well as the subsidiaries of CenterPoint Energy discussed above, were in compliance with all financial debt covenants as of December 31, 2023.

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Registrants had the following revolving credit facilities and utilization of such facilities:


	December 31, 2023										December 31, 2022
Registrant	Size of Facility		Loans		Letters of Credit		Commercial Paper		Weighted Average Interest Rate		Size of Facility		Loans		Letters of Credit		Commercial Paper		Weighted Average Interest Rate
	(in millions, except weighted average interest rate)
CenterPoint Energy (1)	$	2,400	$	—	$	—	$	1,036	5.54	%	$	2,400	$	—	$	11	$	1,770	4.71	%
CenterPoint Energy (2)	250		—		—		—		—	%	250		—		—		—		—	%
Houston Electric	300		—		—		—		—	%	300		—		—		—		—	%
CERC	1,050		—		1		484		5.53	%	1,050		—		—		805		4.67	%
Total	$	4,000	$	—	$	1	$	1,520			$	4,000	$	—	$	11	$	2,575

(1)CenterPoint Energy’s and CERC’s outstanding commercial paper generally have maturities up to 60 days and 30 days, respectively, and are backstopped by the respective issuer’s long-term revolving credit facility.

(2)This credit facility was issued by SIGECO.

Schedule of Extinguishment of Debt

The Registrants recorded the following losses on early extinguishment of debt, including make-whole premiums and recognition of deferred debt related costs, in Interest expense and other finance charges on their respective Statements of Consolidated Income unless specified otherwise:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
	(in millions)
CenterPoint Energy (1)	$	11	$	47	$	53
CERC	—		—		11
Houston Electric (2)	—		2		—

(1) The loss on early extinguishment of debt at CenterPoint Energy during 2023 was recorded as a regulatory asset.

(2) The loss on early extinguishment of debt at Houston Electric during 2022 was recorded as a regulatory asset.

Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt

Maturities. As of December 31, 2023, maturities of long-term debt through 2028, excluding the ZENS obligation and unamortized discounts, premiums and issuance costs, were as follows:


	CenterPoint Energy (1)		Houston Electric (1)		CERC		Securitization Bonds
	(in millions)
2024	$	1,050	$	161	$	—	$	178
2025	64		—		10		13
2026	2,274		300		60		14
2027	1,860		300		510		14
2028	2,063		500		1,230		15

(1)These maturities include Securitization Bonds principal repayments on scheduled payment dates.

Schedule of Debt Repayments and Redemptions

During 2023, the following debt instruments were repaid at maturity or redeemed prior to maturity:

Registrant

Repayment/Redemption Date

Debt Instrument

Aggregate Principal

Interest Rate

Maturity Date

(in millions)

CERC

March 2023

Term Loan (1)

500

SOFR (2) + 0.70%

2023

CERC

March 2023

Senior Notes

700

0.70%

2023

CERC

March 2023

Floating Rate Senior Notes

575

Three-month LIBOR plus 0.5%

2023

CERC

May 2023

Term Loan (3)

500

SOFR (2) + 0.85%

2024

CERC

December 2023

Senior Notes

3.72%

2023

Total CERC

2,332

CenterPoint Energy (4)

January 2023

First Mortgage Bonds

4.00%

2044

CenterPoint Energy

March 2023

Term Loan (1)

250

SOFR (2) + 1.50%

2023

CenterPoint Energy (5)

December 2023

Floating Rate Senior Notes

350

SOFR plus 0.65%

2024

CenterPoint Energy (6)

December 2023

First Mortgage Bonds

6.72%

2029

Total CenterPoint Energy

3,023

(1) The full outstanding amount of the term loan, including accrued and unpaid interest, was repaid in March 2023 and, following the repayment, the term loan agreement was terminated.

(2) As defined in the term loan agreement, which includes an adjustment of 0.10% per annum.

(3) The full outstanding amount of the term loan, including accrued and unpaid interest, was repaid in May 2023 and, following the repayment, the term loan agreement was terminated.

(4) On December 16, 2022, SIGECO provided notice of redemption and on January 17, 2023, SIGECO redeemed $11 million aggregate principal amount of SIGECO’s outstanding first mortgage bonds due 2044 at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the first mortgage bonds to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.

(5) On November 30, 2023, CenterPoint Energy provided notice of redemption and on December 15, 2023, CenterPoint Energy redeemed $350 million aggregate principal amount of outstanding floating rate senior notes due 2024 at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the floating rate senior notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.

(6) On November 17, 2023, SIGECO provided notice of redemption and on December 19, 2023, SIGECO redeemed $80 million aggregate principal amount of outstanding first mortgage bonds due 2029 at a redemption price equal to the sum of remaining principal and interest payments discounted at the treasury yield plus 10 basis points, plus interest accrued to the redemption date and an applicable make-whole premium.

Leases (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended			24 Months Ended
Leases (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) MW	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)
Lease, Cost [Abstract]
Operating lease cost	$ 6	$ 6	$ 8
Short-term lease cost	31	167	119
Total lease cost	37	173	127
Operating Leases, Lease Income [Abstract]
Operating lease income	6	5	6
Variable lease income	2	2	1
Total lease income	8	7	7
Assets and Liabilities, Lessee [Abstract]
Operating ROU assets	13	19		$ 19
Finance ROU assets	526	621		621
Total leased assets	539	640		640
Current operating lease liability	3	5		5
Non-current operating lease liability	10	14		14
Total leased liabilities	$ 13	$ 19		$ 19
Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years) - operating leases	4 years 8 months 12 days	4 years 3 months 18 days		4 years 3 months 18 days
Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases (as a percent)	4.13%	3.80%		3.80%
Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years) - finance leases	5 years 6 months	6 years 6 months		6 years 6 months
Weighted-average discount rate - finance leases (as a percent)	3.60%	3.60%		3.60%
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	Other non-current assets	Other non-current assets		Other non-current assets
Finance Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible Enumeration]	Property, plant and equipment	Property, plant and equipment		Property, plant and equipment
Operating Lease, Liability, Current, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	Other	Other		Other
Operating Lease, Liability, Noncurrent, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	Other	Other		Other
Operating Lease Liabilities, Payments Due [Abstract]
2024	$ 4
2025	3
2026	3
2027	2
2028	1
2029 and beyond	2
Total lease payments	15
Less: Interest	2
Present value of lease liabilities	13	$ 19		$ 19
Lessor, Operating Lease, Payments, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
2024	6
2025	8
2026	8
2027	7
2028	7
2029 and beyond	173
Total lease payments to be received	209
Other Information Related to Leases [Abstract]
Operating cash flows from operating leases included in the measurement of lease liabilities	5	6	6
Financing cash flows from finance leases included in the measurement of lease liabilities	0	485	179
Houston Electric
Lease Disclosure [Line Items]
Expenses associated with short-term lease	$ 100	103		103
Number of megawatts of mobile generation \| MW	505
Cash payment		485		664
Escrow deposit	$ 97
Expenses associated with long term lease	$ 124	60		60
Right to terminate, lease costs refunded (as a percent)	75.00%
Lease, Cost [Abstract]
Operating lease cost	$ 3	1	1
Short-term lease cost	30	166	118
Total lease cost	33	167	119
Operating Leases, Lease Income [Abstract]
Operating lease income	1	1	1
Variable lease income	0	0	0
Total lease income	1	1	1
Assets and Liabilities, Lessee [Abstract]
Operating ROU assets	6	6		6
Finance ROU assets	526	621		621
Total leased assets	532	627		627
Current operating lease liability	1	1		1
Non-current operating lease liability	5	5		5
Total leased liabilities	$ 6	$ 6		$ 6
Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years) - operating leases	3 years 10 months 24 days	4 years 9 months 18 days		4 years 9 months 18 days
Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases (as a percent)	4.09%	4.01%		4.01%
Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years) - finance leases	5 years 6 months	6 years 6 months		6 years 6 months
Weighted-average discount rate - finance leases (as a percent)	3.60%	3.60%		3.60%
Operating Lease Liabilities, Payments Due [Abstract]
2024	$ 2
2025	2
2026	1
2027	1
2028	0
2029 and beyond	0
Total lease payments	6
Less: Interest	0
Present value of lease liabilities	6	$ 6		$ 6
Lessor, Operating Lease, Payments, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
2024	1
2025	1
2026	0
2027	0
2028	0
2029 and beyond	0
Total lease payments to be received	2
Other Information Related to Leases [Abstract]
Operating cash flows from operating leases included in the measurement of lease liabilities	2	1	1
Financing cash flows from finance leases included in the measurement of lease liabilities	0	485	179
CERC Corp
Lease, Cost [Abstract]
Operating lease cost	2	2	4
Short-term lease cost	0	1	0
Total lease cost	2	3	4
Operating Leases, Lease Income [Abstract]
Operating lease income	4	3	3
Variable lease income	0	0	0
Total lease income	4	3	3
Assets and Liabilities, Lessee [Abstract]
Operating ROU assets	4	5		5
Finance ROU assets	0	0		0
Total leased assets	4	5		5
Current operating lease liability	1	2		2
Non-current operating lease liability	3	4		4
Total leased liabilities	$ 4	$ 6		$ 6
Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years) - operating leases	3 years 1 month 6 days	3 years 10 months 24 days		3 years 10 months 24 days
Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases (as a percent)	3.60%	3.58%		3.58%
Weighted-average discount rate - finance leases (as a percent)	0.00%	0.00%		0.00%
Operating Lease Liabilities, Payments Due [Abstract]
2024	$ 2
2025	1
2026	1
2027	0
2028	0
2029 and beyond	0
Total lease payments	4
Less: Interest	0
Present value of lease liabilities	4	$ 6		$ 6
Lessor, Operating Lease, Payments, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
2024	4
2025	5
2026	5
2027	5
2028	5
2029 and beyond	170
Total lease payments to be received	194
Other Information Related to Leases [Abstract]
Operating cash flows from operating leases included in the measurement of lease liabilities	2	2	3
Financing cash flows from finance leases included in the measurement of lease liabilities	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

Leases (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Leases [Abstract]

Lease, Cost

The components of lease cost, included in Operation and maintenance expense on the Registrants’ respective Statements of Consolidated Income, are as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023						2022						2021
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Operating lease cost	$	6	$	3	$	2	$	6	$	1	$	2	$	8	$	1	$	4
Short-term lease cost	31		30		$	—	167		166		1		119		118		—

Total lease cost (1)	$	37	$	33	$	2	$	173	$	167	$	3	$	127	$	119	$	4

(1) CenterPoint Energy and Houston Electric defer finance lease costs for TEEEF to Regulatory assets for recovery rather than to Depreciation and Amortization in the Statements of Consolidated Income.

Operating Lease, Lease Income

The components of lease income were as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023						2022						2021
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Operating lease income	$	6	$	1	$	4	$	5	$	1	$	3	$	6	$	1	$	3
Variable lease income	2		—		—		2		—		—		1		—		—
Total lease income	$	8	$	1	$	4	$	7	$	1	$	3	$	7	$	1	$	3

Supplemental Balance Sheet Information Related To Leases

Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows:


	December 31, 2023									December 31, 2022
	CenterPoint Energy			Houston Electric			CERC			CenterPoint Energy			Houston Electric			CERC
	(in millions, except lease term and discount rate)
Assets:
Operating ROU assets (1)	$	13		$	6		$	4		$	19		$	6		$	5
Finance ROU assets (2)	526			$	526		—			621			621			—
Total leased assets	$	539		$	532		$	4		$	640		$	627		$	5

Liabilities:
Current operating lease liability (3)	$	3		$	1		$	1		$	5		$	1		$	2
Non-current operating lease liability (4)	10			$	5		3			14			5			4
Total leased liabilities (5)	$	13		$	6		$	4		$	19		$	6		$	6

Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years) - operating leases	4.7			3.9			3.1			4.3			4.8			3.9
Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases	4.13		%	4.09		%	3.60		%	3.80		%	4.01		%	3.58		%
Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years) - finance leases	5.5			5.5			—			6.5			6.5			—
Weighted-average discount rate - finance leases	3.60		%	3.60		%	—			3.60		%	3.60		%	—

(1)Reported within Other assets in the Registrants’ respective Consolidated Balance Sheets, net of accumulated amortization.

(2)Reported within Property, Plant and Equipment in the Registrants’ respective Consolidated Balance Sheets, net of accumulated amortization.

(3)Reported within Current other liabilities in the Registrants’ respective Consolidated Balance Sheets.

(4)Reported within Other liabilities in the Registrants’ respective Consolidated Balance Sheets.

(5)Finance lease liabilities were not material as of December 31, 2023 or 2022 and are reported within Other long-term debt in the Registrants’ respective Consolidated Balance Sheets when applicable.

Lessee, Operating Lease, Liability, Maturity

As of December 31, 2023, maturities of operating lease liabilities were as follows:


	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)

2024	$	4	$	2	$	2
2025	3		2		1
2026	3		1		1
2027	2		1		—
2028	1		—		—
2029 and beyond	2		—		—
Total lease payments	15		6		4
Less: Interest	2		—		—
Present value of lease liabilities	$	13	$	6	$	4

Lessor, Operating Lease, Payments to be Received, Maturity

As of December 31, 2023, maturities of undiscounted operating lease payments to be received are as follows:


	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
2024	$	6	$	1	$	4
2025	8		1		5
2026	8		—		5
2027	7		—		5
2028	7		—		5
2029 and beyond	173		—		170
Total lease payments to be received	$	209	$	2	$	194

Other Information Related To Leases

Other information related to leases is as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023						2022						2021
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Operating cash flows from operating leases included in the measurement of lease liabilities	$	5	$	2	$	2	$	6	$	1	$	2	$	6	$	1	$	3
Financing cash flows from finance leases included in the measurement of lease liabilities	—		—		—		485		485		—		179		179		—

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow and Balance Sheet Information

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow and Balance Sheet Information

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information

CenterPoint Energy elected not to separately disclose discontinued operations on its Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows. The tables below provide supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:


	2023						2022						2021
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Cash Payments/Receipts:
Interest, net of capitalized interest (under further review)	$	664	$	287	$	175	$	480	$	223	$	104	$	489	$	208	$	130
Income tax payments (refunds), net (1)	215		12		115		421		142		37		(46)		20		(7)
Non-cash transactions:
Accounts payable related to capital expenditures	246		166		74		335		168		139		370		261		128
Fair value of Energy Transfer Common Units received for Enable Merger	—		—		—		—		—		—		1,672		—		—
Fair value of Energy Transfer Series G Preferred Units received for Enable Merger	—		—		—		—		—		—		385		—		—
ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities (2)	3		1		—		7		6		—		2		—		—

(1) CenterPoint Energy’s $215 million income tax payments in 2023 were attributable to recovery of extraordinary gas costs incurred in the February 2021 Winter Storm through the Railroad Commission ordered securitization.

(2) Excludes ROU assets obtained through prepayment of the lease liabilities. See Note 20.

The table below provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets to the amount reported in the Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows:


	December 31, 2023						December 31, 2022
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Cash and cash equivalents (1)	$	90	$	76	$	1	$	74	$	75	$	—
Restricted cash included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets	19		13		—		17		13		—

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows	$	109	$	89	$	1	$	91	$	88	$	—

(1)Cash and cash equivalents related to VIEs as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 included $90 million and $75 million, respectively, at CenterPoint Energy and $76 million and $75 million, respectively, at Houston Electric.

Supplemental Disclosure of Balance Sheet Information

Included in other current liabilities on CERC’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $118 million and $61 million, respectively, of credits related to customers on budget billing programs. Included in other current liabilities on Houston Electric’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $47 million and $35 million, respectively, of accrued contributions in aid of construction.

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow and Balance Sheet Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Interest, net of capitalized interest (under further review)	$ 664	$ 480	$ 489
Income tax payments (refunds), net	215	421	(46)
Accounts payable related to capital expenditures	246	335	370
ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities	3	7	2
Restricted cash included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$ 90	$ 74
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible Enumeration]	Prepaid expenses and other current assets ($15 and $13 related to VIEs, respectively)	Prepaid expenses and other current assets ($15 and $13 related to VIEs, respectively)
Restricted cash included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$ 19	$ 17
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows	109	91	254	$ 167
Recovery of Extraordinary Gas Costs
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Income taxes paid	215
Energy Transfer Common Units
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Fair value of units received	0	0	1,672
Energy Transfer Series G Preferred Units
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Fair value of units received	0	0	385
Houston Electric
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Interest, net of capitalized interest (under further review)	287	223	208
Income tax payments (refunds), net	12	142	20
Accounts payable related to capital expenditures	166	168	261
Fair value of units received	0	38	0
ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities	1	6	0
Restricted cash included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets	76	75
Restricted cash included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets	13	13
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows	89	88	233	154
Houston Electric \| Other Current Liabilities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Contributions in aid of construction	47	35
Houston Electric \| Energy Transfer Common Units
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Fair value of units received	0	0	0
Houston Electric \| Energy Transfer Series G Preferred Units
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Fair value of units received	0	0	0
CERC Corp
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Interest, net of capitalized interest (under further review)	175	104	130
Income tax payments (refunds), net	115	37	(7)
Accounts payable related to capital expenditures	74	139	128
Fair value of units received	0	54	0
ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities	0	0	0
Restricted cash included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets	1	0
Restricted cash included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets	0	0
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows	1	0	15	$ 6
CERC Corp \| Credits Related to Customers on Budget Billing Programs
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Contract with customer, liability, current, budget billing programs	118	61
CERC Corp \| Energy Transfer Common Units
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Fair value of units received	0	0	0
CERC Corp \| Energy Transfer Series G Preferred Units
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Fair value of units received	0	0	$ 0
Bond Companies \| Houston Electric
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Restricted cash included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets	76	75
Bond Companies and Securitization Bond Company
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Restricted cash included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$ 90	$ 75

Income Taxes - Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
Total deferred expense (benefit)	$ 31	$ 20	$ 213
Total income tax expense (benefit)	170	360	110
Houston Electric
Current income tax expense (benefit):
Federal	(26)	23	22
State	34	16	22
Total current expense (benefit)	8	39	44
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
Federal	159	86	31
Federal	(26)	23	22
State	1	0	1
Total deferred expense (benefit)	160	86	32
Total income tax expense (benefit)	168	125	76
CERC Corp
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
Total deferred expense (benefit)	(41)	178	101
Total income tax expense (benefit)	(26)	236	76
Consolidated
Current income tax expense (benefit):
Federal	106	294	0
State	33	46	(28)
Total current expense (benefit)	139	340	(28)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
Federal	119	16	78
Federal	106	294	0
State	(88)	4	60
Total deferred expense (benefit)	31	20	138
Total income tax expense (benefit)	170	360	110
Consolidated \| CERC Corp
Current income tax expense (benefit):
Federal	12	30	0
State	3	28	(25)
Total current expense (benefit)	15	58	(25)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
Federal	95	164	67
Federal	12	30	0
State	(136)	14	34
Total deferred expense (benefit)	(41)	178	101
Total income tax expense (benefit)	(26)	236	76
Discontinued Operations
Current income tax expense (benefit):
Federal	0	0	91
State	0	0	35
Total current expense (benefit)	0	0	126
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
Federal	0	0	127
Federal	0	0	91
State	0	0	(52)
Total deferred expense (benefit)	0	0	75
Total income tax expense (benefit)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 201

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred debt interest	$ 65	$ 51	$ 26
Houston Electric
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred debt interest	16	12	1
CERC Corp
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred debt interest	43	36	22
Interest Expense
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Capitalized interest and AFUDC debt	32	26	18
Interest Expense \| Houston Electric
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Capitalized interest and AFUDC debt	18	14	13
Interest Expense \| CERC Corp
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Capitalized interest and AFUDC debt	6	7	3
Other Income (Expense)
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
AFUDC equity	62	37	28
Other Income (Expense) \| Houston Electric
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
AFUDC equity	32	24	20
Other Income (Expense) \| CERC Corp
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
AFUDC equity	$ 14	$ 5	$ 5

Reportable Segments - Revenues From Major External Customers (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 8,696	$ 9,321	$ 8,352
Houston Electric
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	3,677	3,412	3,134
Affiliates of NRG \| Houston Electric
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,106	1,046	905
Affiliates of Vistra Energy Corp. \| Houston Electric
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 539	$ 489	$ 410

- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

+ References

+ Details

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - HOUSTON ELECTRIC - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 90	$ 74
Accounts receivable	710	889
Accrued unbilled revenue, less allowance for credit losses	516	764
Materials and supplies	573	635
Taxes receivable	94	20
Prepaid expenses and other current assets ($15 and $13 related to VIEs, respectively)	145	171
Total current assets	3,027	4,699
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Property, plant and equipment	40,396	37,728
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	10,543	10,585
Property, plant and equipment, net	29,853	27,143
Other Assets:
Regulatory assets	2,513	2,193
Other non-current assets	162	215
Total other assets	6,835	6,704
Total Assets	39,715	38,546
Current Liabilities:
Current portion of VIE Securitization Bonds long-term debt	178	156
Accounts payable	917	1,352
Taxes accrued	291	298
Interest accrued	236	159
Other	510	452
Total current liabilities	3,864	5,113
Other Liabilities:
Deferred income taxes, net	4,079	3,986
Benefit obligations	572	547
Regulatory liabilities	3,208	3,245
Other	763	774
Total other liabilities	8,625	8,552
Long-term Debt, net:
VIE Securitization Bonds, net	320	161
Other long-term debt, net	17,239	14,675
Total long-term debt, net	17,559	14,836
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 15)
Member’s Equity:
Common stock	6	6
Additional paid-in capital	8,604	8,568
Retained earnings	1,092	709
Total shareholders’ equity	9,667	10,042
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	39,715	38,546
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	90	75
Accounts receivable	21	22
Prepaid expenses and other current assets ($15 and $13 related to VIEs, respectively)	15	13
Other Assets:
Regulatory assets	402	229
Houston Electric
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	76	75
Accounts receivable	295	311
Accrued unbilled revenue, less allowance for credit losses	142	142
Materials and supplies	409	471
Taxes receivable	38	0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets ($15 and $13 related to VIEs, respectively)	48	41
Total current assets	1,259	1,061
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Property, plant and equipment	19,515	17,753
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	4,469	4,292
Property, plant and equipment, net	15,046	13,461
Other Assets:
Regulatory assets	752	778
Other non-current assets	29	39
Total other assets	781	817
Total Assets	17,086	15,339
Current Liabilities:
Current portion of VIE Securitization Bonds long-term debt	161	156
Accounts payable	351	413
Taxes accrued	155	150
Interest accrued	99	83
Other	111	88
Total current liabilities	981	1,645
Other Liabilities:
Deferred income taxes, net	1,406	1,229
Benefit obligations	32	38
Regulatory liabilities	1,025	1,155
Other	107	77
Total other liabilities	2,570	2,499
Long-term Debt, net:
VIE Securitization Bonds, net	0	161
Other long-term debt, net	7,426	6,036
Total long-term debt, net	7,426	6,197
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 15)
Member’s Equity:
Common stock	0	0
Additional paid-in capital	4,745	3,860
Retained earnings	1,364	1,138
Total shareholders’ equity	6,109	4,998
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	17,086	15,339
Houston Electric \| Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	76	75
Accounts receivable	19	22
Prepaid expenses and other current assets ($15 and $13 related to VIEs, respectively)	13	13
Other Assets:
Regulatory assets	74	229
Houston Electric \| Affiliated Entity
Current Assets:
Accounts and notes receivable — affiliated companies	251	21
Current Liabilities:
Accounts and notes payable–affiliated companies	$ 104	$ 755

Revenue Recognition - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	$ (8,612)	$ (9,327)	$ (8,256)
Other	87	(6)	96
Total	8,696	9,321	8,352
Lease income	8	7	7
Consolidation, Eliminations
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	(3)
Electric
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	(4,275)	(4,095)	(3,726)
Other	15	13	37
Total	4,290	4,108	3,763
Electric \| Consolidation, Eliminations
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	0
Natural Gas
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	(4,210)	(4,969)	(4,281)
Other	69	(23)	55
Total	4,276	4,946	4,336
Natural Gas \| Consolidation, Eliminations
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	(3)
Corporate and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	(127)	(263)	(249)
Other	3	4	4
Total	130	267	253
Corporate and Other \| Consolidation, Eliminations
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	0
Houston Electric
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	(3,684)	(3,417)	(3,117)
Other	(7)	(5)	17
Total	3,677	3,412	3,134
CERC Corp
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	(4,083)	(4,816)	(4,148)
Other	66	(16)	52
Total	4,149	4,800	4,200
Lease income	$ 4	$ 3	$ 3

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CHANGES IN EQUITY - HOUSTON ELECTRIC - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in-Capital	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	Houston Electric	Houston Electric Common Stock	Houston Electric Additional Paid-in-Capital	Houston Electric Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)
Balance, beginning of year (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020		551,000,000				1,000
Balance, end of year (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021		629,000,000				1,000
Balance, beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2020		$ 6	$ 6,914	$ (845)		$ 0	$ 2,548	$ 563
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Contribution from parent							0
Cash contribution from parent							130
Other							0
Net income (loss)	$ 1,486			1,486	$ 381			381
Dividend to parent								0
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 9,415	$ 6	8,529	154	3,622	$ 0	2,678	944
Balance, end of year (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2022	629,535,631	630,000,000				1,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Contribution from parent							38
Cash contribution from parent							1,143
Other							1
Net income (loss)	$ 1,057			1,057	510			510
Dividend to parent								(316)
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2022	$ 10,042	$ 6	8,568	709	4,998	$ 0	3,860	1,138
Balance, end of year (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2023	631,225,829	631,000,000				1,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Contribution from parent							0
Cash contribution from parent							885
Other							0
Net income (loss)	$ 917			917	593			593
Dividend to parent								(367)
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2023	$ 9,667	$ 6	$ 8,604	$ 1,092	$ 6,109	$ 0	$ 4,745	$ 1,364

- Definition

The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

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- Definition

Amount of equity (deficit) attributable to parent. Excludes temporary equity and equity attributable to noncontrolling interest.

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+ Details

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CHANGES IN EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Series A Preferred Stock	Cumulative Preferred Stock	Cumulative Preferred Stock Series B and Series C Preferred Stock	Cumulative Preferred Stock Series A Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in-Capital	Additional Paid-in-Capital Series B and Series C Preferred Stock	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Series A Preferred Stock	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Series B Preferred Stock	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Balance, beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020			3,000,000
Balance, beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2020			$ 2,363			$ 6	$ 6,914		$ (845)			$ (90)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Conversion of Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock (in shares)				(2,000,000)
Conversion of Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock				$ (1,573)				$ 1,573
Redemption of Series A Preferred Stock (in shares)					0
Redemption of Series A Preferred Stock					$ 0
Stock issued (in shares)						77,000,000
Stock issued						$ 0	1
Balance, end of year (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021	800,000	800,000	1,000,000
Balance, beginning of year (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020						551,000,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance related to benefit and investment plans (in shares)						1,000,000
Issuances related to benefit and investment plans						$ 0	41
Net income (loss)	$ 1,486								1,486
Common Stock dividends declared (see Note 12)									(404)
Preferred stock dividends declared										$ (49)	$ (34)
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	26											26
Balance, end of year (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021						629,000,000
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 9,415		$ 790			$ 6	8,529		154			(64)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Conversion of Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock (in shares)				0
Conversion of Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock				$ 0				0
Redemption of Series A Preferred Stock (in shares)					0
Redemption of Series A Preferred Stock					$ 0
Stock issued (in shares)						0
Stock issued						$ 0	0
Balance, end of year (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2022	800,000	800,000	1,000,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance related to benefit and investment plans (in shares)						1,000,000
Issuances related to benefit and investment plans						$ 0	39
Net income (loss)	$ 1,057								1,057
Common Stock dividends declared (see Note 12)									(453)
Preferred stock dividends declared										(49)	0
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	$ 33											33
Balance, end of year (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2022	629,535,631					630,000,000
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2022	$ 10,042		$ 790			$ 6	8,568		709			(31)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Conversion of Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock (in shares)				0
Conversion of Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock				$ 0				$ 0
Redemption of Series A Preferred Stock (in shares)					(1,000,000)
Redemption of Series A Preferred Stock					$ (790)
Stock issued (in shares)						0
Stock issued						$ 0	0
Balance, end of year (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2023	0	0	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance related to benefit and investment plans (in shares)						1,000,000
Issuances related to benefit and investment plans						$ 0	36
Net income (loss)	$ 917								917
Common Stock dividends declared (see Note 12)									(492)
Preferred stock dividends declared										$ (42)	$ 0
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	$ (4)											(4)
Balance, end of year (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2023	631,225,829					631,000,000
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2023	$ 9,667		$ 0			$ 6	$ 8,604		$ 1,092			$ (35)

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CHANGES IN EQUITY - CERC - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in-Capital	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	CERC Corp	CERC Corp Common Stock	CERC Corp Additional Paid-in-Capital	CERC Corp Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	CERC Corp Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Balance, beginning of year (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020		551,000,000					1,000
Balance, end of year (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021		629,000,000					1,000
Balance, beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2020		$ 6	$ 6,914	$ (845)	$ (90)		$ 0	$ 3,966	$ 644	$ 10
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Contribution from parent								0
Cash contribution from parent								140
Contribution to parent for sale of Arkansas and Oklahoma Natural Gas businesses								0
Net income (loss)	$ 1,486			1,486		$ 390			390
Dividend to parent									(17)
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2021	9,415	$ 6	8,529	154	(64)	5,133	$ 0	4,106	1,017	10
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	$ 26				26	0				0
Balance, end of year (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2022	629,535,631	630,000,000					1,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Contribution from parent								54
Cash contribution from parent								289
Contribution to parent for sale of Arkansas and Oklahoma Natural Gas businesses								(720)
Net income (loss)	$ 1,057			1,057		725			725
Dividend to parent									(124)
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2022	10,042	$ 6	8,568	709	(31)	5,363	$ 0	3,729	1,618	16
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	$ 33				33	6				6
Balance, end of year (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2023	631,225,829	631,000,000					1,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Contribution from parent								0
Cash contribution from parent								500
Contribution to parent for sale of Arkansas and Oklahoma Natural Gas businesses								0
Net income (loss)	$ 917			917		512			512
Dividend to parent									(496)
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2023	9,667	$ 6	$ 8,604	$ 1,092	(35)	5,879	$ 0	$ 4,229	$ 1,634	16
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	$ (4)				$ (4)	$ 0				$ 0

- Definition

The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

+ References

+ Details

- Definition

Amount of equity (deficit) attributable to parent. Excludes temporary equity and equity attributable to noncontrolling interest.

+ References

+ Details

Derivative Instruments - Interest Rate Hedging and Weather Hedges (Details) - Interest rate derivatives - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument, Economic Hedge
Economic hedge	$ 0	$ 84
Cash Flow Hedging
Economic hedge	200	0
Cash Flow Hedging \| Houston Electric
Economic hedge	$ 100	$ 0

- Definition

Nominal or face amount used to calculate payments on the derivative liability.

+ References + Details

Reportable Segments - Financial Data (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from External Customers	$ 8,696	$ 9,321	$ 8,352
Intersegment Revenues	0	0
Depreciation and Amortization	1,401	1,288	1,316
Interest income	9	3
Interest Expense	(701)	(524)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	170	360	110
Net income (loss)	917	1,057	1,486
Income (loss) from continuing operations	917	1,057
Total Assets	39,715	38,546
Expenditures for Long-Lived Assets	4,370	4,418	3,399
Interest income from securitization bonds	4	1	1
Total Regulatory Assets	2,674	3,578
Consolidated
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from External Customers			8,352
Intersegment Revenues			0
Depreciation and Amortization			1,316
Interest income			3
Interest Expense			(529)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	170	360	110
Income (loss) from continuing operations			668
Total Assets	39,715	38,546
Expenditures for Long-Lived Assets	4,370	4,415	3,228
Discontinued Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	0	0	201
Net income from discontinued operations	0	0	818
Total Assets	0	0
Expenditures for Long-Lived Assets	0	3	171
Electric
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from External Customers	4,290	4,108	3,763
Natural Gas
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from External Customers	4,276	4,946	4,336
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from External Customers	130	267	253
Operating Segments \| Electric
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from External Customers	4,290	4,108	3,763
Intersegment Revenues	0	0	0
Depreciation and Amortization	872	793	775
Interest income	19	4	0
Interest Expense	(303)	(235)	(226)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	189	147	95
Net income (loss)	654	603	475
Total Assets	21,089	19,024
Expenditures for Long-Lived Assets	2,660	2,611	2,008
Operating Segments \| Natural Gas
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from External Customers	4,276	4,946	4,336
Intersegment Revenues	3	0	0
Depreciation and Amortization	513	466	527
Interest income	10	2	1
Interest Expense	(188)	(137)	(141)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(25)	243	80
Net income (loss)	533	492	403
Total Assets	17,429	18,043
Expenditures for Long-Lived Assets	1,697	1,697	1,178
Operating Segments \| Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from External Customers	130	267	253
Intersegment Revenues	0	0	0
Depreciation and Amortization	16	29	14
Interest income	34	59	118
Interest Expense	(264)	(214)	(278)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	6	(30)	(65)
Net income (loss)	(270)	(38)	(210)
Total Assets	1,197	1,479
Expenditures for Long-Lived Assets	13	107	42
Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from External Customers	0	0	0
Intersegment Revenues	(3)	0	0
Depreciation and Amortization	0	0	0
Interest income	(54)	(62)	(116)
Interest Expense	54	62	116
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	0	0	$ 0
Benefit obligations \| Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	$ 385	$ 405

Related Party Transactions (Houston Electric and CERC) - Schedule of Money Pool Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Houston Electric \| Investments
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate	5.59%	4.75%
CERC Corp \| Investments
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate	5.59%	4.75%
Accounts and notes receivable (payable) - affiliate companies \| Houston Electric
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Money pool investments (borrowings)	$ 238	$ (642)
Accounts and notes receivable (payable) - affiliate companies \| CERC Corp
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Money pool investments (borrowings)	$ 1	$ 0

Commitments and Contingencies - Purchase Obligations (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)
Natural Gas Supply
Purchase Obligations
2024	$ 684
2025	589
2026	502
2027	425
2028	380
2029 and beyond	1,707
Natural Gas Supply \| CERC Corp
Purchase Obligations
2024	679
2025	585
2026	498
2027	422
2028	377
2029 and beyond	1,684
Electric Supply
Purchase Obligations
2024	145
2025	478
2026	342
2027	105
2028	68
2029 and beyond	737
Other
Purchase Obligations
2024	164
2025	45
2026	46
2027	4
2028	0
2029 and beyond	$ 328
Other \| Minimum \| Capital Addition Purchase Commitments
Purchase Obligations
Purchase obligation term	15 years
Other \| Maximum \| Capital Addition Purchase Commitments
Purchase Obligations
Purchase obligation term	25 years

Derivative Instruments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Notional Amounts of Outstanding Derivative Positions

The table below summarizes CenterPoint Energy’s and Houston Electric’s outstanding interest rate hedging activity:


	December 31, 2023		December 31, 2022
Hedging Classification	Notional Principal
	(in millions)
CenterPoint Energy:
Economic hedge (1)	$	—		$	84
Cash flow hedge (2) (3)	200			—
Houston Electric:
Cash flow hedge (3)	100			—

(1)Relates to interest rate derivative instruments at SIGECO that terminated on May 1, 2023.

(2)Relates to interest rate derivative instruments at CenterPoint Energy with a termination date of December 31, 2029. The interest rate swap agreements were designated as cash flow hedges of forecasted transactions. CenterPoint Energy records all changes in the fair value of cash flow hedges in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) until the underlying hedged transaction occurs, when it reclassifies that amount into earnings.

(3)Relates to interest rate derivative instruments at Houston Electric with a termination date of June 28, 2024. The interest rate treasury lock agreements were designated as cash flow hedges of forecasted transactions. Houston Electric records

all changes in the fair value of cash flow hedges to a regulatory asset or liability, which is amortized over the life of the associated debt being hedged.

Fair Value of Derivative Instruments

The tables below provide a balance sheet overview of CenterPoint Energy’s and CERC’s derivative assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.


		December 31, 2023				December 31, 2022
	Balance Sheet Location	Derivative Assets Fair Value		Derivative Liabilities Fair Value		Derivative Assets Fair Value		Derivative Liabilities Fair Value
CenterPoint Energy:		(in millions)






Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Natural gas derivatives (1)	Current Assets: Non-trading derivative assets	$	—	$	—	$	9	$	—
Interest rate derivatives	Current Assets: Non-trading derivative assets	—		—		1		—
Natural gas derivatives (1)	Other Assets: Non-trading derivative assets	—		—		2		—
Natural gas derivatives (1)	Current Liabilities: Non-trading derivative liabilities	—		9		—		—

Natural gas derivatives (1)	Other Liabilities: Non-trading derivative liabilities	—		3		—		—

Indexed debt securities derivative (2)	Current Liabilities	—		605		—		578
	Total	$	—	$	617	$	12	$	578

(1)Natural gas contracts are subject to master netting arrangements. This netting applies to all undisputed amounts due or past due. However, the mark-to-market fair value of each natural gas contract is in a liability or asset position with no offsetting amount as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

(2)Derivative component of the ZENS obligation that represents the ZENS holder’s option to receive the appreciated value of the reference shares at maturity and other payments to which they may be entitled. See Note 11 for further information.


		December 31, 2023				December 31, 2022
	Balance Sheet Location	Derivative Assets Fair Value		Derivative Liabilities Fair Value		Derivative Assets Fair Value		Derivative Liabilities Fair Value




CERC:		(in millions)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Natural gas derivatives (1)	Current Assets: Non-trading derivative assets	$	—	$	—	$	7	$	—
Natural gas derivatives (1)	Other Assets: Non-trading derivative assets	—		—		2		—
Natural gas derivatives (1)	Current Liabilities: Non-trading derivative liabilities	—		8		—		—

Natural gas derivatives (1)	Other Liabilities: Non-trading derivative liabilities	—		3		—		—



Total		$	—	$	11	$	9	$	—

Income Statement Impact of Derivative Activity

The table below provides the related income statement impacts of derivative activity for the years ending December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.


		Year Ended December 31,
	Income Statement Location	2023		2022		2021
CenterPoint Energy:		(in millions)
Effects of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Indexed debt securities derivative (1)	Gain (loss) on indexed debt securities	$	(27)	$	325	$	50

Total CenterPoint Energy		$	(27)	$	325	$	50

(1)The indexed debt securities derivative is recorded at fair value and changes in the fair value are recorded in CenterPoint Energy’s Statements of Consolidated Income.

Certain of CenterPoint Energy’s and CERC’s derivative instruments contain provisions that require CenterPoint Energy and CERC to maintain an investment grade credit rating on their respective long-term unsecured unsubordinated debt from S&P and Moody’s. If CenterPoint Energy’s or CERC’s debt were to fall below investment grade, it would be in violation of these provisions, and the counterparties to the derivative instruments could request immediate payment or additional collateral.


	December 31, 2023				December 31, 2022
	CenterPoint Energy		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		CERC
	(in millions)
Aggregate fair value of derivatives containing material adverse change provisions in a net liability position	$	9	$	8	$	—	$	—
Fair value of collateral already posted	—		—		—		—
Additional collateral required to be posted if credit risk contingent features triggered	9		8		—		—

Earnings Per Share (CenterPoint Energy)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share (CenterPoint Energy)

Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders from continuing operations by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Participating securities are excluded from weighted average number of common shares outstanding in the computation of basic earnings per common share. Diluted earnings per common share is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders from continuing operations by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, including all potentially dilutive common shares, if the effect of such common shares is dilutive.

Diluted earnings per common share reflects the dilutive effect of potential common shares from share-based awards and convertible preferred shares. The dilutive effect of the restricted stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock is computed using the if-converted method, which assumes conversion of the restricted stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock at the beginning of the period, giving income recognition for the add-back of the preferred share dividends, amortization of beneficial conversion feature, and undistributed earnings allocated to preferred shareholders. The dilutive effect of restricted stock is computed using the treasury stock method, as applicable, which includes the incremental shares that would be hypothetically vested in excess of the number of shares assumed to be hypothetically repurchased with the assumed proceeds.

Diluted earnings per common share will also reflect the dilutive effect of potential common shares from the conversion of the Convertible Notes. Convertible debt in which the principal amount must be settled in cash is excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per common share. There would be no interest expense adjustment to the numerator for the cash-settled portion of the Convertible Notes because that portion will always be settled in cash. The conversion spread value in shares will be included in diluted earnings per common share using the if-converted method if the convertible debt is in the money. The denominator of diluted earnings per common share is determined by dividing the conversion spread value of the share-settled portion of the Convertible Notes as of the reporting date by the average share price over the reporting period. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the convertible debt was not in the money; therefore, no incremental shares were assumed converted or included in the diluted earnings per common share calculation. For further details on the Convertible Notes, see Note 13.

The Series C Preferred Stock issued in May 2020 were considered participating securities since these shares participated in dividends on Common Stock on a pari passu, pro rata, as-converted basis. As a result, beginning June 30, 2020, earnings per share on Common Stock was computed using the two-class method required for participating securities during the periods the Series C Preferred Stock was outstanding. As of May 7, 2021, all of the remaining outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock were converted into shares of Common Stock and earnings per share on Common Stock and the two-class method was no longer applicable beginning June 30, 2021.

The following table reconciles numerators and denominators of CenterPoint Energy’s basic and diluted earnings per common share. Basic earnings per common share is determined by dividing Income available to common shareholders - basic by the Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic for the applicable period. Diluted earnings per common share is determined by the inclusion of potentially dilutive common stock equivalent shares that may occur if securities to issue Common Stock were exercised or converted into Common Stock.


	For the Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
	(in millions, except per share and share amounts)
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$	917	$	1,057	$	668
Less: Preferred stock dividend requirement (Note 12)	50		49		95


Income available to common shareholders from continuing operations - basic and diluted	867		1,008		573
Income available to common shareholders from discontinued operations - basic and diluted	—		—		818
Income available to common shareholders - basic and diluted	$	867	$	1,008	$	1,391

Denominator:
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic	630,947,000		629,415,000		592,933,000
Plus: Incremental shares from assumed conversions:
Restricted stock	2,232,000		2,931,000		5,181,000

Series C Preferred Stock (1)	—		—		11,824,000
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted	633,179,000		632,346,000		609,938,000

Anti-dilutive Incremental Shares Excluded from Denominator for Diluted Earnings Computation:

Series B Preferred Stock (2)	—		—		23,906,000


Earnings per common share:
Basic earnings per common share - continuing operations	$	1.37	$	1.60	$	0.97
Basic earnings per common share - discontinued operations	—		—		1.38
Basic Earnings Per Common Share	$	1.37	$	1.60	$	2.35
Diluted earnings per common share - continuing operations	$	1.37	$	1.59	$	0.94
Diluted earnings per common share - discontinued operations	—		—		1.34
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share	$	1.37	$	1.59	$	2.28

(1)As of December 31, 2021, all of the outstanding Series C Preferred Stock has been converted into Common Stock. For further information, see Note 12.

(2)As of December 31, 2021, all of the outstanding Series B Preferred Stock has been converted into Common Stock. For further information, see Note 12.

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow and Balance Sheet Information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]

Schedule of Cash Flow, Supplemental Disclosures

The tables below provide supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:


	2023						2022						2021
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Cash Payments/Receipts:
Interest, net of capitalized interest (under further review)	$	664	$	287	$	175	$	480	$	223	$	104	$	489	$	208	$	130
Income tax payments (refunds), net (1)	215		12		115		421		142		37		(46)		20		(7)
Non-cash transactions:
Accounts payable related to capital expenditures	246		166		74		335		168		139		370		261		128
Fair value of Energy Transfer Common Units received for Enable Merger	—		—		—		—		—		—		1,672		—		—
Fair value of Energy Transfer Series G Preferred Units received for Enable Merger	—		—		—		—		—		—		385		—		—
ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities (2)	3		1		—		7		6		—		2		—		—

(2) Excludes ROU assets obtained through prepayment of the lease liabilities. See Note 20.


	December 31, 2023						December 31, 2022
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Cash and cash equivalents (1)	$	90	$	76	$	1	$	74	$	75	$	—
Restricted cash included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets	19		13		—		17		13		—

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows	$	109	$	89	$	1	$	91	$	88	$	—

Supplemental Disclosure of Balance Sheet Information

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Statement of Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	$ 917	$ 1,057	$ 1,486
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Adjustment to pension and other postemployment plans	(5)	32	21
Net deferred gain from cash flow hedges	1	0	0
Reclassification of net deferred losses from cash flow hedges, tax	0	1	2
Other comprehensive income (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates (net of tax of $-0-, $-0-, and $-0-, respectively)	0	0	3
Total	(4)	33	26
Comprehensive income	913	1,090	1,512
Income allocated to preferred shareholders	50	49	95
Comprehensive income available to common shareholders	$ 863	$ 1,041	$ 1,417

Equity Securities and Indexed Debt Securities (ZENS) (CenterPoint Energy) - Summarized Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Debt and Equity Securities, FV-NI [Line Items]
Beginning balance	$ 510
Beginning balance	7
Beginning balance	578
Gain (loss) on indexed debt securities	27	$ (325)	$ (50)
Gain (loss) on ZENS-related securities	31	(227)	(172)
Ending balance	541	510
Ending balance	5	7
Ending balance	605	578
ZENS-Related Securities
Debt and Equity Securities, FV-NI [Line Items]
Beginning balance	507	820	871
Accretion of debt component of ZENS	0	0	0
2% interest paid	0	0	0
Redemption of Series A Preferred Stock	0	0	0
Gain (loss) on indexed debt securities	0	0	0
Gain (loss) on ZENS-related securities	31	(313)	(51)
Ending balance	538	507	820
Debt Component Of ZENS
Debt and Equity Securities, FV-NI [Line Items]
Beginning balance	7	10	15
Accretion of debt component of ZENS	17	17	17
2% interest paid	(17)	(17)	(17)
Redemption of Series A Preferred Stock	(2)	(3)	(5)
Gain (loss) on indexed debt securities	0	0	0
Gain (loss) on ZENS-related securities	0	0	0
Ending balance	5	7	10
Derivative Component Of ZENS
Debt and Equity Securities, FV-NI [Line Items]
Beginning balance	578	903	953
Accretion of debt component of ZENS	0	0	0
2% interest paid	0	0	0
Redemption of Series A Preferred Stock	0	0	0
Gain (loss) on indexed debt securities	27	(325)	(50)
Gain (loss) on ZENS-related securities	0	0	0
Ending balance	$ 605	$ 578	$ 903

Reportable Segments - Revenues by Products and Services (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	$ 8,696	$ 9,321	$ 8,352
CenterPoint Energy
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	8,696	9,321	8,352
CenterPoint Energy \| Electric delivery
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	3,701	3,438	3,158
CenterPoint Energy \| Retail electric sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	569	630	559
CenterPoint Energy \| Wholesale electric sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	20	40	46
CenterPoint Energy \| Retail gas sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	4,078	4,759	4,157
CenterPoint Energy \| Gas transportation
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	11	12	12
CenterPoint Energy \| Energy products and services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	317	442	420
Houston Electric
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	3,677	3,412	3,134
Houston Electric \| Electric delivery
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	3,677	3,412	3,134
Houston Electric \| Retail electric sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	0	0	0
Houston Electric \| Wholesale electric sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	0	0	0
Houston Electric \| Retail gas sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	0	0	0
Houston Electric \| Gas transportation
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	0	0	0
Houston Electric \| Energy products and services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	0	0	0
CERC Corp
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	4,149	4,800	4,200
CERC Corp \| Electric delivery
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	0	0	0
CERC Corp \| Retail electric sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	0	0	0
CERC Corp \| Wholesale electric sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	0	0	0
CERC Corp \| Retail gas sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	3,951	4,613	4,021
CERC Corp \| Gas transportation
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	11	12	12
CERC Corp \| Energy products and services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	$ 187	$ 175	$ 167

Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt - Schedule of Maturities (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)
Houston Electric
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
2024	$ 161
2025	0
2026	300
2027	300
2028	500
CERC Corp
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
2024	0
2025	10
2026	60
2027	510
2028	1,230
Long term Debt Excluding ZENS
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
2024	1,050
2025	64
2026	2,274
2027	1,860
2028	2,063
Securitization Bonds
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
2024	178
2025	13
2026	14
2027	14
2028	$ 15

Derivative Instruments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Derivative Instruments

(a) Non-Trading Activities

Commodity Derivative Instruments (CenterPoint Energy and CERC). CenterPoint Energy and CERC, through the Indiana Utilities they respectively own, enter into certain derivative instruments, including physical forward contracts, to mitigate the effects of commodity price movements. Outstanding derivative instruments designated as economic hedges at the Indiana Utilities hedge long-term variable rate natural gas purchases. The Indiana Utilities have authority to refund and recover mark-to-market gains and losses associated with hedging natural gas purchases, and thus the gains and losses on derivatives are deferred in a regulatory liability or asset. All other financial instruments do not qualify or are not designated as cash flow or fair value hedges. As of both December 31, 2023 and 2022, the notional volumes of both CenterPoint Energy’s and CERC’s natural gas derivatives were 27,421 MMBtu per day.

Interest Rate Risk Derivative Instruments. From time to time, the Registrants may enter into interest rate derivatives that are designated as economic or cash flow hedges. The objective of these hedges is to offset risk associated with interest rates borne by the Registrants in connection with an anticipated future fixed rate debt offering or other exposure to variable rate debt. Houston Electric and the Indiana Utilities have authority to refund and recover mark-to-market gains and losses associated with hedging financing activity, and thus the gains and losses on derivatives are deferred in a regulatory liability or asset. For the impacts of cash flow hedges to Accumulated other comprehensive income, see Note 12.

The table below summarizes CenterPoint Energy’s and Houston Electric’s outstanding interest rate hedging activity:


	December 31, 2023		December 31, 2022
Hedging Classification	Notional Principal
	(in millions)
CenterPoint Energy:
Economic hedge (1)	$	—		$	84
Cash flow hedge (2) (3)	200			—
Houston Electric:
Cash flow hedge (3)	100			—

(1)Relates to interest rate derivative instruments at SIGECO that terminated on May 1, 2023.

all changes in the fair value of cash flow hedges to a regulatory asset or liability, which is amortized over the life of the associated debt being hedged.

(b) Derivative Fair Values and Income Statement Impacts

CenterPoint Energy’s outstanding interest rate derivatives designated as cash flow hedges described above were not material as of December 31, 2023 and are included in current non-trading derivative liabilities on CenterPoint Energy’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. Houston Electric’s outstanding interest rate derivatives designated as cash flow hedges described above were not material as of December 31, 2023 and are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets on Houston Electric’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The tables below provide a balance sheet overview of CenterPoint Energy’s and CERC’s derivative assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.


		December 31, 2023				December 31, 2022
	Balance Sheet Location	Derivative Assets Fair Value		Derivative Liabilities Fair Value		Derivative Assets Fair Value		Derivative Liabilities Fair Value
CenterPoint Energy:		(in millions)






Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Natural gas derivatives (1)	Current Assets: Non-trading derivative assets	$	—	$	—	$	9	$	—
Interest rate derivatives	Current Assets: Non-trading derivative assets	—		—		1		—
Natural gas derivatives (1)	Other Assets: Non-trading derivative assets	—		—		2		—
Natural gas derivatives (1)	Current Liabilities: Non-trading derivative liabilities	—		9		—		—

Natural gas derivatives (1)	Other Liabilities: Non-trading derivative liabilities	—		3		—		—

Indexed debt securities derivative (2)	Current Liabilities	—		605		—		578
	Total	$	—	$	617	$	12	$	578


		December 31, 2023				December 31, 2022
	Balance Sheet Location	Derivative Assets Fair Value		Derivative Liabilities Fair Value		Derivative Assets Fair Value		Derivative Liabilities Fair Value




CERC:		(in millions)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Natural gas derivatives (1)	Current Assets: Non-trading derivative assets	$	—	$	—	$	7	$	—
Natural gas derivatives (1)	Other Assets: Non-trading derivative assets	—		—		2		—
Natural gas derivatives (1)	Current Liabilities: Non-trading derivative liabilities	—		8		—		—

Natural gas derivatives (1)	Other Liabilities: Non-trading derivative liabilities	—		3		—		—



Total		$	—	$	11	$	9	$	—

The table below provides the related income statement impacts of derivative activity for the years ending December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.


		Year Ended December 31,
	Income Statement Location	2023		2022		2021
CenterPoint Energy:		(in millions)
Effects of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Indexed debt securities derivative (1)	Gain (loss) on indexed debt securities	$	(27)	$	325	$	50

Total CenterPoint Energy		$	(27)	$	325	$	50

(1)The indexed debt securities derivative is recorded at fair value and changes in the fair value are recorded in CenterPoint Energy’s Statements of Consolidated Income.


	December 31, 2023				December 31, 2022
	CenterPoint Energy		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		CERC
	(in millions)
Aggregate fair value of derivatives containing material adverse change provisions in a net liability position	$	9	$	8	$	—	$	—
Fair value of collateral already posted	—		—		—		—
Additional collateral required to be posted if credit risk contingent features triggered	9		8		—		—

Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt - Debt Transactions (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) numberOfTranche
CERC Corp
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal Amount	$ 2,000
General Mortgage Bonds \| Houston Electric
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal Amount	1,400
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt and capital securities, net	890
Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of discounts and issuance expenses and fees	$ 250
Senior Notes \| CERC Corp
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	0.70%
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of discounts and issuance expenses and fees	$ 1,200
First Mortgage Bonds \| SIGECO
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, number of tranche \| numberOfTranche	3
Securitization Bonds \| SIGECO
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of discounts and issuance expenses and fees	$ 337
Senior Notes, Term Loan, Securitization Bonds, FMBs and GMBs
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal Amount	6,041
General Mortgage Bonds 4.95% Due 2033 \| General Mortgage Bonds \| Houston Electric
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal Amount	$ 600
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	4.95%
General Mortgage Bonds 5.30% Due 2053 \| General Mortgage Bonds \| Houston Electric
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal Amount	$ 300
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	5.30%
General Mortgage Bonds 5.20% Due 2028 \| General Mortgage Bonds \| Houston Electric
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal Amount	$ 500
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	5.20%
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt and capital securities, net	$ 496
CERC Term Loan 0.85% Due 2024 \| Term Loan \| CERC Corp
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal Amount	500
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of discounts and issuance expenses and fees	$ 500
CERC Term Loan 0.85% Due 2024 \| Term Loan \| CERC Corp \| SOFR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread (as a percent)	0.85%
Adjustment to basis spread (as a percent)	0.10%
CERC Senior Notes 5.25% Due 2028 \| Senior Notes \| CERC Corp
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal Amount	$ 600
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	5.25%
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of discounts and issuance expenses and fees	$ 308
Interest payable	3
CERC Senior Notes 5.40% Due 2033 \| Senior Notes \| CERC Corp
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal Amount	$ 600
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	5.40%
CERC Senior Notes, 5.25% Due May 2028 \| Senior Notes \| CERC Corp
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal Amount	$ 300
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	5.25%
CNP First Mortgage Bonds 4.98% Due 2028 \| First Mortgage Bonds \| SIGECO
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal Amount	$ 100
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	4.98%
CNP First Mortgage Bonds 5.04% Due 2033 \| First Mortgage Bonds \| SIGECO
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal Amount	$ 80
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	5.04%
CNP Term Loan 1.50% Due 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal Amount	$ 250
CNP Term Loan 1.50% Due 2023 \| Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal Amount	$ 250
CNP Term Loan 1.50% Due 2023 \| Term Loan \| SOFR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	1.50%
Basis spread (as a percent)	1.50%
Adjustment to basis spread (as a percent)	0.10%
CNP Securitization Bonds \| Securitization Bonds \| SIGECO
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal Amount	$ 341
CNP Securitization Bonds \| Securitization Bonds \| SIGECO \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	5.026%
CNP Securitization Bonds \| Securitization Bonds \| SIGECO \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	5.172%
CNP Convertible Notes 4.25% Due 2026 \| Convertible Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal Amount	$ 1,000
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	4.25%
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of discounts and issuance expenses and fees	$ 985
CNP Senior Notes 5.25% Due 2026 \| Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal Amount	$ 400
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	5.25%
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of discounts and issuance expenses and fees	$ 397
CNP First Mortgage Bonds 5.75% to 6% Due 2034 \| First Mortgage Bonds \| SIGECO
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal Amount	470
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt and capital securities, net	$ 467
CNP First Mortgage Bonds 5.75% to 6% Due 2034 \| First Mortgage Bonds \| SIGECO \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	5.75%
CNP First Mortgage Bonds 5.75% to 6% Due 2034 \| First Mortgage Bonds \| SIGECO \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	6.00%
Various New or Existing Projects \| General Mortgage Bonds \| Houston Electric
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds form issuance of debt, amount to be disbursed or allocated to finance or refinance projects	$ 296
Term Loan Due February 2024 \| Term Loan \| CERC Corp
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal Amount	500
CNP First Mortgage Bonds, 4.98% Due 2028 And 5.04% Due 2033 \| First Mortgage Bonds \| SIGECO
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of discounts and issuance expenses and fees	179
CNP First Mortgage Bonds 5.75% Due 2029 \| First Mortgage Bonds \| SIGECO
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal Amount	$ 180
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	5.75%
CNP First Mortgage Bonds 5.91% Due 2030 \| First Mortgage Bonds \| SIGECO
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal Amount	$ 105
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	5.91%
CNP First Mortgage Bonds 6.00% Due 2034 \| First Mortgage Bonds \| SIGECO
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal Amount	$ 185
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	6.00%
General Company Purposes, Including Houstons Electric Borrowings Under the Centerpoint Energy Money Pool \| General Mortgage Bonds \| Houston Electric
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds form issuance of debt, amount to be disbursed or allocated to finance or refinance projects	$ 593

Reportable Segments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Reportable Segments

The Registrants’ determination of reportable segments considers the strategic operating units under which its CODM manages sales, allocates resources and assesses performance of various products and services to wholesale or retail customers in differing regulatory environments. Each Registrant’s CODM views net income as the measure of profit or loss for the reportable segments.

As of December 31, 2023, reportable segments by Registrant are as follows:

CenterPoint Energy

•CenterPoint Energy’s Electric reportable segment consisted of electric transmission and distribution services in the Texas gulf coast area in the ERCOT region and electric transmission and distribution services primarily to southwestern Indiana and includes power generation and wholesale power operations in the MISO region.

•CenterPoint Energy’s Natural Gas reportable segment consists of (i) intrastate natural gas sales to, and natural gas transportation and distribution for residential, commercial, industrial and institutional customers in Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio and Texas; and (ii) permanent pipeline connections through interconnects with various interstate and intrastate pipeline companies through CEIP.

•CenterPoint Energy’s Corporate and Other category consists of energy performance contracting and sustainable infrastructure services by Energy Systems Group through June 30, 2023, the date of the sale of Energy Systems Group, and corporate support operations that support all of CenterPoint Energy’s business operations. CenterPoint Energy’s Corporate and Other also includes office buildings and other real estate used for business operations.

Houston Electric

•Houston Electric’s single reportable segment consisted of electric transmission services to transmission service customers in the ERCOT region and distribution service to REPs in the Texas gulf coast area that includes the city of Houston.

CERC

•CERC’s single reportable segment following the Restructuring consisted of (i) intrastate natural gas sales to, and natural gas transportation and distribution for residential, commercial, industrial and institutional customers in Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio and Texas; and (ii) permanent pipeline connections through interconnects with various interstate and intrastate pipeline companies through CEIP.

Expenditures for long-lived assets include property, plant and equipment. Intersegment sales are eliminated in consolidation, except as described in Note 4.

Financial data for reportable segments is as follows, including Discontinued Operations for reconciliation purposes:

CenterPoint Energy


	Revenues from External Customers		Intersegment Revenues		Depreciation and Amortization		Interest Income (1)		Interest Expense		Income Tax Expense (Benefit)		Net Income (Loss)
	(in millions)
For the year ended December 31, 2023:
Electric	$	4,290	$	—	$	872	$	19	$	(303)	$	189	$	654
Natural Gas	4,276		3		513		10		(188)		(25)		533

Corporate and Other	130		—		16		34		(264)		6		(270)
Eliminations	—		(3)		—		(54)		54		—		—
Consolidated	$	8,696	$	—	$	1,401	$	9	$	(701)	$	170	917



For the year ended December 31, 2022:
Electric	$	4,108	$	—	$	793	$	4	$	(235)	$	147	$	603
Natural Gas	4,946		—		466		2		(137)		243		492

Corporate and Other	267		—		29		59		(214)		(30)		(38)
Eliminations	—		—		—		(62)		62		—		—
Consolidated	$	9,321	$	—	$	1,288	$	3	$	(524)	$	360	1,057


	Revenues from External Customers		Intersegment Revenues		Depreciation and Amortization		Interest Income (1)		Interest Expense		Income Tax Expense (Benefit)		Net Income (Loss)
	(in millions)
For the year ended December 31, 2021:
Electric	$	3,763	$	—	$	775	$	—	$	(226)	$	95	$	475

Natural Gas	4,336		—		527		1		(141)		80		403

Corporate and Other	253		—		14		118		(278)		(65)		(210)
Eliminations	—		—		—		(116)		116		—		—
Continuing Operations	$	8,352	$	—	$	1,316	$	3	$	(529)	$	110	668
Discontinued Operations, net													818
Consolidated													$	1,486

(1) Interest income from Securitization Bonds of $4 million, less than $1 million, and $1 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, is included in Other income, net on both CenterPoint Energy’s and Houston Electric’s respective Statements of Consolidated Income.


	Total Assets				Expenditures for Long-lived Assets
	December 31,				December 31,
	2023		2022		2023		2022		2021
	(in millions)
Electric	$	21,089	$	19,024	$	2,660	$	2,611	$	2,008
Natural Gas	17,429		18,043		1,697		1,697		1,178

Corporate and Other, net of eliminations (1)	1,197		1,479		13		107		42
Continuing Operations	39,715		38,546		4,370		4,415		3,228
Divestitures/Discontinued Operations	—		—		—		3		171
Consolidated	$	39,715	$	38,546	$	4,370	$	4,418	$	3,399

(1)Total assets included pension and other postemployment-related regulatory assets of $385 million and $405 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Divestitures and Discontinued Operations (CenterPoint Energy and CERC)

For further information regarding CenterPoint Energy’s and CERC’s divestitures and discontinued operations, see Note 4.

Houston Electric

Houston Electric consists of a single reportable segment; therefore, a tabular reportable segment presentation has not been

included.

CERC

CERC consists of a single reportable segment; therefore, a tabular reportable segment presentation has not been included.

Major Customers (Houston Electric)

Houston Electric’s revenues from major external customers are as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
	(in millions)
Affiliates of NRG	$	1,106	$	1,046	$	905
Affiliates of Vistra Energy Corp.	539		489		410

Revenues by Products and Services


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023						2022						2021
Revenues by Products and Services:	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Electric delivery	$	3,701	$	3,677	$	—	$	3,438	$	3,412	$	—	$	3,158	$	3,134	$	—
Retail electric sales	569		—		—		630		—		—		559		—		—
Wholesale electric sales	20		—		—		40		—		—		46		—		—
Retail gas sales	4,078		—		3,951		4,759		—		4,613		4,157		—		4,021
Gas transportation	11		—		11		12		—		12		12		—		12
Energy products and services	317		—		187		442		—		175		420		—		167
Total	$	8,696	$	3,677	$	4,149	$	9,321	$	3,412	$	4,800	$	8,352	$	3,134	$	4,200

- Definition

The entire disclosure for reporting segments including data and tables. Reportable segments include those that meet any of the following quantitative thresholds a) it's reported revenue, including sales to external customers and intersegment sales or transfers is 10 percent or more of the combined revenue, internal and external, of all operating segments b) the absolute amount of its reported profit or loss is 10 percent or more of the greater, in absolute amount of 1) the combined reported profit of all operating segments that did not report a loss or 2) the combined reported loss of all operating segments that did report a loss c) its assets are 10 percent or more of the combined assets of all operating segments.

+ References

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+ Details

Equity Securities and Indexed Debt Securities (ZENS) (CenterPoint Energy) - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Debt and Equity Securities, FV-NI [Line Items]
Unrealized gains (loss) on equity securities	$ 31,000,000	$ (313,000,000)	$ (52,000,000)
Target annual yield on reference shares	2.309%
Investment in equity securities	$ 541,000,000	510,000,000
ZENS-Related Securities
Debt and Equity Securities, FV-NI [Line Items]
Investment in equity securities	538,000,000	$ 507,000,000	$ 820,000,000	$ 871,000,000
ZENS debt, due 2029
Debt and Equity Securities, FV-NI [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued	1,000,000,000
Long-term debt, gross	$ 828,000,000
Subordinated note cash exchangeable percentage of fair value	95.00%
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	2.00%
Contingent principal amount	$ 18,000,000
The cash exchange amount from referenced shares per $1,000 face amount of individual notes	618
Face amount of each indexed debt security notes issued by CenterPoint Energy in September 1999	$ 1,000

Goodwill and Other Intangibles (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2023	Jun. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill			$ 4,160,000,000		$ 4,294,000,000
Goodwill, impairment loss	$ 0	$ 0
Disposal Group, Held-for-sale or Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations \| Energy Systems Group
Goodwill [Line Items]
Held for Sale				$ 134,000,000
Loss on sale			13,000,000
CERC Corp
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill			$ 1,583,000,000		$ 1,583,000,000

- Definition

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References + Details

- 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

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Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482573/350-20-50-1

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (e)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482573/350-20-50-1

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (f)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482573/350-20-50-1

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (g)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482573/350-20-50-1

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (h)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482573/350-20-50-1

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482573/350-20-50-1A

Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482573/350-20-50-2

+ Details

Earnings Per Share (CenterPoint Energy) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Numerator:
Income Before Income Taxes	$ 917	$ 1,057	$ 668
Less: Preferred stock dividend requirement	50	49	95
Income available to common shareholders from continuing operations - basic	867	1,008	573
Income available to common shareholders from continuing operations - diluted	867	1,008	573
Income available to common shareholders from discontinued operations - basic	0	0	818
Income available to common shareholders from discontinued operations - diluted	0	0	818
Income available to common shareholders - basic	867	1,008	1,391
Income available to common shareholders - diluted	$ 867	$ 1,008	$ 1,391
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	630,947	629,415	592,933
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	633,179	632,346	609,938
Earnings per common share:
Basic earnings per common share - continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.37	$ 1.60	$ 0.97
Basic earnings per common share - discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0	0	1.38
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	1.37	1.60	2.35
Basic Earnings Per Common Share
Diluted earnings per common share - continuing operations (in dollars per share)	1.37	1.59	0.94
Diluted earnings per common share - discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0	0	1.34
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.37	$ 1.59	$ 2.28
Restricted stock
Denominator:
Restricted stock (in shares)	2,232	2,931	5,181
Series B Preferred Stock
Numerator:
Less: Preferred stock dividend requirement	$ 50	$ 49	$ 95
Anti-dilutive Incremental Shares Excluded from Denominator for Diluted Earnings Computation:
Series B preferred stock (in shares)	0	0	23,906
Series C Preferred Stock
Denominator:
Series C preferred stock (in shares)	0	0	11,824

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Public Utilities General Disclosures

The Registrants capitalize interest and AFUDC as a component of projects under construction and amortize it over the assets’ estimated useful lives once the assets are placed in service. Additionally, the Registrants defer interest costs into a regulatory asset when amounts are probable of recovery. Deferred debt interest is amortized over the recovery period for rate-making purposes. AFUDC represents the composite interest cost of borrowed funds and a reasonable return on the equity funds used for construction for subsidiaries that apply the guidance for accounting for regulated operations. Although AFUDC increases both property, plant and equipment and earnings, it is realized in cash when the assets are included in rates. The table below includes interest capitalized or deferred during the periods.


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023						2022						2021
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Capitalized interest and AFUDC debt (1)	$	32	$	18	$	6	$	26	$	14	$	7	$	18	$	13	$	3
AFUDC equity (2)	62		32		14		37		24		5		28		20		5
Deferred debt interest (3)	65		16		43		51		12		36		26		1		22

(1)Included in Interest expense and other finance charges on the Registrants’ respective Statements of Consolidated Income.

(2)Included in Other Income (Expense) on the Registrants’ respective Statements of Consolidated Income.

(3)Represents the amount of deferred debt interest on certain regulatory assets that are authorized to earn a return, such as debt post in-service carrying costs on property, plant and equipment, gas costs, storm restoration costs, and TEEEF (including returns on both regulatory and lease assets).

LIFO Inventory

The Registrants’ inventory consists principally of materials and supplies, and for CERC, natural gas, and for CenterPoint Energy, coal inventory. Materials and supplies are valued at the lower of average cost or market. Materials and supplies are recorded to inventory when purchased and subsequently charged to expense or capitalized to plant when installed. Inventory related to CenterPoint Energy’s regulated operations is valued at historical cost consistent with ratemaking treatment. Coal inventory is valued at average cost. Certain natural gas in storage at CenterPoint Energy’s and CERC’s utilities are recorded using the LIFO method. CenterPoint Energy’s and CERC’s balances in inventory that were valued using LIFO method were as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023 (1)		2022		2023 (1)		2022
	CenterPoint Energy				CERC
	(in millions)
LIFO inventory	$	106	$	101	$	86	$	82

(1)Based on the average cost of gas purchased during December 2023, CenterPoint Energy’s and CERC’s cost of replacing inventories carried at LIFO cost was more than the carrying value at December 31, 2023 by $8 million and $13 million, respectively.

Related Party Transactions (Houston Electric and CERC) - Schedule of Transactions (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Houston Electric
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cash dividends paid to parent	$ 367	$ 316	$ 0
Contribution to parent for sale of Arkansas and Oklahoma Natural Gas businesses	0	0	0
Other Significant Noncash Transaction, Value of Consideration Given	0	38	0
Cash paid to parent for property, plant and equipment below	0	65	0
Property, plant and equipment from parent	0	103	0
Houston Electric \| Additional Paid-in-Capital
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cash contribution from parent	885	1,143	130
Net assets acquired in the Restructuring	0	0	0
CERC Corp
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cash dividends paid to parent	496	124	0
Contribution to parent for sale of Arkansas and Oklahoma Natural Gas businesses	0	720	0
Other Significant Noncash Transaction, Value of Consideration Given	0	54	0
Cash paid to parent for property, plant and equipment below	0	61	0
Property, plant and equipment from parent	0	115	0
CERC Corp \| Additional Paid-in-Capital
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cash contribution from parent	500	289	140
Net assets acquired in the Restructuring	$ 0	$ 2,345	$ 0

Income Taxes - Schedule of Income Tax Reconciliation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Income tax reconciliation [Abstract]
Income before income taxes	$ 1,087	$ 1,417	$ 778
Increase (decrease) in tax expense resulting from:
Total income tax expense (benefit)	$ 170	$ 360	$ 110
Houston Electric
Other Tax Carryforward [Line Items]
Effective tax rate (as a percent)	22.00%	20.00%	17.00%
Income tax reconciliation [Abstract]
Income before income taxes	$ 761	$ 635	$ 457
Federal statutory income tax rate (as a percent)	21.00%	21.00%	21.00%
Expected federal income tax expense	$ 160	$ 133	$ 96
Increase (decrease) in tax expense resulting from:
State income tax expense, net of federal income tax	27	13	18
Excess deferred income tax amortization	(17)	(18)	(41)
Other, net	(2)	(3)	3
Total	8	(8)	(20)
Total income tax expense (benefit)	$ 168	$ 125	$ 76
Effective tax rate (as a percent)	22.00%	20.00%	17.00%
CERC Corp
Income tax reconciliation [Abstract]
Income before income taxes	$ 486	$ 961	$ 466
Increase (decrease) in tax expense resulting from:
Total income tax expense (benefit)	$ (26)	$ 236	$ 76
Consolidated
Other Tax Carryforward [Line Items]
Effective tax rate (as a percent)	16.00%	25.00%	14.00%
Income tax reconciliation [Abstract]
Income before income taxes	$ 1,087	$ 1,417	$ 778
Federal statutory income tax rate (as a percent)	21.00%	21.00%	21.00%
Expected federal income tax expense	$ 228	$ 298	$ 163
Increase (decrease) in tax expense resulting from:
State income tax expense, net of federal income tax	25	46	63
State valuation allowance, net of federal income tax	0	0	(15)
State law change, net of federal income tax	69	0	23
Equity AFUDC	13	8	6
Excess deferred income tax amortization	(44)	(51)	(75)
Goodwill impairment	0	84	0
Sale of Energy Systems Group	28	0	0
Other, net	15	(9)	3
Total	(58)	62	(53)
Total income tax expense (benefit)	170	$ 360	$ 110
Income tax rate reconciliation, state deferred remeasurement, net of federal income tax	$ (69)
Effective tax rate (as a percent)	16.00%	25.00%	14.00%
Consolidated \| CERC Corp
Other Tax Carryforward [Line Items]
Effective tax rate (as a percent)	(5.00%)	25.00%	16.00%
Income tax reconciliation [Abstract]
Income before income taxes	$ 486	$ 961	$ 466
Federal statutory income tax rate (as a percent)	21.00%	21.00%	21.00%
Expected federal income tax expense	$ 102	$ 202	$ 98
Increase (decrease) in tax expense resulting from:
State income tax expense, net of federal income tax	(40)	35	31
State valuation allowance, net of federal income tax	0	0	(15)
State law change, net of federal income tax	66	0	9
Excess deferred income tax amortization	(23)	(28)	(30)
Goodwill impairment	0	30	0
Other, net	1	(3)	1
Total	(128)	34	(22)
Total income tax expense (benefit)	(26)	$ 236	$ 76
Income tax rate reconciliation, state deferred remeasurement, net of federal income tax	$ (66)
Effective tax rate (as a percent)	(5.00%)	25.00%	16.00%
Discontinued Operations
Other Tax Carryforward [Line Items]
Effective tax rate (as a percent)	0.00%	0.00%	20.00%
Income tax reconciliation [Abstract]
Income before income taxes	$ 0	$ 0	$ 1,019
Federal statutory income tax rate (as a percent)	0.00%	0.00%	21.00%
Expected federal income tax expense	$ 0	$ 0	$ 214
Increase (decrease) in tax expense resulting from:
State income tax expense, net of federal income tax	0	0	14
State law change, net of federal income tax	0	0	27
Total	0	0	(13)
Total income tax expense (benefit)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 201
Effective tax rate (as a percent)	0.00%	0.00%	20.00%

Divestitures (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) - Summary of Discontinued Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 02, 2021	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract]
Income tax expense		$ 0	$ 0	$ 201
Discontinued Operation, Alternative Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Gain on Enable Merger		13	(303)	(681)
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates, net		0	0	(339)
Distributions from unconsolidated affiliates		0	0	155
Cash received related to Enable Merger		144	2,075	22
Operating revenues		8,696	9,321	8,352
Net income attributable to Enable Common Units		867	1,008	1,391
CERC Corp
Discontinued Operation, Alternative Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Cash received related to Enable Merger		0	2,075	22
Natural gas expenses, including transportation and storage costs		0	115	0
Operating revenues		$ 4,149	$ 4,800	4,200
Discontinued Operations \| Enable Midstream Partners
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract]
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliate, net				1,019
Income from discontinued operations before income taxes				1,019
Income tax expense				201
Net income from discontinued operations				818
Discontinued Operation, Alternative Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Gain on Enable Merger	$ (680)			(681)
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates, net	(1,019)			(339)
Distributions from unconsolidated affiliates				155
Transaction costs related to the Enable Merger				(49)
Cash received related to Enable Merger				5
Cash Distribution				189
Natural gas expenses, including transportation and storage costs				85
Operating revenues	3,466
Cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization	1,959
Depreciation and amortization	382
Operating income	634
Net income attributable to Enable Common Units	461
CenterPoint Energy’s interest	248
Basis difference amortization	92
Loss on dilution, net of proportional basis difference recognition	$ (1)
Discontinued Operations \| Enable Midstream Partners \| CERC Corp
Discontinued Operation, Alternative Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Natural gas expenses, including transportation and storage costs				$ 85
Discontinued Operations \| Enable Midstream Partners \| Enable Common Units
Discontinued Operation, Alternative Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Distribution received (in dollars per unit)				$ 0.6610
Cash Distribution				$ 155
Discontinued Operations \| Enable Midstream Partners \| Enable Series A Preferred Units
Discontinued Operation, Alternative Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Distribution received (in dollars per unit)				$ 2.2965
Cash Distribution				$ 34

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 90,000,000	$ 74,000,000
Accounts receivable	710,000,000	889,000,000
Allowance for credit losses	27,000,000	38,000,000
Accrued unbilled revenues, allowance for credit loss	2,000,000	4,000,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets ($15 and $13 related to VIEs, respectively)	145,000,000	171,000,000
Regulatory assets	$ 2,513,000,000	$ 2,193,000,000
Preferred Stock [Abstract]
Cumulative preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Cumulative preferred stock, authorized (in shares)	20,000,000	20,000,000
Cumulative preferred stock, outstanding (in shares)	0	800,000
Cumulative preferred stock, aggregate liquidation preference	$ 0	$ 800
Common Stock [Abstract]
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, authorized (in shares)	1,000,000,000	1,000,000,000
Common stock, outstanding (in shares)	631,225,829	629,535,631
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 90,000,000	$ 75,000,000
Accounts receivable	21,000,000	22,000,000
Accrued unbilled revenues, after allowance for credit losses, current	2,000,000	0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets ($15 and $13 related to VIEs, respectively)	15,000,000	13,000,000
Regulatory assets	$ 402,000,000	$ 229,000,000

Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plans and Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Disclosure of Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plans and Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract]

Schedule of Compensation Cost for Share-based Payment Arrangements, Allocation of Share-based Compensation Costs by Plan

The following table summarizes CenterPoint Energy’s expenses related to LTIPs for 2023, 2022 and 2021:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
	(in millions)
LTIP compensation expense (1)	$	65	$	51	$	48
Income tax benefit recognized	15		12		11
Actual tax benefit realized for tax deductions	17		6		4

(1)Amounts presented in the table above are included in Operation and maintenance expense in CenterPoint Energy’s Statements of Consolidated Income and shown prior to any amounts capitalized.

Share-Based Compensation, Activity

The following tables summarize CenterPoint Energy’s LTIP activity for 2023


	Year Ended December 31, 2023
	Shares (Thousands)	Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value		Remaining Average Contractual Life (Years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value (2) (Millions)
Performance Awards (1)
Outstanding and nonvested as of December 31, 2022	5,157	$	24.26
Granted	1,960	29.18
Forfeited or canceled	(291)	27.38
Vested and released to participants	(1,601)	23.08
Outstanding and nonvested as of December 31, 2023	5,225	$	25.95	1.1	$	101

Stock Unit Awards
Outstanding and nonvested as of December 31, 2022	2,296	$	25.03
Granted	606	30.83
Forfeited or canceled	(93)	27.10
Vested and released to participants	(948)	24.48
Outstanding and nonvested as of December 31, 2023	1,861	$	26.91	0.7	$	53

(1)Reflects maximum performance achievement.

(2)Reflects the impact of current expectations of achievement and stock price.

Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Award, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Grant Date Intrinsic Value, and Vested Grant Date Fair Value

Additional information related to the Performance Awards and Stock Unit Awards is as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
	(in millions, except for per unit amounts)
Performance Awards
Weighted-average grant date fair value per unit of awards granted	$	29.18	$	28.12	$	21.89
Total intrinsic value of awards received by participants	47		13		7
Vested grant date fair value	37		13		8

Stock Unit Awards
Weighted-average grant date fair value per unit of awards granted	$	30.83	$	28.44	$	24.20
Total intrinsic value of awards received by participants	28		14		11
Vested grant date fair value	23		13		11

Schedule of Net Benefit Costs

CenterPoint Energy’s net periodic cost includes the following components relating to pension, including the non-qualified benefit plans:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
	(in millions)
Service cost (1)	$	25	$	29	$	39
Interest cost (2)	76		73		59
Expected return on plan assets (2)	(76)		(87)		(103)

Amortization of net loss (2)	28		31		36
Settlement cost (2) (3)	—		126		38

Net periodic cost	$	53	$	172	$	69

(1)Amounts presented in the table above are included in Operation and maintenance expense in CenterPoint Energy’s Statements of Consolidated Income, net of regulatory deferrals and amounts capitalized.

(2)Amounts presented in the table above are included in Other, net in CenterPoint Energy’s Statements of Consolidated Income, net of regulatory deferrals.

(3)A one-time, non-cash settlement cost is required when the total lump sum distributions or other settlements of plan benefit obligations during a plan year exceed the service cost and interest cost components of the net periodic cost for that year. In 2023, 2022 and 2021, CenterPoint Energy recognized non-cash settlement cost due to lump sum settlement payments. The transfer of assets related to the 2022 Annuity Lift-Out is considered a lump sum settlement payment.

Postretirement benefits are accrued over the active service period of employees. The net postretirement benefit cost includes the following components:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023						2022						2021
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Service cost (1)	$	1	$	—	$	1	$	2	$	—	$	1	$	2	$	—	$	1
Interest cost (2)	13		5		5		9		4		3		9		4		3
Expected return on plan assets (2)	(5)		(4)		(1)		(5)		(4)		(1)		(4)		(3)		(1)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit) (2)	(2)		(5)		2		(3)		(4)		2		(4)		(5)		1
Amortization of net loss (2)	(8)		(4)		(3)		(4)		(2)		(1)		—		—		—

Net postretirement benefit cost (credit)	$	(1)	$	(8)	$	4	$	(1)	$	(6)	$	4	$	3	$	(4)	$	4

(1)Amounts presented in the table above are included in Operation and maintenance expense in each of the Registrants’ respective Statements of Consolidated Income, net of regulatory deferrals and amounts capitalized.

(2)Amounts presented in the table above are included in Other, net in each of the Registrants’ respective Statements of Consolidated Income, net of regulatory deferrals.

Schedule of Assumptions Used

CenterPoint Energy used the following assumptions to determine net periodic cost relating to pension benefits:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
Discount rate	5.15	%	2.80	%	2.45	%
Expected return on plan assets	6.50		5.00		5.00
Rate of increase in compensation levels	4.99		4.95		5.05

The following assumptions were used to determine net periodic cost relating to postretirement benefits:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023						2022						2021
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
Discount rate	5.15	%	5.15	%	5.15	%	2.85	%	2.85	%	2.85	%	2.50	%	2.50	%	2.50	%
Expected return on plan assets	5.13		5.26		4.69		3.22		3.32		2.86		3.20		3.30		2.85

Schedule of Net Pension and Post-retirement Benefit Costs

The following table summarizes changes in the benefit obligation, plan assets, the amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as well as the key assumptions of CenterPoint Energy’s pension plans. The measurement dates for plan assets and obligations were December 31, 2023 and 2022.


	December 31,
	2023			2022
	(in millions, except for actuarial assumptions)
Change in Benefit Obligation
Benefit obligation, beginning of year	$	1,553		$	2,298

Service cost	25			29
Interest cost	76			73

Benefits paid (4)	(147)			(509)
Actuarial (gain) loss (1)	41			(338)


Plan amendment	—			—



Benefit obligation, end of year	1,548			1,553
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year	1,212			2,072

Employer contributions	32			35

Benefits paid (4)	(147)			(509)

Actual investment return	107			(386)

Fair value of plan assets, end of year	1,204			1,212
Funded status, end of year	$	(344)		$	(341)

Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheets
Non-current assets	$	4		$	—
Current liabilities-other	(7)			(7)
Other liabilities-benefit obligations	(341)			(334)
Net liability, end of year	$	(344)		$	(341)
Actuarial Assumptions
Discount rate (2)	4.95		%	5.15		%
Expected return on plan assets (3)	6.50			6.50
Rate of increase in compensation levels	4.97			4.99
Interest crediting rate	3.00			3.00

(1)Significant sources of loss for 2023 include the decrease in discount rate from 5.15% to 4.95%, partially offset by significant sources of gain that include actual return on assets exceeding expected return on plan assets during 2023.

(2)The discount rate assumption was determined by matching the projected cash flows of CenterPoint Energy’s plans against a hypothetical yield curve of high-quality corporate bonds represented by a series of annualized individual discount rates from one-half to 99 years.

(3)The expected rate of return assumption was developed using the targeted asset allocation of CenterPoint Energy’s plans and the expected return for each asset class.

(4)Benefits paid for 2022 includes $136 million related to the 2022 Annuity Lift-Out.

The following table summarizes changes in the benefit obligation, plan assets, the amounts recognized in consolidated balance sheets and the key assumptions of the postretirement plans. The measurement dates for plan assets and benefit obligations were December 31, 2023 and 2022.


	December 31,
	2023									2022
	CenterPoint Energy			Houston Electric			CERC			CenterPoint Energy			Houston Electric			CERC
	(in millions, except for actuarial assumptions)
Change in Benefit Obligation
Benefit obligation, beginning of year	$	263		$	115		$	92		$	336		$	148		$	118
Service cost	1			—			1			2			—			1
Interest cost	13			5			5			9			4			3
Participant contributions	6			2			3			6			2			3
Benefits paid	(20)			(8)			(8)			(20)			(7)			(8)

Plan amendment	—			—			—			3			—			2
Actuarial (gain) loss (1)	—			(1)			—			(73)			(32)			(27)

Benefit obligation, end of year	263			113			93			263			115			92
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year	109			84			25			132			104			29

Employer contributions	7			—			4			8			1			4
Participant contributions	6			2			3			6			2			3
Benefits paid	(20)			(8)			(8)			(20)			(7)			(8)
Actual investment return	10			8			2			(17)			(16)			(3)

Fair value of plan assets, end of year	112			86			26			109			84			25
Funded status, end of year	$	(151)		$	(27)		$	(67)		$	(154)		$	(31)		$	(67)
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheets
Current liabilities — other	$	(7)		$	—		$	(4)		$	(7)		$	—		$	(4)
Other liabilities — benefit obligations	(144)			(27)			(63)			(147)			(31)			(64)
Net liability, end of year	$	(151)		$	(27)		$	(67)		$	(154)		$	(31)		$	(68)

Actuarial Assumptions
Discount rate (2)	4.95		%	4.95		%	4.95		%	5.15		%	5.15		%	5.15		%
Expected return on plan assets (3)	5.13			5.26			4.69			3.66			3.75			3.35
Medical cost trend rate assumed for the next year - Pre-65	7.25			7.25			7.25			6.50			6.50			6.50
Medical/prescription drug cost trend rate assumed for the next year - Post-65	22.76			22.76			22.76			23.66			23.66			23.66
Prescription drug cost trend rate assumed for the next year - Pre-65	9.00			9.00			9.00			8.00			8.00			8.00
Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (the ultimate trend rate)	4.50			4.50			4.50			4.50			4.50			4.50
Year that the cost trend rates reach the ultimate trend rate - Pre-65	2033			2033			2033			2032			2032			2032
Year that the cost trend rates reach the ultimate trend rate - Post-65	2033			2033			2033			2032			2032			2032

(1)Significant sources of loss for 2023 include updated life insurance rates and the decrease in discount rate from 5.15% to 4.95%.

(2)The discount rate assumption was determined by matching the projected cash flows of the plans against a hypothetical yield curve of high-quality corporate bonds represented by a series of annualized individual discount rates from one-half to 99 years.

(3)The expected rate of return assumption was developed using the targeted asset allocation of the plans and the expected return for each asset class.

Schedule of Accumulated Benefit Obligations in Excess of Fair Value of Plan Assets

The following table displays pension benefits related to CenterPoint Energy’s pension plans that have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets:


	December 31,
	2023				2022
	Pension (Qualified)		Pension (Non-qualified)		Pension (Qualified)		Pension (Non-qualified)
	(in millions)
Accumulated benefit obligation	$	1,496	$	48	$	1,497	$	51
Projected benefit obligation	1,500		48		1,502		51
Fair value of plan assets	1,204		—		1,212		—

Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss (gain) consist of the following:


	December 31,
	2023						2022
	Pension Benefits		Postretirement Benefits				Pension Benefits		Postretirement Benefits
	CenterPoint Energy		CenterPoint Energy		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		CenterPoint Energy		CERC
	(in millions)
Unrecognized actuarial loss (gain)	$	69	$	(34)	$	(27)	$	70	$	(36)	$	(28)
Unrecognized prior service cost	—		12		10		—		13		11

Net amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss (gain)	$	69	$	(22)	$	(17)	$	70	$	(23)	$	(17)

Changes in accumulated comprehensive income (loss) are as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022
	CenterPoint Energy		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		CERC
	(in millions)
Beginning Balance	$	(31)	$	16	$	(64)	$	10
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications:
Remeasurement of pension and other postretirement plans	(8)		—		(40)		10



Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Net deferred gain from cash flow hedges	1		—		—		—
Prior service cost (1)	1		(2)		(1)		(1)
Actuarial losses (1)	1		2		8		1
Settlement (2)	—		—		67		—
Reclassification of deferred loss from cash flow hedges realized in net income	—		—		1		—

Tax benefit (expense)	1		—		(2)		(4)
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	(4)		—		33		6

Ending Balance	$	(35)	$	16	$	(31)	$	16

(1)Amounts are included in the computation of net periodic cost and are reflected in Other, net in each of the Registrants’ respective Statements of Consolidated Income.

(2)Amounts presented represent a one-time, non-cash settlement cost (benefit), prior to regulatory deferrals, which are required when the total lump sum distributions or other settlements of plan benefit obligations during a plan year exceed the service cost and interest cost components of the net periodic cost for that year. Amounts presented in the table above are included in Other income (expense), net in CenterPoint Energy’s Statements of Consolidated Income, net of regulatory deferrals.

Schedule of Defined Benefit Plan Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income during 2023 are as follows:


	Pension Benefits		Postretirement Benefits
	CenterPoint Energy		CenterPoint Energy		CERC
	(in millions)
Net loss (gain)	$	2	$	—	$	1
Amortization of net loss	(3)		2		(2)
Amortization of prior service cost	—		(1)		1
Settlement	—		—		—

Total recognized in comprehensive income	$	(1)	$	1	$	—
Total recognized in net periodic costs and Other comprehensive income	$	52	$	—	$	4

Target Allocation of Plan Assets

As part of the investment strategy discussed above, CenterPoint Energy maintained the following weighted-average allocation targets for its pension plans as of December 31, 2023:


	Minimum		Maximum
U.S. equity	17	%	27	%
International equity	9	%	19	%
Real estate	2	%	11	%
Fixed income	54	%	64	%
Cash	—	%	2	%

As part of the investment strategy discussed above, the Registrants maintained the following weighted-average allocation targets for the postretirement plans as of December 31, 2023:


	CenterPoint Energy				Houston Electric				CERC
	Minimum		Maximum		Minimum		Maximum		Minimum		Maximum
U.S. equities	14	%	24	%	13	%	23	%	15	%	25	%
International equities	3	%	13	%	3	%	13	%	2	%	12	%
Fixed income	69	%	79	%	69	%	79	%	68	%	78	%
Cash	—	%	2	%	—	%	2	%	—	%	2	%

Schedule of Allocation of Plan Assets

The following tables set forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy (see Note 10), CenterPoint Energy’s pension plan assets at fair value as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:


	Fair Value Measurements as of December 31,
	2023								2022
	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Total
	(in millions)
Cash	$	21	$	—	$	—	$	21	$	7	$	—	$	—	$	7
Corporate bonds:
Investment grade or above	—		469		—		469		—		467		—		467
Equity securities:

U.S. companies	30		—		—		30		29		—		—		29
Cash received as collateral from securities lending	94		—		—		94		47		—		—		47

U.S. treasuries and government agencies	178		—		—		178		163		—		—		163
Mortgage backed securities	—		15		—		15		—		6		—		6
Asset backed securities	—		1		—		1		—		2		—		2
Municipal bonds	—		25		—		25		—		24		—		24

International government bonds	—		9		—		9		—		10		—		10

Obligation to return cash received as collateral from securities lending	(94)		—		—		(94)		(47)		—		—		(47)
Financial instruments	—		(4)		—		(4)		—		—		—		—
Total investments at fair value	$	229	$	515	$	—	744		$	199	$	509	$	—	708
Investments measured by net asset value per share or its equivalent (1) (2)							460								504
Total Investments							$	1,204							$	1,212

(1)Represents investments in pooled investment funds and common collective trust funds.

(2)The amounts invested in pooled investment funds were 100% allocated to real estate. The amounts invested common collective trust funds were allocated as follows:


	As of December 31,
	2023		2022

International equities	40	%	40	%
U.S. equities	59	%	56	%

Fixed income	1	%	4	%

The following table sets forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy (see Note 10), the Registrants’ postretirement plan assets at fair value as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:


	Fair Value Measurements as of December 31,
	2023								2022
	Mutual Funds
	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Total
	(in millions)
CenterPoint Energy	$	113	$	—	$	—	$	113	$	109	$	—	$	—	$	109
Houston Electric	86		—		—		86		84		—		—		84
CERC	26		—		—		26		25		—		—		25

The amounts invested in mutual funds were allocated as follows:


	As of December 31,
	2023						2022
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
Fixed income	72	%	72	%	71	%	74	%	74	%	74	%
U.S. equities	20	%	19	%	22	%	18	%	17	%	20	%
International equities	8	%	9	%	6	%	8	%	8	%	6	%

Benefit Plan Contributions

The Registrants made the following contributions in 2023 and are required to make the following minimum contributions in 2024 to the indicated benefit plans below:


	Contributions in 2023						Expected Minimum Contributions in 2024
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Qualified pension plans	$	24	$	—	$	—	$	2	$	—	$	—
Non-qualified pension plans	8		—		—		7		—		—
Postretirement benefit plans	7		—		4		8		1		4

Schedule of Expected Benefit Payments

The following benefit payments are expected to be paid by the pension and postretirement benefit plans:


	Pension Benefits		Postretirement Benefits
	CenterPoint Energy		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
2024	$	141	$	14	$	6	$	5
2025	143		16		6		6
2026	137		17		7		6
2027	135		19		8		7
2028	133		20		9		7
2029-2033	606		107		49		36

Defined Contribution Plan Disclosures

CenterPoint Energy allocates the savings plan benefit expense to Houston Electric and CERC related to their respective employees. The following table summarizes the Registrants’ savings plan benefit expense for 2023, 2022 and 2021:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023						2022						2021
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Savings plan benefit expenses (1)	$	67	$	23	$	20	$	72	$	23	$	22	$	58	$	20	$	23

(1)Amounts presented in the table above are included in Operation and maintenance expense in the Registrants’ respective Statements of Consolidated Income and shown prior to any amounts capitalized.

Other Benefit Plans

Expenses related to other benefit plans were recorded as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023						2022						2021
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Postemployment benefits	$	(1)	$	—	$	—	$	4	$	1	$	1	$	3	$	1	$	2
Deferred compensation plans	(1)		—		—		1		—		—		3		—		—

Amounts related to other benefit plans were included in Benefit Obligations in the Registrants’ accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets as follows:


	December 31, 2023						December 31, 2022
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Postemployment benefits	$	5	$	2	$	3	$	9	$	3	$	4
Deferred compensation plans	26		3		1		28		4		1
Split-dollar life insurance arrangements	46		1		—		22		1		—

Other Employee Matters

As of December 31, 2023, the Registrants’ employees were covered by collective bargaining agreements as follows:


		Percentage of Employees Covered
	Agreement Expiration	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
IBEW Local 66	May 2026	17	%	53	%	—	%
OPEIU Local 12	December 2025	2	%	—	%	2	%
Gas Workers Union Local 340	April 2025	5	%	—	%	13	%
IBEW Locals 1393 and USW Locals 12213 & 7441	December 2026	3	%	—	%	8	%
IBEW Locals 949	December 2025	3	%	—	%	7	%
USW Locals 13-227	June 2027	5	%	—	%	13	%
USW Locals 13-1	June 2027	—	%	—	%	1	%
IBEW Local 702	June 2025	3	%	—	%	—	%
Teamsters Local 135/215	September 2024	—	%	—	%	—	%
UWUA Local 175	October 2024	2	%	—	%	4	%
Total		40	%	53	%	48	%

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - CERC - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Net income (loss)	$ 917	$ 1,057	$ 1,486
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Adjustment to other postemployment plans	(5)	32	21
Total	(4)	33	26
CERC Corp
Net income (loss)	512	725	390
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Adjustment to other postemployment plans	0	6	0
Total	0	6	0
Comprehensive income available to common shareholders	$ 512	$ 731	$ 390

- Definition

The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

+ References

+ Details

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Income Statement [Abstract]
Income tax expense (benefit) from discontinued operations	$ 0	$ 0	$ 201

- Definition

Amount of tax expense (benefit) related to a discontinued operation. Includes, but is not limited to, tax expense (benefit) related to income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, tax expense (benefit) related to gain (loss) on disposal, tax expense (benefit) related to gain (loss) for reversal of write-down (write-down) to fair value, less cost to sell, and tax expense (benefit) related to adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482685/740-10-50-10

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 6.I.7)
-Publisher FASB
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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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-SubTopic 20
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-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
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Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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Reference 5: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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Reference 6: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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Reference 9: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147483499/205-20-50-1

+ Details

Equity (CenterPoint Energy)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Equity (CenterPoint Energy)

Dividends Declared and Paid (CenterPoint Energy)

CenterPoint Energy declared and paid dividends on its Common Stock during 2023, 2022 and 2021 as presented in the table below:


	Dividends Declared Per Share						Dividends Paid Per Share
	2023		2022		2021		2023		2022		2021
Common Stock	$	0.7800	$	0.7200	$	0.6600	$	0.7700	$	0.7000	$	0.6500
Series A Preferred Stock (1)	30.6250		61.2500		61.2500		61.2500		61.2500		61.2500
Series B Preferred Stock (2)	—		—		35.0000		—		—		52.5000
Series C Preferred Stock (3)	—		—		—		—		—		0.1600

(1)All of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock were redeemed during 2023 as further described below.

(2)All of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock were converted to Common Stock during 2021.

(3)The Series C Preferred Stock was entitled to participate in any dividend or distribution (excluding those payable in Common Stock) with the Common Stock on a pari passu, pro rata, as-converted basis. The per share amount reflects the dividend per share of Common Stock as if the Series C Preferred Stock were converted into Common Stock. All of the outstanding Series C Preferred Stock was converted to Common Stock during 2021.

Preferred Stock (CenterPoint Energy)


	Liquidation Preference Per Share		Shares Outstanding as of December 31,			Outstanding Value as of December 31,
			2023	2022	2021	2023		2022		2021
	(in millions, except shares and per share amount)
Series A Preferred Stock (1)	$	1,000	—	800,000	800,000	$	—	$	790	$	790


			—	800,000	800,000	$	—	$	790	$	790

(1)All of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock were redeemed during 2023 as further described below.

Dividend Requirement on Preferred Stock


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
	(in millions)
Series A Preferred Stock	$	50	$	49	$	49
Series B Preferred Stock	—		—		46



Total income allocated to preferred shareholders	$	50	$	49	$	95

Series A Preferred Stock

Prior to the redemption of all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock in September 2023, the aggregate liquidation value of the Series A Preferred Stock was $800 million with a per share liquidation value of $1,000. The Series A Preferred Stock was redeemable at CenterPoint Energy’s election on or after September 1, 2023, for cash at a redemption price of $1,000 per share, plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date.

Dividends. The Series A Preferred Stock accrued cumulative dividends, calculated as a percentage of the stated amount per share, at a fixed annual rate of 6.125% per annum to be paid in cash if, when and as declared. If declared, dividends were payable semi-annually in arrears on each March 1 and September 1, beginning on March 1, 2019. Cumulative dividends earned during the applicable periods are presented on CenterPoint Energy’s Statements of Consolidated Income as Preferred stock dividend requirement.

Ranking. The Series A Preferred Stock, with respect to anticipated dividends and distributions upon CenterPoint Energy’s liquidation or dissolution, or winding-up of CenterPoint Energy’s affairs, ranked:

•senior to Common Stock and to each other class or series of capital stock established after the initial issue date of the Series A Preferred Stock that is expressly made subordinated to the Series A Preferred Stock;

•on a parity with any class or series of capital stock established after the initial issue date of the Series A Preferred Stock that is not expressly made senior or subordinated to the Series A Preferred Stock;

•junior to any class or series of capital stock established after the initial issue date of the Series A Preferred Stock that is expressly made senior to the Series A Preferred Stock;

•junior to all existing and future indebtedness (including indebtedness outstanding under CenterPoint Energy’s credit facilities, senior notes and commercial paper) and other liabilities with respect to assets available to satisfy claims against CenterPoint Energy; and

•structurally subordinated to any existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities of CenterPoint Energy’s subsidiaries and capital stock of CenterPoint Energy’s subsidiaries held by third parties.

Voting Rights. Holders of the Series A Preferred Stock generally did not have voting rights.

Redemption of Series A Preferred Stock. On September 1, 2023, CenterPoint Energy redeemed all 800,000 outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, in whole for cash at a redemption price of $1,000 per share, plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date.

Temporary Equity (CenterPoint Energy)

On the approval and recommendation of the Compensation Committee and approval of the Board (acting solely through its independent directors), CenterPoint Energy entered into a retention incentive agreement with David J. Lesar, then President and Chief Executive Officer of CenterPoint Energy, dated July 20, 2021. Pursuant to the retention incentive agreement, Mr. Lesar received equity-based awards under CenterPoint Energy’s LTIP covering a total of 1 million shares of Common Stock (Total Stock Award), which were granted in multiple annual awards. Mr. Lesar received 400 thousand restricted stock units in July 2021 that vested in December 2022 and 400 thousand restricted stock units and 200 thousand restricted stock units in February 2022 and February 2023, respectively, that vested in December 2023. For accounting purposes, the 1 million shares under the Total Stock Award, consisting of the equity-based awards described above, were considered granted in July 2021. In the event that death, disability, termination without cause or resignation for good reason, as defined in the retention incentive agreement, had occurred prior to the full Total Stock Award being awarded, CenterPoint Energy would have paid a lump sum cash payment equal to the value of the unawarded equity-based awards, based on the closing trading price of Common Stock on the date of the event’s occurrence. Because the equity-based awards would have been redeemable for cash prior to being awarded upon events that were not probable at the grant date, the equity associated with any unawarded equity-based awards were classified as Temporary Equity as of December 31, 2022 on CenterPoint Energy’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2023, all restricted stock units have been awarded to Mr. Lesar and no amounts are reflected in Temporary Equity on CenterPoint Energy’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (CenterPoint Energy and CERC)

Changes in accumulated comprehensive income (loss) are as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022
	CenterPoint Energy		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		CERC
	(in millions)
Beginning Balance	$	(31)	$	16	$	(64)	$	10
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications:
Remeasurement of pension and other postretirement plans	(8)		—		(40)		10



Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Net deferred gain from cash flow hedges	1		—		—		—
Prior service cost (1)	1		(2)		(1)		(1)
Actuarial losses (1)	1		2		8		1
Settlement (2)	—		—		67		—
Reclassification of deferred loss from cash flow hedges realized in net income	—		—		1		—

Tax benefit (expense)	1		—		(2)		(4)
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	(4)		—		33		6

Ending Balance	$	(35)	$	16	$	(31)	$	16

(1)Amounts are included in the computation of net periodic cost and are reflected in Other, net in each of the Registrants’ respective Statements of Consolidated Income.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for equity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481112/505-10-50-13

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (h)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481112/505-10-50-13

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 14
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481112/505-10-50-14

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 235
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481062/946-235-50-2

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 235
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
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-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481062/946-235-50-2

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 505
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
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+ Details

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - HOUSTON ELECTRIC (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 90	$ 74
Accounts receivable	710	889
Allowance for credit losses	27	38
Prepaid expenses and other current assets ($15 and $13 related to VIEs, respectively)	145	171
Regulatory assets	2,513	2,193
Houston Electric
Cash and cash equivalents	76	75
Accounts receivable	295	311
Allowance for credit losses	1	1
Prepaid expenses and other current assets ($15 and $13 related to VIEs, respectively)	48	41
Regulatory assets	752	778
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Cash and cash equivalents	90	75
Accounts receivable	21	22
Prepaid expenses and other current assets ($15 and $13 related to VIEs, respectively)	15	13
Regulatory assets	402	229
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary \| Houston Electric
Cash and cash equivalents	76	75
Accounts receivable	19	22
Prepaid expenses and other current assets ($15 and $13 related to VIEs, respectively)	13	13
Regulatory assets	$ 74	$ 229

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME - CERC - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Revenues:
Utility revenues	$ 8,524	$ 9,018	$ 8,042
Non-utility revenues	172	303	310
Total	8,696	9,321	8,352
Expenses:
Utility natural gas	2,061	2,887	2,127
Non-utility cost of revenues, including natural gas	99	204	208
Operation and maintenance	2,850	2,833	2,810
Depreciation and amortization	1,401	1,288	1,316
Taxes other than income taxes	525	543	528
Total	6,936	7,755	6,989
Operating Income	1,760	1,566	1,363
Other Income (Expense):
Gain (loss) on sale	(13)	303	8
Interest expense and other finance charges	(684)	(511)	(508)
Other income (expense), net	37	(26)	58
Total	(673)	(149)	(585)
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	1,087	1,417	778
Income tax expense (benefit)	170	360	110
Net Income	917	1,057	1,486
CERC Corp
Revenues:
Utility revenues	4,107	4,764	4,143
Non-utility revenues	42	36	57
Total	4,149	4,800	4,200
Expenses:
Utility natural gas	1,856	2,607	1,885
Non-utility cost of revenues, including natural gas	3	4	17
Operation and maintenance	904	886	973
Depreciation and amortization	493	448	483
Taxes other than income taxes	243	257	249
Total	3,499	4,202	3,607
Operating Income	650	598	593
Other Income (Expense):
Gain (loss) on sale	0	557	11
Interest expense and other finance charges	(178)	(130)	(134)
Other income (expense), net	14	(64)	(4)
Total	(164)	363	(127)
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	486	961	466
Income tax expense (benefit)	(26)	236	76
Net Income	$ 512	$ 725	$ 390

Regulatory Matters

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Regulated Operations [Abstract]

Regulatory Matters

The following is a list of regulatory assets and liabilities reflected on the Registrants’ respective Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:


	December 31, 2023
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Regulatory Assets:
Future amounts recoverable from ratepayers related to:
Benefit obligations (1)	$	379	$	—	$	5
Asset retirement obligations & other	290		75		186
Net deferred income taxes	96		41		42
Total future amounts recoverable from ratepayers	765		116		233
Amounts deferred for future recovery related to:

Cost recovery riders	113		—		73
Hurricane and February 2021 Winter Storm Event restoration costs	149		123		26

Other regulatory assets	147		59		72
Gas recovery costs	27		—		27
Decoupling	17		—		17
COVID-19 incremental costs	12		8		4
TEEEF costs	48		48		—
Unrecognized equity return (2)	(63)		(39)		(16)
Total amounts deferred for future recovery	450		199		203
Amounts currently recovered in customer rates related to:
Authorized trackers and cost deferrals	535		44		375
Securitized regulatory assets	434		74		—
Unamortized loss on reacquired debt and hedging	106		72		11
Gas recovery costs	34		—		34
Extraordinary gas costs	208		—		208
Regulatory assets related to TCJA	47		47		—
Hurricane Harvey restoration costs	17		17		—
Benefit obligations	11		11		—
Emergency Generation Costs	208		208		—
Unrecognized equity return (3)	(141)		(36)		(53)

Total amounts recovered in customer rates (4)	1,459		437		575
Total Regulatory Assets	$	2,674	$	752	$	1,011
Total Current Regulatory Assets (5)	$	161	$	—	$	161
Total Non-Current Regulatory Assets	$	2,513	$	752	$	850

Regulatory Liabilities:
Regulatory liabilities related to TCJA	$	1,377	$	695	$	505
Estimated removal costs	1,322		91		1,150
Other regulatory liabilities	548		245		260
Total Regulatory Liabilities	$	3,247	$	1,031	$	1,915
Total Current Regulatory Liabilities (6)	$	39	$	6	$	33
Total Non-Current Regulatory Liabilities	$	3,208	$	1,025	$	1,882


	December 31, 2022
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Regulatory Assets:
Future amounts recoverable from ratepayers related to:
Benefit obligations (1)	$	392	$	—	$	5
Asset retirement obligations & other	237		64		155
Net deferred income taxes	83		34		40
Total future amounts recoverable from ratepayers	712		98		200
Amounts deferred for future recovery related to:
Extraordinary gas costs	1,073		—		1,073
Cost recovery riders	133		—		57
Hurricane and February 2021 Winter Storm Event restoration costs	129		113		16

Other regulatory assets	129		46		67
Gas recovery costs	108		—		108
Decoupling	3		—		3
COVID-19 incremental costs	13		8		5
TEEEF costs	182		182		—
Unrecognized equity return	(54)		(27)		(5)
Total amounts deferred for future recovery	1,716		322		1,324
Amounts currently recovered in customer rates related to:
Authorized trackers and cost deferrals	499		25		369
Securitized regulatory assets	229		229		—
Unamortized loss on reacquired debt and hedging	88		64		12
Gas recovery costs	79		—		30
Extraordinary gas costs	294		—		294
Regulatory assets related to TCJA	47		47		—
Hurricane Harvey restoration costs	30		30		—
Benefit obligations	18		18		—
Unrecognized equity return (3)	(134)		(55)		(49)

Total amounts recovered in customer rates	1,150		358		656
Total Regulatory Assets	$	3,578	$	778	$	2,180
Total Current Regulatory Assets (5)	$	1,385	$	—	$	1,336
Total Non-Current Regulatory Assets	$	2,193	$	778	$	844

Regulatory Liabilities:
Regulatory liabilities related to TCJA	$	1,436	$	716	$	536
Estimated removal costs	1,338		158		1,097
Other regulatory liabilities	496		281		193
Total Regulatory Liabilities	$	3,270	$	1,155	$	1,826
Total Current Regulatory Liabilities (6)	$	25	$	—	$	25
Total Non-Current Regulatory Liabilities	$	3,245	$	1,155	$	1,801

(1)Pension and postretirement-related regulatory assets balances are actuarially valued annually.

(2)Represents the following: (a) CenterPoint Energy’s allowed equity return on post in-service carrying cost generally associated with investments in Indiana; (b) Houston Electric’s allowed equity return on TEEEF costs and storm restoration costs; and (c) CERC’s allowed equity return on post in-service carrying cost associated with certain distribution facilities replacements expenditures in Texas.

(3)Represents the following: (a) CenterPoint Energy’s allowed equity return on post in-service carrying cost generally associated with investments in Indiana; (b) Houston Electric’s allowed equity return on its true-up balance of stranded costs, other changes and related interest resulting from the formerly integrated electric utilities prior to Texas deregulation to be recovered in rates through 2024 and certain storm restoration balances; and (c) CERC’s allowed equity return on post in-service carrying cost associated with certain distribution facilities replacements expenditures in Texas.

(4)Of the $1.5 billion, $437 million and $575 million currently being recovered in customer rates related to CenterPoint Energy, Houston Electric and CERC, respectively, $459 million, $365 million and $94 million is earning a return, respectively. The weighted average recovery period of regulatory assets currently being recovered in base rates, not earning a return, which totals $428 million, $72 million and $320 million for CenterPoint Energy, Houston Electric and CERC, respectively, is 12 years, 28 years and 8 years, respectively. Regulatory assets not earning a return with perpetual or undeterminable lives have been excluded from the weighted average recovery period calculation.

(5)Current regulatory assets for both CenterPoint Energy and CERC include extraordinary gas costs of $86 million and $1,175 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

(6)Current regulatory liabilities are included in Other current liabilities in each of the Registrants’ respective Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The table below reflects the amount of allowed equity return recognized by each Registrant in its Statements of Consolidated Income:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023						2022						2021
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Allowed equity return recognized	$	41	$	38	$	2	$	45	$	42	$	2	$	40	$	37	$	2

Indiana Electric Securitization of Generation Retirements (CenterPoint Energy)

On January 4, 2023, the IURC issued an order in accordance with Indiana Senate Enrolled Act 386 authorizing the issuance of up to $350 million in securitization bonds to securitize qualified costs associated with the retirements of Indiana Electric’s A.B. Brown coal-fired generation facilities. Accordingly, CenterPoint Energy determined that the retirement of property, plant and equipment became probable upon the issuance of the order. No loss on abandonment was recognized in connection with issuance of the order as there was no disallowance of all or part of the cost of the abandoned property, plant and equipment. In the first quarter of 2023, upon receipt of the order, CenterPoint Energy reclassified property, plant and equipment to be recovered through securitization to a regulatory asset and such amounts continued to earn a full return until recovered through securitization.

The SIGECO Securitization Subsidiary issued $341 million aggregate principal amount of the SIGECO Securitization Bonds on June 29, 2023. See Note 13 for further details of the issuance of the SIGECO Securitization Bonds. The SIGECO Securitization Subsidiary used a portion of the net proceeds from the issuance of the SIGECO Securitization Bonds to purchase the securitization property from SIGECO. No gain or loss was recognized.

The SIGECO Securitization Bonds are secured by the securitization property, which includes the right to recover, through non-bypassable securitization charges payable by SIGECO’s retail electric customers, the qualified costs of SIGECO authorized by the IURC order. SIGECO has no payment obligations with respect to the SIGECO Securitization Bonds except to remit collections of securitization charges as set forth in a servicing agreement between SIGECO and the SIGECO Securitization Subsidiary. The non-bypassable securitization charges are subject to a true-up mechanism.

February 2021 Winter Storm Event

In February 2021, certain of the Registrants’ jurisdictions experienced an extreme and unprecedented winter weather event that resulted in prolonged freezing temperatures, which impacted their businesses. The February 2021 Winter Storm Event impacted wholesale prices of CenterPoint Energy’s and CERC’s natural gas purchases and their ability to serve customers in their Natural Gas service territories, including due to the reduction in available natural gas capacity and impacts to CenterPoint Energy’s and CERC’s natural gas supply portfolio activities, and the effects of weather on their systems and their ability to transport natural gas, among other things. The overall natural gas market, including the markets from which CenterPoint Energy and CERC sourced a significant portion of their natural gas for their operations, experienced significant impacts caused by the February 2021 Winter Storm Event, resulting in extraordinary increases in the cost of natural gas purchased by CenterPoint Energy and CERC of approximately $2 billion. CenterPoint Energy and CERC have completed recovery of natural gas costs in Mississippi, Indiana and Texas discussed further below, and continue to recover the natural gas cost in Louisiana and Minnesota. As of December 31, 2023, CenterPoint Energy and CERC have each recorded current regulatory assets of $86 million and non-current regulatory assets of $130 million associated with the February 2021 Winter Storm Event. As of

December 31, 2022, CenterPoint Energy and CERC have each recorded current regulatory assets of $1,175 million and non-current regulatory assets of $202 million associated with the February 2021 Winter Storm Event.

In Minnesota, the MPUC issued its written order on October 19, 2022 disallowing CERC’s recovery of approximately $36 million of the $409 million incurred, and CERC’s regulatory asset balance was reduced to reflect the disallowance. CERC filed a petition for reconsideration on November 8, 2022 and a written order denying the petition for reconsideration was issued on January 6, 2023.

On August 24, 2023, the LPSC Staff issued an audit report which recommends some prospective process changes to the gas supply bid process and did not recommend any disallowance of February 2021 Winter Storm Event gas costs incurred in Louisiana. Recovery of such costs remains subject to LPSC approval. On December 19, 2023, the LPSC issued an order which accepted and approved the audit report.

As of both December 31, 2023 and 2022, as authorized by the PUCT, CenterPoint Energy and Houston Electric recorded a regulatory asset of $8 million for bad debt expenses resulting from REPs’ default on their obligation to pay delivery charges to Houston Electric net of collateral. Additionally, as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, both CenterPoint Energy and Houston Electric recorded a regulatory asset of $17 million and $16 million, respectively, and will request reimbursement of costs associated with the February 2021 Winter Storm Event in Houston Electric’s next rate case.

See Note 15(d) for further information regarding litigation related to the February 2021 Winter Storm Event.

Texas Public Securitization

The Texas Natural Gas Securitization Finance Corporation issued customer rate relief bonds in March 2023, and on March 23, 2023, CenterPoint Energy and CERC, collectively, received approximately $1.1 billion in cash proceeds from the issuance and sale of the state’s customer rate relief bonds. The proceeds from the state’s customer rate relief bonds included carrying costs incurred through August 2022. Incremental carrying costs incurred after August 2022 until the date the proceeds were received are recorded in a separate regulatory asset; the current Texas Gas rate proceeding includes a request for recovery of this regulatory asset. As CenterPoint Energy and CERC have no future financial obligations for the repayment of the state’s customer rate relief bonds, the customer rate relief bonds are not recorded on CenterPoint Energy’s or CERC’s balance sheets. The $1.1 billion in cash proceeds from the state’s customer rate relief bonds is considered to be a government grant. The state’s customer rate relief bonds are backed in part by customer rate relief property, including customer rate relief charges, which are non-bypassable uniform monthly volumetric charges to be paid by all existing and future customers as a component of each regulated utility’s gas cost, separate from their base rate. CERC only acts as a collection agent, whose duties include management, servicing and administration of a portion of the customer rate relief property which is associated with the customer rate relief charge imposed on customers of CERC under the guidance and direction from the Railroad Commission. The Texas Natural Gas Securitization Finance Corporation, and not CenterPoint Energy or CERC, is the owner of the customer rate relief property. The assets of the Texas Natural Gas Securitization Finance Corporation are not available to pay creditors of CenterPoint Energy, CERC, or their affiliates. While the customer rate relief charges will be included by CERC in their monthly billings, the billing amount is established by the Railroad Commission. CERC will remit all customer rate relief charges to the financing entity set up by the Railroad Commission. Therefore, the collection and servicing of customer rate relief charges have no impact on the respective Statements of Consolidated Income of CenterPoint Energy or CERC.

As U.S. generally accepted accounting principles have no specific accounting guidance for government grants or assistance, the cash proceeds from the state’s customer rate relief bonds were accounted for as a government grant by analogy to the grant model under IAS 20—Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosures of Government Assistance. CenterPoint Energy and CERC reflect the proceeds from the grant as a deduction to natural gas costs and recognized the $1.1 billion of cash proceeds from the state’s customer rate relief bonds within Utility natural gas expense on their respective Statements of Consolidated Income in the year ended December 31, 2023, net of the recognition of natural gas cost related to relieving CenterPoint Energy and CERC’s regulatory assets related to the February 2021 Winter Storm Event in the same period.

Houston Electric TEEEF

Pursuant to legislation passed in 2021, Houston Electric entered into two leases for TEEEF (mobile generation) which are detailed in Note 20. Houston Electric initially sought recovery of the lease costs and the applicable return as of December 31, 2021 under these lease agreements of approximately $200 million in its DCRF application field with the PUCT on April 5, 2022, and subsequently amended on July 1, 2022, to show mobile generation in a separate Rider TEEEF. A final order was issued on April 5, 2023 approving a reduced revenue requirement of $39 million that results in full recovery of costs requested

but lengthens the amortization period for the short-term lease to be collected over 82.5 months. On May 25, 2023, the PUCT issued its order on rehearing which clarified some of the findings, but did not change the approval of TEEEF cost recovery. Additional motions for rehearing were filed and the PUCT issued an order on August 3, 2023 denying the motions for rehearing. The deadline for a party to file a judicial appeal of the PUCT’s decision was September 5, 2023, and no appeal was filed. As such, the PUCT’s decision on the first TEEEF filing is now final and non-appealable.

On April 5, 2023, Houston Electric made its second TEEEF filing requesting recovery of TEEEF related costs incurred through December 31, 2022. Houston Electric is requesting a new annual revenue requirement of approximately $188 million using 78 months to amortize the related deferred costs for proposed rates beginning September 2023, a net increase in TEEEF revenues of approximately $149 million. On June 7, 2023, intervenors jointly requested a hearing, and on June 14, 2023, the PUCT staff indicated that it does not oppose a hearing in this docket. On June 21, 2023 Houston Electric made a filing that a hearing is not necessary given the PUCT’s decision in the TEEEF docket filed in 2022 and indicated that if the PUCT does refer this case to the State Office of Administrative Hearings, any preliminary order issued by the PUCT should be limited. On July 18, 2023 the PUCT referred the case to the State Office of Administrative Hearings and, on July 20, 2023, the PUCT issued a preliminary order identifying the issues to be addressed. On August 28, 2023, the State Office of Administrative Hearings issued an Order setting interim rates to collect an annual revenue requirement at the filed amount. Interim rates became effective on September 1, 2023 and are subject to surcharge or refund if they differ from the final rates approved by the PUCT. On October 12, 2023, a joint motion to abate was filed because the parties reached an agreement in principle on all issues. The agreement in principle reduces the annual revenue requirement by approximately $35 million based on recovering the balance as of December 31, 2022 over a 102 month amortization period (instead of the 78 month period in the initial filing) and also allows for revised interim rates (to incorporate the agreement in principle and the initial interim rates that have been in place since September 1, 2023). The updated interim rates were implemented December 15, 2023. The agreement in principle is subject to PUCT approval which was granted in its order issued on February 1, 2024.

Houston Electric defers costs associated with the short-term and long-term leases that are probable of recovery and would otherwise be charged to expense in a regulatory asset, including allowed debt returns, and determined that such regulatory assets remain probable of recovery as of December 31, 2023. Right of use finance lease assets, such as assets acquired under the long-term leases, are evaluated for impairment under the long-lived asset impairment model by assessing if a capital disallowance from a regulator is probable through monitoring the outcome of rate cases and other proceedings. Houston Electric continues to monitor the on-going proceedings and did not record any impairments on its right of use assets in the years ended December 31, 2023 or 2022. See Note 20 for further information.

Regulatory Matters - Schedule of Allowed Equity Return Recognized (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Allowed equity return recognized	$ 41	$ 45	$ 40
Houston Electric
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Allowed equity return recognized	38	42	37
CERC Corp
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Allowed equity return recognized	$ 2	$ 2	$ 2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(a)Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. The accounts of the Registrants and their wholly-owned and majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements. All intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation, except as described below.

As of December 31, 2023, CenterPoint Energy, Houston Electric and SIGECO had VIEs including the Bond Companies and the SIGECO Securitization Subsidiary, which are consolidated. The consolidated VIEs are wholly-owned, bankruptcy-

remote, special purpose entities that were formed solely for the purpose of securitizing transition property or facilitating the securitization financing of qualified costs in the second quarter of 2023 associated with the completed retirement of SIGECO’s A.B. Brown coal generation facilities. CenterPoint Energy, through SIGECO, has a controlling financial interest in the SIGECO Securitization Subsidiary and is the VIE’s primary beneficiary. For further information, see Note 7. Creditors of CenterPoint Energy, Houston Electric and SIGECO have no recourse to any assets or revenues of the Bond Companies or the SIGECO Securitization Subsidiary, as applicable. The Securitization Bonds issued by these VIEs are payable only from and secured by transition or securitization property, as applicable, and the bondholders have no recourse to the general credit of CenterPoint Energy, Houston Electric or SIGECO.

(b)Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

(c)Equity Method and Investments without a Readily Determinable Fair Value (CenterPoint Energy)

CenterPoint Energy uses the equity method for investments in entities when it exercises significant influence, does not have control and is not considered the primary beneficiary, if applicable. Generally, equity investments in limited partnerships with interest greater than approximately 3-5% is accounted for under the equity method.

Under the equity method, CenterPoint Energy adjusts its investments each period for contributions made, distributions received, respective shares of comprehensive income and amortization of basis differences, as appropriate. CenterPoint Energy evaluates its equity method investments for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate there is a loss in value of the investment that is other than a temporary decline.

CenterPoint Energy considers distributions received from equity method investments which do not exceed cumulative equity in earnings subsequent to the date of investment to be a return on investment and classifies these distributions as operating activities in its Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows. CenterPoint Energy considers distributions received from equity method investments in excess of cumulative equity in earnings subsequent to the date of investment to be a return of investment and classifies these distributions as investing activities in its Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows.

Investments without a readily determinable fair value will be measured at cost, less impairment, plus or minus observable prices changes of an identical or similar investment of the same issuer.

(d)Revenues

The Registrants record revenue for electricity delivery and natural gas sales and services under the accrual method and these revenues are recognized upon delivery to customers. Electricity deliveries not billed by month-end are accrued based on actual AMS meter data, supply volumes, estimated line loss and applicable tariff rates. Natural gas sales not billed by month-end are accrued based upon estimated purchased gas volumes, estimated lost and unaccounted for gas and currently effective tariff rates. For further discussion, see Note 5.

(e) MISO Transactions

Indiana Electric is a member of the MISO. MISO-related purchase and sale transactions are recorded using settlement information provided by the MISO. These purchase and sale transactions are accounted for on at least a net hourly position, meaning net purchases within that interval are recorded on CenterPoint Energy’s Statements of Consolidated Income in Utility natural gas, fuel and purchased power, and net sales within that interval are recorded on CenterPoint Energy’s Statements of Consolidated Income in Utility revenues. On occasion, prior period transactions are resettled outside the routine process due to a change in the MISO’s tariff or a material interpretation thereof. Expenses associated with resettlements are recorded once the resettlement is probable and the resettlement amount can be estimated. Revenues associated with resettlements are recognized when the amount is determinable and collectability is reasonably assured.

(f) Guarantees

CenterPoint Energy recognizes guarantee obligations at fair value. CenterPoint Energy discloses parent company guarantees of a subsidiary’s obligation when that guarantee results in the exposure of a material obligation of the parent company even if the probability of fulfilling such obligation is considered remote. See Note 15(c).

(g) Long-lived Assets, Goodwill and Intangibles

The Registrants record property, plant and equipment at historical cost and expense repair and maintenance costs as incurred.

The Registrants periodically evaluate long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment, and specifically identifiable intangibles subject to amortization, when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of these assets may not be recoverable. For rate-regulated businesses, recoverability of long-lived assets is assessed by determining if a capital disallowance from a regulator is probable through monitoring the outcome of rate cases and other proceedings. For businesses that are not rate-regulated, recoverability is assessed based on an estimate of undiscounted cash flows attributable to the assets compared to the carrying value of the assets. No long-lived asset or intangible asset impairments were recorded in 2023, 2022 or 2021.

CenterPoint Energy and CERC perform goodwill impairment tests at least annually and evaluate goodwill when events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying value may not be recoverable. CenterPoint Energy and CERC recognize a goodwill impairment by the amount a reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill within that reporting unit. CenterPoint Energy includes deferred tax assets and liabilities within its reporting unit’s carrying value for the purposes of annual and interim impairment tests, regardless of whether the estimated fair value reflects the disposition of such assets and liabilities. For further information about the goodwill impairment tests, see Note 6.

(h) Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations

Generally, a long-lived asset to be sold is classified as held for sale in the period in which management, with approval from the Board of Directors, as applicable, commits to a plan to sell, and a sale is expected to be completed within one year. The Registrants record assets and liabilities held for sale, or the disposal group, at the lower of their carrying value or their estimated fair value less cost to sell. If the disposal group reflects a component of a reporting unit and meets the definition of a business, the goodwill within that reporting unit is allocated to the disposal group based on the relative fair value of the components representing a business that will be retained and disposed. Goodwill is not allocated to a portion of a reporting unit that does not meet the definition of a business. A disposal group that meets the held for sale criteria and also represents a strategic shift to the Registrant is also reflected as discontinued operations on the Statements of Consolidated Income, and prior periods are recast to reflect the earnings or losses from such businesses as income from discontinued operations, net of tax.

(i) Regulatory Assets and Liabilities

The Registrants apply the guidance for accounting for regulated operations within the Electric reportable segment and the Natural Gas reportable segment. The Registrants’ rate-regulated subsidiaries may collect revenues subject to refund pending final determination in rate proceedings. In connection with such revenues, estimated rate refund liabilities are recorded which reflect management’s current judgment of the ultimate outcomes of the proceedings.

The Registrants’ rate-regulated businesses recognize removal costs as a component of depreciation expense in accordance with regulatory treatment. In addition, a portion of the amount of removal costs collected from customers that relate to AROs has been reflected as an asset retirement liability in accordance with accounting guidance for AROs.

For further detail on the Registrants’ regulatory assets and liabilities, see Note 7.

(j) Depreciation and Amortization Expense

The Registrants compute depreciation and amortization using the straight-line method based on economic lives or regulatory-mandated recovery periods. Amortization expense includes amortization of certain regulatory assets and other intangibles.

(k) Capitalization and Deferral of Interest, including AFUDC


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023						2022						2021
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Capitalized interest and AFUDC debt (1)	$	32	$	18	$	6	$	26	$	14	$	7	$	18	$	13	$	3
AFUDC equity (2)	62		32		14		37		24		5		28		20		5
Deferred debt interest (3)	65		16		43		51		12		36		26		1		22

(1)Included in Interest expense and other finance charges on the Registrants’ respective Statements of Consolidated Income.

(2)Included in Other Income (Expense) on the Registrants’ respective Statements of Consolidated Income.

(l) Income Taxes

Houston Electric and CERC are included in CenterPoint Energy’s U.S. federal consolidated income tax return. Houston Electric and CERC report their income tax provision on a separate entity basis pursuant to a tax sharing policy with CenterPoint Energy. Current federal and certain state income taxes are payable to or receivable from CenterPoint Energy.

The Registrants use the asset and liability method of accounting for deferred income taxes. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. A valuation allowance is established against deferred tax assets for which management believes realization is not considered to be more likely than not. The Registrants recognize interest and penalties as a component of income tax expense (benefit), as applicable, in their respective Statements of Consolidated Income. CenterPoint Energy reports the income tax provision associated with its interest in Enable in discontinued operations, net of tax in its Statements of Consolidated Income. For further information, see Note 4.

To the extent certain EDIT of the Registrants’ rate-regulated subsidiaries may be recoverable or payable through future rates, regulatory assets and liabilities have been recorded, respectively. See Note 14 for further discussion.

The Registrants use the portfolio approach to recognize income tax effects on other comprehensive income from accumulated other comprehensive income.

Investment tax credits are deferred and amortized to income over the approximate lives of the related property. Production tax credits extended by the IRA may be used to reduce current federal income taxes payable.

(m) Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses

Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. Management reviews historical write-offs, current available information, and reasonable and supportable forecasts to estimate and establish allowance for credit losses. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when management determines it is probable the receivable will not be recovered. See Note 7 for further information about regulatory deferrals of bad debt expense, including those related to COVID-19 and the February 2021 Winter Storm Event.

(n) Inventory


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023 (1)		2022		2023 (1)		2022
	CenterPoint Energy				CERC
	(in millions)
LIFO inventory	$	106	$	101	$	86	$	82

(o) Derivative Instruments

The Registrants are exposed to various market risks. These risks arise from transactions entered into in the normal course of business. The Registrants, from time to time, utilize derivative instruments such as physical forward contracts, swaps and options to mitigate the impact of changes in commodity prices, weather and interest rates on operating results and cash flows. Such derivatives are recognized in the Registrants’ Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair value unless the Registrant elects the normal purchase and sales exemption for qualified physical transactions. A derivative may be designated as a normal purchase or normal sale if the intent is to physically receive or deliver the product for use or sale in the normal course of business. CenterPoint Energy elected to record changes in the fair value of amounts excluded from the assessment of effectiveness immediately in its Statements of Consolidated Income, and such amounts will be captured in a regulatory asset or regulatory liability if they are recoverable or refundable to customers.

(p) Investments in Equity Securities (CenterPoint Energy)

CenterPoint Energy reports equity securities at estimated fair value in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, and any gains and losses, net of any transaction costs, are recorded as Gain (Loss) on Equity Securities in the Statements of Consolidated Income.

(q) Environmental Costs

The Registrants expense or capitalize environmental expenditures, as appropriate, depending on their future economic benefit. The Registrants expense amounts that relate to an existing condition caused by past operations that do not have future economic benefit. The Registrants record undiscounted liabilities related to these future costs when environmental assessments and/or remediation activities are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated.

(r) Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

For purposes of reporting cash flows, the Registrants consider cash equivalents to be short-term, highly-liquid investments with maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase. Cash and cash equivalents held by the Bond Companies and the SIGECO Securitization Subsidiary (VIEs) solely to support servicing the Securitization Bonds as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are reflected on CenterPoint Energy’s and Houston Electric’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

In connection with the issuance of Securitization Bonds, CenterPoint Energy and Houston Electric were required to establish restricted cash accounts to collateralize the bonds that were issued in these financing transactions. These restricted cash accounts are not available for withdrawal until the maturity of the bonds and are not included in cash and cash equivalents. For more information on restricted cash see Note 18.

(s) Preferred Stock and Dividends

Preferred stock is evaluated to determine balance sheet classification, and all conversion and redemption features are evaluated for bifurcation treatment. Proceeds received net of issuance costs are recognized on the settlement date. Cash dividends become a liability once declared. Income available to common stockholders is computed by deducting from net income the dividends accumulated and earned during the period on cumulative preferred stock.

(t) New Accounting Pronouncements

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (“ASU 2023-07”). This ASU updates segment disclosure requirements through enhanced disclosures around significant segment expenses. ASU 2023-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and for interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The Registrants are currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on their respective consolidated financial statements.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”). This ASU enhances the transparency of income tax disclosures related to rate reconciliation and income taxes. ASU 2023-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The Registrants are currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on their respective consolidated financial statements.

Management believes that all other recently adopted and recently issued accounting standards that are not yet effective will not have a material impact on the Registrants’ financial position, results of operations or cash flows upon adoption.

Derivative Instruments - Summary of Derivative Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Income Statement Impact of Derivative Activity [Abstract]
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments	$ (27)	$ 325	$ 50
Derivative, Credit Risk Related Contingent Features [Abstract]
Aggregate fair value of derivatives containing material adverse change provisions in a net liability position	9	0
Fair value of collateral already posted	0	0
Additional collateral required to be posted if credit risk contingent features triggered	9	0
CERC Corp
Derivative, Credit Risk Related Contingent Features [Abstract]
Aggregate fair value of derivatives containing material adverse change provisions in a net liability position	8	0
Fair value of collateral already posted	0	0
Additional collateral required to be posted if credit risk contingent features triggered	8	0
Gains (Losses) in Other Income (Expense) \| Indexed debt securities derivative
Income Statement Impact of Derivative Activity [Abstract]
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments	(27)	325	$ 50
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net, by Balance Sheet Classification [Abstract]
Derivative Assets Fair Value	0	12
Derivative Liabilities Fair Value	617	578
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| CERC Corp
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net, by Balance Sheet Classification [Abstract]
Derivative Assets Fair Value	0	9
Derivative Liabilities Fair Value	11	0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Current Assets \| Natural gas derivatives
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net, by Balance Sheet Classification [Abstract]
Derivative Assets Fair Value	0	9
Derivative Liabilities Fair Value	0	0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Current Assets \| Natural gas derivatives \| CERC Corp
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net, by Balance Sheet Classification [Abstract]
Derivative Assets Fair Value	0	7
Derivative Liabilities Fair Value	0	0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Current Assets \| Interest rate derivatives
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net, by Balance Sheet Classification [Abstract]
Derivative Assets Fair Value	0	1
Derivative Liabilities Fair Value	0	0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Other Noncurrent Assets \| Natural gas derivatives
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net, by Balance Sheet Classification [Abstract]
Derivative Assets Fair Value	0	2
Derivative Liabilities Fair Value	0	0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Other Noncurrent Assets \| Natural gas derivatives \| CERC Corp
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net, by Balance Sheet Classification [Abstract]
Derivative Assets Fair Value	0	2
Derivative Liabilities Fair Value	0	0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Current Liabilities \| Natural gas derivatives
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net, by Balance Sheet Classification [Abstract]
Derivative Assets Fair Value	0	0
Derivative Liabilities Fair Value	9	0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Current Liabilities \| Natural gas derivatives \| CERC Corp
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net, by Balance Sheet Classification [Abstract]
Derivative Assets Fair Value	0	0
Derivative Liabilities Fair Value	8	0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Current Liabilities \| Indexed debt securities derivative
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net, by Balance Sheet Classification [Abstract]
Derivative Assets Fair Value	0	0
Derivative Liabilities Fair Value	605	578
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Other Noncurrent Liabilities \| Natural gas derivatives
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net, by Balance Sheet Classification [Abstract]
Derivative Assets Fair Value	0	0
Derivative Liabilities Fair Value	3	0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Other Noncurrent Liabilities \| Natural gas derivatives \| CERC Corp
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net, by Balance Sheet Classification [Abstract]
Derivative Assets Fair Value	0	0
Derivative Liabilities Fair Value	$ 3	$ 0

Goodwill and Other Intangibles (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill by Reportable Segments

CenterPoint Energy’s goodwill by reportable segment is as follows:


	December 31, 2022		Disposals			December 31, 2023
	(in millions)
Electric (1)	$	936	$	—		$	936
Natural Gas	2,920		—			2,920
Corporate and Other	438		134		(2)	304
Total	$	4,294	$	134		$	4,160

(1)Amount presented is net of the accumulated goodwill impairment charge of $185 million recorded in 2020.

(2)Represents goodwill attributable to the sale of Energy Systems Group. For further information, see Note 4.

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets

The tables below present information on CenterPoint Energy’s other intangible assets, excluding goodwill, recorded in Other non-current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and the related amortization expense included in Depreciation and amortization on CenterPoint Energy’s Statements of Consolidated Income, unless otherwise indicated in the tables below. The intangible assets and associated amortization expense were primarily related to Energy Systems Group prior to the completion of the sale in June 2023 as indicated below. As a result, there are no intangible assets to report as of December 31, 2023. See Note 4 for further information.


	December 31, 2022
			Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Balance
		(in millions)
Customer relationships (1)			$	33	$	(16)	$	17

Trade names (1)			16		(6)		10

Operation and maintenance agreements (1) (2)			12		(2)		10
Other			2		(1)		1
Total			$	63	$	(25)	$	38

(1)Related to Energy Systems Group prior to the completion of the sale in June 2023. Amortization ceased at June 30, 2023, the end of the quarter in which the held for sale criteria was met. See Note 4 for further information.

(2)Amortization expense related to the operation and maintenance agreements is included in Non-utility cost of revenues, including natural gas on CenterPoint Energy’s Statements of Consolidated Income. Amortization ceased at June 30, 2023, the end of the quarter in which the held for sale criteria was met. See Note 4 for further information.

Finite-lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
	(in millions)
Amortization expense of intangible assets recorded in Depreciation and amortization	$	3	$	6	$	6
Amortization expense of intangible assets recorded in Non-utility cost of revenues, including natural gas	—		1		1

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of goodwill by reportable segment and in total which includes a rollforward schedule.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 24
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482548/350-20-55-24

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482573/350-20-50-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (h)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482573/350-20-50-1

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482573/350-20-50-1

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482573/350-20-50-1

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482573/350-20-50-1

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482573/350-20-50-1

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (e)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482573/350-20-50-1

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (f)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482573/350-20-50-1

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (g)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482573/350-20-50-1

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482573/350-20-50-1A

Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482573/350-20-50-2

+ Details

Leases

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Leases [Abstract]

Leases

(20) Leases

An arrangement is determined to be a lease at inception based on whether the Registrant has the right to control the use of an identified asset. ROU assets represent the Registrants’ right to use the underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Registrants’ obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term, including payments at commencement that depend on an index or rate. Most leases in which the Registrants are the lessee do not have a readily determinable implicit rate, so an incremental borrowing rate, based on the information available at the lease commencement date, is utilized to determine the present value of lease payments. When a secured borrowing rate is not readily available, unsecured borrowing rates are adjusted for the effects of collateral to determine the incremental borrowing rate. Each Registrant uses the implicit rate for agreements in which it is a lessor. Lease income and expense for operating leases and ROU amortization for finance leases are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

The Registrants have lease agreements with lease and non-lease components and have elected the practical expedient to combine lease and non-lease components for certain classes of leases, such as office buildings and mobile generators. For classes of leases in which lease and non-lease components are not combined, consideration is allocated between components based on the stand-alone prices. Sublease income is not significant to the Registrants.

The Registrants’ lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees, material restrictions or material covenants. There are no lease transactions with related parties. Agreements in which the Registrants are lessors do not include

provisions for the lessee to purchase the assets. Because risk is minimal, the Registrants do not take any significant actions to manage risk associated with the residual value of their leased assets.

The Registrants’ operating lease agreements are primarily equipment and real property leases, including land and office facility leases. CenterPoint Energy and Houston Electric also have finance lease agreements for mobile generators. The Registrants’ lease terms may include options to extend or terminate a lease when it is reasonably certain that those options will be exercised. The Registrants have elected an accounting policy that exempts leases with terms of one year or less from the recognition requirements of ASC 842.

In 2021, Houston Electric entered into a temporary short-term lease and long-term leases for mobile generation. The short-term lease agreement allows Houston Electric to take delivery of TEEEF assets on a short-term basis with an initial term ending on September 30, 2022 and extended until December 31, 2022. At such time, the short-term lease agreement expired and all mobile generation assets were leased under the long-term lease agreement. Per Houston Electric’s short-term lease accounting policy election, a ROU asset and lease liability were not reflected on Houston Electric’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. Expenses associated with the short-term lease, including carrying costs, are deferred to a regulatory asset and totaled $100 million and $103 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

The long-term lease agreement includes up to 505 MW of TEEEF, all of which was delivered as of December 31, 2022, triggering lease commencement at delivery, with an initial term ending in 2029 for all TEEEF leases. The total cash payments under the long-term lease totaled $664 million, with the final $485 million paid in 2022. These assets were previously available under the short-term lease agreement. Houston Electric derecognized the finance lease liability when the extinguishment criteria in Topic 405 - Liabilities was achieved. Per the terms of the agreement, lease payments are due and made in full by Houston Electric upon taking possession of the asset, relieving substantially all of the associated finance lease liability at that time. The remaining finance lease liability associated with the commenced long-term TEEEF agreement was not significant as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and relates to removal costs that will be incurred at the end of the lease term. As of December 31, 2023, Houston Electric has secured a first lien on the assets leased under the prepayment agreement, except for assets with lease payments totaling $97 million. The $97 million prepayment is being held in an escrow account, not controlled by Houston Electric, and the funds will be released when a first lien can be secured by Houston Electric. Expenses associated with the long-term lease, including depreciation expense on the right of use asset and carrying costs, are deferred to a regulatory asset and totaled $124 million and $60 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The long-term lease agreement contains a termination clause that can be exercised in the event of material adverse regulatory actions. If the right to terminate is elected, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, 75% of Houston Electric’s prepaid lease costs that is attributable to the period from the effective date of termination to the end of the lease term would be refunded. In December 2022, the long-term lease agreement was amended to include a disallowance reimbursement clause that can be exercised in the event that any regulatory proceeding or settlement agreement results in a disallowance of Houston Electric’s recovery of deferred costs under either the long-term lease agreement, short-term lease agreement or any other quantifiable adverse financial impact to Houston Electric. The disallowance reimbursement clause expired on December 31, 2023 and Houston Electric can no longer seek relief in the event of an unfavorable regulatory ruling. For further discussion of the regulatory impacts, see Note 7.

Houston Electric will also incur variable costs throughout the lease term for the operation and maintenance of the generators. Lease costs, including variable and ROU asset amortization costs, are deferred to Regulatory assets as incurred as a recoverable cost under the 2021 Texas legislation. See Note 7 for further information regarding recovery of these deferred costs.

The components of lease cost, included in Operation and maintenance expense on the Registrants’ respective Statements of Consolidated Income, are as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023						2022						2021
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Operating lease cost	$	6	$	3	$	2	$	6	$	1	$	2	$	8	$	1	$	4
Short-term lease cost	31		30		$	—	167		166		1		119		118		—

Total lease cost (1)	$	37	$	33	$	2	$	173	$	167	$	3	$	127	$	119	$	4

The components of lease income were as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023						2022						2021
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Operating lease income	$	6	$	1	$	4	$	5	$	1	$	3	$	6	$	1	$	3
Variable lease income	2		—		—		2		—		—		1		—		—
Total lease income	$	8	$	1	$	4	$	7	$	1	$	3	$	7	$	1	$	3

Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows:


	December 31, 2023									December 31, 2022
	CenterPoint Energy			Houston Electric			CERC			CenterPoint Energy			Houston Electric			CERC
	(in millions, except lease term and discount rate)
Assets:
Operating ROU assets (1)	$	13		$	6		$	4		$	19		$	6		$	5
Finance ROU assets (2)	526			$	526		—			621			621			—
Total leased assets	$	539		$	532		$	4		$	640		$	627		$	5

Liabilities:
Current operating lease liability (3)	$	3		$	1		$	1		$	5		$	1		$	2
Non-current operating lease liability (4)	10			$	5		3			14			5			4
Total leased liabilities (5)	$	13		$	6		$	4		$	19		$	6		$	6

Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years) - operating leases	4.7			3.9			3.1			4.3			4.8			3.9
Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases	4.13		%	4.09		%	3.60		%	3.80		%	4.01		%	3.58		%
Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years) - finance leases	5.5			5.5			—			6.5			6.5			—
Weighted-average discount rate - finance leases	3.60		%	3.60		%	—			3.60		%	3.60		%	—

(1)Reported within Other assets in the Registrants’ respective Consolidated Balance Sheets, net of accumulated amortization.

(2)Reported within Property, Plant and Equipment in the Registrants’ respective Consolidated Balance Sheets, net of accumulated amortization.

(3)Reported within Current other liabilities in the Registrants’ respective Consolidated Balance Sheets.

(4)Reported within Other liabilities in the Registrants’ respective Consolidated Balance Sheets.

As of December 31, 2023, finance lease liabilities were not significant to the Registrants. As of December 31, 2023, maturities of operating lease liabilities were as follows:


	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)

2024	$	4	$	2	$	2
2025	3		2		1
2026	3		1		1
2027	2		1		—
2028	1		—		—
2029 and beyond	2		—		—
Total lease payments	15		6		4
Less: Interest	2		—		—
Present value of lease liabilities	$	13	$	6	$	4

As of December 31, 2023, future minimum finance lease payments to be received were not significant to the Registrants. As of December 31, 2023, maturities of undiscounted operating lease payments to be received are as follows:


	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
2024	$	6	$	1	$	4
2025	8		1		5
2026	8		—		5
2027	7		—		5
2028	7		—		5
2029 and beyond	173		—		170
Total lease payments to be received	$	209	$	2	$	194

Other information related to leases is as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023						2022						2021
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Operating cash flows from operating leases included in the measurement of lease liabilities	$	5	$	2	$	2	$	6	$	1	$	2	$	6	$	1	$	3
Financing cash flows from finance leases included in the measurement of lease liabilities	—		—		—		485		485		—		179		179		—

See Note 18 for information on ROU assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities.

Income Taxes

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

The components of the Registrant’s income tax expense (benefit) were as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
	(in millions)
CenterPoint Energy - Continuing Operations
Current income tax expense (benefit):
Federal	$	106	$	294	$	—
State	33		46		(28)
Total current expense (benefit)	139		340		(28)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
Federal	119		16		78
State	(88)		4		60
Total deferred expense	31		20		138
Total income tax expense	$	170	$	360	$	110

CenterPoint Energy - Discontinued Operations
Current income tax expense:
Federal	$	—	$	—	$	91
State	—		—		35
Total current expense	—		—		126
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
Federal	—		—		127
State	—		—		(52)
Total deferred expense (benefit)	—		—		75
Total income tax expense (benefit)	$	—	$	—	$	201

Houston Electric
Current income tax expense (benefit):
Federal	$	(26)	$	23	$	22
State	34		16		22
Total current expense	8		39		44
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
Federal	159		86		31
State	1		—		1
Total deferred expense (benefit)	160		86		32
Total income tax expense	$	168	$	125	$	76


CERC - Continuing Operations
Current income tax expense (benefit):
Federal	$	12	$	30	$	—
State	3		28		(25)
Total current expense (benefit)	15		58		(25)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
Federal	95		164		67
State	(136)		14		34
Total deferred expense (benefit)	(41)		178		101
Total income tax expense (benefit)	$	(26)	$	236	$	76

A reconciliation of income tax expense (benefit) using the federal statutory income tax rate to the actual income tax expense and resulting effective income tax rate is as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023			2022			2021
	(in millions)
CenterPoint Energy - Continuing Operations (1) (2) (3)
Income before income taxes	$	1,087		$	1,417		$	778
Federal statutory income tax rate	21		%	21		%	21		%
Expected federal income tax expense	228			298			163
Increase (decrease) in tax expense resulting from:
State income tax expense, net of federal income tax	25			46			63
State valuation allowance, net of federal income tax	—			—			(15)
State law change, net of federal income tax	(69)			—			(23)

Equity AFUDC	(13)			(8)			(6)
Excess deferred income tax amortization	(44)			(51)			(75)
Goodwill impairment	—			84			—

Sale of Energy Systems Group	28			—			—
Other, net	15			(9)			3
Total	(58)			62			(53)
Total income tax expense	$	170		$	360		$	110
Effective tax rate	16		%	25		%	14		%
CenterPoint Energy - Discontinued Operations (4)
Income before income taxes	$	—		$	—		$	1,019
Federal statutory income tax rate	—		%	—		%	21		%
Expected federal income tax expense	—			—			214
Increase (decrease) in tax expense resulting from:
State income tax expense, net of federal income tax	—			—			14

State law change, net of federal income tax	—			—			(27)






Total	—			—			(13)
Total income tax expense	$	—		$	—		$	201
Effective tax rate	—		%	—		%	20		%
Houston Electric (5) (6) (7)
Income before income taxes	$	761		$	635		$	457
Federal statutory income tax rate	21		%	21		%	21		%
Expected federal income tax expense	160			133			96
Increase (decrease) in tax expense resulting from:
State income tax expense, net of federal income tax	27			13			18


Excess deferred income tax amortization	(17)			(18)			(41)
Other, net	(2)			(3)			3
Total	8			(8)			(20)
Total income tax expense	$	168		$	125		$	76
Effective tax rate	22		%	20		%	17		%


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023			2022			2021
	(in millions)
CERC - Continuing Operations (8) (9) (10)
Income before income taxes	$	486		$	961		$	466
Federal statutory income tax rate	21		%	21		%	21		%
Expected federal income tax expense	102			202			98
Increase (decrease) in tax expense resulting from:
State income tax expense, net of federal income tax	(40)			35			31
State law change, net of federal income tax	(66)			—			(9)
State valuation allowance, net of federal income tax	—			—			(15)

Goodwill impairment	—			30			—
Excess deferred income tax amortization	(23)			(28)			(30)

Other, net	1			(3)			1
Total	(128)			34			(22)
Total income tax expense (benefit)	$	(26)		$	236		$	76
Effective tax rate	(5)		%	25		%	16		%

(4)Recognized a $27 million benefit for the impact of state law changes that resulted in the remeasurement of state deferred taxes in those jurisdictions.

(5)Recognized a $17 million benefit for the amortization of the net regulatory EDIT liability as decreed by regulators in certain jurisdictions.

(6)Recognized a $18 million benefit for the amortization of the net regulatory EDIT liability as decreed by regulators in certain jurisdictions.

(7)Recognized a $41 million benefit for the amortization of the net regulatory EDIT liability as decreed by regulators in certain jurisdictions.

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows:


	December 31,
	2023		2022
	(in millions)
CenterPoint Energy
Deferred tax assets:
Benefits and compensation	$	131	$	121
Regulatory liabilities	365		378
Loss and credit carryforwards	76		84
Asset retirement obligations	96		95


Other	124		49
Valuation allowance	(10)		(10)
Total deferred tax assets	782		717
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment	3,580		3,228

Regulatory assets	401		601
Investment in ZENS and equity securities related to ZENS	788		722

Other	92		152
Total deferred tax liabilities	4,861		4,703
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	4,079	$	3,986

Houston Electric
Deferred tax assets:
Benefits and compensation	$	10	$	10

Regulatory liabilities	176		184
Asset retirement obligations	6		6
Other	18		13
Total deferred tax assets	210		213
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment	1,497		1,330
Regulatory assets	119		112

Total deferred tax liabilities	1,616		1,442
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	1,406	$	1,229
CERC
Deferred tax assets:
Benefits and compensation	$	21	$	9
Regulatory liabilities	145		151
Loss and credit carryforwards	276		466
Asset retirement obligations	86		86
Other	65		25

Total deferred tax assets	593		737
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment	1,602		1,427
Regulatory assets	171		381
Other	66		191
Total deferred tax liabilities	1,839		1,999
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	1,246	$	1,262

Tax Attribute Carryforwards and Valuation Allowance. CenterPoint Energy has no federal NOL carryforwards and no federal charitable contribution carryforwards as of December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, CenterPoint Energy had $1 billion of state NOL carryforwards that expire between 2024 and 2042, and $2 million of state tax credits, net of valuation allowance, which do not expire. CenterPoint Energy reported a valuation allowance against certain state NOL and credit carryforwards because it is more likely than not that the benefit will not be realized.

CERC has $931 million of federal NOL carryforwards which have an indefinite carryforward period. CERC has $657 million of gross state NOL carryforwards which expire between 2024 and 2042, and $2 million of state tax credits, net of valuation allowance, which do not expire.

A reconciliation of CenterPoint Energy’s beginning and ending balance of unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties, for 2023 and 2022 are as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022
	(in millions)
Balance, beginning of year	$	26	$	3



Increases related to tax positions of prior years	—		26
Decreases related to tax positions of prior years	—		(3)

Lapse of statute of limitations	(1)		—

Balance, end of year	$	25	$	26

CenterPoint Energy’s net unrecognized tax benefits, including penalties and interest, were $29 million as of December 31, 2023 and are included in other non-current liabilities in the Consolidated Financial Statements. Included in the balance of uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2023 are $25 million of tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate. The Registrants recognize interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits and penalties as income tax expense. The above table does not include $4 million of accrued penalties and interest as of December 31, 2023. The Registrants believe that it is reasonably possible that there will be a $3 million decrease in unrecognized tax benefits, including penalties and interest, in the next 12 months as a result of a lapse of statutes on older exposures, a tax settlement, and/or a resolution of open audits.

Tax Audits and Settlements. Tax years through 2018 and tax year 2021 have been audited and settled with the IRS for CenterPoint Energy. Tax years 2019-2020 remain open. For the 2019-2023 tax years, the Registrants are participants in the IRS’s Compliance Assurance Process. Vectren’s pre-Merger 2014-2019 tax years have been audited and settled with the IRS.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for income taxes. Disclosures may include net deferred tax liability or asset recognized in an enterprise's statement of financial position, net change during the year in the total valuation allowance, approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward that gives rise to a significant portion of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, utilization of a tax carryback, and tax uncertainties information.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480990/946-20-50-13

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08(h)(2))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480678/235-10-S99-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 740
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//740/tableOfContent

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 14
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482685/740-10-50-14

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 21
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482685/740-10-50-21

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 270
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482526/740-270-50-1

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 17
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482685/740-10-50-17

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 6.I.5.Q1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479360/740-10-S99-1

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 11.C)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479360/740-10-S99-2

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482603/740-30-50-2

+ Details

Equity (CenterPoint Energy) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2023
Cumulative preferred stock, outstanding (in shares)	0	800,000	800,000
Preferred stock, value outstanding	$ 0	$ 790	$ 790
Total income allocated to preferred shareholders	50	49	95
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(31)	(64)
Prior service cost	1	(1)
Actuarial losses	1	8
Settlement	0	67
Reclassification of deferred loss from cash flow hedges realized in net income	0	1
Tax benefit (expense)	1	(2)
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	(4)	33	26
Ending balance	(35)	(31)	(64)
Net deferred gain from cash flow hedges	1	0	0
Other Pension, Postretirement and Supplemental Plans
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Remeasurement of pension and other postretirement plans	(8)	(40)
CERC Corp
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	16	10
Prior service cost	(2)	(1)
Actuarial losses	2	1
Settlement	0	0
Reclassification of deferred loss from cash flow hedges realized in net income	0	0
Tax benefit (expense)	0	(4)
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	0	6	0
Ending balance	16	16	$ 10
Net deferred gain from cash flow hedges	0	0
CERC Corp \| Other Pension, Postretirement and Supplemental Plans
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Remeasurement of pension and other postretirement plans	$ 0	$ 10
Common Stock
Common stock, dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.7800	$ 0.7200	$ 0.6600
Common Stock dividends paid per share (in dollars per share)	0.7700	0.7000	0.6500
Series A Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, dividends declared (in dollars per share)	30.6250	61.2500	61.2500
Preferred stock dividends paid per share (in dollars per share)	61.2500	$ 61.2500	$ 61.2500
Preferred stock liquidation preference (in dollar per share)	$ 1,000			$ 1,000
Cumulative preferred stock, outstanding (in shares)	0	800,000	800,000
Preferred stock, value outstanding	$ 0	$ 790	$ 790
Income allocated to preferred shareholders	$ 50	$ 49	$ 49
Series B Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, dividends declared (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 35.0000
Preferred stock dividends paid per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 52.5000
Income allocated to preferred shareholders	$ 0	$ 0	$ 46
Total income allocated to preferred shareholders	$ 50	$ 49	$ 95
Series C Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, dividends declared (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Preferred stock dividends paid per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0.1600

Revenue Recognition (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]

Disaggregation of Revenue

The following tables disaggregate revenues by reportable segment and major source:

CenterPoint Energy


	Year Ended December 31, 2023
	Electric		Natural Gas		Corporate and Other		Total
	(in millions)
Revenue from contracts with customers	$	4,275	$	4,210	$	127	$	8,612
Other (1)	15		69		3		87
Eliminations	—		(3)		—		(3)
Total revenues	$	4,290	$	4,276	$	130	$	8,696


	Year Ended December 31, 2022
	Electric		Natural Gas		Corporate and Other		Total
	(in millions)
Revenue from contracts with customers	$	4,095	$	4,969	$	263	$	9,327
Other (1)	13		(23)		4		(6)
Total revenues	$	4,108	$	4,946	$	267	$	9,321

	Year Ended December 31, 2021
	Electric		Natural Gas		Corporate and Other		Total
	(in millions)
Revenue from contracts with customers	$	3,726	$	4,281	$	249	$	8,256
Other (1)	37		55		4		96
Total revenues	$	3,763	$	4,336	$	253	$	8,352

(1)Primarily consists of income from ARPs and leases. Total lease income was $8 million, $7 million and $7 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Houston Electric


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
	(in millions)
Revenue from contracts with customers	$	3,684	$	3,417	$	3,117
Other (1)	(7)		(5)		17
Total revenues	$	3,677	$	3,412	$	3,134

(1)Primarily consists of income from ARPs and leases. Lease income was not significant for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021.

CERC


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
	(in millions)
Revenue from contracts with customers	$	4,083	$	4,816	$	4,148
Other (1)	66		(16)		52
Total revenues	$	4,149	$	4,800	$	4,200

(1)Primarily consists of income from ARPs and leases. Lease income was $4 million, $3 million and $3 million, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.

Contract with Customer, Asset and Liability

The opening and closing balances of accounts receivable, other accrued unbilled revenue, contract assets and contract liabilities from contracts with customers are as follows:

CenterPoint Energy


	Accounts Receivable		Other Accrued Unbilled Revenues		Contract Assets (1)		Contract Liabilities (1)
	(in millions)
Opening balance as of December 31, 2022	$	858	$	764	$	4	$	45
Closing balance as of December 31, 2023	652		516		—		2
Increase (decrease)	$	(206)	$	(248)	$	(4)	$	(43)

(1) Decrease primarily related to the completed sale of Energy Systems Group on June 30, 2023.

The amount of revenue recognized in the year ended December 31, 2023 that was included in the opening contract liability was $2 million.

Houston Electric


	Accounts Receivable		Other Accrued Unbilled Revenues		Contract Liabilities
	(in millions)
Opening balance as of December 31, 2022	$	271	$	142	$	2
Closing balance as of December 31, 2023	275		142		2
Increase	$	4	$	—	$	—

The amount of revenue recognized in the year ended December 31, 2023 that was included in the opening contract liability was $2 million.

CERC


	Accounts Receivable		Other Accrued Unbilled Revenues
	(in millions)
Opening balance as of December 31, 2022	$	478	$	573
Closing balance as of December 31, 2023	330		329
Decrease	$	(148)	$	(244)

Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss

The table below summarizes the Registrants’ bad debt expense amounts for 2023, 2022 and 2021, net of regulatory deferrals, including those related to COVID-19:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023						2022						2021
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Bad debt expense	$	18	$	—	$	16	$	20	$	—	$	17	$	12	$	—	$	10
Bad debt expense deferred as regulatory asset	—		—		—		—		—		—		16		8		8

Property, Plant and Equipment

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Property, Plant and Equipment

(a) Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment includes the following:


		December 31, 2023						December 31, 2022
	Weighted Average Useful Lives	Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross		Accumulated Depreciation & Amortization		Property, Plant and Equipment, Net		Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross		Accumulated Depreciation & Amortization		Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
	(in years)	(in millions)
CenterPoint Energy
Electric transmission and distribution	37	$	19,151	$	4,762	$	14,389	$	19,154	$	5,317	$	13,837
Electric generation (1)	25	1,381		315		1,066		2,120		813		1,307
Natural gas distribution	32	16,492		4,337		12,155		15,097		4,135		10,962


Finance ROU asset mobile generation	7.5	662		136		526		662		41		621
Other property	22	2,710		993		1,717		695		279		416
Total		$	40,396	$	10,543	$	29,853	$	37,728	$	10,585	$	27,143
Houston Electric
Electric transmission and distribution	37	$	16,800	$	3,641	$	13,159	$	14,791	$	3,556	$	11,235

Finance ROU asset mobile generation	7.5	662		136		526		662		41		621
Other property	20	2,053		692		1,361		2,300		695		1,605
Total		$	19,515	$	4,469	$	15,046	$	17,753	$	4,292	$	13,461
CERC
Natural gas distribution	31	$	15,591	$	4,136	$	11,455	$	14,316	$	3,946	$	10,370

Other property	15	81		33		48		63		27		36
Total		$	15,672	$	4,169	$	11,503	$	14,379	$	3,973	$	10,406

(1)SIGECO and AGC own a 300 MW unit at the Warrick Power Plant (Warrick Unit 4) as tenants in common as of December 31, 2023. SIGECO’s share of the cost of this unit as of December 31, 2023, is $198 million with accumulated depreciation totaling $171 million. Under the operating agreement, AGC and SIGECO shared equally in the cost of operation and output of the unit. SIGECO’s share of operating costs is included in Operation and maintenance expense in CenterPoint Energy’s Statements of Consolidated Income. SIGECO exited joint operations of Warrick 4 on January 1, 2024.

(b) Depreciation and Amortization

The following table presents depreciation and amortization expense for 2023, 2022 and 2021:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023						2022						2021
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Depreciation	$	1,092	$	484	$	459	$	1,013	$	434	$	420	$	1,024	$	391	$	466
Amortization of securitized regulatory assets	163		155		—		191		191		—		213		213		—
Other amortization	146		109		34		84		45		28		79		38		17
Total	$	1,401	$	748	$	493	$	1,288	$	670	$	448	$	1,316	$	642	$	483

The Registrants account for an ARO at fair value in the period during which the legal obligation is incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value and its settlement date can be made. At the timing of recording an ARO, the associated asset retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. The Registrants recognize a regulatory asset or liability for the timing differences between the recognition of expenses and costs recovered through the ratemaking process. The estimates of future liabilities are developed using a discounted cash flow model based upon estimates and assumptions of future costs, interest rates, credit-adjusted risk-free rates and the estimated timing of settlement.

The Registrants have recorded AROs associated with the removal of asbestos and asbestos-containing material in its buildings, including substation building structures. CenterPoint Energy recorded AROs relating to the closure of the ash ponds at A.B. Brown and F.B. Culley. CenterPoint Energy and Houston Electric also recorded AROs relating to treated wood poles for electric distribution, distribution transformers containing PCB (also known as Polychlorinated Biphenyl), and underground fuel storage tanks. CenterPoint Energy and CERC also recorded AROs relating to gas pipelines abandoned in place.

A reconciliation of the changes in the ARO liability recorded in Other non-current liabilities on each of the Registrants’ respective Consolidated Balance Sheets is as follows:


	December 31, 2023						December 31, 2022
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Beginning balance	$	610	$	36	$	420	$	659	$	42	$	479

Accretion expense (1)	23		1		16		20		1		15
Revisions in estimates (2)	(43)		3		(56)		(69)		(7)		(74)
Ending balance	$	590	$	40	$	380	$	610	$	36	$	420

(1)Reflected in Regulatory assets on each of the Registrants’ respective Consolidated Balance Sheets.

(2)In 2023 and 2022, CenterPoint Energy and CERC reflected a decrease in their respective ARO liability, which was primarily attributable to increases in the long-term interest rates used for discounting in the ARO calculation. In 2023, Houston Electric reflected an increase in its ARO liability attributable to an increase in discount rates and disposal costs, while in 2022, Houston Electric reflected a decrease in its ARO liability, which was primarily attributable to increases in the long-term interest rates used for discounting in the ARO calculation.

Regulatory Matters - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions				12 Months Ended
Regulatory Matters - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions	Oct. 12, 2023 USD ($)	Apr. 05, 2023 USD ($)	Mar. 23, 2023 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) lease	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)	Jun. 29, 2023 USD ($)	Jan. 04, 2023 USD ($)	Oct. 19, 2022 USD ($)	Jul. 01, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Regulatory assets current				$ 1,385	$ 161
Regulatory asset, noncurrent				2,193	2,513
Total regulatory assets				3,578	2,674
February 2021 Winter Storm \| Operation And Maintenance Expense
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Total regulatory assets				16	17
February 2021 Winter Storm Event
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Regulatory liability, approximate total gas cost										$ 2,000
Regulatory assets current				1,175
Regulatory asset, noncurrent				202	130
February 2021 Winter Storm Event \| Customer Rate Relief Bond Financing
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Cash proceeds received from government grants			$ 1,100
February 2021 Winter Storm
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Regulatory assets current					86
CERC Corp
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Regulatory assets current				1,336	161
Regulatory asset, noncurrent				844	850
Total regulatory assets				2,180	1,011
CERC Corp \| Minnesota Service Territory
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Regulatory liability, approximate total gas cost								$ 409
CERC Corp \| February 2021 Winter Storm Event
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Regulatory assets current				1,175
Regulatory asset, noncurrent				202	130
CERC Corp \| February 2021 Winter Storm Event \| Customer Rate Relief Bond Financing
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Cash proceeds received from government grants			$ 1,100
CERC Corp \| February 2021 Winter Storm
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Regulatory assets current					86
Houston Electric
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Regulatory assets current				0	0
Regulatory asset, noncurrent				778	752
Total regulatory assets				$ 778	752
Number of leases entered into \| lease				2
Houston Electric \| February 2021 Winter Storm \| Operation And Maintenance Expense
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Total regulatory assets				$ 16	$ 17
Subsidiaries \| SIGECO
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Regulatory asset, issued						$ 341
IURC
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Regulatory asset, authorized issuance costs							$ 350
Minnesota Public Utility Commission \| CERC Corp
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Disallowance of regulatory asset								$ 36
Public Utility Commission of Texas
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Total regulatory assets				8
Public Utility Commission of Texas \| Houston Electric
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Total regulatory assets				$ 8
Public Utility Commission Of Texas \| Houston Electric
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Recovery of deferred costs sought									$ 200
Public Utility Commission Of Texas \| Houston Electric \| TEEEF Lease One
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Regulatory asset, revenue requirement amount		$ 39
Regulatory asset, amortization period		82 months 15 days
Public Utility Commission Of Texas \| Houston Electric \| TEEEF Lease Two
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Regulatory asset, amortization period	102 months	78 months
Annual revenue increase from lease agreements		$ 149
Regulatory Asset, Total Revenue Requirement Amount		$ 188
Regulatory Asset, Revenue Requirement Amount Reduction	$ 35

Property, Plant and Equipment (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Schedule of Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment includes the following:


		December 31, 2023						December 31, 2022
	Weighted Average Useful Lives	Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross		Accumulated Depreciation & Amortization		Property, Plant and Equipment, Net		Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross		Accumulated Depreciation & Amortization		Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
	(in years)	(in millions)
CenterPoint Energy
Electric transmission and distribution	37	$	19,151	$	4,762	$	14,389	$	19,154	$	5,317	$	13,837
Electric generation (1)	25	1,381		315		1,066		2,120		813		1,307
Natural gas distribution	32	16,492		4,337		12,155		15,097		4,135		10,962


Finance ROU asset mobile generation	7.5	662		136		526		662		41		621
Other property	22	2,710		993		1,717		695		279		416
Total		$	40,396	$	10,543	$	29,853	$	37,728	$	10,585	$	27,143
Houston Electric
Electric transmission and distribution	37	$	16,800	$	3,641	$	13,159	$	14,791	$	3,556	$	11,235

Finance ROU asset mobile generation	7.5	662		136		526		662		41		621
Other property	20	2,053		692		1,361		2,300		695		1,605
Total		$	19,515	$	4,469	$	15,046	$	17,753	$	4,292	$	13,461
CERC
Natural gas distribution	31	$	15,591	$	4,136	$	11,455	$	14,316	$	3,946	$	10,370

Other property	15	81		33		48		63		27		36
Total		$	15,672	$	4,169	$	11,503	$	14,379	$	3,973	$	10,406

Depreciation and Amortization

The following table presents depreciation and amortization expense for 2023, 2022 and 2021:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023						2022						2021
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Depreciation	$	1,092	$	484	$	459	$	1,013	$	434	$	420	$	1,024	$	391	$	466
Amortization of securitized regulatory assets	163		155		—		191		191		—		213		213		—
Other amortization	146		109		34		84		45		28		79		38		17
Total	$	1,401	$	748	$	493	$	1,288	$	670	$	448	$	1,316	$	642	$	483

Asset Retirement Obligation

A reconciliation of the changes in the ARO liability recorded in Other non-current liabilities on each of the Registrants’ respective Consolidated Balance Sheets is as follows:


	December 31, 2023						December 31, 2022
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Beginning balance	$	610	$	36	$	420	$	659	$	42	$	479

Accretion expense (1)	23		1		16		20		1		15
Revisions in estimates (2)	(43)		3		(56)		(69)		(7)		(74)
Ending balance	$	590	$	40	$	380	$	610	$	36	$	420

(1)Reflected in Regulatory assets on each of the Registrants’ respective Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Income Taxes - Schedule of Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, excluding interest and penalties:
Balance, beginning of year	$ 26	$ 3
Increases related to tax positions of prior years	0	26
Decreases related to tax positions of prior years	0	(3)
Lapse of statute of limitations	(1)	0
Balance, end of year	$ 25	$ 26

Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt - Debt Repayments and Redemptions (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 15, 2023	Jan. 17, 2023	Dec. 31, 2023
Long-term Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued			$ 3,023
CERC Corp
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued			$ 2,000
CERC Corp \| Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)			0.70%
CERC Corp \| Long-term Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued			$ 2,332
CERC Term Loan Zero Point Seven Due 2023 \| CERC Corp
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued			$ 500
CERC Term Loan Zero Point Seven Due 2023 \| CERC Corp \| SOFR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)			0.70%
CERC Senior Notes 0.70 percentage Due 2023 \| CERC Corp \| Long-term Debt \| Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued			$ 700
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)			0.70%
CERC Floating Rate Senior Notes Zero Point Five Percentage Due 2023 \| CERC Corp \| Long-term Debt \| Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued			$ 575
CERC Floating Rate Senior Notes Zero Point Five Percentage Due 2023 \| CERC Corp \| LIBOR Plus \| Long-term Debt \| Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)			0.50%
CERC Term Loan 0.85% Due 2024 \| CERC Corp \| Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued			$ 500
CERC Term Loan 0.85% Due 2024 \| CERC Corp \| SOFR \| Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread (as a percent)			0.85%
Adjustment to basis spread (as a percent)			0.10%
CERC Senior Notes 3.72 percentage Due 2023 \| CERC Corp \| Long-term Debt \| Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued			$ 57
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)			3.72%
CNP First Mortgage Bonds 4.00% Due 2044 \| SIGECO \| Long-term Debt \| First Mortgage Bonds
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued		$ 11	$ 11
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)			4.00%
Debt instrument, redemption price (as a percent)		100.00%
CNP Term Loan 1.50% Due 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued			$ 250
CNP Term Loan 1.50% Due 2023 \| Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued			$ 250
CNP Term Loan 1.50% Due 2023 \| SOFR \| Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)			1.50%
Basis spread (as a percent)			1.50%
Adjustment to basis spread (as a percent)			0.10%
CERC Floating Rate Senior Notes Zero Point Six Five Percentage Due 2024 \| Long-term Debt \| Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued			$ 350
Debt instrument, redemption price (as a percent)	100.00%
CERC Floating Rate Senior Notes Zero Point Six Five Percentage Due 2024 \| SOFR \| Long-term Debt \| Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)			0.65%
CNP First Mortgage Bonds 6.72% Due 2029 \| SIGECO \| Long-term Debt \| First Mortgage Bonds
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued			$ 80
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)			6.72%
Basis spread (as a percent)			0.10%

Goodwill and Other Intangibles (CenterPoint Energy and CERC)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill and Other Intangibles (CenterPoint Energy and CERC)

Goodwill (CenterPoint Energy)

CenterPoint Energy’s goodwill by reportable segment is as follows:


	December 31, 2022		Disposals			December 31, 2023
	(in millions)
Electric (1)	$	936	$	—		$	936
Natural Gas	2,920		—			2,920
Corporate and Other	438		134		(2)	304
Total	$	4,294	$	134		$	4,160

(1)Amount presented is net of the accumulated goodwill impairment charge of $185 million recorded in 2020.

(2)Represents goodwill attributable to the sale of Energy Systems Group. For further information, see Note 4.

CERC’s goodwill as of both December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 was $1,583 million.

When the net assets or equity interest transferred in a common-control transaction constitute a business, goodwill is included with the net assets transferred at the parent company’s historical basis. CenterPoint Energy applied a relative fair value methodology to determine the amount of goodwill to allocate to CERC from its natural gas reporting unit as part of the Restructuring.

When a disposal group reflects a component of a reporting unit and meets the definition of a business, the goodwill within that reporting unit is allocated to the disposal group based on the relative fair value of the components representing a business that will be retained and disposed. As described further in Note 4, certain assets and liabilities of Energy Systems Group, including goodwill of $134 million at CenterPoint Energy, were disposed of upon consummation of the sale of Energy Systems

Group in the second quarter of 2023. The disposal of goodwill attributable to Energy Systems Group was reflected in the loss on sale of $13 million during the year ended December 31, 2023.

CenterPoint Energy and CERC perform goodwill impairment tests at least annually and evaluate goodwill when events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying value may not be recoverable. The impairment evaluation for goodwill is performed by comparing the fair value of each reporting unit with the carrying amount of the reporting unit, including goodwill. The reporting units approximate the reportable segments, with the exception of Energy Systems Group, which is a separate reporting unit but included in Corporate and Other at CenterPoint Energy. The estimated fair value of the reporting unit is primarily determined based on an income approach or a weighted combination of income and market approaches. If the carrying amount is in excess of the estimated fair value of the reporting unit, then the excess amount is recorded as an impairment charge, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill. See Note 2(g) for further discussion.

CenterPoint Energy and CERC performed the annual goodwill impairment tests in the third quarter of each of 2023 and 2022 and determined that no goodwill impairment charge was required for any reporting unit as a result of those tests.

Other Intangibles (CenterPoint Energy)


	December 31, 2022
			Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Balance
		(in millions)
Customer relationships (1)			$	33	$	(16)	$	17

Trade names (1)			16		(6)		10

Operation and maintenance agreements (1) (2)			12		(2)		10
Other			2		(1)		1
Total			$	63	$	(25)	$	38


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
	(in millions)
Amortization expense of intangible assets recorded in Depreciation and amortization	$	3	$	6	$	6
Amortization expense of intangible assets recorded in Non-utility cost of revenues, including natural gas	—		1		1

Reportable Segments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Financial Data for Business Segments

Financial data for reportable segments is as follows, including Discontinued Operations for reconciliation purposes:

CenterPoint Energy


	Revenues from External Customers		Intersegment Revenues		Depreciation and Amortization		Interest Income (1)		Interest Expense		Income Tax Expense (Benefit)		Net Income (Loss)
	(in millions)
For the year ended December 31, 2023:
Electric	$	4,290	$	—	$	872	$	19	$	(303)	$	189	$	654
Natural Gas	4,276		3		513		10		(188)		(25)		533

Corporate and Other	130		—		16		34		(264)		6		(270)
Eliminations	—		(3)		—		(54)		54		—		—
Consolidated	$	8,696	$	—	$	1,401	$	9	$	(701)	$	170	917



For the year ended December 31, 2022:
Electric	$	4,108	$	—	$	793	$	4	$	(235)	$	147	$	603
Natural Gas	4,946		—		466		2		(137)		243		492

Corporate and Other	267		—		29		59		(214)		(30)		(38)
Eliminations	—		—		—		(62)		62		—		—
Consolidated	$	9,321	$	—	$	1,288	$	3	$	(524)	$	360	1,057


	Revenues from External Customers		Intersegment Revenues		Depreciation and Amortization		Interest Income (1)		Interest Expense		Income Tax Expense (Benefit)		Net Income (Loss)
	(in millions)
For the year ended December 31, 2021:
Electric	$	3,763	$	—	$	775	$	—	$	(226)	$	95	$	475

Natural Gas	4,336		—		527		1		(141)		80		403

Corporate and Other	253		—		14		118		(278)		(65)		(210)
Eliminations	—		—		—		(116)		116		—		—
Continuing Operations	$	8,352	$	—	$	1,316	$	3	$	(529)	$	110	668
Discontinued Operations, net													818
Consolidated													$	1,486


	Total Assets				Expenditures for Long-lived Assets
	December 31,				December 31,
	2023		2022		2023		2022		2021
	(in millions)
Electric	$	21,089	$	19,024	$	2,660	$	2,611	$	2,008
Natural Gas	17,429		18,043		1,697		1,697		1,178

Corporate and Other, net of eliminations (1)	1,197		1,479		13		107		42
Continuing Operations	39,715		38,546		4,370		4,415		3,228
Divestitures/Discontinued Operations	—		—		—		3		171
Consolidated	$	39,715	$	38,546	$	4,370	$	4,418	$	3,399

(1)Total assets included pension and other postemployment-related regulatory assets of $385 million and $405 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Schedule of Revenue by Major Customers by Reporting Segments

Houston Electric’s revenues from major external customers are as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
	(in millions)
Affiliates of NRG	$	1,106	$	1,046	$	905
Affiliates of Vistra Energy Corp.	539		489		410

Revenues by Products and Services


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023						2022						2021
Revenues by Products and Services:	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Electric delivery	$	3,701	$	3,677	$	—	$	3,438	$	3,412	$	—	$	3,158	$	3,134	$	—
Retail electric sales	569		—		—		630		—		—		559		—		—
Wholesale electric sales	20		—		—		40		—		—		46		—		—
Retail gas sales	4,078		—		3,951		4,759		—		4,613		4,157		—		4,021
Gas transportation	11		—		11		12		—		12		12		—		12
Energy products and services	317		—		187		442		—		175		420		—		167
Total	$	8,696	$	3,677	$	4,149	$	9,321	$	3,412	$	4,800	$	8,352	$	3,134	$	4,200

Derivative Instruments - Narrative (Details) - Natural gas derivatives - Not Designated as Hedging Instrument - MMBTU	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative gross volume (in MMBtu)	27,421	27,421
CERC Corp
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative gross volume (in MMBtu)	27,421	27,421

Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plans and Employee Benefit Plans - Plan Assets (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Jan. 01, 2022 plan	Jan. 01, 2020 plan
Savings Plan [Abstract]
Defined contribution plan cost	$ 67	$ 72	$ 58
Postemployment Benefits [Abstract]
Postemployment Benefits, Period Expense	(1)	4	3
Benefit expense related to deferred compensation plans	$ (1)	1	3
Savings Plan
Savings Plan [Abstract]
Number of defined benefit plans to be merged \| plan				1	1
Number of Common stock held by the savings plan (in shares) \| shares	6,589,241
Percentage of investment in common stocks (in hundredths)	7.00%
Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	$ 1,204	1,212	2,072
Obligation to return cash received as collateral from securities lending	(94)	(47)
Financial instruments	(4)	0
Defined benefits plan, fair value of plan assets, excluding investments measured at net asset value	$ 744	$ 708
Discount rate (as a percent)	4.95%	5.15%
Contributions in 2023	$ 32	$ 35
Defined Benefit Plan, Estimated Future Benefit Payments [Abstract]
2024	141
2025	143
2026	137
2027	135
2028	133
2029-2033	606
Pension Plan \| Qualified Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Contributions in 2023	24
Expected Minimum Contributions in 2024	2
Pension Plan \| Nonqualified Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Contributions in 2023	8
Expected Minimum Contributions in 2024	7
Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	$ 112	$ 109	132
Discount rate (as a percent)	4.95%	5.15%
Contributions in 2023	$ 7	$ 8
Expected Minimum Contributions in 2024	8
Defined Benefit Plan, Estimated Future Benefit Payments [Abstract]
2024	14
2025	16
2026	17
2027	19
2028	20
2029-2033	107
Level 1 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	229	199
Obligation to return cash received as collateral from securities lending	(94)	(47)
Financial instruments	0	0
Level 2 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	515	509
Obligation to return cash received as collateral from securities lending	0	0
Financial instruments	(4)	0
Level 3 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	0	0
Obligation to return cash received as collateral from securities lending	0	0
Financial instruments	0	0
U.S. equity \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	30	29
U.S. equity \| Level 1 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	30	29
U.S. equity \| Level 2 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	0	0
U.S. equity \| Level 3 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	0	0
Cash \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	21	7
Cash \| Level 1 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	21	7
Cash \| Level 2 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	0	0
Cash \| Level 3 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	0	0
Investment grade or above \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	469	467
Investment grade or above \| Level 1 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	0	0
Investment grade or above \| Level 2 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	469	467
Investment grade or above \| Level 3 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	0	0
Cash received as collateral from securities lending \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	94	47
Cash received as collateral from securities lending \| Level 1 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	94	47
Cash received as collateral from securities lending \| Level 2 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	0	0
Cash received as collateral from securities lending \| Level 3 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	0	0
U.S. treasuries and government agencies \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	178	163
U.S. treasuries and government agencies \| Level 1 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	178	163
U.S. treasuries and government agencies \| Level 2 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	0	0
U.S. treasuries and government agencies \| Level 3 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	0	0
Mortgage backed securities \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	15	6
Mortgage backed securities \| Level 1 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	0	0
Mortgage backed securities \| Level 2 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	15	6
Mortgage backed securities \| Level 3 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	0	0
Asset backed securities \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	1	2
Asset backed securities \| Level 1 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	0	0
Asset backed securities \| Level 2 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	1	2
Asset backed securities \| Level 3 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	0	0
Municipal bonds \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	25	24
Municipal bonds \| Level 1 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	0	0
Municipal bonds \| Level 2 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	25	24
Municipal bonds \| Level 3 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	0	0
Mutual funds \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	$ 113	$ 109
Mutual funds \| International equities \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, actual allocation (as a percent)	8.00%	8.00%
Mutual funds \| U.S. equity \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, actual allocation (as a percent)	20.00%	18.00%
Mutual funds \| Fixed income \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, actual allocation (as a percent)	72.00%	74.00%
Mutual funds \| Level 1 \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	$ 113	$ 109
Mutual funds \| Level 2 \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	0	0
Mutual funds \| Level 3 \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	0	0
International government bonds \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	9	10
International government bonds \| Level 1 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	0	0
International government bonds \| Level 2 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	9	10
International government bonds \| Level 3 \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	0	0
Common Collective Trust Funds \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	$ 460	$ 504
Common Collective Trust Funds \| International equities \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, actual allocation (as a percent)	40.00%	40.00%
Common Collective Trust Funds \| U.S. equity \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, actual allocation (as a percent)	59.00%	56.00%
Common Collective Trust Funds \| Fixed income \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, actual allocation (as a percent)	1.00%	4.00%
Benefit Obligation
Postemployment Benefits [Abstract]
Postemployment benefit obligations	$ 5	$ 9
Other non-qualified plans benefit obligations deferred compensation	26	28
Benefit obligations related to split-dollar life insurance arrangements	$ 46	22
Minimum \| U.S. equity \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	17.00%
Minimum \| U.S. equity \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	14.00%
Minimum \| International equity \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	9.00%
Minimum \| International equity \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	3.00%
Minimum \| Real estate \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	2.00%
Minimum \| Fixed income \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	54.00%
Minimum \| Fixed income \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	69.00%
Minimum \| Cash \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	0.00%
Minimum \| Cash \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	0.00%
Maximum \| U.S. equity \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	27.00%
Maximum \| U.S. equity \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	24.00%
Maximum \| International equity \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	19.00%
Maximum \| International equity \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	13.00%
Maximum \| Real estate \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	11.00%
Maximum \| Fixed income \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	64.00%
Maximum \| Fixed income \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	79.00%
Maximum \| Cash \| Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	2.00%
Maximum \| Cash \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	2.00%
Common Stock \| CenterPoint Energy \| Savings Plan
Savings Plan [Abstract]
Maximum limit of account balance in company stock (as a percent)	25.00%
Houston Electric
Savings Plan [Abstract]
Defined contribution plan cost	$ 23	23	20
Postemployment Benefits [Abstract]
Postemployment Benefits, Period Expense	0	1	1
Benefit expense related to deferred compensation plans	0	0	0
Houston Electric \| Pension Plan \| Qualified Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Contributions in 2023	0
Expected Minimum Contributions in 2024	0
Houston Electric \| Pension Plan \| Nonqualified Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Contributions in 2023	0
Expected Minimum Contributions in 2024	0
Houston Electric \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	$ 86	$ 84	104
Discount rate (as a percent)	4.95%	5.15%
Contributions in 2023	$ 0	$ 1
Expected Minimum Contributions in 2024	1
Defined Benefit Plan, Estimated Future Benefit Payments [Abstract]
2024	6
2025	6
2026	7
2027	8
2028	9
2029-2033	49
Houston Electric \| Mutual funds \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	$ 86	$ 84
Houston Electric \| Mutual funds \| International equities \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, actual allocation (as a percent)	9.00%	8.00%
Houston Electric \| Mutual funds \| U.S. equity \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, actual allocation (as a percent)	19.00%	17.00%
Houston Electric \| Mutual funds \| Fixed income \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, actual allocation (as a percent)	72.00%	74.00%
Houston Electric \| Mutual funds \| Level 1 \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	$ 86	$ 84
Houston Electric \| Mutual funds \| Level 2 \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	0	0
Houston Electric \| Mutual funds \| Level 3 \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	0	0
Houston Electric \| Benefit Obligation
Postemployment Benefits [Abstract]
Postemployment benefit obligations	2	3
Other non-qualified plans benefit obligations deferred compensation	3	4
Benefit obligations related to split-dollar life insurance arrangements	$ 1	1
Houston Electric \| Minimum \| U.S. equity \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	13.00%
Houston Electric \| Minimum \| International equity \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	3.00%
Houston Electric \| Minimum \| Fixed income \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	69.00%
Houston Electric \| Minimum \| Cash \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	0.00%
Houston Electric \| Maximum \| U.S. equity \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	23.00%
Houston Electric \| Maximum \| International equity \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	13.00%
Houston Electric \| Maximum \| Fixed income \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	79.00%
Houston Electric \| Maximum \| Cash \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	2.00%
CERC Corp
Savings Plan [Abstract]
Defined contribution plan cost	$ 20	22	23
Postemployment Benefits [Abstract]
Postemployment Benefits, Period Expense	0	1	2
Benefit expense related to deferred compensation plans	0	0	0
CERC Corp \| Pension Plan \| Qualified Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Contributions in 2023	0
Expected Minimum Contributions in 2024	0
CERC Corp \| Pension Plan \| Nonqualified Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Contributions in 2023	0
Expected Minimum Contributions in 2024	0
CERC Corp \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	$ 26	$ 25	$ 29
Discount rate (as a percent)	4.95%	5.15%
Contributions in 2023	$ 4	$ 4
Expected Minimum Contributions in 2024	4
Defined Benefit Plan, Estimated Future Benefit Payments [Abstract]
2024	5
2025	6
2026	6
2027	7
2028	7
2029-2033	36
CERC Corp \| Mutual funds \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	$ 26	$ 25
CERC Corp \| Mutual funds \| International equities \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, actual allocation (as a percent)	6.00%	6.00%
CERC Corp \| Mutual funds \| U.S. equity \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, actual allocation (as a percent)	22.00%	20.00%
CERC Corp \| Mutual funds \| Fixed income \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, actual allocation (as a percent)	71.00%	74.00%
CERC Corp \| Mutual funds \| Level 1 \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	$ 26	$ 25
CERC Corp \| Mutual funds \| Level 2 \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	0	0
CERC Corp \| Mutual funds \| Level 3 \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan assets, fair value	0	0
CERC Corp \| Benefit Obligation
Postemployment Benefits [Abstract]
Postemployment benefit obligations	3	4
Other non-qualified plans benefit obligations deferred compensation	1	1
Benefit obligations related to split-dollar life insurance arrangements	$ 0	$ 0
CERC Corp \| Minimum \| U.S. equity \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	15.00%
CERC Corp \| Minimum \| International equity \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	2.00%
CERC Corp \| Minimum \| Fixed income \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	68.00%
CERC Corp \| Minimum \| Cash \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	0.00%
CERC Corp \| Maximum \| U.S. equity \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	25.00%
CERC Corp \| Maximum \| International equity \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	12.00%
CERC Corp \| Maximum \| Fixed income \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	78.00%
CERC Corp \| Maximum \| Cash \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Target allocation (as a percent)	2.00%

Fair Value Measurements - Schedule of Assets and Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Assets
Equity securities	$ 541	$ 510
Investments, including money market funds	31	32
Interest rate derivatives	0	1
Total assets	572	554
Liabilities
Total liabilities	617	578
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Indexed debt securities derivative
Liabilities
Derivative Liability	605	578
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Natural gas derivatives
Assets
Natural gas derivatives	0	11
Liabilities
Derivative Liability	12	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Level 1
Assets
Equity securities	541	510
Investments, including money market funds	31	32
Interest rate derivatives	0	0
Total assets	572	542
Liabilities
Total liabilities	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Level 1 \| Indexed debt securities derivative
Liabilities
Derivative Liability	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Level 1 \| Natural gas derivatives
Assets
Natural gas derivatives	0	0
Liabilities
Derivative Liability	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Level 2
Assets
Equity securities	0	0
Investments, including money market funds	0	0
Interest rate derivatives	0	1
Total assets	0	12
Liabilities
Total liabilities	617	578
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Level 2 \| Indexed debt securities derivative
Liabilities
Derivative Liability	605	578
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Level 2 \| Natural gas derivatives
Assets
Natural gas derivatives	0	11
Liabilities
Derivative Liability	12	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Level 3
Assets
Equity securities	0	0
Investments, including money market funds	0	0
Interest rate derivatives	0	0
Total assets	0	0
Liabilities
Total liabilities	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Level 3 \| Indexed debt securities derivative
Liabilities
Derivative Liability	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Level 3 \| Natural gas derivatives
Assets
Natural gas derivatives	0	0
Liabilities
Derivative Liability	0	0
Houston Electric \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Assets
Investments, including money market funds	14	17
Total assets	14	17
Houston Electric \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Level 1
Assets
Investments, including money market funds	14	17
Total assets	14	17
Houston Electric \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Level 2
Assets
Investments, including money market funds	0	0
Total assets	0	0
Houston Electric \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Level 3
Assets
Investments, including money market funds	0	0
Total assets	0	0
CERC Corp
Liabilities
Total liabilities	11	0
CERC Corp \| Level 1
Liabilities
Total liabilities	0	0
CERC Corp \| Level 2
Liabilities
Total liabilities	11	0
CERC Corp \| Level 3
Liabilities
Total liabilities	0	0
CERC Corp \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Assets
Investments, including money market funds	15	14
Total assets	15	23
CERC Corp \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Natural gas derivatives
Assets
Natural gas derivatives	0	9
Liabilities
Derivative Liability	11	0
CERC Corp \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Level 1
Assets
Investments, including money market funds	15	14
Total assets	15	14
CERC Corp \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Level 1 \| Natural gas derivatives
Assets
Natural gas derivatives	0	0
Liabilities
Derivative Liability	0	0
CERC Corp \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Level 2
Assets
Investments, including money market funds	0	0
Total assets	0	9
CERC Corp \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Level 2 \| Natural gas derivatives
Assets
Natural gas derivatives	0	9
Liabilities
Derivative Liability	11	0
CERC Corp \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Level 3
Assets
Investments, including money market funds	0	0
Total assets	0	0
CERC Corp \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Level 3 \| Natural gas derivatives
Assets
Natural gas derivatives	0	0
Liabilities
Derivative Liability	$ 0	$ 0

Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

Assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value in the Registrants’ Consolidated Balance Sheets are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their value. Hierarchical levels, as defined below and directly related to the amount of subjectivity associated with the inputs to fair valuations of these assets and liabilities, are as follows:

Level 1: Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date. The types of assets carried at Level 1 fair value generally are exchange-traded derivatives and equity securities.

Level 2: Inputs, other than quoted prices included in Level 1, are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, and inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability. Fair value assets and liabilities that are generally included in this category are derivatives with fair values based on inputs from actively quoted markets. A market approach is utilized to value the Registrants’ Level 2 natural gas derivative assets or liabilities. CenterPoint Energy’s Level 2 indexed debt securities derivative is valued using an option model and a discounted cash flow model, which uses projected dividends on the ZENS-Related Securities and a discount rate as observable inputs.

Level 3: Inputs are unobservable for the asset or liability, and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability. Unobservable inputs reflect the Registrants’ judgments about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability since limited market data exists. The Registrants develop these inputs based on the best information available, including the Registrants’ own data.

The Registrants determine the appropriate level for each financial asset and liability on a quarterly basis and recognize transfers between levels at the end of the reporting period.

The following tables present information about the Registrants’ assets and liabilities (including derivatives that are presented net) measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, and indicate the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized by the Registrants to determine such fair value.

CenterPoint Energy


	December 31, 2023						December 31, 2022
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets	(in millions)
Equity securities	$	541	$	—	$	—	$	541	$	510	$	—	$	—	$	510
Investments, including money market funds (1)	31		—		—		31		32		—		—		32
Interest rate derivatives	—		—		—		—		—		1		—		1
Natural gas derivatives	—		—		—		—		—		11		—		11


Total assets	$	572	$	—	$	—	$	572	$	542	$	12	$	—	$	554

Liabilities
Indexed debt securities derivative	$	—	$	605	$	—	$	605	$	—	$	578	$	—	$	578

Natural gas derivatives	—		12		—		12		—		—		—		—


Total liabilities	$	—	$	617	$	—	$	617	$	—	$	578	$	—	$	578

Houston Electric


	December 31, 2023						December 31, 2022
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets	(in millions)
Investments, including money market funds (1)	$	14	$	—	$	—	$	14	$	17	$	—	$	—	$	17

Total assets	$	14	$	—	$	—	$	14	$	17	$	—	$	—	$	17

CERC


	December 31, 2023						December 31, 2022
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets	(in millions)

Investments, including money market funds (1)	$	15	$	—	$	—	$	15	$	14	$	—	$	—	$	14
Natural gas derivatives	—		—		—		—		—		9		—		9


Total assets	$	15	$	—	$	—	$	15	$	14	$	9	$	—	$	23
Liabilities
Natural gas derivatives	$	—	$	11	$	—	$	11	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—


Total liabilities	$	—	$	11	$	—	$	11	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—

(1)Amounts are included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets in the respective Consolidated Balance Sheets.

During 2023 and 2022, CenterPoint Energy did not have any assets or liabilities designated as Level 3.

Items Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

For a discussion of the valuation of the Arkansas and Oklahoma Natural Gas businesses in 2021, see Note 4.

Estimated Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The fair values of cash and cash equivalents, investments in debt and equity securities classified as “trading” and short-term borrowings are estimated to be approximately equivalent to carrying amounts and have been excluded from the table below. The carrying amounts of non-trading derivative assets and liabilities and CenterPoint Energy’s equity securities, including ZENS related derivative liabilities, are stated at fair value and are excluded from the table below. The fair value of each debt instrument is determined by multiplying the principal amount of each debt instrument by a combination of historical

trading prices and comparable issue data. These liabilities, which are not measured at fair value in the Registrants’ Consolidated Balance Sheets, but for which the fair value is disclosed, would be classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.


	December 31, 2023						December 31, 2022
	CenterPoint Energy (1)		Houston Electric (1)		CERC		CenterPoint Energy (1)		Houston Electric (1)		CERC
Long-term debt, including current maturities	(in millions)


Carrying amount	$	18,609	$	7,587	$	4,670	$	16,338	$	6,353	$	4,826
Fair value	17,804		6,917		4,627		14,990		5,504		4,637

(1)Includes Securitization Bond debt.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References + Details

Divestitures (CenterPoint Energy and CERC)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]

Divestitures (CenterPoint Energy and CERC)

Divestiture of Energy Systems Group. On May 21, 2023, CenterPoint Energy, through its subsidiary Vectren Energy Services, entered into an Equity Purchase Agreement to sell all of the outstanding limited liability company interests of Energy Systems Group to ESG Holdings Group, for a purchase price of $157 million, subject to customary adjustments set forth in the Equity Purchase Agreement, including adjustments based on Energy Systems Group’s net working capital at closing, indebtedness, cash and cash equivalents and transaction expenses. The transaction closed on June 30, 2023, and CenterPoint Energy received $154 million in cash. Additionally, as of December 31, 2023, CenterPoint Energy had a payable of

approximately $2 million to ESG Holdings Group for working capital and other adjustments set forth in the Equity Purchase Agreement.

In May 2023, certain assets and liabilities of Energy Systems Group met the held for sale criteria. The divestiture of Energy Systems Group reflects CenterPoint Energy’s continued strategic focus on its core utility businesses. The historical annual revenues, net income and total assets of Energy Systems Group did not have a sufficient effect, quantitatively or qualitatively, on CenterPoint Energy’s financial results to be considered a strategic shift. Therefore, the income and expenses associated with Energy Systems Group were not reflected as discontinued operations on CenterPoint Energy’s Statements of Consolidated Income. For disposal groups that are classified as held for sale but that do not meet the criteria for discontinued operations reporting, the assets and liabilities of the disposal group are required to be separately presented on the face of the balance sheet only in the initial period in which it is classified as held for sale. Therefore, CenterPoint Energy’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2022 were not recast to reflect Energy Systems Group’s assets and liabilities as held for sale. Depreciation and amortization of long-lived assets ceased at the end of the quarter in which the held for sale criteria is met. Additionally, as a result of the completion of the sale of Energy Systems Group in June 2023, there were no assets or liabilities classified as held for sale as of December 31, 2023. For a discussion of guarantees and product warranties related to Energy Systems Group, see Note 15(c).

CenterPoint Energy recognized a loss on sale of approximately $13 million, including $3 million of transaction costs, during the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, in connection with the closing of the sale of Energy Systems Group. Additionally, CenterPoint Energy recognized a current tax expense of $32 million during the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, as a result of the cash taxes payable upon the closing of the sale.

The pre-tax income (loss) for Energy Systems Group, excluding interest and corporate allocations, included in CenterPoint Energy’s Statements of Consolidated Income is as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023 (1)		2022		2021
	(in millions)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	$	(4)	$	2	$	(3)

(1)Reflects January 1, 2023 to June 30, 2023 results only due to of the sale of Energy Systems Group.

Divestiture of Arkansas and Oklahoma Natural Gas Businesses (CenterPoint Energy and CERC). On April 29, 2021, CenterPoint Energy, through its subsidiary CERC Corp., entered into the AROK Asset Purchase Agreement to sell its Arkansas and Oklahoma Natural Gas businesses for $2.15 billion in cash, including recovery of approximately $425 million in natural gas costs, including storm-related incremental natural gas costs associated with the February 2021 Winter Storm Event, subject to certain adjustments set forth in the AROK Asset Purchase Agreement. The assets included approximately 17,000 miles of main pipeline in Arkansas, Oklahoma and certain portions of Bowie County, Texas serving more than half a million customers. The transaction closed on January 10, 2022.

The sale was considered an asset sale for tax purposes, requiring net deferred tax liabilities to be excluded from held for sale balances. The deferred taxes associated with the businesses were recognized as a deferred income tax benefit by CenterPoint Energy and CERC upon closing of the sale in 2022.

Although the Arkansas and Oklahoma Natural Gas businesses met the held for sale criteria as of December 31, 2021, their disposals did not represent a strategic shift to CenterPoint Energy and CERC, as both retained significant operations in, and continued to invest in, their natural gas businesses. Therefore, the income and expenses associated with the disposed businesses were not reflected as discontinued operations on CenterPoint Energy’s and CERC’s Statements of Consolidated Income, as applicable. Since the depreciation on the Arkansas and Oklahoma Natural Gas assets continued to be reflected in revenues through customer rates until the closing of the transaction and will be reflected in the carryover basis of the rate-regulated assets, CenterPoint Energy and CERC continued to record depreciation on those assets through the closing of the transaction. The Registrants record assets and liabilities held for sale at the lower of their carrying value or their estimated fair value less cost to sell.

CenterPoint Energy and CERC recognized gains of $303 million and $557 million, respectively, net of transaction costs of $59 million, in connection with the closing of the disposition of the Arkansas and Oklahoma Natural Gas businesses during the year ended December 31, 2022. CenterPoint Energy and CERC collected a receivable of $15 million in May 2022 for full and final settlement of the working capital adjustment under the AROK Asset Purchase Agreement.

Neither CenterPoint Energy nor CERC recognized any gains or losses on the measurement of assets held for sale during the year ended December 31, 2021. See Note 6 for further information about the allocation of goodwill to the businesses to be disposed.

As a result of the completion of the sale of the Arkansas and Oklahoma Natural Gas businesses, there were no assets or liabilities classified as held for sale as of December 31, 2022.

The pre-tax income for the Arkansas and Oklahoma Natural Gas businesses, excluding interest and corporate allocations, included in CenterPoint Energy’s and CERC’s Statements of Consolidated Income is as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,	Year Ended December 31,
		2022 (1)		2021
	(in millions)
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes		$	9	$	78

(1)Reflects January 1, 2022 to January 9, 2022 results only due to of the sale of the Arkansas and Oklahoma Natural Gas businesses.

Effective on the date of the closing of the disposition of the Arkansas and Oklahoma Natural Gas businesses, a subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy entered into the Transition Services Agreement, whereby that subsidiary agreed to provide certain transition services such as accounting, customer operations, procurement, and technology functions for a term of up to twelve months. In November 2022, a significant majority of all services under the Transition Services Agreement were terminated, and on January 10, 2023, all remaining services were terminated.

CenterPoint Energy’s charges to Southern Col Midco for reimbursement of transition services was less than $1 million and $40 million during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Actual transition services costs incurred are recorded net of amounts charged to Southern Col Midco. CenterPoint Energy had no accounts receivable and accounts receivable of $1 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, from Southern Col Midco for transition services.

Divestiture of MES (CenterPoint Energy and CERC). CenterPoint Energy, through its subsidiary CERC Corp., completed the sale of MES on August 31, 2021 to Last Mile Energy. Prior to the transaction, MES provided temporary delivery of LNG and CNG throughout the contiguous 48 states and MES was reflected in CenterPoint Energy’s Natural Gas reportable segment and CERC’s single reportable segment, as applicable.

The MES disposal did not represent a strategic shift to CenterPoint Energy and CERC, as both retained significant operations in, and continued to invest in, their natural gas businesses. Therefore, the income and expenses associated with MES are not reflected as discontinued operations on CenterPoint Energy’s and CERC’s Statements of Consolidated Income, as applicable. CenterPoint Energy and CERC recognized a pre-tax gain on the sale of $8 million and $11 million, respectively, during year ended December 31, 2021. See Note 6 for further information about the allocation of goodwill to the MES disposal.

Discontinued Operations (CenterPoint Energy)

CenterPoint Energy’s discontinued operations reflect the disposal of its interests in Enable, which represented a strategic shift that had a major effect on CenterPoint Energy’s operations and financial results. As such, the equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, net of tax, associated with CenterPoint Energy’s equity investment in Enable was reflected as discontinued operations on CenterPoint Energy’s Statements of Consolidated Income.

A summary of discontinued operations presented in CenterPoint Energy’s Statements of Consolidated Income is as follows:


	Year Ended December 31, 2021

	(in millions)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliate, net	$	1,019
Income from discontinued operations before income taxes	1,019
Income tax expense	201
Net income from discontinued operations	$	818

CenterPoint Energy elected not to separately disclose discontinued operations on its Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows. Except as discussed in Note 2, long-lived assets are not depreciated or amortized once they are classified as held for sale. The following table summarizes CenterPoint Energy’s cash flows from discontinued operations and certain supplemental cash flow disclosures as applicable:



	Year Ended December 31, 2021
Cash flows from operating activities:	(in millions)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on Enable Merger	$	(681)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliate	(339)
Distributions from unconsolidated affiliate	155
Cash flows from investing activities:
Transaction costs related to the Enable Merger	(49)
Cash received related to Enable Merger	5

Disposal of Investment in Enable (CenterPoint Energy). On December 2, 2021, Enable completed the previously announced Enable Merger pursuant to the Enable Merger Agreement entered into on February 16, 2021. At the closing of the Enable Merger on December 2, 2021, Energy Transfer acquired 100% of Enable’s outstanding common and preferred units, and, as a result, Enable Common Units owned by CenterPoint Energy were exchanged for Energy Transfer Common Units and Enable Series A Preferred Units owned by CenterPoint Energy were exchanged for Energy Transfer Series G Preferred Units.

During the year ended December 31, 2022, CenterPoint Energy sold all of its remaining Energy Transfer Common Units and Energy Transfer Series G Preferred Units. See Note 11 for further information regarding Energy Transfer equity securities.

Distributions Received from Enable (CenterPoint Energy):


	Year Ended December 31, 2021
	Per Unit		Cash Distribution
			(in millions)
Enable Common Units	$	0.6610	$	155
Enable Series A Preferred Units	2.2965		34
Total			$	189

Transactions with Enable (CenterPoint Energy and CERC):

The transactions with Enable through December 2, 2021 in the following tables exclude transactions with the Energy Services Disposal Group.



	Year Ended December 31, 2021
	(in millions)
Natural gas expenses, including transportation and storage costs (1)	$	85

(1)Included in Utility natural gas, fuel and purchased power on CenterPoint Energy’s Statements of Consolidated Income and in Utility natural gas on CERC’s Statements of Consolidated Income.

Summarized Financial Information for Enable (CenterPoint Energy)

Summarized consolidated income (loss) information for Enable is as follows:


		Year Ended December 31, 2021 (1)
	(in millions)
Operating revenues		$	3,466
Cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization		1,959
Depreciation and amortization		382

Operating income		634
Net income attributable to Enable Common Units		461
Reconciliation of Equity in Earnings (Losses), net before income taxes:
CenterPoint Energy’s interest		$	248
Basis difference amortization (2)		92
Loss on dilution, net of proportional basis difference recognition		(1)

Gain on Enable Merger		680
CenterPoint Energy’s equity in earnings (losses), net before income taxes (3)		$	1,019

(1)Reflects January 1, 2021 to December 2, 2021 results only due to the closing of the Enable Merger.

(2)Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliate includes CenterPoint Energy’s share of Enable earnings adjusted for the amortization of the basis difference of CenterPoint Energy’s original investment in Enable and its underlying equity in net assets of Enable. The basis difference was being amortized through the year 2048 and ceased upon closing of the Enable Merger.

(3)Reported as discontinued operations on CenterPoint Energy’s Statements of Consolidated Income.

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS - CERC - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 917	$ 1,057	$ 1,486
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	1,401	1,288	1,316
Deferred income taxes	31	20	213
Changes in other assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable and unbilled revenues, net	423	(461)	(98)
Inventory	167	(259)	(140)
Taxes receivable	(74)	(19)	81
Accounts payable	(302)	203	175
Net regulatory assets and liabilities	1,043	234	(2,295)
Other operating activities, net	60	79	85
Net cash provided by operating activities	3,877	1,810	22
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(4,401)	(4,419)	(3,164)
Proceeds from divestitures (Note 4)	144	2,075	22
Other investing activities, net	24	14	15
Net cash used in investing activities	(4,233)	(1,628)	(1,851)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings, net	(10)	452	(27)
Proceeds from (payments of) commercial paper, net	(1,055)	(74)	1,132
Proceeds from long-term debt and term loans	6,044	2,089	4,493
Payments of long-term debt and term loans, including make-whole premiums	(3,190)	(1,795)	(2,968)
Other financing activities, net	(25)	(7)	(5)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	374	(345)	1,916
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash	18	(163)	87
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at Beginning of Year	91	254	167
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at End of Year	109	91	254
CERC Corp
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	512	725	390
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	493	448	483
Deferred income taxes	(41)	178	101
Gain on divestitures	0	(557)	(11)
Changes in other assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable and unbilled revenues, net	410	(376)	(68)
Accounts receivable/payable–affiliated companies	(81)	41	27
Inventory	101	(50)	(62)
Taxes receivable	(89)	0	(28)
Accounts payable	(250)	190	95
Net regulatory assets and liabilities	1,152	244	(2,095)
Other current assets and liabilities	85	13	(39)
Other non-current assets and liabilities	(1)	(2)	(31)
Other operating activities, net	21	2	19
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,312	856	(1,219)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(1,619)	(1,661)	(1,324)
Increase in notes receivable–affiliated companies	(1)	0	0
Proceeds from divestitures (Note 4)	0	2,075	22
Other investing activities, net	(23)	(8)	15
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,643)	406	(1,287)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings, net	(10)	452	(27)
Proceeds from (payments of) commercial paper, net	(321)	(94)	552
Proceeds from long-term debt and term loans	2,006	927	1,699
Payments of long-term debt and term loans, including make-whole premiums	(2,332)	(475)	(311)
Payment of debt issuance costs	(14)	(14)	(10)
Dividend to parent	(496)	(844)	(17)
Contribution from parent	500	289	140
Increase (decrease) in notes payable–affiliated companies	0	(1,517)	490
Other financing activities, net	(1)	(1)	(1)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(668)	(1,277)	2,515
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash	1	(15)	9
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at Beginning of Year	0	15	6
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at End of Year	$ 1	$ 0	$ 15

Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt - Schedule of Debt (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) day	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)
Long-term debt:
Unamortized debt issuance costs	$ (35)	$ (15)
Unamortized discount and premium, net	(5)	(6)
Long-term debt	17,559	14,836
Current debt	$ 1,059	2,020
Number of days until commercial paper maturity \| day	60
CenterPoint Energy
Long-term debt:
Number of days until commercial paper maturity \| day	60
Houston Electric
Long-term debt:
Unamortized debt issuance costs	$ (59)	(50)
Unamortized discount and premium, net	(28)	(27)
Long-term debt	7,426	6,197
Current debt	161	156
CERC Corp
Long-term debt:
Unamortized debt issuance costs	(31)	(22)
Unamortized discount and premium, net	1	(4)
Long-term debt	4,670	3,495
Current debt	$ 4	1,842
Number of days until commercial paper maturity \| day	30
CERC Corp \| Inventory Financing
Long-term debt:
Current debt	$ 4	11
CERC Corp \| Term Loan
Long-term debt:
Current debt	0	500
CERC Corp \| CERC Debt
Long-term debt:
Current debt	$ 4	511
ZENS debt, due 2029
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	2.00%
Long-term debt:
Long-Term	$ 0	0
Current	5	7
CenterPoint Energy senior notes 1.45% to 5.989% due 2024 to 2049
Long-term debt:
Long-Term	3,250	3,050
Current	$ 850	0
CenterPoint Energy senior notes 1.45% to 5.989% due 2024 to 2049 \| Minimum \| CenterPoint Energy
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	1.45%
CenterPoint Energy senior notes 1.45% to 5.989% due 2024 to 2049 \| Maximum \| CenterPoint Energy
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	5.989%
CenterPoint Energy pollution control bonds 5.125% due 2028
Long-term debt:
Long-Term	$ 68	68
Current	$ 0	0
CenterPoint Energy pollution control bonds 5.125% due 2028 \| CenterPoint Energy
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	5.125%
CenterPoint Energy commercial paper
Long-term debt:
Long-Term	$ 1,036	1,770
Current	0	0
CenterPoint Energy commercial paper \| CERC Corp
Long-term debt:
Long-Term	484	805
SIGECO first mortgage bonds 3.450% to 6.00% due 2024 to 2055 \| SIGECO
Long-term debt:
Long-Term	825	277
Current	$ 22	11
SIGECO first mortgage bonds 3.450% to 6.00% due 2024 to 2055 \| Minimum \| SIGECO
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	3.45%
SIGECO first mortgage bonds 3.450% to 6.00% due 2024 to 2055 \| Maximum \| SIGECO
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	6.00%
SIGECO securitization bonds 5.026% to 5.172% due 2036 to 2041 \| SIGECO
Long-term debt:
Long-Term	$ 324	0
Current	$ 17	0
SIGECO securitization bonds 5.026% to 5.172% due 2036 to 2041 \| Minimum \| SIGECO
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	5.026%
SIGECO securitization bonds 5.026% to 5.172% due 2036 to 2041 \| Maximum \| SIGECO
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	5.172%
Other Debt
Long-term debt:
Long-Term	$ 0	0
Current	0	4
CERC Debt \| CERC Corp
Long-term debt:
Long-term debt	4,670	3,495
General mortgage bonds, 2.35% to 6.95%, due 2026 to 2053 \| Houston Electric
Long-term debt:
Long-Term	7,512	6,112
Current	$ 0	0
General mortgage bonds, 2.35% to 6.95%, due 2026 to 2053 \| Minimum \| Houston Electric
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	2.35%
General mortgage bonds, 2.35% to 6.95%, due 2026 to 2053 \| Maximum \| Houston Electric
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	6.95%
Other \| Houston Electric
Long-term debt:
Long-Term	$ 1	1
Current	0	0
Transition bonds 3.028% due 2024 \| Houston Electric
Long-term debt:
Long-Term	0	161
Current	$ 161	156
Transition bonds 3.028% due 2024 \| Maximum \| Houston Electric
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	3.028%
Senior notes 1.75% to 6.625% due 2026 to 2047 \| CERC Corp
Long-term debt:
Long-Term	$ 4,120	2,620
Current	$ 0	1,331
Senior notes 1.75% to 6.625% due 2026 to 2047 \| Minimum \| CERC Corp
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	1.75%
Senior notes 1.75% to 6.625% due 2026 to 2047 \| Maximum \| CERC Corp
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	6.625%
Indiana Gas senior notes 6.34% to 7.08% due 2025 to 2029 \| IGC
Long-term debt:
Long-Term	$ 96	96
Current	$ 0	$ 0
Indiana Gas senior notes 6.34% to 7.08% due 2025 to 2029 \| Minimum \| IGC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	6.34%
Indiana Gas senior notes 6.34% to 7.08% due 2025 to 2029 \| Maximum \| IGC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)	7.08%

Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plans and Employee Benefit Plans - Stock Based Incentive Compensation (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Aggregate Disclosures [Abstract]
Income tax benefit recognized	$ 15	$ 12	$ 11
Actual tax benefit realized for tax deductions	$ 17	$ 6	$ 4
Performance Awards
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Performance period	3 years
Shares
Nonvested, beginning of period (in shares)	5,157,000,000
Granted (in shares)	1,960,000,000
Forfeited or cancelled (in shares)	(291,000,000)
Vested and released to participants (in shares)	(1,601,000,000)
Nonvested, end of period (in shares)	5,225,000,000	5,157,000,000
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested, beginning of period (in dollars per share)	$ 24.26
Granted (in dollars per share)	29.18	$ 28.12	$ 21.89
Forfeited or cancelled (in dollars per share)	27.38
Vested and released to participants (in dollars per share)	23.08
Nonvested, end of period (in dollars per share)	$ 25.95	$ 24.26
Remaining average contractual life of nonvested shares outstanding (in years)	1 year 1 month 6 days
Aggregate intrinsic value	$ 101
Total intrinsic value of awards received by participants	47	$ 13	$ 7
Total grant date fair values of performance and stock awards which vested during the period	$ 37	$ 13	$ 8
Stock Awards
Shares
Nonvested, beginning of period (in shares)	2,296,000,000
Granted (in shares)	606,000,000
Forfeited or cancelled (in shares)	(93,000,000)
Vested and released to participants (in shares)	(948,000,000)
Nonvested, end of period (in shares)	1,861,000,000	2,296,000,000
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested, beginning of period (in dollars per share)	$ 25.03
Granted (in dollars per share)	30.83	$ 28.44	$ 24.20
Forfeited or cancelled (in dollars per share)	27.10
Vested and released to participants (in dollars per share)	24.48
Nonvested, end of period (in dollars per share)	$ 26.91	$ 25.03
Remaining average contractual life of nonvested shares outstanding (in years)	8 months 12 days
Aggregate intrinsic value	$ 53
Total intrinsic value of awards received by participants	28	$ 14	$ 11
Total grant date fair values of performance and stock awards which vested during the period	23	13	11
Performance and Stock Awards
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested performance and stock awards	$ 36
Weighted average period of recognition (in years)	1 year 8 months 12 days
Operation And Maintenance Expense
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Aggregate Disclosures [Abstract]
LTIP compensation expense	$ 65	$ 51	$ 48
Common Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares authorized for issuance under long-term incentive plans (in shares)	30,000,000

Equity Securities and Indexed Debt Securities (ZENS) (CenterPoint Energy) - Schedule of Securities Classified as Trading (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Debt and Equity Securities, FV-NI [Line Items]
Carrying value	$ 541	$ 510
AT&T Common
Debt and Equity Securities, FV-NI [Line Items]
Balance of investment owned (in shares)	10,212,945	10,212,945
Carrying value	$ 171	$ 188
Charter Common
Debt and Equity Securities, FV-NI [Line Items]
Balance of investment owned (in shares)	872,503	872,503
Carrying value	$ 339	$ 296
WBD Common
Debt and Equity Securities, FV-NI [Line Items]
Balance of investment owned (in shares)	2,470,685	2,470,685
Carrying value	$ 28	$ 23
Other
Debt and Equity Securities, FV-NI [Line Items]
Carrying value	$ 3	$ 3

- Definition

Fair value of investment in security owned.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480524/946-210-50-6

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480493/946-210-55-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480524/946-210-50-6

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (a)(2)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480524/946-210-50-6

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
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Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(1)
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Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(2)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480524/946-210-50-1

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)(2)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480524/946-210-50-1

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480524/946-210-50-2

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 830
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 12
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480167/946-830-55-12

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480524/946-210-50-6

Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-04(11))
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+ Details

Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plans and Employee Benefit Plans - Pension and Postretirement Benefits (Details) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) beneficiary	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) defined_benefit_plan	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Number Of Additional Plans \| defined_benefit_plan		3
Components of net periodic costs [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit (Cost) Credit, Amortization of Gain (Loss), Statement of Income or Comprehensive Income [Extensible Enumeration]		Other income (expense), net	Other income (expense), net	Other income (expense), net
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Credit), Interest Cost, Statement of Income or Comprehensive Income [Extensible Enumeration]		Other income (expense), net	Other income (expense), net	Other income (expense), net
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit (Cost) Credit, Expected Return (Loss), Statement of Income or Comprehensive Income [Extensible Enumeration]		Other income (expense), net	Other income (expense), net	Other income (expense), net
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Credit), Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit), Statement of Income or Comprehensive Income [Extensible Enumeration]		Other income (expense), net	Other income (expense), net	Other income (expense), net
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit (Cost) Credit, Settlement Gain (Loss), Statement of Income or Comprehensive Income [Extensible Enumeration]		Other income (expense), net	Other income (expense), net	Other income (expense), net
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheets
Other liabilities — benefit obligations	$ (547)	$ (572)	$ (547)
Discount rate period		99 years
Annuity purchase		$ 136
Changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income
Amortization of net loss		(1)	(8)
Amortization of prior service cost		(1)	1
Settlement		$ 0	(67)
Defined Benefit Plan, Funded Plan, Closed
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Number Of Additional Plans \| defined_benefit_plan		2
Defined Benefit Plan, Funded Plan, Frozen
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Number Of Additional Plans \| defined_benefit_plan		1
Pension Plan
Components of net periodic costs [Abstract]
Service cost		$ 25	29
Interest cost		76	73	$ 59
Expected return on plan assets		(76)	(87)	(103)
Amortization of net loss		28	31	36
Settlement cost		0	126	38
Net periodic cost (credit)		$ 53	$ 172	69
Assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit (income) cost
Expected return on plan assets (as a percent)		6.50%	6.50%
Change in benefit obligation [Roll Forward]
Benefit obligation, beginning of year		$ 1,553	$ 2,298
Service cost		25	29
Interest cost		76	73	59
Benefits paid		(147)	(509)
Actuarial (gain) loss		41	(338)
Plan amendment		0	0
Benefit obligation, end of year	1,553	1,548	1,553	2,298
Change in plan assets [Rollforward]
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year		1,212	2,072
Employer contributions		32	35
Benefits paid		(147)	(509)
Actual investment return		107	(386)
Fair value of plan assets, end of year	1,212	1,204	1,212	$ 2,072
Funded status, end of year	(341)	(344)	(341)
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheets
Non-current assets	0	4	0
Current liabilities — other	(7)	(7)	(7)
Other liabilities — benefit obligations	(334)	(341)	(334)
Net liability, end of year	$ (341)	$ (344)	$ (341)
Discount rate (as a percent)	5.15%	4.95%	5.15%
Rate of increase in compensation levels (as a percent)	4.99%	4.97%	4.99%
Interest crediting rate (as a percent)	3.00%	3.00%	3.00%
Pension benefits that have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets
Accumulated benefit obligation for all defined benefit pension plans	$ 1,548	$ 1,544	$ 1,548
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss
Unrecognized actuarial loss (gain)	70	69	70
Unrecognized prior service cost	0	0	0
Net amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss (gain)	70	69	70
Changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income
Net loss (gain)		2
Amortization of net loss		(3)
Amortization of prior service cost		0
Settlement		0
Total recognized in comprehensive income		(1)
Total expense recognized in net periodic cost and other comprehensive income		52
Pension Plan \| Qualified Plan
Change in plan assets [Rollforward]
Employer contributions		24
Pension benefits that have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets
Accumulated benefit obligation	1,497	1,496	1,497
Projected benefit obligation	1,502	1,500	1,502
Fair value of plan assets	1,212	1,204	1,212
Pension Plan \| Nonqualified Plan
Change in plan assets [Rollforward]
Employer contributions		8
Pension benefits that have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets
Accumulated benefit obligation	51	48	51
Projected benefit obligation	51	48	51
Fair value of plan assets	0	$ 0	$ 0
Pension Plan \| CenterPoint Energy
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Decrease in benefit obligation from transfer	138
Decrease in plan assets	$ 136
Change in benefit obligation (as a percent)	9.40%
Number of beneficiaries \| beneficiary	1,119
Assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit (income) cost
Discount rate (as a percent)		5.15%	2.80%	2.45%
Expected return on plan assets (as a percent)		6.50%	5.00%	5.00%
Rate of increase in compensation levels (as a percent)		4.99%	4.95%	5.05%
Pension benefits that have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets
Settlement charge	$ 47
Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Components of net periodic costs [Abstract]
Service cost		$ 1	$ 2	$ 2
Interest cost		13	9	9
Expected return on plan assets		(5)	(5)	(4)
Amortization of prior service cost		(2)	(3)	(4)
Amortization of net loss		8	4	0
Net periodic cost (credit)		$ (1)	$ (1)	$ 3
Assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit (income) cost
Discount rate (as a percent)		5.15%	2.85%	2.50%
Expected return on plan assets (as a percent)		5.13%	3.22%	3.20%
Change in benefit obligation [Roll Forward]
Benefit obligation, beginning of year		$ 263	$ 336
Service cost		1	2	$ 2
Interest cost		13	9	9
Participant contributions		6	6
Benefits paid		(20)	(20)
Actuarial (gain) loss		0	(73)
Plan amendment		0	3
Benefit obligation, end of year	263	263	263	336
Change in plan assets [Rollforward]
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year		109	132
Employer contributions		7	8
Participant contributions		6	6
Benefits paid		(20)	(20)
Actual investment return		10	(17)
Fair value of plan assets, end of year	109	112	109	132
Funded status, end of year	(154)	(151)	(154)
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheets
Current liabilities — other	(7)	(7)	(7)
Other liabilities — benefit obligations	(147)	(144)	(147)
Net liability, end of year	$ (154)	$ (151)	$ (154)
Discount rate (as a percent)	5.15%	4.95%	5.15%
Expected return on plan assets (as a percent)		5.13%	3.66%
Pension benefits that have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets
Prescription drug cost trend rate assumed for the next year - Pre-65		9.00%	8.00%
Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (the ultimate trend rate)	4.50%	4.50%	4.50%
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss
Unrecognized actuarial loss (gain)	$ (36)	$ (34)	$ (36)
Unrecognized prior service cost	13	12	13
Net amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss (gain)	$ (23)	(22)	$ (23)
Changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income
Net loss (gain)		0
Amortization of net loss		2
Amortization of prior service cost		(1)
Settlement		0
Total recognized in comprehensive income		1
Total expense recognized in net periodic cost and other comprehensive income		$ 0
Minimum \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Pension benefits that have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets
Health care cost trend rate assumed for the next year	6.50%	7.25%	6.50%
Maximum \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Pension benefits that have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets
Health care cost trend rate assumed for the next year	23.66%	22.76%	23.66%
Houston Electric
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheets
Other liabilities — benefit obligations	$ (38)	$ (32)	$ (38)
Houston Electric \| Pension Plan \| Qualified Plan
Change in plan assets [Rollforward]
Employer contributions		0
Houston Electric \| Pension Plan \| Nonqualified Plan
Change in plan assets [Rollforward]
Employer contributions		0
Houston Electric \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Components of net periodic costs [Abstract]
Service cost		0	0	0
Interest cost		5	4	4
Expected return on plan assets		(4)	(4)	(3)
Amortization of prior service cost		(5)	(4)	(5)
Amortization of net loss		4	2	0
Net periodic cost (credit)		$ (8)	$ (6)	$ (4)
Assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit (income) cost
Discount rate (as a percent)		5.15%	2.85%	2.50%
Expected return on plan assets (as a percent)		5.26%	3.32%	3.30%
Change in benefit obligation [Roll Forward]
Benefit obligation, beginning of year		$ 115	$ 148
Service cost		0	0	$ 0
Interest cost		5	4	4
Participant contributions		2	2
Benefits paid		(8)	(7)
Actuarial (gain) loss		(1)	(32)
Plan amendment		0	0
Benefit obligation, end of year	115	113	115	148
Change in plan assets [Rollforward]
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year		84	104
Employer contributions		0	1
Participant contributions		2	2
Benefits paid		(8)	(7)
Actual investment return		8	(16)
Fair value of plan assets, end of year	84	86	84	104
Funded status, end of year	(31)	(27)	(31)
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheets
Current liabilities — other	0	0	0
Other liabilities — benefit obligations	(31)	(27)	(31)
Net liability, end of year	$ (31)	$ (27)	$ (31)
Discount rate (as a percent)	5.15%	4.95%	5.15%
Expected return on plan assets (as a percent)		5.26%	3.75%
Pension benefits that have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets
Prescription drug cost trend rate assumed for the next year - Pre-65		9.00%	8.00%
Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (the ultimate trend rate)	4.50%	4.50%	4.50%
Houston Electric \| Minimum \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Pension benefits that have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets
Health care cost trend rate assumed for the next year	6.50%	7.25%	6.50%
Houston Electric \| Maximum \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Pension benefits that have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets
Health care cost trend rate assumed for the next year	23.66%	22.76%	23.66%
CERC Corp
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheets
Other liabilities — benefit obligations	$ (76)	$ (74)	$ (76)
Changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income
Amortization of net loss		(2)	(1)
Amortization of prior service cost		2	1
Settlement		0	0
CERC Corp \| Pension Plan \| Qualified Plan
Change in plan assets [Rollforward]
Employer contributions		0
CERC Corp \| Pension Plan \| Nonqualified Plan
Change in plan assets [Rollforward]
Employer contributions		0
CERC Corp \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Components of net periodic costs [Abstract]
Service cost		1	1	1
Interest cost		5	3	3
Expected return on plan assets		(1)	(1)	(1)
Amortization of prior service cost		2	2	1
Amortization of net loss		3	1	0
Net periodic cost (credit)		$ 4	$ 4	$ 4
Assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit (income) cost
Discount rate (as a percent)		5.15%	2.85%	2.50%
Expected return on plan assets (as a percent)		4.69%	2.86%	2.85%
Change in benefit obligation [Roll Forward]
Benefit obligation, beginning of year		$ 92	$ 118
Service cost		1	1	$ 1
Interest cost		5	3	3
Participant contributions		3	3
Benefits paid		(8)	(8)
Actuarial (gain) loss		0	(27)
Plan amendment		0	2
Benefit obligation, end of year	92	93	92	118
Change in plan assets [Rollforward]
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year		25	29
Employer contributions		4	4
Participant contributions		3	3
Benefits paid		(8)	(8)
Actual investment return		2	(3)
Fair value of plan assets, end of year	25	26	25	29
Funded status, end of year	(67)	(67)	(67)
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheets
Current liabilities — other	(4)	(4)	(4)
Other liabilities — benefit obligations	(64)	(63)	(64)
Net liability, end of year	$ (68)	$ (67)	$ (68)
Discount rate (as a percent)	5.15%	4.95%	5.15%
Expected return on plan assets (as a percent)		4.69%	3.35%
Pension benefits that have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets
Prescription drug cost trend rate assumed for the next year - Pre-65		9.00%	8.00%
Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (the ultimate trend rate)	4.50%	4.50%	4.50%
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss
Unrecognized actuarial loss (gain)	$ (28)	$ (27)	$ (28)
Unrecognized prior service cost	11	10	11
Net amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss (gain)	$ (17)	(17)	$ (17)
Changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income
Net loss (gain)		1
Amortization of net loss		(2)
Amortization of prior service cost		1
Settlement		0
Total recognized in comprehensive income		0
Total expense recognized in net periodic cost and other comprehensive income		$ 4
CERC Corp \| Minimum \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Pension benefits that have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets
Health care cost trend rate assumed for the next year	6.50%	7.25%	6.50%
CERC Corp \| Maximum \| Other Postretirement Benefits Plan
Pension benefits that have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets
Health care cost trend rate assumed for the next year	23.66%	22.76%	23.66%
Operation And Maintenance Expense \| Pension Plan
Components of net periodic costs [Abstract]
Service cost		$ 25	$ 29	39
Change in benefit obligation [Roll Forward]
Service cost		$ 25	$ 29	$ 39

Background	12 Months Ended
Background	Dec. 31, 2023
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Background	Background General. This combined Form 10-K is filed separately by three registrants: CenterPoint Energy, Inc., CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC and CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp. Information contained herein relating to any individual registrant is filed by such registrant solely on its own behalf. Each registrant makes no representation as to information relating exclusively to the other Registrants or the subsidiaries of CenterPoint Energy other than itself or its subsidiaries. Except as discussed in Note 13 to the Registrants’ Consolidated Financial Statements, no registrant has an obligation in respect of any other Registrant’s debt securities, and holders of such debt securities should not consider the financial resources or results of operations of any Registrant other than the obligor in making a decision with respect to such securities. Included in this combined Form 10-K are the Financial Statements of CenterPoint Energy, Houston Electric and CERC, which are referred to collectively as the Registrants. The Combined Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements apply to all Registrants and specific references to Houston Electric and CERC herein also pertain to CenterPoint Energy, unless otherwise indicated. Background. CenterPoint Energy, Inc. is a public utility holding company. On June 30, 2023, CenterPoint Energy completed the sale of its indirect subsidiary, Energy Systems Group, to an unaffiliated third party. For additional information, see Note 4. As of December 31, 2023, CenterPoint Energy’s operating subsidiaries were as follows: •Houston Electric owns and operates electric transmission and distribution facilities in the Texas gulf coast area that includes the city of Houston; •CERC Corp. (i) directly owns and operates natural gas distribution systems in Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi and Texas, (ii) indirectly, through Indiana Gas and VEDO, owns and operates natural gas distribution systems in Indiana and Ohio, respectively, and (iii) owns and operates permanent pipeline connections through interconnects with various interstate and intrastate pipeline companies through CEIP; and •SIGECO provides energy delivery services to electric and natural gas customers located in and near Evansville in southwestern Indiana and owns and operates electric generation assets to serve its electric customers and optimizes those assets in the wholesale power market. For a description of CenterPoint Energy’s reportable segments, see Note 17. Houston Electric and CERC each consist of a single reportable segment. On February 19, 2024, CenterPoint Energy, through its subsidiary CERC Corp., entered into the LAMS Asset Purchase Agreement to sell its Louisiana and Mississippi natural gas local distribution company businesses. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025. For further information, see Note 21 to the consolidated financial statements.

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Statement of Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Adjustment to pension and other postemployment plans, tax	$ 1	$ (2)	$ (7)
Deferred loss from cash flow hedge, tax	0	0	0
Reclassification of deferred loss from cash flow hedges realized in net income, tax	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates, tax	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - LIFO Inventory (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Summary of Accounting Policies [Line Items]
LIFO inventory	$ 106	$ 101
Cost of replacing inventories carried at LIFO cost less than carrying value	8
CERC Corp
Summary of Accounting Policies [Line Items]
LIFO inventory	86	$ 82
Cost of replacing inventories carried at LIFO cost less than carrying value	$ 13

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Revenues:
Utility revenues	$ 8,524	$ 9,018	$ 8,042
Non-utility revenues	172	303	310
Total	8,696	9,321	8,352
Expenses:
Utility natural gas, fuel and purchased power	2,061	2,887	2,127
Non-utility cost of revenues, including natural gas	99	204	208
Operation and maintenance	2,850	2,833	2,810
Depreciation and amortization	1,401	1,288	1,316
Taxes other than income taxes	525	543	528
Total	6,936	7,755	6,989
Operating Income	1,760	1,566	1,363
Other Income (Expense):
Gain (loss) on equity securities	31	(227)	(172)
Gain (loss) on indexed debt securities	(27)	325	50
Gain (loss) on sale	(13)	303	8
Interest expense and other finance charges	(684)	(511)	(508)
Interest expense on Securitization Bonds	(17)	(13)	(21)
Other income (expense), net	37	(26)	58
Total	(673)	(149)	(585)
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	1,087	1,417	778
Income tax expense	170	360	110
Income From Continuing Operations	917	1,057	668
Net Income	917	1,057	1,486
Income allocated to preferred shareholders	50	49	95
Income Available to Common Shareholders	$ 867	$ 1,008	$ 1,391
Earnings per common share:
Basic earnings per common share - continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.37	$ 1.60	$ 0.97
Basic earnings (loss) per common share - discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0	0	1.38
Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share (in dollars per share)	1.37	1.60	2.35
Basic Earnings Per Common Share
Diluted earnings per common share - continuing operations (in dollars per share)	1.37	1.59	0.94
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share - discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0	0	1.34
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.37	$ 1.59	$ 2.28
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding, Basic	630,947	629,415	592,933
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding, Diluted	633,179	632,346	609,938

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - CERC (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Adjustment to pension and other postemployment plans, tax	$ (1)	$ 2	$ 7
CERC Corp
Adjustment to pension and other postemployment plans, tax	$ 0	$ 4	$ 1

Income Taxes - Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Deferred tax assets:
Benefits and compensation	$ 131	$ 121
Regulatory liabilities	365	378
Loss and credit carryforwards	76	84
Asset retirement obligations	96	95
Other	124	49
Valuation allowance	(10)	(10)
Total deferred tax assets	782	717
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment	3,580	3,228
Regulatory assets	401	601
Investment in ZENS and equity securities related to ZENS	788	722
Other	92	152
Total deferred tax liabilities	4,861	4,703
Net deferred tax liabilities	4,079	3,986
Decreases related to tax positions of prior years	0	(3)
Houston Electric
Deferred tax assets:
Benefits and compensation	10	10
Regulatory liabilities	176	184
Asset retirement obligations	6	6
Other	18	13
Total deferred tax assets	210	213
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment	1,497	1,330
Regulatory assets	119	112
Total deferred tax liabilities	1,616	1,442
Net deferred tax liabilities	1,406	1,229
CERC Corp
Deferred tax assets:
Benefits and compensation	21	9
Regulatory liabilities	145	151
Loss and credit carryforwards	276	466
Asset retirement obligations	86	86
Other	65	25
Total deferred tax assets	593	737
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment	1,602	1,427
Regulatory assets	171	381
Other	66	191
Total deferred tax liabilities	1,839	1,999
Net deferred tax liabilities	$ 1,246	$ 1,262

Related Party Transactions (Houston Electric and CERC) - Schedule of Amounts Charged For Services (Details) - Operation And Maintenance Expense - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Houston Electric
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Net affiliate service charges (billings)	$ (10)	$ 15	$ (7)
CERC Corp
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Net affiliate service charges (billings)	10	(15)	7
CenterPoint Energy \| Houston Electric
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Corporate service charges	173	167	189
CenterPoint Energy \| CERC Corp
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Corporate service charges	$ 236	$ 237	$ 257

Equity Securities and Indexed Debt Securities (ZENS) (CenterPoint Energy) - Schedule of Gain (Loss) On Equity Securities (CenterPoint Energy) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Debt and Equity Securities, FV-NI [Line Items]
Total Gains (Losses) on Equity Securities	$ 31	$ (227)	$ (172)
AT&T Common
Debt and Equity Securities, FV-NI [Line Items]
Total Gains (Losses) on Equity Securities	(17)	(63)	(43)
Charter Common
Debt and Equity Securities, FV-NI [Line Items]
Total Gains (Losses) on Equity Securities	43	(273)	(8)
WBD Common
Debt and Equity Securities, FV-NI [Line Items]
Total Gains (Losses) on Equity Securities	5	23	0
Energy Transfer Common Units
Debt and Equity Securities, FV-NI [Line Items]
Total Gains (Losses) on Equity Securities	0	95	(124)
Energy Transfer Series G Preferred Units
Debt and Equity Securities, FV-NI [Line Items]
Total Gains (Losses) on Equity Securities	0	(9)	2
Other
Debt and Equity Securities, FV-NI [Line Items]
Total Gains (Losses) on Equity Securities	$ 0	$ 0	$ 1

Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt - Schedule of Revolving Credit Facilities (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) day	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Size of credit facility	$ 4,000	$ 4,000
Number of days until commercial paper maturity \| day	60
SIGECO
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Size of credit facility	$ 250	250
Houston Electric
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Size of credit facility	300	300
CERC Corp
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Size of credit facility	$ 1,050	1,050
Number of days until commercial paper maturity \| day	30
Line of Credit \| SIGECO
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage on limitation of debt to total capitalization under covenant (in hundredths)	65.00%
Ratio of indebtedness to net capital	0.465
Line of Credit \| Houston Electric
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage on limitation of debt to total capitalization under covenant (in hundredths)	67.50%
Ratio of indebtedness to net capital	0.526
Line of Credit \| CERC Corp
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage on limitation of debt to total capitalization under covenant (in hundredths)	65.00%
Ratio of indebtedness to net capital	0.402
Line of Credit \| Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap Rate \| SIGECO
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread (as a percent)	1.125%
Line of Credit \| Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap Rate \| Houston Electric
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread (as a percent)	1.25%
Line of Credit \| Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap Rate \| CERC Corp
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread (as a percent)	1.125%
Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loans	$ 0	0
Revolving Credit Facility \| SIGECO
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loans	0	0
Revolving Credit Facility \| Houston Electric
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loans	0	0
Revolving Credit Facility \| CERC Corp
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loans	0	0
Letter of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loans	1	11
Letter of Credit \| SIGECO
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loans	0	0
Letter of Credit \| Houston Electric
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loans	0	0
Letter of Credit \| CERC Corp
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loans	1	0
CenterPoint Energy commercial paper
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loans	1,520	2,575
CenterPoint Energy commercial paper \| SIGECO
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loans	$ 0	$ 0
Weighted average interest rate (as a percent)	0.00%	0.00%
CenterPoint Energy commercial paper \| Houston Electric
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loans	$ 0	$ 0
Weighted average interest rate (as a percent)	0.00%	0.00%
CenterPoint Energy commercial paper \| CERC Corp
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loans	$ 484	$ 805
Weighted average interest rate (as a percent)	5.53%	4.67%
Parent Company
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Size of credit facility	$ 2,400	$ 2,400
Parent Company \| Line of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage on limitation of debt to total capitalization under covenant (in hundredths)	65.00%
Ratio of indebtedness to net capital	0.596
Percentage on limitation of debt to total capitalization under covenant amended (in hundredths)	70.00%
Expected restoration costs	$ 100
Consecutive period for system restoration costs to exceed $100 million (in months)	12
Parent Company \| Line of Credit \| Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread (as a percent)	1.50%
Parent Company \| Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loans	$ 0	0
Parent Company \| Letter of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loans	0	11
Parent Company \| CenterPoint Energy commercial paper
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loans	$ 1,036	$ 1,770
Weighted average interest rate (as a percent)	5.54%	4.71%

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS - HOUSTON ELECTRIC - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 917	$ 1,057	$ 1,486
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	1,401	1,288	1,316
Deferred income taxes	31	20	213
Changes in other assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable and unbilled revenues, net	423	(461)	(98)
Inventory	167	(259)	(140)
Accounts payable	(302)	203	175
Taxes receivable	(74)	(19)	81
Net regulatory assets and liabilities	1,043	234	(2,295)
Other operating activities, net	60	79	85
Net cash provided by operating activities	3,877	1,810	22
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(4,401)	(4,419)	(3,164)
Other investing activities, net	24	14	15
Net cash used in investing activities	(4,233)	(1,628)	(1,851)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt and term loans	6,044	2,089	4,493
Payments of long-term debt and term loans, including make-whole premiums	(3,190)	(1,795)	(2,968)
Payment of obligation for finance lease	0	(485)	(179)
Other financing activities, net	(25)	(7)	(5)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	374	(345)	1,916
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash	18	(163)	87
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at Beginning of Year	91	254	167
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at End of Year	109	91	254
Houston Electric
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	593	510	381
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	748	670	642
Deferred income taxes	160	86	32
Changes in other assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable and unbilled revenues, net	16	(63)	(17)
Accounts receivable/payable–affiliated companies	(1)	47	(36)
Inventory	62	(179)	(97)
Accounts payable	(60)	(7)	66
Taxes receivable	(38)	0	0
Net regulatory assets and liabilities	(130)	(41)	(237)
Other current assets and liabilities	28	(20)	39
Other non-current assets and liabilities	35	(25)	6
Other operating activities, net	(12)	(12)	(9)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,401	966	770
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(2,279)	(2,436)	(1,619)
Increase in notes receivable–affiliated companies	(238)	0	0
Other investing activities, net	14	1	2
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,503)	(2,435)	(1,617)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt and term loans	1,398	1,589	1,096
Payments of long-term debt and term loans, including make-whole premiums	(156)	(720)	(613)
Dividend to parent	(367)	(316)	0
Increase (decrease) in notes payable–affiliated companies	(642)	130	504
Payment of debt issuance costs	(13)	(17)	(12)
Contribution from parent	885	1,143	130
Payment of obligation for finance lease	0	(485)	(179)
Other financing activities, net	(2)	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,103	1,324	926
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash	1	(145)	79
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at Beginning of Year	88	233	154
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at End of Year	$ 89	$ 88	$ 233

Audit Information	12 Months Ended
Audit Information	Dec. 31, 2023
Auditor [Line Items]
Auditor Name	DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Auditor Location	Houston, Texas
Auditor Firm ID	34
Houston Electric
Auditor [Line Items]
Auditor Name	DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Auditor Location	Houston, Texas
Auditor Firm ID	34
CERC Corp
Auditor [Line Items]
Auditor Name	DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Auditor Location	Houston, Texas
Auditor Firm ID	34

Divestitures (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) - Divestitures Narrative (Details) mi in Thousands, $ in Millions			12 Months Ended
	May 21, 2023 USD ($)	Apr. 29, 2021 USD ($) mi	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)	May 31, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 02, 2021	Aug. 31, 2021 state
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from divestiture of businesses			$ 144	$ 2,075	$ 22
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal, Statement of Income or Comprehensive Income [Extensible Enumeration]			Gain (loss) on sale
Miles of pipeline \| mi		17
Reimbursement of transition services			$ 1	40
Transition services receivables			0	1
Gain (loss) on sale			(13)	303	8
Common and preferred units acquired (as a percent)							100.00%
CERC Corp
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from divestiture of businesses			0	2,075	22
Gain (loss) on sale			0	557	11
MES
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of states \| state								48
Gain (loss) on sale					8
MES \| CERC Corp
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on sale					$ 11
Disposal Group, Held-for-sale or Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations \| Energy Systems Group
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Equity purchase agreement, purchase price	$ 157
Proceeds from divestiture of businesses	$ 154
Payable on divestiture			2
Gain (loss) on sale			(13)
Disposal group, not discontinued operations, transaction costs			3
Current tax expense of divestiture			$ 32
Disposal Group, Held-for-sale or Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations \| Arkansas and Oklahoma Natural Gas Businesses
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from divestiture of businesses		$ 2,150
Gain (loss) on sale				303
Disposal group, not discontinued operations, transaction costs				59
Recovery of costs		$ 425
Disposal group, including discontinued operation, accounts, notes and loans receivable, net						$ 15
Disposal Group, Held-for-sale or Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations \| Arkansas and Oklahoma Natural Gas Businesses \| CERC Corp
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on sale				557
Disposal group, not discontinued operations, transaction costs				$ 59
Disposal group, including discontinued operation, accounts, notes and loans receivable, net						$ 15

Divestitures (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]

Schedule of Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations

The pre-tax income (loss) for Energy Systems Group, excluding interest and corporate allocations, included in CenterPoint Energy’s Statements of Consolidated Income is as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023 (1)		2022		2021
	(in millions)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	$	(4)	$	2	$	(3)

(1)Reflects January 1, 2023 to June 30, 2023 results only due to of the sale of Energy Systems Group.


	Year Ended December 31,	Year Ended December 31,
		2022 (1)		2021
	(in millions)
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes		$	9	$	78

(1)Reflects January 1, 2022 to January 9, 2022 results only due to of the sale of the Arkansas and Oklahoma Natural Gas businesses.

A summary of discontinued operations presented in CenterPoint Energy’s Statements of Consolidated Income is as follows:


	Year Ended December 31, 2021

	(in millions)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliate, net	$	1,019
Income from discontinued operations before income taxes	1,019
Income tax expense	201
Net income from discontinued operations	$	818



	Year Ended December 31, 2021
Cash flows from operating activities:	(in millions)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on Enable Merger	$	(681)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliate	(339)
Distributions from unconsolidated affiliate	155
Cash flows from investing activities:
Transaction costs related to the Enable Merger	(49)
Cash received related to Enable Merger	5

Distributions Received from Enable (CenterPoint Energy):


	Year Ended December 31, 2021
	Per Unit		Cash Distribution
			(in millions)
Enable Common Units	$	0.6610	$	155
Enable Series A Preferred Units	2.2965		34
Total			$	189

Transactions with Enable (CenterPoint Energy and CERC):

The transactions with Enable through December 2, 2021 in the following tables exclude transactions with the Energy Services Disposal Group.



	Year Ended December 31, 2021
	(in millions)
Natural gas expenses, including transportation and storage costs (1)	$	85

(1)Included in Utility natural gas, fuel and purchased power on CenterPoint Energy’s Statements of Consolidated Income and in Utility natural gas on CERC’s Statements of Consolidated Income.

Summarized Financial Information for Enable (CenterPoint Energy)

Summarized consolidated income (loss) information for Enable is as follows:


		Year Ended December 31, 2021 (1)
	(in millions)
Operating revenues		$	3,466
Cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization		1,959
Depreciation and amortization		382

Operating income		634
Net income attributable to Enable Common Units		461
Reconciliation of Equity in Earnings (Losses), net before income taxes:
CenterPoint Energy’s interest		$	248
Basis difference amortization (2)		92
Loss on dilution, net of proportional basis difference recognition		(1)

Gain on Enable Merger		680
CenterPoint Energy’s equity in earnings (losses), net before income taxes (3)		$	1,019

(1)Reflects January 1, 2021 to December 2, 2021 results only due to the closing of the Enable Merger.

(3)Reported as discontinued operations on CenterPoint Energy’s Statements of Consolidated Income.

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of information related to a disposal group. Includes, but is not limited to, a discontinued operation, disposal classified as held-for-sale or disposed of by means other than sale or disposal of an individually significant component.

+ References

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Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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+ Details

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value, Assets Measured on a Recurring Basis

CenterPoint Energy


	December 31, 2023						December 31, 2022
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets	(in millions)
Equity securities	$	541	$	—	$	—	$	541	$	510	$	—	$	—	$	510
Investments, including money market funds (1)	31		—		—		31		32		—		—		32
Interest rate derivatives	—		—		—		—		—		1		—		1
Natural gas derivatives	—		—		—		—		—		11		—		11


Total assets	$	572	$	—	$	—	$	572	$	542	$	12	$	—	$	554

Liabilities
Indexed debt securities derivative	$	—	$	605	$	—	$	605	$	—	$	578	$	—	$	578

Natural gas derivatives	—		12		—		12		—		—		—		—


Total liabilities	$	—	$	617	$	—	$	617	$	—	$	578	$	—	$	578

Houston Electric


	December 31, 2023						December 31, 2022
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets	(in millions)
Investments, including money market funds (1)	$	14	$	—	$	—	$	14	$	17	$	—	$	—	$	17

Total assets	$	14	$	—	$	—	$	14	$	17	$	—	$	—	$	17

CERC


	December 31, 2023						December 31, 2022
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets	(in millions)

Investments, including money market funds (1)	$	15	$	—	$	—	$	15	$	14	$	—	$	—	$	14
Natural gas derivatives	—		—		—		—		—		9		—		9


Total assets	$	15	$	—	$	—	$	15	$	14	$	9	$	—	$	23
Liabilities
Natural gas derivatives	$	—	$	11	$	—	$	11	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—


Total liabilities	$	—	$	11	$	—	$	11	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—

(1)Amounts are included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets in the respective Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Estimated Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Debt Instruments


	December 31, 2023						December 31, 2022
	CenterPoint Energy (1)		Houston Electric (1)		CERC		CenterPoint Energy (1)		Houston Electric (1)		CERC
Long-term debt, including current maturities	(in millions)


Carrying amount	$	18,609	$	7,587	$	4,670	$	16,338	$	6,353	$	4,826
Fair value	17,804		6,917		4,627		14,990		5,504		4,637

(1)Includes Securitization Bond debt.

Commitments and Contingencies - Narrative (Details)			12 Months Ended
Commitments and Contingencies - Narrative (Details)	Jun. 08, 2023 USD ($)	Feb. 01, 2023 MW	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) lawsuit insurer Defendant gasManufacturingAndStorageSite formerAffiliate ashPond	Nov. 19, 2023 lawsuit	Feb. 28, 2023 lawsuit plaintiff_class	Jan. 11, 2023 MW	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Purchase Obligations
Guarantor obligations, maximum exposure, undiscounted \| $			$ 503,000,000
Additional guarantee \| $			$ 0
Number of owned coal ash ponds \| ashPond			3
Accounting and ratemaking project relief, estimated project costs \| $	$ 52,000,000
Asset retirement obligation \| $			$ 590,000,000				$ 610,000,000	$ 659,000,000
F.B. Culley
Purchase Obligations
Number of owned coal ash ponds \| ashPond			2
A.B. Brown
Purchase Obligations
Number of owned coal ash ponds \| ashPond			1
F.B. Culley East
Purchase Obligations
Number of owned coal ash ponds \| ashPond			1
CERC Corp
Purchase Obligations
Asset retirement obligation \| $			$ 380,000,000				$ 420,000,000	$ 479,000,000
Indiana Electric
Purchase Obligations
Asset retirement obligation \| $			116,000,000
Indiana Electric \| Minimum
Purchase Obligations
Estimated capital expenditure to clean ash ponds \| $			60,000,000
Indiana Electric \| Maximum
Purchase Obligations
Estimated capital expenditure to clean ash ponds \| $			$ 80,000,000
Indiana Gas Service Territory
Purchase Obligations
Environmental remediation number of sites with potential remedial responsibility \| gasManufacturingAndStorageSite			26
Environmental remediation investigation studies agreed upon number of sites \| gasManufacturingAndStorageSite			1
Indiana Gas Service Territory \| CERC Corp
Purchase Obligations
Environmental remediation number of sites with potential remedial responsibility \| gasManufacturingAndStorageSite			26
SIGECO
Purchase Obligations
Environmental remediation number of sites with potential remedial responsibility \| gasManufacturingAndStorageSite			5
Minnesota and Indiana
Purchase Obligations
Environmental remediation sites sites owned or operated by \| formerAffiliate			1
Loss from Catastrophes
Purchase Obligations
Pending lawsuits					12
Loss from Catastrophes \| Harris County
Purchase Obligations
Pending lawsuits					9
Uninsured Risk
Purchase Obligations
Number of insurers \| insurer			1
Litigation Related to the February 2021 Winter Storm Event \| Pending Litigation
Purchase Obligations
Pending lawsuits			220
February 2021 Winter Storm Event \| Pending Litigation \| CenterPoint Energy, Houston Electric and Other Entities
Purchase Obligations
Number of lawsuits named as defendant			155
Harris County vs. CERC - Putative \| Loss from Catastrophes
Purchase Obligations
Pending lawsuits					1
Number of classes of electric and natural gas customers \| plaintiff_class					2
Multi District Litigation \| Cases Transferred to the Multi District Litigation (MDL)
Purchase Obligations
Pending lawsuits			3	9
Multi District Litigation \| Motions to Remand Lawsuits Out Of MDL And Back Into Original Trial Courts
Purchase Obligations
Pending lawsuits			3
Multi District Litigation \| February 2021 Putative Class Action
Purchase Obligations
Pending lawsuits			1
Multi District Litigation \| February 2021 Putative Class Action \| Utility Holding, LLC
Purchase Obligations
Pending lawsuits			1
Bellwether Cases \| Pending Litigation
Purchase Obligations
Pending lawsuits			5
Other Texas Lawsuits Brought By Assignee vs. Company \| Loss from Catastrophes
Purchase Obligations
Pending lawsuits					2
Other Texas Lawsuits Brought By Assignee vs. Company \| Loss from Catastrophes \| Harris County
Purchase Obligations
Pending lawsuits					1
Other Texas Lawsuits Brought By Assignee vs. Company \| Loss from Catastrophes \| Tom Green County
Purchase Obligations
Pending lawsuits					1
Jefferson Parish \| Pending Litigation
Purchase Obligations
Pending lawsuits			42
Jefferson Parish \| Suits Remanded to Louisiana Federal Couts
Purchase Obligations
Pending lawsuits			42
Jefferson Parish \| Pending Litigation \| Predecessor Company, Primary Fuels, Inc.
Purchase Obligations
Number of lawsuits named as defendant \| Defendant			1
Number of defendants			1
Posey Solar
Purchase Obligations
Solar array generating capacity (in MW) \| MW		191
Solar array assets, useful life		35 years
Pike Solar
Purchase Obligations
Solar array generating capacity (in MW) \| MW						130

Goodwill and Other Intangibles (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	$ 4,294
Disposals	134
Goodwill, ending balance	4,160	$ 4,294
Finite-Live Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Gross Carrying Amount		63
Accumulated Amortization		(25)
Net Balance		38
Depreciation and amortization expense
Finite-Live Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Amortization expense of intangible assets recorded in depreciation and amortization	3	6	$ 6
Cost of Sales
Finite-Live Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Amortization expense of intangible assets recorded in depreciation and amortization	0	1	$ 1
Customer relationships
Finite-Live Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Gross Carrying Amount		33
Accumulated Amortization		(16)
Net Balance		17
Trade names
Finite-Live Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Gross Carrying Amount		16
Accumulated Amortization		(6)
Net Balance		10
Operation and maintenance agreements
Finite-Live Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Gross Carrying Amount		12
Accumulated Amortization		(2)
Net Balance		10
Other
Finite-Live Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Gross Carrying Amount		2
Accumulated Amortization		(1)
Net Balance		1
Electric
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	936
Disposals	0
Goodwill, ending balance	936	936
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss [Abstract]
Accumulated goodwill impairment charge				$ 185
Natural Gas
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	2,920
Disposals	0
Goodwill, ending balance	2,920	2,920
Corporate and Other
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	438
Disposals	134
Goodwill, ending balance	$ 304	$ 438

Insider Trading Arrangements	3 Months Ended
Insider Trading Arrangements	Dec. 31, 2023
Trading Arrangements, by Individual
Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Adopted	false
Non-Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Adopted	false
Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Terminated	false
Non-Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Terminated	false

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME - HOUSTON ELECTRIC - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Revenues	$ 8,696	$ 9,321	$ 8,352
Expenses:
Operation and maintenance	2,850	2,833	2,810
Depreciation and amortization	1,401	1,288	1,316
Taxes other than income taxes	525	543	528
Total	6,936	7,755	6,989
Operating Income	1,760	1,566	1,363
Other Income (Expense):
Interest expense and other finance charges	(684)	(511)	(508)
Interest expense on Securitization Bonds	(17)	(13)	(21)
Other income (expense), net	37	(26)	58
Total	(673)	(149)	(585)
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	1,087	1,417	778
Income tax expense	170	360	110
Net income (loss)	917	1,057	1,486
Houston Electric
Revenues	3,677	3,412	3,134
Expenses:
Operation and maintenance	1,673	1,650	1,597
Depreciation and amortization	748	670	642
Taxes other than income taxes	262	261	251
Total	2,683	2,581	2,490
Operating Income	994	831	644
Other Income (Expense):
Interest expense and other finance charges	(259)	(202)	(183)
Interest expense on Securitization Bonds	(8)	(13)	(21)
Other income (expense), net	34	19	17
Total	(233)	(196)	(187)
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	761	635	457
Income tax expense	168	125	76
Net income (loss)	$ 593	$ 510	$ 381

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 917	$ 1,057	$ 1,486
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	1,401	1,288	1,316
Deferred income taxes	31	20	213
Loss (gain) on divestitures	13	(303)	(681)
Loss (gain) on equity securities	(31)	227	172
Loss (gain) on indexed debt securities	27	(325)	(50)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	0	0	(339)
Distributions from unconsolidated affiliates	0	0	155
Pension contributions	(32)	(35)	(61)
Changes in other assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable and unbilled revenues, net	423	(461)	(98)
Inventory	167	(259)	(140)
Taxes receivable	(74)	(19)	81
Accounts payable	(302)	203	175
Net regulatory assets and liabilities	1,043	234	(2,295)
Other current assets and liabilities	162	(5)	56
Other non-current assets and liabilities	72	109	(53)
Other operating activities, net	60	79	85
Net cash provided by operating activities	3,877	1,810	22
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(4,401)	(4,419)	(3,164)
Transaction costs related to Enable Merger (Note 4)	0	0	(49)
Cash received related to Enable Merger	0	0	5
Proceeds from sale of equity securities, net of transaction costs	0	702	1,320
Proceeds from divestitures (Note 4)	144	2,075	22
Other investing activities, net	24	14	15
Net cash used in investing activities	(4,233)	(1,628)	(1,851)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings, net	(10)	452	(27)
Payment of obligation for finance lease	0	(485)	(179)
Proceeds from (payments of) commercial paper, net	(1,055)	(74)	1,132
Proceeds from long-term debt and term loans	6,044	2,089	4,493
Payments of long-term debt and term loans, including make-whole premiums	(3,190)	(1,795)	(2,968)
Payment of debt issuance costs	(55)	(36)	(38)
Payment of dividends on Common Stock	(485)	(440)	(385)
Payment of dividends on Preferred Stock	(50)	(49)	(107)
Redemption of Series A Preferred Stock	(800)	0	0
Other financing activities, net	(25)	(7)	(5)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	374	(345)	1,916
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash	18	(163)	87
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at Beginning of Year	91	254	167
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at End of Year	$ 109	$ 91	$ 254

Revenue Recognition - Schedule of Bad Debt Expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Bad debt expense	$ 18	$ 20	$ 12
Bad debt expense deferred as regulatory asset	0	0	16
Houston Electric
Bad debt expense	0	0	0
Bad debt expense deferred as regulatory asset	0	0	8
CERC Corp
Bad debt expense	16	17	10
Bad debt expense deferred as regulatory asset	$ 0	$ 0	$ 8

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - CERC (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Allowance for credit losses	$ 27	$ 38
Accrued unbilled revenues, allowance for credit loss	2	4
CERC Corp
Allowance for credit losses	25	34
Accrued unbilled revenues, allowance for credit loss	$ 1	$ 4

Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
Subsequent Events	Dec. 31, 2023
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	Subsequent Events January 2024 Equity Distribution Agreement (CenterPoint Energy) On January 10, 2024, CenterPoint Energy entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement with certain financial institutions with respect to the offering and sale from time to time of shares of Common Stock, having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $500 million. Sales of Common Stock may be made by any method permitted by applicable law and deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933. CenterPoint Energy may also enter into one or more forward sales agreements pursuant to master forward confirmations. The offer and sale of Common Stock under the Equity Distribution Agreement will terminate upon the earliest of (1) the sale of all Common Stock subject to the Equity Distribution Agreement, (2) termination of the Equity Distribution Agreement, or (3) May 17, 2026. As of February 20, 2024, CenterPoint Energy has not issued any shares of Common Stock under the Equity Distribution Agreement and has not entered into any forward sale agreements. Proposed Divestiture of Louisiana and Mississippi Natural Gas Local Distribution Companies (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) On February 19, 2024, CERC Corp. entered into the LAMS Asset Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which CERC Corp. has agreed to sell its Louisiana and Mississippi regulated natural gas local distribution company businesses. The purchase price for the Louisiana and Mississippi regulated natural gas local distribution company businesses is $1.2 billion and subject to adjustment as set forth in the LAMS Asset Purchase Agreement, including adjustments based on net working capital, regulatory assets and liabilities and capital expenditures at closing. The completion of the proposed transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including (i) the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, (ii) approval of the LPSC, (iii) approval of the MPSC, (iv) no Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the LAMS Asset Purchase Agreement) having occurred, and (v) customary closing conditions regarding the accuracy of the representations and warranties and compliance by the parties with the respective obligations under the LAMS Asset Purchase Agreement. The proposed transaction is not subject to a financing condition and is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2025, subject to satisfaction of the foregoing conditions.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Principles of Consolidation

Use of Estimates

Equity Method and Investments Without a Readily Determinable Fair Value (CenterPoint Energy)

Equity Method and Investments without a Readily Determinable Fair Value (CenterPoint Energy)

Investments without a readily determinable fair value will be measured at cost, less impairment, plus or minus observable prices changes of an identical or similar investment of the same issuer.

Revenues

MISO Transactions

Guarantees

GuaranteesCenterPoint Energy recognizes guarantee obligations at fair value. CenterPoint Energy discloses parent company guarantees of a subsidiary’s obligation when that guarantee results in the exposure of a material obligation of the parent company even if the probability of fulfilling such obligation is considered remote. See Note 15(c).

Long-lived Assets, Goodwill and Intangibles

The Registrants record property, plant and equipment at historical cost and expense repair and maintenance costs as incurred.

Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations

Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued OperationsGenerally, a long-lived asset to be sold is classified as held for sale in the period in which management, with approval from the Board of Directors, as applicable, commits to a plan to sell, and a sale is expected to be completed within one year. The Registrants record assets and liabilities held for sale, or the disposal group, at the lower of their carrying value or their estimated fair value less cost to sell. If the disposal group reflects a component of a reporting unit and meets the definition of a business, the goodwill within that reporting unit is allocated to the disposal group based on the relative fair value of the components representing a business that will be retained and disposed. Goodwill is not allocated to a portion of a reporting unit that does not meet the definition of a business. A disposal group that meets the held for sale criteria and also represents a strategic shift to the Registrant is also reflected as discontinued operations on the Statements of Consolidated Income, and prior periods are recast to reflect the earnings or losses from such businesses as income from discontinued operations, net of tax.

Regulatory Assets and Liabilities

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

Capitalization of Interest and AFUDC

Capitalization and Deferral of Interest, including AFUDC


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023						2022						2021
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Capitalized interest and AFUDC debt (1)	$	32	$	18	$	6	$	26	$	14	$	7	$	18	$	13	$	3
AFUDC equity (2)	62		32		14		37		24		5		28		20		5
Deferred debt interest (3)	65		16		43		51		12		36		26		1		22

(1)Included in Interest expense and other finance charges on the Registrants’ respective Statements of Consolidated Income.

(2)Included in Other Income (Expense) on the Registrants’ respective Statements of Consolidated Income.

Income Taxes

The Registrants use the portfolio approach to recognize income tax effects on other comprehensive income from accumulated other comprehensive income.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses

Inventory


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023 (1)		2022		2023 (1)		2022
	CenterPoint Energy				CERC
	(in millions)
LIFO inventory	$	106	$	101	$	86	$	82

Derivative Instruments

Investments in Equity Securities (CenterPoint Energy)

Environmental Costs

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

Preferred Stock Dividends

Preferred Stock and Dividends

New Accounting Pronouncements

Leases

Divestitures (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) - Schedule of Pre-tax Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Income before income taxes	$ 1,087	$ 1,417	$ 778
CERC Corp
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Income before income taxes	486	961	466
Disposal Group, Held-for-sale or Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations \| Energy Systems Group
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Income before income taxes	$ (4)	2	(3)
Disposal Group, Held-for-sale or Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations \| Arkansas and Oklahoma Natural Gas Businesses
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Income before income taxes		9	78
Disposal Group, Held-for-sale or Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations \| Arkansas and Oklahoma Natural Gas Businesses \| CERC Corp
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Income before income taxes		$ 9	$ 78

- Definition

Amount of income (loss) from continuing operations, including income (loss) from equity method investments, before deduction of income tax expense (benefit), and income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 220
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(11))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147483586/944-220-S99-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 22
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-22

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 30
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-30

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 32
-Subparagraph (f)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-32

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 31
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-31

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 32
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-32

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 235
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-05(b)(2))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479557/942-235-S99-1

Reference 8: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 25
-Paragraph 1
-SubTopic 20
-Topic 940
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481913/940-20-25-1

Reference 9: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(10))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147483621/220-10-S99-2

Reference 10: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 220
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04(15))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147483589/942-220-S99-1

+ Details

Equity Securities and Indexed Debt Securities (ZENS) (CenterPoint Energy) - Schedule of Reference Shares (Details) - shares	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
AT&T Common \| ZENS debt, due 2029
Debt and Equity Securities, FV-NI [Line Items]
Number of shares referenced in exchangeable subordinated note	0.7185	0.7185
Charter Common \| ZENS debt, due 2029
Debt and Equity Securities, FV-NI [Line Items]
Number of shares referenced in exchangeable subordinated note	0.061382	0.061382
WBD Common \| ZENS debt, due 2029
Debt and Equity Securities, FV-NI [Line Items]
Number of shares referenced in exchangeable subordinated note	0.173817	0.173817

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 90	$ 74
Investment in equity securities	541	510
Accounts receivable	710	889
Accrued unbilled revenue, less allowance for credit losses	516	764
Natural gas and coal inventory	197	241
Materials and supplies	573	635
Non-trading derivative assets	0	10
Taxes receivable	94	20
Regulatory assets	161	1,385
Prepaid expenses and other current assets ($15 and $13 related to VIEs, respectively)	145	171
Total current assets	3,027	4,699
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Property, plant and equipment	40,396	37,728
Accumulated Depreciation & Amortization	10,543	10,585
Property, plant and equipment, net	29,853	27,143
Other Assets:
Goodwill	4,160	4,294
Regulatory assets	2,513	2,193
Non-trading derivative assets	0	2
Other non-current assets	162	215
Total other assets	6,835	6,704
Total Assets	39,715	38,546
Current Liabilities:
Short-term borrowings	4	511
Current portion of VIE Securitization Bonds long-term debt	178	156
Indexed debt, net	5	7
Current portion of other long-term debt	872	1,346
Indexed debt securities derivative	605	578
Accounts payable	917	1,352
Taxes accrued	291	298
Interest accrued	236	159
Dividends accrued	126	144
Customer deposits	111	110
Non-trading derivative liabilities	9	0
Other	510	452
Total current liabilities	3,864	5,113
Other Liabilities:
Deferred income taxes, net	4,079	3,986
Non-trading derivative liabilities	3	0
Benefit obligations	572	547
Regulatory liabilities	3,208	3,245
Other	763	774
Total other liabilities	8,625	8,552
Long-term Debt, net:
VIE Securitization Bonds, net	320	161
Other long-term debt, net	17,239	14,675
Total long-term debt, net	17,559	14,836
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 15)
Temporary Equity (Note 18)	0	3
Shareholders’ Equity:
Cumulative preferred stock	0	790
Common stock	6	6
Additional paid-in capital	8,604	8,568
Retained earnings	1,092	709
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(35)	(31)
Total shareholders’ equity	9,667	10,042
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	$ 39,715	$ 38,546

Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt - Narrative (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions				1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 15, 2023	Aug. 01, 2023 $ / shares	Jan. 17, 2023 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2023 USD ($) numberOfSeries	Apr. 30, 2023 USD ($) numberOfSeries	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) shares
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, convertible, conversion ratio		27.1278
Conversion price percentage		25.00%
Long-term Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued						$ 3,023
Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, convertible, conversion ratio						33.9097
Debt instrument, convertible, number of equity instruments (in shares) \| shares						33,909,700
Convertible Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, convertible, conversion price (in dollar per shares) \| $ / shares		$ 36.86
Debt instrument, redemption price (as a percent)		100.00%
CERC Floating Rate Senior Notes Zero Point Six Five Percentage Due 2024 \| Senior Notes \| Long-term Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued						$ 350
Debt instrument, redemption price (as a percent)	100.00%
SIGECO
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Remarketing Agreement to Remarket, Number of Series \| numberOfSeries				2	5
Proceeds from Issuance of Secured Tax Exempt Debt				$ 38	$ 148
Percentage of property additions						70.00%
Long-term debt, gross						$ 847
Additional debt issuable						966
SIGECO \| Environmental Improvement Revenue Bonds, Series 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued					107
SIGECO \| Environmental Improvement Revenue Bonds, Series 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued					$ 41
SIGECO \| Environmental Improvement Revenue Bonds, Series 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)				4.25%
SIGECO \| CNP First Mortgage Bonds 4.00% Due 2044 \| First Mortgage Bonds \| Long-term Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued			$ 11			$ 11
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)						4.00%
Debt instrument, redemption price (as a percent)			100.00%
SIGECO \| Mount Vernon \| Environmental Improvement Revenue Bonds, Series 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued				$ 23
SIGECO \| Warrick County \| Environmental Improvement Revenue Bonds, Series 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of debt issued				$ 15
Houston Electric
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Additional first mortgage bonds and general mortgage bonds that could be issued						$ 4,800
Houston Electric \| General mortgage bonds, 2.35% to 6.95%, due 2026 to 2053
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured Debt						$ 7,600
Houston Electric \| General mortgage bonds, 2.35% to 6.95%, due 2026 to 2053 \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate (as a percent)						6.95%
Houston Electric \| Bonds Pollution Control Due
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured Debt						$ 68
Percentage of property additions						70.00%

Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plans and Employee Benefit Plans

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Disclosure of Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plans and Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract]

Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plans and Employee Benefit Plans

(a) Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plans (CenterPoint Energy)

CenterPoint Energy has LTIPs that provide for the issuance of stock-based incentives, including stock options, performance awards, restricted stock unit awards and restricted and unrestricted stock awards to officers, employees and non-employee directors. Approximately 30 million shares of Common Stock are authorized under these plans for awards. CenterPoint Energy issues new shares of its Common Stock to satisfy stock-based payments related to LTIPs. Equity awards are granted to employees without cost to the participants.

Compensation costs for the performance awards and stock unit awards granted under LTIPs are measured using fair value and expected achievement levels on the grant date. For performance awards with operational goals, the achievement levels are revised as goals are evaluated. The fair value of awards granted to employees is based on the closing stock price of CenterPoint Energy’s Common Stock on the grant date. The compensation expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. Forfeitures are estimated on the date of grant based on historical averages and estimates are updated periodically throughout the vesting period.

The performance awards granted in 2023, 2022 and 2021 are distributed based upon the achievement of certain objectives over a three-year performance cycle. The stock unit awards granted in 2023, 2022 and 2021 are service based, subject to the achievement of a performance goal. The stock unit awards generally vest at the end of a three-year period; however, stock unit awards granted to non-employee directors vest immediately upon grant. Upon vesting, shares of the performance awards and stock unit awards are issued to the participants along with the value of dividend equivalents earned over the performance cycle or vesting period.

The following table summarizes CenterPoint Energy’s expenses related to LTIPs for 2023, 2022 and 2021:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
	(in millions)
LTIP compensation expense (1)	$	65	$	51	$	48
Income tax benefit recognized	15		12		11
Actual tax benefit realized for tax deductions	17		6		4

(1)Amounts presented in the table above are included in Operation and maintenance expense in CenterPoint Energy’s Statements of Consolidated Income and shown prior to any amounts capitalized.

The following tables summarize CenterPoint Energy’s LTIP activity for 2023


	Year Ended December 31, 2023
	Shares (Thousands)	Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value		Remaining Average Contractual Life (Years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value (2) (Millions)
Performance Awards (1)
Outstanding and nonvested as of December 31, 2022	5,157	$	24.26
Granted	1,960	29.18
Forfeited or canceled	(291)	27.38
Vested and released to participants	(1,601)	23.08
Outstanding and nonvested as of December 31, 2023	5,225	$	25.95	1.1	$	101

Stock Unit Awards
Outstanding and nonvested as of December 31, 2022	2,296	$	25.03
Granted	606	30.83
Forfeited or canceled	(93)	27.10
Vested and released to participants	(948)	24.48
Outstanding and nonvested as of December 31, 2023	1,861	$	26.91	0.7	$	53

(1)Reflects maximum performance achievement.

(2)Reflects the impact of current expectations of achievement and stock price.

Additional information related to the Performance Awards and Stock Unit Awards is as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
	(in millions, except for per unit amounts)
Performance Awards
Weighted-average grant date fair value per unit of awards granted	$	29.18	$	28.12	$	21.89
Total intrinsic value of awards received by participants	47		13		7
Vested grant date fair value	37		13		8

Stock Unit Awards
Weighted-average grant date fair value per unit of awards granted	$	30.83	$	28.44	$	24.20
Total intrinsic value of awards received by participants	28		14		11
Vested grant date fair value	23		13		11

As of December 31, 2023, there was $36 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested performance and stock unit awards which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.7 years.

(b) Pension Benefits (CenterPoint Energy)

CenterPoint Energy maintains a non-contributory qualified defined benefit pension plan covering eligible employees and is closed to new participants, with benefits determined using a cash balance formula. In addition to the non-contributory qualified defined benefit pension plan, CenterPoint Energy maintains unfunded non-qualified benefit restoration plans which allow participants to receive the benefits to which they would have been entitled under CenterPoint Energy’s non-contributory qualified pension plan except for federally mandated limits on qualified plan benefits or on the level of compensation on which qualified plan benefits may be calculated.

CenterPoint Energy also maintains three additional qualified defined benefit pension plans, two of which are closed to new participants and one of which is completely frozen, and a non-qualified supplemental retirement plan. The defined benefit pension plans cover eligible full-time regular employees and retirees of Vectren and are primarily non-contributory.

In December 2022, the CenterPoint Energy pension plan completed an annuity lift-out, a transaction that provided for the purchase of an irrevocable group annuity contract to fund pension plan annuities of retirees from previously divested businesses, as part of a de-risking strategy. This annuity lift-out reduced the plan’s pension obligation by $138 million and plan assets by $136 million which were transferred to an insurance company. The $138 million transferred benefit obligation represented 9.4% of CenterPoint Energy’s total benefit obligation as of its last remeasurement prior to the transaction. As a result of this transaction, CenterPoint Energy incurred a settlement charge of $47 million. In addition, CenterPoint Energy was relieved of all responsibility for these pension obligations’ and an insurance company is now required to pay and administer the retirement benefits owed to 1,119 retirees and beneficiaries, with no changes to the amount, timing or form of retirement benefit payments.

CenterPoint Energy’s net periodic cost includes the following components relating to pension, including the non-qualified benefit plans:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
	(in millions)
Service cost (1)	$	25	$	29	$	39
Interest cost (2)	76		73		59
Expected return on plan assets (2)	(76)		(87)		(103)

Amortization of net loss (2)	28		31		36
Settlement cost (2) (3)	—		126		38

Net periodic cost	$	53	$	172	$	69

(2)Amounts presented in the table above are included in Other, net in CenterPoint Energy’s Statements of Consolidated Income, net of regulatory deferrals.

CenterPoint Energy used the following assumptions to determine net periodic cost relating to pension benefits:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
Discount rate	5.15	%	2.80	%	2.45	%
Expected return on plan assets	6.50		5.00		5.00
Rate of increase in compensation levels	4.99		4.95		5.05

In determining net periodic benefit cost, CenterPoint Energy uses fair value, as of the beginning of the year, as its basis for determining expected return on plan assets except for two of Vectren’s qualified defined benefit pension plans which use a market related value of assets.


	December 31,
	2023			2022
	(in millions, except for actuarial assumptions)
Change in Benefit Obligation
Benefit obligation, beginning of year	$	1,553		$	2,298

Service cost	25			29
Interest cost	76			73

Benefits paid (4)	(147)			(509)
Actuarial (gain) loss (1)	41			(338)


Plan amendment	—			—



Benefit obligation, end of year	1,548			1,553
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year	1,212			2,072

Employer contributions	32			35

Benefits paid (4)	(147)			(509)

Actual investment return	107			(386)

Fair value of plan assets, end of year	1,204			1,212
Funded status, end of year	$	(344)		$	(341)

Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheets
Non-current assets	$	4		$	—
Current liabilities-other	(7)			(7)
Other liabilities-benefit obligations	(341)			(334)
Net liability, end of year	$	(344)		$	(341)
Actuarial Assumptions
Discount rate (2)	4.95		%	5.15		%
Expected return on plan assets (3)	6.50			6.50
Rate of increase in compensation levels	4.97			4.99
Interest crediting rate	3.00			3.00

(3)The expected rate of return assumption was developed using the targeted asset allocation of CenterPoint Energy’s plans and the expected return for each asset class.

(4)Benefits paid for 2022 includes $136 million related to the 2022 Annuity Lift-Out.

The following table displays pension benefits related to CenterPoint Energy’s pension plans that have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets:


	December 31,
	2023				2022
	Pension (Qualified)		Pension (Non-qualified)		Pension (Qualified)		Pension (Non-qualified)
	(in millions)
Accumulated benefit obligation	$	1,496	$	48	$	1,497	$	51
Projected benefit obligation	1,500		48		1,502		51
Fair value of plan assets	1,204		—		1,212		—

The accumulated benefit obligation for all defined benefit pension plans on CenterPoint Energy’s Consolidated Balance Sheets was $1,544 million and $1,548 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

CenterPoint Energy provides certain healthcare and life insurance benefits for eligible retired employees on both a contributory and non-contributory basis. The Registrants’ employees (other than employees of Vectren and its subsidiaries) who were hired before January 1, 2018 and who have met certain age and service requirements at retirement, as defined in the plans, are eligible to participate in these benefit plans, provided, however, that life insurance benefits are available only for eligible retired employees who retired before January 1, 2022. Employees hired on or after January 1, 2018 are not eligible for these benefits, except that such employees represented by IBEW Local Union 66 are eligible to participate in certain of the benefits, subject to the applicable age and service requirements. With respect to retiree medical and prescription drug benefits, and, effective January 1, 2021, dental and vision benefits, employees represented by the IBEW Local Union 66 who retire on or after January 1, 2017, and their dependents, receive any such benefits exclusively through the NECA/IBEW Family Medical Care Plan pursuant to the terms of the applicable collective bargaining agreement. Houston Electric and CERC are required to fund a portion of their obligations in accordance with rate orders. All other obligations are funded on a pay-as-you-go basis.

CenterPoint Energy, through Vectren, also maintains a postretirement benefit plan that provides health care and life insurance benefits, which are a combination of self-insured and fully insured programs, to eligible Vectren retirees on both a contributory and non-contributory basis.

Postretirement benefits are accrued over the active service period of employees. The net postretirement benefit cost includes the following components:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023						2022						2021
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Service cost (1)	$	1	$	—	$	1	$	2	$	—	$	1	$	2	$	—	$	1
Interest cost (2)	13		5		5		9		4		3		9		4		3
Expected return on plan assets (2)	(5)		(4)		(1)		(5)		(4)		(1)		(4)		(3)		(1)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit) (2)	(2)		(5)		2		(3)		(4)		2		(4)		(5)		1
Amortization of net loss (2)	(8)		(4)		(3)		(4)		(2)		(1)		—		—		—

Net postretirement benefit cost (credit)	$	(1)	$	(8)	$	4	$	(1)	$	(6)	$	4	$	3	$	(4)	$	4

(2)Amounts presented in the table above are included in Other, net in each of the Registrants’ respective Statements of Consolidated Income, net of regulatory deferrals.

The following assumptions were used to determine net periodic cost relating to postretirement benefits:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023						2022						2021
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
Discount rate	5.15	%	5.15	%	5.15	%	2.85	%	2.85	%	2.85	%	2.50	%	2.50	%	2.50	%
Expected return on plan assets	5.13		5.26		4.69		3.22		3.32		2.86		3.20		3.30		2.85


	December 31,
	2023									2022
	CenterPoint Energy			Houston Electric			CERC			CenterPoint Energy			Houston Electric			CERC
	(in millions, except for actuarial assumptions)
Change in Benefit Obligation
Benefit obligation, beginning of year	$	263		$	115		$	92		$	336		$	148		$	118
Service cost	1			—			1			2			—			1
Interest cost	13			5			5			9			4			3
Participant contributions	6			2			3			6			2			3
Benefits paid	(20)			(8)			(8)			(20)			(7)			(8)

Plan amendment	—			—			—			3			—			2
Actuarial (gain) loss (1)	—			(1)			—			(73)			(32)			(27)

Benefit obligation, end of year	263			113			93			263			115			92
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year	109			84			25			132			104			29

Employer contributions	7			—			4			8			1			4
Participant contributions	6			2			3			6			2			3
Benefits paid	(20)			(8)			(8)			(20)			(7)			(8)
Actual investment return	10			8			2			(17)			(16)			(3)

Fair value of plan assets, end of year	112			86			26			109			84			25
Funded status, end of year	$	(151)		$	(27)		$	(67)		$	(154)		$	(31)		$	(67)
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheets
Current liabilities — other	$	(7)		$	—		$	(4)		$	(7)		$	—		$	(4)
Other liabilities — benefit obligations	(144)			(27)			(63)			(147)			(31)			(64)
Net liability, end of year	$	(151)		$	(27)		$	(67)		$	(154)		$	(31)		$	(68)

Actuarial Assumptions
Discount rate (2)	4.95		%	4.95		%	4.95		%	5.15		%	5.15		%	5.15		%
Expected return on plan assets (3)	5.13			5.26			4.69			3.66			3.75			3.35
Medical cost trend rate assumed for the next year - Pre-65	7.25			7.25			7.25			6.50			6.50			6.50
Medical/prescription drug cost trend rate assumed for the next year - Post-65	22.76			22.76			22.76			23.66			23.66			23.66
Prescription drug cost trend rate assumed for the next year - Pre-65	9.00			9.00			9.00			8.00			8.00			8.00
Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (the ultimate trend rate)	4.50			4.50			4.50			4.50			4.50			4.50
Year that the cost trend rates reach the ultimate trend rate - Pre-65	2033			2033			2033			2032			2032			2032
Year that the cost trend rates reach the ultimate trend rate - Post-65	2033			2033			2033			2032			2032			2032

(1)Significant sources of loss for 2023 include updated life insurance rates and the decrease in discount rate from 5.15% to 4.95%.

(3)The expected rate of return assumption was developed using the targeted asset allocation of the plans and the expected return for each asset class.

(d) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (CenterPoint Energy and CERC)

CenterPoint Energy recognizes the funded status of its pension and other postretirement plans on its Consolidated Balance Sheets. To the extent this obligation exceeds amounts previously recognized in the Statements of Consolidated Income, CenterPoint Energy records a regulatory asset for that portion related to its rate-regulated utilities. To the extent that excess liability does not relate to a rate-regulated utility, the offset is recorded as a reduction to equity in accumulated other comprehensive income.

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss (gain) consist of the following:


	December 31,
	2023						2022
	Pension Benefits		Postretirement Benefits				Pension Benefits		Postretirement Benefits
	CenterPoint Energy		CenterPoint Energy		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		CenterPoint Energy		CERC
	(in millions)
Unrecognized actuarial loss (gain)	$	69	$	(34)	$	(27)	$	70	$	(36)	$	(28)
Unrecognized prior service cost	—		12		10		—		13		11

Net amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss (gain)	$	69	$	(22)	$	(17)	$	70	$	(23)	$	(17)

The changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income during 2023 are as follows:


	Pension Benefits		Postretirement Benefits
	CenterPoint Energy		CenterPoint Energy		CERC
	(in millions)
Net loss (gain)	$	2	$	—	$	1
Amortization of net loss	(3)		2		(2)
Amortization of prior service cost	—		(1)		1
Settlement	—		—		—

Total recognized in comprehensive income	$	(1)	$	1	$	—
Total recognized in net periodic costs and Other comprehensive income	$	52	$	—	$	4

(e) Pension Plan Assets (CenterPoint Energy)

In managing the investments associated with the benefit plans, CenterPoint Energy’s objective is to achieve and maintain a fully funded plan. This objective is expected to be achieved through an investment strategy that manages liquidity requirements while maintaining a long-term horizon in making investment decisions and efficient and effective management of plan assets.

As part of the investment strategy discussed above, CenterPoint Energy maintained the following weighted-average allocation targets for its pension plans as of December 31, 2023:


	Minimum		Maximum
U.S. equity	17	%	27	%
International equity	9	%	19	%
Real estate	2	%	11	%
Fixed income	54	%	64	%
Cash	—	%	2	%

The following tables set forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy (see Note 10), CenterPoint Energy’s pension plan assets at fair value as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:


	Fair Value Measurements as of December 31,
	2023								2022
	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Total
	(in millions)
Cash	$	21	$	—	$	—	$	21	$	7	$	—	$	—	$	7
Corporate bonds:
Investment grade or above	—		469		—		469		—		467		—		467
Equity securities:

U.S. companies	30		—		—		30		29		—		—		29
Cash received as collateral from securities lending	94		—		—		94		47		—		—		47

U.S. treasuries and government agencies	178		—		—		178		163		—		—		163
Mortgage backed securities	—		15		—		15		—		6		—		6
Asset backed securities	—		1		—		1		—		2		—		2
Municipal bonds	—		25		—		25		—		24		—		24

International government bonds	—		9		—		9		—		10		—		10

Obligation to return cash received as collateral from securities lending	(94)		—		—		(94)		(47)		—		—		(47)
Financial instruments	—		(4)		—		(4)		—		—		—		—
Total investments at fair value	$	229	$	515	$	—	744		$	199	$	509	$	—	708
Investments measured by net asset value per share or its equivalent (1) (2)							460								504
Total Investments							$	1,204							$	1,212

(1)Represents investments in pooled investment funds and common collective trust funds.

(2)The amounts invested in pooled investment funds were 100% allocated to real estate. The amounts invested common collective trust funds were allocated as follows:


	As of December 31,
	2023		2022

International equities	40	%	40	%
U.S. equities	59	%	56	%

Fixed income	1	%	4	%

Level 2 investments, which do not have a quoted price in active market, are valued using the market data provided by independent pricing services or major market makers, to arrive at a price a dealer would pay for the security.

The pension plans utilized both exchange traded and over-the-counter financial instruments such as futures, interest rate options and swaps that were marked to market daily with the gains/losses settled in the cash accounts. The pension plans did not include any holdings of CenterPoint Energy Common Stock as of December 31, 2023 or 2022.

(f) Postretirement Plan Assets

In managing the investments associated with the postretirement plans, the Registrants’ primary objective is to preserve and improve the funded status of the plan, while minimizing volatility. This objective is expected to be achieved through an investment strategy that manages liquidity requirements while maintaining a long-term horizon in making investment decisions and efficient and effective management of plan assets.

As part of the investment strategy discussed above, the Registrants maintained the following weighted-average allocation targets for the postretirement plans as of December 31, 2023:


	CenterPoint Energy				Houston Electric				CERC
	Minimum		Maximum		Minimum		Maximum		Minimum		Maximum
U.S. equities	14	%	24	%	13	%	23	%	15	%	25	%
International equities	3	%	13	%	3	%	13	%	2	%	12	%
Fixed income	69	%	79	%	69	%	79	%	68	%	78	%
Cash	—	%	2	%	—	%	2	%	—	%	2	%

The following table sets forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy (see Note 10), the Registrants’ postretirement plan assets at fair value as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:


	Fair Value Measurements as of December 31,
	2023								2022
	Mutual Funds
	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Total
	(in millions)
CenterPoint Energy	$	113	$	—	$	—	$	113	$	109	$	—	$	—	$	109
Houston Electric	86		—		—		86		84		—		—		84
CERC	26		—		—		26		25		—		—		25

The amounts invested in mutual funds were allocated as follows:


	As of December 31,
	2023						2022
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
Fixed income	72	%	72	%	71	%	74	%	74	%	74	%
U.S. equities	20	%	19	%	22	%	18	%	17	%	20	%
International equities	8	%	9	%	6	%	8	%	8	%	6	%

(g) Benefit Plan Contributions

The Registrants made the following contributions in 2023 and are required to make the following minimum contributions in 2024 to the indicated benefit plans below:


	Contributions in 2023						Expected Minimum Contributions in 2024
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Qualified pension plans	$	24	$	—	$	—	$	2	$	—	$	—
Non-qualified pension plans	8		—		—		7		—		—
Postretirement benefit plans	7		—		4		8		1		4

The following benefit payments are expected to be paid by the pension and postretirement benefit plans:


	Pension Benefits		Postretirement Benefits
	CenterPoint Energy		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
2024	$	141	$	14	$	6	$	5
2025	143		16		6		6
2026	137		17		7		6
2027	135		19		8		7
2028	133		20		9		7
2029-2033	606		107		49		36

(h) Savings Plan

CenterPoint Energy maintains the CenterPoint Energy Savings Plan, a tax-qualified employee savings plan that includes a cash or deferred arrangement under Section 401(k) of the Code, and an employee stock ownership plan under Section 4975(e)(7) of the Code. Under the plan, participating employees may make pre-tax or Roth contributions and, if eligible, after-tax contributions up to certain federally mandated limits. Participating Registrants provide matching contributions and, as of January 1, 2020, for certain eligible employees, non-elective contributions up to certain limits. CenterPoint Energy, through the Merger, also acquired additional defined contribution retirement savings plans sponsored by Vectren and its subsidiaries that are qualified under sections 401(a) and 401(k) of the Code, one of which merged into the CenterPoint Energy Savings Plan as of January 1, 2020 and one of which merged into the CenterPoint Energy Savings Plan as of January 1, 2022. As of January 1, 2022, the CenterPoint Energy Savings Plan is the only remaining qualified defined contribution retirement savings plan maintained by CenterPoint Energy.

The CenterPoint Energy Savings Plan has significant holdings of Common Stock. As of December 31, 2023, 6,589,241 shares of Common Stock were held by the savings plan, which represented approximately 7% of its investments. Given the concentration of the investments in Common Stock, the savings plan and its participants have market risk related to this investment. The savings plan limits the percentage of future contributions that can be invested in Common Stock to 25% and prohibits transfers of account balances where the transfer would result in more than 25% of a participant’s total account balance invested in Common Stock.


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023						2022						2021
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Savings plan benefit expenses (1)	$	67	$	23	$	20	$	72	$	23	$	22	$	58	$	20	$	23

(i) Other Benefits Plans

The Registrants participate in CenterPoint Energy’s plans that provide postemployment benefits for certain former or inactive employees, their beneficiaries and covered dependents, after employment but before retirement (primarily healthcare and life insurance benefits for participants in the long-term disability plan).

CenterPoint Energy maintains non-qualified deferred compensation plans that provide benefits payable to eligible directors, officers and select employees or their designated beneficiaries at specified future dates or upon termination, retirement or death. Benefit payments are made from the general assets of the participating Registrants or, in the case of certain plans, from a rabbi trust that is a grantor trust and remains subject to the claims of general creditors under applicable state and federal law.

Expenses related to other benefit plans were recorded as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023						2022						2021
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Postemployment benefits	$	(1)	$	—	$	—	$	4	$	1	$	1	$	3	$	1	$	2
Deferred compensation plans	(1)		—		—		1		—		—		3		—		—

Amounts related to other benefit plans were included in Benefit Obligations in the Registrants’ accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets as follows:


	December 31, 2023						December 31, 2022
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Postemployment benefits	$	5	$	2	$	3	$	9	$	3	$	4
Deferred compensation plans	26		3		1		28		4		1
Split-dollar life insurance arrangements	46		1		—		22		1		—

(j) Change in Control Agreements and Other Employee Matters

CenterPoint Energy has a change in control plan, which was amended and restated on May 1, 2017. The plan generally provides, to the extent applicable, in the case of a change in control of CenterPoint Energy and covered termination of employment, for severance benefits of up to three times annual base salary plus bonus, and other benefits. Certain CenterPoint Energy officers are participants under the plan.

Certain key employees of a subsidiary of Vectren have employment agreements that provide payments and other benefits upon a covered termination of employment.

As of December 31, 2023, the Registrants’ employees were covered by collective bargaining agreements as follows:


		Percentage of Employees Covered
	Agreement Expiration	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
IBEW Local 66	May 2026	17	%	53	%	—	%
OPEIU Local 12	December 2025	2	%	—	%	2	%
Gas Workers Union Local 340	April 2025	5	%	—	%	13	%
IBEW Locals 1393 and USW Locals 12213 & 7441	December 2026	3	%	—	%	8	%
IBEW Locals 949	December 2025	3	%	—	%	7	%
USW Locals 13-227	June 2027	5	%	—	%	13	%
USW Locals 13-1	June 2027	—	%	—	%	1	%
IBEW Local 702	June 2025	3	%	—	%	—	%
Teamsters Local 135/215	September 2024	—	%	—	%	—	%
UWUA Local 175	October 2024	2	%	—	%	4	%
Total		40	%	53	%	48	%

The collective bargaining agreements with Teamsters Local 135 related to SIGECO employees and Utility Workers Union of America, Local 175 related to VEDO employees are scheduled to expire in September 2024 and October 2024, respectively, and negotiations of these agreements are expected to be completed before the respective expirations.

Board of Directors Actions. On July 22, 2021, CenterPoint Energy announced the decision of the independent directors of the Board to implement a new independent Board leadership and governance structure and appointed a new independent chair

of the Board. To implement this new governance structure, the independent directors of the Board eliminated the Executive Chairman position that was formerly held by Milton Carroll.

On the approval and recommendation of the Compensation Committee and approval of the Board (acting solely through its independent directors), CenterPoint Energy entered into a separation agreement between CenterPoint Energy and Mr. Carroll, dated July 21, 2021. Under the terms of the separation agreement, Mr. Carroll exited the positions of Executive Chairman on July 21, 2021 and Board member on September 30, 2021. Under the terms of the separation agreement, Mr. Carroll received a lump sum cash payment of $28 million and his separation was treated as an “enhanced retirement” for purposes of his outstanding 2019, 2020 and 2021 equity award agreements.

On the approval and recommendation of the Compensation Committee and approval of the Board (acting solely through its independent directors), CenterPoint Energy has entered into a retention incentive agreement with David J. Lesar, President and Chief Executive Officer of CenterPoint Energy, dated July 20, 2021. For information about the classification of this award, see Note 12.

Commitments and Contingencies - Schedule of Estimated Accrued Costs (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)
Minnesota and Indiana Gas Service Territories
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Amount accrued for remediation	$ 13
Minnesota and Indiana Gas Service Territories \| Minimum
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Site Contingency Loss Exposure	$ 8
Site Contingency, Years To Resolve Contingency	5 years
Minnesota and Indiana Gas Service Territories \| Maximum
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Site Contingency Loss Exposure	$ 51
Site Contingency, Years To Resolve Contingency	50 years
Minnesota Service Territory \| CERC Corp
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Amount accrued for remediation	$ 11
Minnesota Service Territory \| CERC Corp \| Minimum
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Site Contingency Loss Exposure	$ 7
Site Contingency, Years To Resolve Contingency	5 years
Minnesota Service Territory \| CERC Corp \| Maximum
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Site Contingency Loss Exposure	$ 44
Site Contingency, Years To Resolve Contingency	50 years

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Long-term Purchase Commitment

As of December 31, 2023, other than discussed below, undiscounted minimum purchase obligations are approximately:


	CenterPoint Energy						CERC
	Natural Gas Supply		Electric Supply (1)		Other (2)		Natural Gas Supply
	(in millions)
2024	$	684	$	145	$	164	$	679
2025	589		478		45		585
2026	502		342		46		498
2027	425		105		4		422
2028	380		68		—		377
2029 and beyond	1,707		737		328		1,684

(1)CenterPoint Energy’s undiscounted minimum payment obligations related to PPAs with commitments ranging from 15 years to 25 years and its purchase commitment under its BTA in Posey County, Indiana at the original contracted amount, prior to any renegotiation, and its BTA in Pike County, Indiana, are included above.

(2)The undiscounted payment obligations relate primarily to technology hardware and software agreements.

Schedule of Environmental Loss Contingencies by Site

Total costs that may be incurred in connection with addressing these sites cannot be determined at this time. The estimated accrued costs are limited to CenterPoint Energy’s and CERC’s share of the remediation efforts and are therefore net of exposures of other PRPs. The estimated range of possible remediation costs for the sites for which CenterPoint Energy and CERC believe they may have responsibility was based on remediation continuing for the minimum time frame given in the table below.


	December 31, 2023
	CenterPoint Energy		CERC
	(in millions, except years)
Amount accrued for remediation	$	13	$	11
Minimum estimated remediation costs	8		7
Maximum estimated remediation costs	51		44
Minimum years of remediation	5		5
Maximum years of remediation	50		50

Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt - Early Extinguishment of Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Losses on early extinguishment of debt	$ 11	$ 47	$ 53
CERC Corp
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Losses on early extinguishment of debt	0	0	11
Houston Electric
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Losses on early extinguishment of debt	$ 0	$ 2	$ 0

- 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

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Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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+ Details

Equity (CenterPoint Energy) (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Dividends Declared

CenterPoint Energy declared and paid dividends on its Common Stock during 2023, 2022 and 2021 as presented in the table below:


	Dividends Declared Per Share						Dividends Paid Per Share
	2023		2022		2021		2023		2022		2021
Common Stock	$	0.7800	$	0.7200	$	0.6600	$	0.7700	$	0.7000	$	0.6500
Series A Preferred Stock (1)	30.6250		61.2500		61.2500		61.2500		61.2500		61.2500
Series B Preferred Stock (2)	—		—		35.0000		—		—		52.5000
Series C Preferred Stock (3)	—		—		—		—		—		0.1600

(1)All of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock were redeemed during 2023 as further described below.

(2)All of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock were converted to Common Stock during 2021.

Preferred Stock (CenterPoint Energy)


	Liquidation Preference Per Share		Shares Outstanding as of December 31,			Outstanding Value as of December 31,
			2023	2022	2021	2023		2022		2021
	(in millions, except shares and per share amount)
Series A Preferred Stock (1)	$	1,000	—	800,000	800,000	$	—	$	790	$	790


			—	800,000	800,000	$	—	$	790	$	790

(1)All of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock were redeemed during 2023 as further described below.

Dividend Requirement on Preferred Stock


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
	(in millions)
Series A Preferred Stock	$	50	$	49	$	49
Series B Preferred Stock	—		—		46



Total income allocated to preferred shareholders	$	50	$	49	$	95

Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss (gain) consist of the following:


	December 31,
	2023						2022
	Pension Benefits		Postretirement Benefits				Pension Benefits		Postretirement Benefits
	CenterPoint Energy		CenterPoint Energy		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		CenterPoint Energy		CERC
	(in millions)
Unrecognized actuarial loss (gain)	$	69	$	(34)	$	(27)	$	70	$	(36)	$	(28)
Unrecognized prior service cost	—		12		10		—		13		11

Net amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss (gain)	$	69	$	(22)	$	(17)	$	70	$	(23)	$	(17)

Changes in accumulated comprehensive income (loss) are as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022
	CenterPoint Energy		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		CERC
	(in millions)
Beginning Balance	$	(31)	$	16	$	(64)	$	10
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications:
Remeasurement of pension and other postretirement plans	(8)		—		(40)		10



Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Net deferred gain from cash flow hedges	1		—		—		—
Prior service cost (1)	1		(2)		(1)		(1)
Actuarial losses (1)	1		2		8		1
Settlement (2)	—		—		67		—
Reclassification of deferred loss from cash flow hedges realized in net income	—		—		1		—

Tax benefit (expense)	1		—		(2)		(4)
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	(4)		—		33		6

Ending Balance	$	(35)	$	16	$	(31)	$	16

(1)Amounts are included in the computation of net periodic cost and are reflected in Other, net in each of the Registrants’ respective Statements of Consolidated Income.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - CERC - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 90	$ 74
Accounts receivable	710	889
Accrued unbilled revenue, less allowance for credit losses	516	764
Materials and supplies	573	635
Natural gas and coal inventory	197	241
Non-trading derivative assets	0	10
Taxes receivable	94	20
Regulatory assets	161	1,385
Prepaid expenses and other current assets ($15 and $13 related to VIEs, respectively)	145	171
Total current assets	3,027	4,699
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Property, plant and equipment	40,396	37,728
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	10,543	10,585
Property, plant and equipment, net	29,853	27,143
Other Assets:
Goodwill	4,160	4,294
Regulatory assets	2,513	2,193
Non-trading derivative assets	0	2
Other non-current assets	162	215
Total other assets	6,835	6,704
Total Assets	39,715	38,546
Current Liabilities:
Short-term borrowings	4	511
Current portion of other long-term debt	872	1,346
Accounts payable	917	1,352
Taxes accrued	291	298
Interest accrued	236	159
Customer deposits	111	110
Non-trading derivative liabilities	9	0
Other	510	452
Liabilities, Current	3,864	5,113
Other Liabilities:
Deferred income taxes, net	4,079	3,986
Non-trading derivative liabilities	3	0
Benefit obligations	572	547
Regulatory liabilities	3,208	3,245
Other	763	774
Total other liabilities	8,625	8,552
Total long-term debt, net	17,559	14,836
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 15)
Shareholders’ Equity:
Common stock	6	6
Additional paid-in capital	8,604	8,568
Retained earnings	1,092	709
Accumulated other comprehensive income	(35)	(31)
Total shareholders’ equity	9,667	10,042
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	39,715	38,546
CERC Corp
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	1	0
Accounts receivable	356	463
Accrued unbilled revenue, less allowance for credit losses	329	573
Materials and supplies	107	98
Natural gas and coal inventory	156	195
Non-trading derivative assets	0	7
Taxes receivable	101	12
Regulatory assets	161	1,336
Prepaid expenses and other current assets ($15 and $13 related to VIEs, respectively)	55	78
Total current assets	1,309	2,814
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Property, plant and equipment	15,672	14,379
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	4,169	3,973
Property, plant and equipment, net	11,503	10,406
Other Assets:
Goodwill	1,583	1,583
Regulatory assets	850	844
Non-trading derivative assets	0	2
Other non-current assets	51	55
Total other assets	2,484	2,484
Total Assets	15,296	15,704
Current Liabilities:
Short-term borrowings	4	511
Current portion of other long-term debt	0	1,331
Accounts payable	392	690
Taxes accrued	145	140
Interest accrued	70	50
Customer deposits	95	94
Non-trading derivative liabilities	8	0
Other	274	200
Liabilities, Current	1,087	3,206
Other Liabilities:
Deferred income taxes, net	1,246	1,262
Non-trading derivative liabilities	3	0
Benefit obligations	74	76
Regulatory liabilities	1,882	1,801
Other	455	501
Total other liabilities	3,660	3,640
Total long-term debt, net	4,670	3,495
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 15)
Shareholders’ Equity:
Common stock	0	0
Additional paid-in capital	4,229	3,729
Retained earnings	1,634	1,618
Accumulated other comprehensive income	16	16
Total shareholders’ equity	5,879	5,363
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	15,296	15,704
CERC Corp \| Affiliated Entity
Current Assets:
Accounts and notes receivable — affiliated companies	43	52
Current Liabilities:
Accounts and notes payable–affiliated companies	$ 99	$ 190

Equity Securities and Indexed Debt Securities (ZENS) (CenterPoint Energy) (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Indexed Debt Securities [Abstract]

Gain (Loss) on Securities

Gains and losses on equity securities, net of transaction costs, are recorded as Gain (loss) on equity securities in CenterPoint Energy’s Statements of Consolidated Income. The following table presents information on CenterPoint Energy's equity securities for each period indicated:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
			(in millions)
AT&T Common	$	(17)	$	(63)	$	(43)
Charter Common	43		(273)		(8)
WBD Common	5		23		—
Energy Transfer Common Units (1)	—		95		(124)
Energy Transfer Series G Preferred Units (1)	—		(9)		2
Other	—		—		1
Total Gains (Losses) on Equity Securities	$	31	$	(227)	$	(172)

(1)In 2022, CenterPoint Energy completed the execution of its previously announced plan to exit the midstream sector by selling the remaining Energy Transfer Common Units and Energy Transfer Series G Preferred Units it held.

Debt Securities, Trading, and Equity Securities, FV-NI

CenterPoint Energy and its subsidiaries hold shares of certain securities detailed in the table below, which are classified as trading securities. Shares of AT&T Common, Charter Common and WBD Common are expected to be held to facilitate CenterPoint Energy’s ability to meet its obligation under the ZENS.


	Shares Held at December 31,		Carrying Value at December 31,
	2023	2022	2023		2022
			(in millions)
AT&T Common	10,212,945	10,212,945	$	171	$	188
Charter Common	872,503	872,503	339		296
WBD Common	2,470,685	2,470,685	28		23


Other			3		3
			$	541	$	510

Summarized Financial Information on Investment in Time Warner Securities and Indexed Debt Security Obligation

CenterPoint Energy’s reference shares for each ZENS consisted of the following:


	December 31,
	2023	2022
	(in shares)
AT&T Common	0.7185	0.7185
Charter Common	0.061382	0.061382
WBD Common	0.173817	0.173817

The following table sets forth summarized financial information regarding CenterPoint Energy’s investment in ZENS-Related Securities and each component of CenterPoint Energy’s ZENS obligation.


	ZENS-Related Securities		Debt Component of ZENS		Derivative Component of ZENS
	(in millions)
Balance as of December 31, 2020	$	871	$	15	$	953
Accretion of debt component of ZENS	—		17		—
2% interest paid	—		(17)		—

Distribution to ZENS holders	—		(5)		—

Gain on indexed debt securities	—		—		(50)
Loss on ZENS-Related Securities	(51)		—		—
Balance as of December 31, 2021	820		10		903
Accretion of debt component of ZENS	—		17		—
2% interest paid	—		(17)		—

Distribution to ZENS holders	—		(3)		—

Gain on indexed debt securities	—		—		(325)
Loss on ZENS-Related Securities	(313)		—		—
Balance as of December 31, 2022	507		7		578

Accretion of debt component of ZENS	—		17		—
2% interest paid	—		(17)		—

Distribution to ZENS holders	—		(2)		—

Loss on indexed debt securities	—		—		27
Gain on ZENS-Related Securities	31		—		—
Balance as of December 31, 2023	$	538	$	5	$	605

Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

(a) Purchase Obligations (CenterPoint Energy and CERC)

Commitments include minimum purchase obligations related to CenterPoint Energy’s and CERC’s Natural Gas reportable segment and CenterPoint Energy’s Electric reportable segment. A purchase obligation is defined as an agreement to purchase goods or services that is enforceable and legally binding on the registrant and that specifies all significant terms, including: fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased; fixed, minimum or variable price provisions; and the approximate timing of the transaction. Contracts with minimum payment provisions have various quantity requirements and durations and are not classified as non-trading derivative assets and liabilities in CenterPoint Energy’s and CERC’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. These contracts meet an exception as “normal purchases contracts” or do not meet the definition of a derivative. Natural gas and coal supply commitments also include transportation contracts that do not meet the definition of a derivative.

On February 1, 2023, Indiana Electric entered into an amended and restated BTA to purchase the 191 MW Posey Solar project for a fixed purchase price over the anticipated 35-year life. On February 7, 2023, Indiana Electric filed a CPCN with the IURC to approve the amended BTA. With the passage of the IRA, Indiana Electric can now pursue PTCs for solar projects. Indiana Electric filed the updated CPCN with a request that project costs, net of PTCs, be recovered in rate base, through base rates or the CECA mechanism, depending on which provides more timely recovery. On September 6, 2023, the IURC issued an order approving the CPCN. The Posey Solar project is expected to be placed in service in 2025.

On January 11, 2023, the IURC issued an order approving the settlement agreement granting Indiana Electric a CPCN to purchase and acquire the 130 MW Pike County solar project through a BTA and approved the estimated cost. The IURC also designated the project as a clean energy project as well as approved the proposed levelized rate and associated ratemaking and accounting treatment. Due to inflationary pressures, the developer disclosed that costs have exceeded the agreed upon levels in the BTA. Once pricing is updated and parties determine whether to continue with the project, Indiana Electric may have to refile for approval of the project with the IURC, which could delay the in-service date from 2025 to 2026. If Indiana Electric is not able to reach a mutually acceptable solution with the developers of the Pike County Solar project, Indiana Electric may seek to terminate the project.

As of December 31, 2023, other than discussed below, undiscounted minimum purchase obligations are approximately:


	CenterPoint Energy						CERC
	Natural Gas Supply		Electric Supply (1)		Other (2)		Natural Gas Supply
	(in millions)
2024	$	684	$	145	$	164	$	679
2025	589		478		45		585
2026	502		342		46		498
2027	425		105		4		422
2028	380		68		—		377
2029 and beyond	1,707		737		328		1,684

(2)The undiscounted payment obligations relate primarily to technology hardware and software agreements.

Excluded from the table above are estimates for cash outlays from other PPAs through Indiana Electric that do not have minimum thresholds but do require payment when energy is generated by the provider. Costs arising from certain of these commitments are pass-through costs, generally collected dollar-for-dollar from retail customers through regulator-approved cost recovery mechanisms.

(b) AMAs (CenterPoint Energy and CERC)

CenterPoint Energy’s and CERC’s Natural Gas businesses continue to utilize AMAs associated with their utility distribution service in Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi and Texas. The AMAs have varying terms, the longest of which expires in 2029. Pursuant to the provisions of the agreements, CenterPoint Energy’s and CERC’s Natural Gas either sells natural gas to the asset manager and agrees to repurchase an equivalent amount of natural gas throughout the year at the same cost, or simply purchases its full natural gas requirements at each delivery point from the asset manager. Generally, AMAs are contracts between CenterPoint Energy’s and CERC’s Natural Gas and an asset manager that are intended to transfer the working capital obligation and maximize the utilization of the assets. In these agreements, CenterPoint Energy’s and CERC’s Natural Gas agrees to release transportation and storage capacity to other parties to manage natural gas storage, supply and delivery arrangements for CenterPoint Energy’s and CERC’s Natural Gas and to use the released capacity for other purposes when it is not needed for CenterPoint Energy’s and CERC’s Natural Gas. CenterPoint Energy’s and CERC’s Natural Gas may receive compensation from the asset manager through payments made over the life of the AMAs. CenterPoint Energy’s and CERC’s Natural Gas has an obligation to purchase their winter storage requirements that have been released to the asset manager under these AMAs. For amounts outstanding under these AMAs, see Note 13.

On May 21, 2023, CenterPoint Energy, through Vectren Energy Services, entered into the Equity Purchase Agreement to sell Energy Systems Group. The sale closed on June 30, 2023. See Note 4 for further information.

In the normal course of business prior to the consummation of the transaction on June 30, 2023, CenterPoint Energy, primarily through Vectren, issued parent company level guarantees supporting Energy Systems Group’s obligations. When Energy Systems Group was wholly owned by CenterPoint Energy, these guarantees did not represent incremental consolidated obligations, but rather, these guarantees represented guarantees of Energy Systems Group’s obligations to allow it to conduct business without posting other forms of assurance. For those obligations where potential exposure can be estimated, management estimates the maximum exposure under these guarantees to be approximately $503 million as of December 31, 2023 and expects the exposure to decrease pro rata. This exposure primarily relates to energy savings guarantees on federal energy savings performance contracts. Other parent company level guarantees, certain of which do not contain a cap on potential liability, were issued prior to the sale of Energy Systems Group in support of federal operations and maintenance projects for which a maximum exposure cannot be estimated based on the nature of the projects.

Under the terms of the Equity Purchase Agreement, ESG Holdings Group must generally use reasonable best efforts to replace existing CenterPoint Energy guarantees with credit support provided by a party other than CenterPoint Energy as of and after the closing of the transaction. The Equity Purchase Agreement also requires certain protections to be provided for any damages incurred by CenterPoint Energy in relation to these guarantees not released by closing. No additional guarantees were provided by CenterPoint Energy in favor of Energy Systems Group subsequent to the closing of the sale on June 30, 2023.

While there can be no assurance that performance under any of these parent company guarantees will not be required in the future, CenterPoint Energy considers the likelihood of a material amount being incurred as remote. CenterPoint Energy believes that, from Energy Systems Group’s inception in 1994 to the closing of the sale of Energy Systems Group on June 30, 2023, Energy Systems Group had a history of generally meeting its performance obligations and energy savings guarantees and its installed products operated effectively. CenterPoint Energy recorded no amounts on its Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 related to its obligation under the outstanding guarantees.

(d) Legal, Environmental and Other Matters

Legal Matters

Litigation Related to the February 2021 Winter Storm Event. Various legal proceedings are still pending against numerous entities with respect to the February 2021 Winter Storm Event, including against CenterPoint Energy, Utility Holding, LLC, Houston Electric, and CERC. Like other Texas energy companies and TDUs, CenterPoint Energy and Houston Electric have become involved in certain investigations, litigation and other regulatory and legal proceedings regarding their efforts to restore power during the storm and their compliance with NERC, ERCOT and PUCT rules and directives. Additionally, like other natural gas market participants, CERC has been named in litigation alleging gas market manipulation.

CenterPoint Energy, Utility Holding, LLC, and Houston Electric, along with hundreds of other defendants (including ERCOT, power generation companies, other TDUs, natural gas producers, REPs, and other entities) have received claims and lawsuits filed by plaintiffs alleging wrongful death, personal injury, property damage and other injuries and damages. As of December 31, 2023, there are approximately 220 pending lawsuits that are consolidated in Texas state court in Harris County, Texas, as part of the MDL proceeding related to the February 2021 Winter Storm Event, and CenterPoint Energy and Houston Electric, along with numerous other entities, have been named as defendants in approximately 155 of those lawsuits. One of the lawsuits in the MDL is a putative class action on behalf of everyone who received electric power via ERCOT grid and sustained a power outage between February 10, 2021 and February 28, 2021. Additionally, Utility Holding, LLC is currently named as a defendant in one lawsuit in which CenterPoint Energy and Houston Electric are also named as defendants.

The judge overseeing the MDL issued an initial case management order and stayed all proceedings and discovery. Per the case management order, the judge entertained dispositive motions in five representative or “bellwether” cases and, in late January 2023, issued rulings on them. In a recent opinion in an unrelated matter, the Texas Supreme Court held that ERCOT is entitled to sovereign immunity. This ruling will apply to claims against ERCOT in the MDL. The MDL judge also dismissed all claims against the natural gas defendants (which list of natural gas defendants incorrectly included Utility Holding, LLC) and the REP defendants and some causes of action against the other defendants. CenterPoint Energy expects that the claims against Utility Holding, LLC will ultimately be dismissed in light of the judge’s initial rulings. As to the TDU and generator defendants, the judge dismissed some causes of action but denied the motions to dismiss claims for negligence, gross negligence, and nuisance, which denial the TDU defendants and generator defendants asked the courts of appeals to overturn. A three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals for the Fourteenth District of Texas heard oral argument in the TDU mandamus proceeding on October 23, 2023. An opinion in that proceeding has not yet been issued. On December 14, 2023, a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals for the First District of Texas issued an opinion in the generator mandamus proceeding, granting the generators’ mandamus request and ordering that plaintiffs’ remaining claims against the generators be dismissed. The plaintiffs are expected to seek rehearing before the entire First Court of Appeals of that panel’s ruling. The MDL judge is allowing defendants (including Houston Electric) to file several additional motions on preliminary legal issues, and otherwise the cases remain stayed. CenterPoint Energy, Utility Holding, LLC, and Houston Electric intends to vigorously defend themselves against the claims raised.

CenterPoint Energy and Houston Electric have also responded to inquiries from the Texas Attorney General and the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office, and various other regulatory and governmental entities also conducted inquiries, investigations and other reviews of the February 2021 Winter Storm Event and the efforts made by various entities to prepare for, and respond to, the event, including the electric generation shortfall issues.

In February 2023, twelve lawsuits were filed in state district court in Harris County and Tom Green County, Texas, against dozens of gas market participants in Texas, including natural gas producers, processors, pipelines, marketers, sellers, traders,

gas utilities, and financial institutions. Plaintiffs named CERC as a defendant, along with “CenterPoint Energy Services, Inc.,” incorrectly identifying it as CERC’s parent company (CenterPoint Energy previously divested CES). One lawsuit filed in Harris County is a putative class action on behalf of two classes of electric and natural gas customers (those who experienced a loss of electricity and/or natural gas, and those who were charged securitization-related surcharges on a utility bill or were otherwise charged higher rates for electricity and/or gas during the February 2021 Winter Storm Event), potentially including millions of class members. Two other lawsuits (one filed in Harris County and one in Tom Green County) are brought by an entity that purports to be an assignee of claims by tens of thousands of persons and entities that have assigned claims to the plaintiff. These, and nine other similar lawsuits filed in Harris County, generally allege that the defendants engaged in gas market manipulation and price gouging, including by intentionally withholding, suppressing, or diverting supplies of natural gas in connection with the February 2021 Winter Storm Event, Winter Storm Elliott, and other severe weather conditions, and through financial market manipulation. Plaintiffs allege that this manipulation impacted gas supply and prices as well as the market, supply, and price of electricity in Texas and caused blackouts and other damage. Plaintiffs assert claims for tortious interference with existing contract, private nuisance, and unjust enrichment, and allege a broad array of injuries and damages, including personal injury, property damage, and harm from certain costs being securitized and passed on to ratepayers. The lawsuits do not specify the amount of damages sought, but seek broad categories of actual, compensatory, statutory, consequential economic, and punitive damages; restitution and disgorgement; pre- and post-judgment interest; costs and attorneys’ fees; and other relief. As of December 31, 2023, most of the lawsuits have not been served, but the three cases in which defendants were served were tagged for transfer to the existing MDL proceeding referenced above. The plaintiffs in those three cases filed motions to remand the lawsuits back to their original trial courts and out of the MDL. On August 1, 2023, the judge overseeing the MDL denied the motions to remand. On November 29, 2023, the MDL panel denied Plaintiffs’ joint motion for reconsideration of the MDL judge’s orders denying remand, and the time to appeal the MDL panel’s decision has passed. These lawsuits remain pending in the MDL, and CERC intends to vigorously defend itself against the claims raised, including by raising jurisdictional challenges to the plaintiffs’ claims. The nine other similar lawsuits filed in Harris County have also been tagged for transfer to the MDL proceeding, but the defendants, including CERC, have not been served. These gas market cases are in addition to the 220 cases noted above regarding electric market issues.

To date, there have not been demands, quantification, disclosure or discovery of damages by any party to any of the above legal matters that are sufficient to enable CenterPoint Energy and its subsidiaries to estimate exposure. Given that, as well as the preliminary nature of the proceedings, the numerosity of parties and complexity of issues involved, and the uncertainties of litigation, CenterPoint Energy and its subsidiaries are unable to predict the outcome or consequences of any of the foregoing matters or to estimate a range of potential losses. CenterPoint Energy and its subsidiaries have general and excess liability insurance policies that provide coverage for third-party bodily injury and property damage claims. As CenterPoint Energy previously noted, given the nature of certain of the plaintiffs’ allegations, insurance coverage may not be available other than for third party bodily injury and property damage claims caused by an accident, and one of CenterPoint Energy’s insurers recently denied coverage for intentional injury as alleged by plaintiffs in the gas market cases. CenterPoint Energy and its subsidiaries intend to continue to pursue any and all available insurance coverage for all of these matters.

Jefferson Parish. Several parishes and the State of Louisiana filed 42 suits under Louisiana’s State and Local Coastal Resources Management Act (SCLRMA) against hundreds of oil and gas companies seeking compensatory damages for contamination and erosion of the Louisiana coastline allegedly caused by historical oil and gas operations. One of the defendants in one of the lawsuits (filed in 2013 only by the Parish of Jefferson) is Primary Fuels, Inc., a predecessor company of CenterPoint Energy, which operated in Louisiana from 1983-1989. All 42 suits were removed to Louisiana federal courts twice and were stayed for several years pending the district courts’ consideration of various motions to remand and multiple appeals of remand orders. Recently, several cases involving other parishes that had been remanded to Louisiana state court have begun to resume proceedings in state court. However, as of December 31, 2023, the federal district court had not ruled on Jefferson Parish’s motion to remand to state court the lawsuit which includes Primary Fuels among the defendants.

Because of the procedurally preliminary nature of the proceedings, lack of information about both the scope of and damages for Jefferson Parish’s claim against Primary Fuels, the numerosity of parties and complexity of issues involved, and the uncertainties of litigation, CenterPoint Energy and its subsidiaries are unable to predict the outcome or consequences of this matter or to estimate a range of potential losses. CenterPoint Energy will continue to vigorously defend itself against the claims raised and pursue any and all available insurance coverage.

Environmental Matters

MGP Sites. CenterPoint Energy, CERC and their predecessors, including predecessors of Vectren, operated MGPs in the past. The costs CenterPoint Energy or CERC, as applicable, expect to incur to fulfill their respective obligations are estimated by management using assumptions based on actual costs incurred, the timing of expected future payments and inflation factors, among others. While CenterPoint Energy and CERC have recorded obligations for all costs which are probable and estimable, including amounts they are presently obligated to incur in connection with activities at these sites, it is possible that future

events may require remedial activities which are not presently foreseen, and those costs may not be subject to PRP or insurance recovery.

(i)Minnesota MGPs (CenterPoint Energy and CERC). With respect to certain Minnesota MGP sites, CenterPoint Energy and CERC have completed state-ordered remediation and continue state-ordered monitoring and water treatment. CenterPoint Energy and CERC recorded a liability as reflected in the table below for continued monitoring and any future remediation required by regulators in Minnesota.

(ii)Indiana MGPs (CenterPoint Energy and CERC). In the Indiana Gas service territory, the existence, location and certain general characteristics of 26 gas manufacturing and storage sites have been identified for which CenterPoint Energy and CERC may have some remedial responsibility. A remedial investigation/feasibility study was completed at one of the sites under an agreed upon order between Indiana Gas and the IDEM, and a Record of Decision was issued by the IDEM in January 2000. The remaining sites have been submitted to the IDEM’s VRP. CenterPoint Energy has also identified its involvement in 5 manufactured gas plant sites in SIGECO’s service territory, all of which are currently enrolled in the IDEM’s VRP. CenterPoint Energy is currently conducting some level of remedial activities, including groundwater monitoring at certain sites.

(iii)Other MGPs (CenterPoint Energy and CERC). In addition to the Minnesota and Indiana sites, the EPA and other regulators have investigated MGP sites that were owned or operated by CenterPoint Energy or CERC or may have been owned by one of their former affiliates.


	December 31, 2023
	CenterPoint Energy		CERC
	(in millions, except years)
Amount accrued for remediation	$	13	$	11
Minimum estimated remediation costs	8		7
Maximum estimated remediation costs	51		44
Minimum years of remediation	5		5
Maximum years of remediation	50		50

The cost estimates are based on studies of a site or industry average costs for remediation of sites of similar size. The actual remediation costs will depend on the number of sites to be remediated, the participation of other PRPs, if any, and the remediation methods used.

CenterPoint Energy and CERC do not expect the ultimate outcome of these matters to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations or cash flows of either CenterPoint Energy or CERC.

Asbestos. Some facilities owned by the Registrants or their predecessors contain or have contained asbestos insulation and other asbestos-containing materials. The Registrants are from time to time named, along with numerous others, as defendants in lawsuits filed by a number of individuals who claim injury due to exposure to asbestos, and the Registrants anticipate that additional claims may be asserted in the future. Although their ultimate outcome cannot be predicted at this time, the Registrants do not expect these matters, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on their financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

CCR Rule (CenterPoint Energy). In April 2015, the EPA finalized its CCR Rule, which regulates ash as non-hazardous material under the RCRA. The final rule allows beneficial reuse of ash, and the majority of the ash generated by Indiana Electric’s generating plants will continue to be reused. In July 2018, the EPA released its final CCR Rule Phase I Reconsideration which extended the deadline to October 31, 2020 for ceasing placement of ash in ponds that exceed groundwater protections standards or that fail to meet location restrictions. In August 2019, the EPA proposed additional “Part A” amendments to its CCR Rule with respect to beneficial reuse of ash and other materials. The Part A amendments were finalized in August 2020 and extended the deadline to cease placement of ash in ponds to April 11, 2021, discussed further

below. The Part A amendments do not restrict Indiana Electric’s current beneficial reuse of its fly ash. On May 18, 2023, the EPA issued a proposed revision to the CCR rule that could potentially expand the scope of units regulated under the federal CCR rule (the CCR “Legacy” rule). The CCR Legacy rule seeks to include legacy CCR surface impoundments (inactive surface impoundments at inactive generating facilities) as well as new “CCR management units” at active or inactive facilities otherwise subject to federal CCR regulations. The potential impact of the CCR Legacy rule is uncertain at this time, and if finalized could require Registrant to conduct additional CCR investigations.

Indiana Electric has three ash ponds, two at the F.B. Culley facility (Culley East and Culley West) and one at the A.B. Brown facility. Under the existing CCR Rule, Indiana Electric is required to perform integrity assessments, including ground water monitoring, at its F.B. Culley and A.B. Brown generating stations. The ground water studies were necessary to determine the remaining service life of the ponds and whether a pond must be retrofitted with liners or closed in place. Indiana Electric’s Warrick generating unit is not included in the scope of the CCR Rule as this unit has historically been part of a larger generating station that predominantly serves an adjacent industrial facility. Groundwater monitoring indicates potential groundwater impacts adjacent to Indiana Electric’s ash impoundments, and further analysis is ongoing. The CCR Rule required companies to complete location restriction determinations by October 18, 2018. Indiana Electric completed its evaluation and determined that one F.B. Culley pond (Culley East) and the A.B. Brown pond fail the aquifer placement location restriction. As a result of this failure, Indiana Electric was required to cease disposal of new ash in the ponds and commence closure of the ponds by April 11, 2021, unless approved for an extension. CenterPoint Energy filed timely extension requests available under the CCR Rule that would allow Indiana Electric to continue to use the ponds through October 15, 2023. On October 5, 2022, the EPA issued a proposed conditional approval of the Part A extension request for the A.B. Brown pond. Both the Culley East and A.B. Brown facility have been taken out of service in a timely manner per the commitments made to the EPA in the extension requests filed for both ponds. On April 24, 2019, Indiana Electric received an order from the IURC approving recovery in rates of costs associated with the closure of the Culley West pond, which has already completed closure activities. On August 14, 2019, Indiana Electric filed its petition with the IURC for recovery of costs associated with the closure of the A.B. Brown ash pond, which would include costs associated with the excavation and recycling of ponded ash. This petition was subsequently approved by the IURC on May 13, 2020. On October 28, 2020, the IURC approved Indiana Electric’s ECA proceeding, which included the initiation of recovery of the federally mandated project costs.

On November 1, 2022, Indiana Electric filed for a CPCN to recover federally mandated costs associated with closure of the Culley East Pond, its third and final ash pond. Indiana Electric is also seeking accounting and ratemaking relief for the project, and on June 8, 2023, Indiana Electric filed a revised CPCN for recovery of the federally mandated ash pond costs. The project costs are estimated to be approximately $52 million, inclusive of overheads.

In July 2018, Indiana Electric filed a Complaint for Damages and Declaratory Relief against its insurers seeking reimbursement of defense, investigation and pond closure costs incurred to comply with the CCR Rule, and has since reached confidential settlement agreements with its insurers. The proceeds of these settlements will offset costs that have been and will be incurred to close the ponds.

As of December 31, 2023, CenterPoint Energy has recorded an approximate $116 million ARO, which represents the discounted value of future cash flow estimates to close the ponds at A.B. Brown and F.B. Culley. This estimate is subject to change due to the contractual arrangements; continued assessments of the ash, closure methods, and the timing of closure; implications of Indiana Electric’s generation transition plan; changing environmental regulations; and proceeds received from the settlements in the aforementioned insurance proceeding. In addition to these AROs, Indiana Electric also anticipates equipment purchases of between $60 million and $80 million to complete the A.B. Brown closure project.

Clean Water Act Permitting of Groundwater Discharges. In April 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion providing that indirect discharges via groundwater or other non-point sources are subject to permitting and liability under the Clean Water Act when they are the functional equivalent of a direct discharge. On November 27, 2023, the EPA published draft guidance regarding the application of the “functional equivalent” analysis as related to permitting of certain discharges through groundwater to surface waters. The Registrants are evaluating the extent to which this decision and the proposed EPA guidance will affect Clean Water Act permitting requirements and/or liability for their operations.

Other Environmental. From time to time, the Registrants identify the presence of environmental contaminants during operations or on property where their predecessors have conducted operations. Other such sites involving contaminants may be identified in the future. The Registrants have and expect to continue to remediate any identified sites consistent with state and federal legal obligations. From time to time, the Registrants have received notices, and may receive notices in the future, from regulatory authorities or others regarding status as a PRP in connection with sites found to require remediation due to the presence of environmental contaminants. In addition, the Registrants have been, or may be, named from time to time as defendants in litigation related to such sites. Although the ultimate outcome of such matters cannot be predicted at this time, the

Registrants do not expect these matters, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on their financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Other Proceedings

The Registrants are involved in other legal, environmental, tax and regulatory proceedings before various courts, regulatory commissions and governmental agencies regarding matters arising in the ordinary course of business. From time to time, the Registrants are also defendants in legal proceedings with respect to claims brought by various plaintiffs against broad groups of participants in the energy industry. Some of these proceedings involve substantial amounts. The Registrants regularly analyze current information and, as necessary, provide accruals for probable and reasonably estimable liabilities on the eventual disposition of these matters. The Registrants do not expect the disposition of these matters to have a material adverse effect on the Registrants’ financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Earnings Per Share (CenterPoint Energy) (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share


	For the Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
	(in millions, except per share and share amounts)
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$	917	$	1,057	$	668
Less: Preferred stock dividend requirement (Note 12)	50		49		95


Income available to common shareholders from continuing operations - basic and diluted	867		1,008		573
Income available to common shareholders from discontinued operations - basic and diluted	—		—		818
Income available to common shareholders - basic and diluted	$	867	$	1,008	$	1,391

Denominator:
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic	630,947,000		629,415,000		592,933,000
Plus: Incremental shares from assumed conversions:
Restricted stock	2,232,000		2,931,000		5,181,000

Series C Preferred Stock (1)	—		—		11,824,000
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted	633,179,000		632,346,000		609,938,000

Anti-dilutive Incremental Shares Excluded from Denominator for Diluted Earnings Computation:

Series B Preferred Stock (2)	—		—		23,906,000


Earnings per common share:
Basic earnings per common share - continuing operations	$	1.37	$	1.60	$	0.97
Basic earnings per common share - discontinued operations	—		—		1.38
Basic Earnings Per Common Share	$	1.37	$	1.60	$	2.35
Diluted earnings per common share - continuing operations	$	1.37	$	1.59	$	0.94
Diluted earnings per common share - discontinued operations	—		—		1.34
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share	$	1.37	$	1.59	$	2.28

(1)As of December 31, 2021, all of the outstanding Series C Preferred Stock has been converted into Common Stock. For further information, see Note 12.

(2)As of December 31, 2021, all of the outstanding Series B Preferred Stock has been converted into Common Stock. For further information, see Note 12.

Background (Details)	Dec. 31, 2023 registrant
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Number of registrants	3

Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt

Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt: As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Registrants had the following short-term borrowings and long-term debt outstanding:


	December 31, 2023				December 31, 2022
	Long-Term		Current (1)		Long-Term		Current (1)
	(in millions)
CenterPoint Energy:
ZENS due 2029 (2)	$	—	$	5	$	—	$	7
CenterPoint Energy senior notes 1.45% to 5.989% due 2024 to 2049	3,250		850		3,050		—
CenterPoint Energy pollution control bonds 5.125% due 2028 (3)	68		—		68		—
CenterPoint Energy commercial paper (4)	1,036		—		1,770		—




SIGECO first mortgage bonds 3.450% to 6.00% due 2024 to 2055 (5)	825		22		277		11
SIGECO securitization bonds 5.026% to 5.172% due 2036 to 2041 (6)	324		17		—		—
Other debt	—		—		—		4
Unamortized debt issuance costs	(35)		—		(15)		—
Unamortized discount and premium, net	(5)		—		(6)		—
Houston Electric debt (see details below)	7,426		161		6,197		156
CERC debt (see details below)	4,670		4		3,495		1,842

Total CenterPoint Energy debt	$	17,559	$	1,059	$	14,836	$	2,020





Houston Electric:

General mortgage bonds 2.35% to 6.95% due 2026 to 2053 (7)	$	7,512	$	—	$	6,112	$	—
Other	1		—		1		—






Bond Company IV:
Transition bonds 3.028% due 2024	—		161		161		156
Unamortized debt issuance costs	(59)		—		(50)		—
Unamortized discount and premium, net	(28)		—		(27)		—
Total Houston Electric debt	$	7,426	$	161	$	6,197	$	156





CERC (8):
Short-term borrowings:
Inventory financing (9)	$	—	$	4	$	—	$	11
Term loan	—		—		—		500
Total CERC short-term borrowings	—		4		—		511
Long-term debt:
Senior notes 1.75% to 6.625% due 2026 to 2047	$	4,120	$	—	$	2,620	$	1,331
Indiana Gas senior notes 6.34% to 7.08% due 2025 to 2029	96		—		96		—
Commercial paper (4)	484		—		805		—
Unamortized debt issuance costs	(31)		—		(22)		—
Unamortized discount and premium, net	1		—		(4)		—


Total CERC debt	$	4,670	$	4	$	3,495	$	1,842

(1)Includes amounts due or exchangeable within one year of the date noted.

(5)The first mortgage bonds issued by SIGECO subject SIGECO’s properties to a lien under the related mortgage indenture as further discussed below.

(7)The general mortgage bonds issued by Houston Electric subject Houston Electric’s properties to a lien under the General Mortgage as further discussed below.

(8)Issued by CERC Corp.

(9)Represents AMA transactions accounted for as an inventory financing.

Debt Transactions

Debt Issuances. During 2023, the following debt instruments were issued or incurred:


Registrant	Issuance Date	Debt Instrument	Aggregate Principal Amount		Interest Rate	Maturity Date
		(in millions, except for interest rates)
Houston Electric (1)	March 2023	General Mortgage Bonds	$	600	4.95%	2033
Houston Electric (1)	March 2023	General Mortgage Bonds	300		5.30%	2053
Houston Electric (2)	September 2023	General Mortgage Bonds	500		5.20%	2028
		Total Houston Electric	1,400
CERC (3)	February 2023	Term Loan	500		SOFR (4) + 0.85%	2024
CERC (5)	February 2023	Senior Notes	600		5.25%	2028
CERC (5)	February 2023	Senior Notes	600		5.40%	2033
CERC (6)	May 2023	Senior Notes	300		5.25%	2028
		Total CERC	2,000
CenterPoint Energy (7)	March 2023	First Mortgage Bonds	100		4.98%	2028
CenterPoint Energy (7)	March 2023	First Mortgage Bonds	80		5.04%	2033
CenterPoint Energy (8)	March 2023	Term Loan	250		SOFR (4) + 1.50%	2023
CenterPoint Energy (9)	June 2023	Securitization Bonds	341		5.026% - 5.172%	2038-2043
CenterPoint Energy (10)	August 2023	Convertible Notes	1,000		4.25%	2026
CenterPoint Energy (11)	August 2023	Senior Notes	400		5.25%	2026
CenterPoint Energy (12)	October 2023	First Mortgage Bonds	470		5.75% - 6.00%	2029-2034
		Total CenterPoint Energy	$	6,041

(4)As defined in the term loan agreement, which includes an adjustment of 0.10% per annum.

In April 2023, SIGECO executed a remarketing agreement to remarket five series of tax-exempt debt issued by the Indiana Finance Authority, and secured by SIGECO first mortgage bonds, of approximately $148 million, comprised of: (i) $107 million aggregate principal amount of Environmental Improvement Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2013, originally issued by the Indiana Finance Authority on April 26, 2013, and (ii) $41 million aggregate principal amount of Environmental Improvement Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2014, originally issued by the Indiana Finance Authority on September 24, 2014, which closed on May 1, 2023.

In July 2023, SIGECO executed a remarketing agreement to remarket two series of tax-exempt debt issued by the City of Mount Vernon, Indiana and Warrick County, Indiana, and secured by SIGECO first mortgage bonds, of approximately $38 million, comprised of: (i) $23 million aggregate principal amount of Environmental Improvement Revenue Bonds, Series 2015 issued by the City of Mount Vernon and (ii) $15 million aggregate principal amount of Environmental Improvement Revenue Bonds, Series 2015 issued by Warrick County, which closed on September 1, 2023. Effective September 1, 2023, the bonds of each series bear interest at a fixed rate of 4.250% per annum to the earlier of (i) its redemption date or (ii) September 1, 2028, at which time the bonds are subject to mandatory tender.

Convertible Senior Notes. Interest on the Convertible Notes described in the table above is payable semiannually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, beginning on February 15, 2024. The Convertible Notes will mature on August 15, 2026, unless earlier converted or repurchased by CenterPoint Energy in accordance with their terms.

Prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding May 15, 2026, the Convertible Notes are convertible only under certain conditions. On or after May 15, 2026 until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date, holders may convert all or any portion of their Convertible Notes at any time at the conversion rate then in effect, irrespective of the conditions. CenterPoint Energy may not redeem the Convertible Notes prior to the maturity date and no sinking fund is provided for the Convertible Notes.

Upon conversion of the Convertible Notes, CenterPoint Energy will pay cash up to the aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes to be converted and pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of Common Stock, or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, at CenterPoint Energy’s election, in respect of the remainder, if any, of CenterPoint

Energy’s conversion obligation in excess of the aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes being converted. The conversion rate for the Convertible Notes is initially 27.1278 shares of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $36.86 per share of Common Stock). The initial conversion price of the Convertible Notes represents a premium of approximately 25.0% over the last reported sale price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on August 1, 2023. Initially, a maximum of 33,909,700 shares of Common Stock may be issued upon conversion of the Convertible Notes based on the initial maximum conversion rate of 33.9097 shares of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes. The conversion rate will be subject to adjustment in some events (as described in the Convertible Notes Indenture) but will not be adjusted for any accrued and unpaid interest.

In addition, following certain corporate events that occur prior to the maturity date of the Convertible Notes, CenterPoint Energy will, in certain circumstances, increase the conversion rate for a holder who elects to convert its Convertible Notes in connection with such a corporate event. If CenterPoint Energy undergoes a fundamental change (as defined in the Convertible Notes Indenture), holders of the Convertible Notes may require CenterPoint Energy to repurchase for cash all or any portion of their Convertible Notes at a fundamental change repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Convertible Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date.

The Convertible Notes are senior unsecured obligations of CenterPoint Energy and rank senior in right of payment to any of CenterPoint Energy’s indebtedness that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Convertible Notes; equal in right of payment to any of CenterPoint Energy’s unsecured indebtedness that is not so subordinated; effectively junior in right of payment to any of CenterPoint Energy’s secured indebtedness it may incur in the future to the extent of the value of the assets securing such future secured indebtedness; and structurally junior to all indebtedness and other liabilities (including trade payables but excluding intercompany obligations and liabilities of a type not required to be reflected on a balance sheet of such subsidiaries in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) of CenterPoint Energy’s subsidiaries.

Debt Repayments and Redemptions. During 2023, the following debt instruments were repaid at maturity or redeemed prior to maturity:

Registrant

Repayment/Redemption Date

Debt Instrument

Aggregate Principal

Interest Rate

Maturity Date

(in millions)

CERC

March 2023

Term Loan (1)

500

SOFR (2) + 0.70%

2023

CERC

March 2023

Senior Notes

700

0.70%

2023

CERC

March 2023

Floating Rate Senior Notes

575

Three-month LIBOR plus 0.5%

2023

CERC

May 2023

Term Loan (3)

500

SOFR (2) + 0.85%

2024

CERC

December 2023

Senior Notes

3.72%

2023

Total CERC

2,332

CenterPoint Energy (4)

January 2023

First Mortgage Bonds

4.00%

2044

CenterPoint Energy

March 2023

Term Loan (1)

250

SOFR (2) + 1.50%

2023

CenterPoint Energy (5)

December 2023

Floating Rate Senior Notes

350

SOFR plus 0.65%

2024

CenterPoint Energy (6)

December 2023

First Mortgage Bonds

6.72%

2029

Total CenterPoint Energy

3,023

(1) The full outstanding amount of the term loan, including accrued and unpaid interest, was repaid in March 2023 and, following the repayment, the term loan agreement was terminated.

(2) As defined in the term loan agreement, which includes an adjustment of 0.10% per annum.

(3) The full outstanding amount of the term loan, including accrued and unpaid interest, was repaid in May 2023 and, following the repayment, the term loan agreement was terminated.


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
	(in millions)
CenterPoint Energy (1)	$	11	$	47	$	53
CERC	—		—		11
Houston Electric (2)	—		2		—

(1) The loss on early extinguishment of debt at CenterPoint Energy during 2023 was recorded as a regulatory asset.

(2) The loss on early extinguishment of debt at Houston Electric during 2022 was recorded as a regulatory asset.

Securitization Bonds. As of December 31, 2023, CenterPoint Energy, Houston Electric and SIGECO had special purpose subsidiaries including the Bond Companies and the SIGECO Securitization Subsidiary, which are consolidated. The consolidated special purpose subsidiaries are wholly-owned, bankruptcy remote entities that were formed solely for the purpose of securitizing transition property or facilitating the securitization financing of qualified costs in the second quarter of 2023 associated with the completed retirement of SIGECO’s A.B. Brown coal generation facilities through the issuance of securitization bonds and activities incidental thereto. The Securitization Bonds issued by Bond Company IV are payable only through the imposition and collection of transition charges, as defined in the Texas Public Utility Regulatory Act, which are irrevocable, non-bypassable charges to provide recovery of authorized qualified costs. The SIGECO Securitization Bonds are payable only through the imposition of securitization charges payable by SIGECO’s retail electric customers, which are non-bypassable charges to provide recovery of the qualified costs of SIGECO authorized by the IURC order. CenterPoint Energy, Houston Electric and SIGECO have no payment obligations in respect of the Securitization Bonds issued by Bond Company IV or the SIGECO Securitization Bonds other than to remit the applicable transition or securitization charges they collect as set forth in servicing agreements among Houston Electric, the Bond Companies, SIGECO, the SIGECO Securitization Subsidiary and other parties. Each special purpose entity is the sole owner of the right to impose, collect and receive the applicable transition and securitization charges securing the bonds issued by that entity. Creditors of CenterPoint Energy, Houston Electric and SIGECO have no recourse to any assets or revenues of the Bond Companies (including the transition charges) or the SIGECO Securitization Subsidiary, as applicable, and the bondholders have no recourse to the to the general credit of CenterPoint Energy, Houston Electric or SIGECO.

Credit Facilities. The Registrants had the following revolving credit facilities as of December 31, 2023:


Execution Date	Registrant	Size of Facility		Draw Rate of SOFR plus (1)	Financial Covenant Limit on Debt for Borrowed Money to Capital Ratio		Debt for Borrowed Money to Capital Ratio as of December 31, 2023 (2)	Termination Date
		(in millions)
December 6, 2022	CenterPoint Energy	$	2,400	1.500%	65%	(3)	59.6%	December 6, 2027
December 6, 2022	CenterPoint Energy (4)	250		1.125%	65%		46.5%	December 6, 2027
December 6, 2022	Houston Electric	300		1.250%	67.5%	(3)	52.6%	December 6, 2027
December 6, 2022	CERC	1,050		1.125%	65%		40.2%	December 6, 2027
	Total	$	4,000

(1)Based on credit ratings as of December 31, 2023.

(2)As defined in the revolving credit facility agreement, excluding Securitization Bonds.

(4)This credit facility was issued by SIGECO.

The Registrants, as well as the subsidiaries of CenterPoint Energy discussed above, were in compliance with all financial debt covenants as of December 31, 2023.

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Registrants had the following revolving credit facilities and utilization of such facilities:


	December 31, 2023										December 31, 2022
Registrant	Size of Facility		Loans		Letters of Credit		Commercial Paper		Weighted Average Interest Rate		Size of Facility		Loans		Letters of Credit		Commercial Paper		Weighted Average Interest Rate
	(in millions, except weighted average interest rate)
CenterPoint Energy (1)	$	2,400	$	—	$	—	$	1,036	5.54	%	$	2,400	$	—	$	11	$	1,770	4.71	%
CenterPoint Energy (2)	250		—		—		—		—	%	250		—		—		—		—	%
Houston Electric	300		—		—		—		—	%	300		—		—		—		—	%
CERC	1,050		—		1		484		5.53	%	1,050		—		—		805		4.67	%
Total	$	4,000	$	—	$	1	$	1,520			$	4,000	$	—	$	11	$	2,575

(2)This credit facility was issued by SIGECO.

Maturities. As of December 31, 2023, maturities of long-term debt through 2028, excluding the ZENS obligation and unamortized discounts, premiums and issuance costs, were as follows:


	CenterPoint Energy (1)		Houston Electric (1)		CERC		Securitization Bonds
	(in millions)
2024	$	1,050	$	161	$	—	$	178
2025	64		—		10		13
2026	2,274		300		60		14
2027	1,860		300		510		14
2028	2,063		500		1,230		15

(1)These maturities include Securitization Bonds principal repayments on scheduled payment dates.

Liens. As of December 31, 2023, Houston Electric’s assets were subject to liens securing approximately $7.6 billion of general mortgage bonds outstanding under the General Mortgage, including approximately $68 million held in trust to secure pollution control bonds that mature in 2028 for which CenterPoint Energy is obligated. The general mortgage bonds that are held in trust to secure pollution control bonds are not reflected in Houston Electric’s consolidated financial statements because of the contingent nature of the obligations. Houston Electric may issue additional general mortgage bonds on the basis of retired bonds, 70% of property additions or cash deposited with the trustee. As of December 31, 2023, approximately $4.8 billion of additional general mortgage bonds could be issued on the basis of retired bonds and 70% of property additions. No first mortgage bonds are outstanding under the M&DOT, and Houston Electric is contractually obligated to not issue any additional first mortgage bonds under the M&DOT and is undertaking actions to release the lien of the M&DOT and terminate the M&DOT.

As of December 31, 2023, SIGECO had approximately $847 million aggregate principal amount of first mortgage bonds outstanding. Generally, all of SIGECO’s real and tangible property is subject to the lien of SIGECO’s mortgage indenture which was amended and restated effective as of January 1, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, SIGECO was permitted to issue additional bonds under its mortgage indenture up to 70% of then currently unfunded property additions and approximately $966 million of additional first mortgage bonds could be issued on this basis.

Houston Electric and CERC participate in a money pool through which they can borrow or invest on a short-term basis. For additional information, see Note 19.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for information about short-term and long-term debt arrangements, which includes amounts of borrowings under each line of credit, note payable, commercial paper issue, bonds indenture, debenture issue, own-share lending arrangements and any other contractual agreement to repay funds, and about the underlying arrangements, rationale for a classification as long-term, including repayment terms, interest rates, collateral provided, restrictions on use of assets and activities, whether or not in compliance with debt covenants, and other matters important to users of the financial statements, such as the effects of refinancing and noncompliance with debt covenants.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-Subparagraph (h)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481139/470-20-50-1B

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08(c))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480678/235-10-S99-1

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Topic 470
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//470/tableOfContent

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481139/470-20-50-1B

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-Subparagraph (g)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481139/470-20-50-1B

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-Subparagraph (i)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481139/470-20-50-1B

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1C
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481139/470-20-50-1C

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1C
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481139/470-20-50-1C

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1C
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481139/470-20-50-1C

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1E
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481139/470-20-50-1E

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1I
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481139/470-20-50-1I

Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1I
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481139/470-20-50-1I

Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1I
-Subparagraph (d)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481139/470-20-50-1I

+ Details

Equity (CenterPoint Energy) - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)		1 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Sep. 01, 2023	Feb. 28, 2023	Feb. 28, 2022	Jul. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Jul. 20, 2021
Cumulative preferred stock, aggregate liquidation preference					$ 0		$ 800
Chief Executive Officer
Shares authorized for issuance under long-term incentive plans (in shares)								1,000,000
Chief Executive Officer \| Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
RSUs granted (in shares)		200,000	400,000	400,000
Series A Preferred Stock
Cumulative preferred stock, aggregate liquidation preference						$ 800,000,000
Preferred stock liquidation preference (in dollar per share)					$ 1,000	$ 1,000
Preferred stock redemption price (per share)	$ 1,000
Preferred stock dividend rate					6.125%
Redemption of Series A Preferred Stock (in shares)	800,000

Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) MW	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	$ 40,396	$ 37,728
Property plant and equipment and finance lease assets, gross	40,396	37,728
Accumulated Depreciation & Amortization	10,543	10,585
Property plant and equipment and finance lease assets, accumulated depreciation and amortization	10,543	10,585
Property, plant and equipment	29,853	27,143
Finance ROU assets	526	621
Property plant and equipment and finance lease assets, net	29,853	27,143
Depreciation and Amortization [Abstract]
Depreciation	1,092	1,013	$ 1,024
Amortization of securitized regulatory assets	163	191	213
Other amortization	146	84	79
Total	1,401	1,288	1,316
Asset Retirement Obligation, Roll Forward Analysis [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	610	659
Accretion expense	23	20
Revisions in estimate	(43)	(69)
Ending balance	590	610	659
Houston Electric
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	19,515	17,753
Property plant and equipment and finance lease assets, gross	19,515	17,753
Accumulated Depreciation & Amortization	4,469	4,292
Property plant and equipment and finance lease assets, accumulated depreciation and amortization	4,469	4,292
Property, plant and equipment	15,046	13,461
Finance ROU assets	526	621
Property plant and equipment and finance lease assets, net	15,046	13,461
Depreciation and Amortization [Abstract]
Depreciation	484	434	391
Amortization of securitized regulatory assets	155	191	213
Other amortization	109	45	38
Total	748	670	642
Asset Retirement Obligation, Roll Forward Analysis [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	36	42
Accretion expense	1	1
Revisions in estimate	3	(7)
Ending balance	40	36	42
CERC Corp
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	15,672	14,379
Property plant and equipment and finance lease assets, gross	15,672	14,379
Accumulated Depreciation & Amortization	4,169	3,973
Property plant and equipment and finance lease assets, accumulated depreciation and amortization	4,169	3,973
Property, plant and equipment	11,503	10,406
Finance ROU assets	0	0
Property plant and equipment and finance lease assets, net	11,503	10,406
Depreciation and Amortization [Abstract]
Depreciation	459	420	466
Amortization of securitized regulatory assets	0	0	0
Other amortization	34	28	17
Total	493	448	483
Asset Retirement Obligation, Roll Forward Analysis [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	420	479
Accretion expense	16	15
Revisions in estimate	(56)	(74)
Ending balance	$ 380	420	$ 479
Electric transmission and distribution
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]
Weighted Average Useful Lives (in years)	37 years
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	$ 19,151	19,154
Accumulated Depreciation & Amortization	4,762	5,317
Property, plant and equipment	$ 14,389	13,837
Electric transmission and distribution \| Houston Electric
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]
Weighted Average Useful Lives (in years)	37 years
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	$ 16,800	14,791
Accumulated Depreciation & Amortization	3,641	3,556
Property, plant and equipment	$ 13,159	11,235
Electric generation
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]
Weighted Average Useful Lives (in years)	25 years
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	$ 1,381	2,120
Accumulated Depreciation & Amortization	315	813
Property, plant and equipment	$ 1,066	1,307
Natural gas distribution
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]
Weighted Average Useful Lives (in years)	32 years
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	$ 16,492	15,097
Accumulated Depreciation & Amortization	4,337	4,135
Property, plant and equipment	$ 12,155	10,962
Natural gas distribution \| CERC Corp
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]
Weighted Average Useful Lives (in years)	31 years
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	$ 15,591	14,316
Accumulated Depreciation & Amortization	4,136	3,946
Property, plant and equipment	$ 11,455	10,370
Finance ROU asset mobile generation
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]
Finance Lease, term of contract (in years)	7 years 6 months
Finance lease right of use assets, gross	$ 662	662
Finance lease right of use assets, accumulated amortization	136	41
Finance ROU assets	$ 526	621
Finance ROU asset mobile generation \| Houston Electric
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]
Finance Lease, term of contract (in years)	7 years 6 months
Finance lease right of use assets, gross	$ 662	662
Finance lease right of use assets, accumulated amortization	136	41
Finance ROU assets	$ 526	621
Other property
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]
Weighted Average Useful Lives (in years)	22 years
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	$ 2,710	695
Accumulated Depreciation & Amortization	993	279
Property, plant and equipment	$ 1,717	416
Other property \| Houston Electric
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]
Weighted Average Useful Lives (in years)	20 years
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	$ 2,053	2,300
Accumulated Depreciation & Amortization	692	695
Property, plant and equipment	$ 1,361	1,605
Other property \| CERC Corp
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]
Weighted Average Useful Lives (in years)	15 years
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	$ 81	63
Accumulated Depreciation & Amortization	33	27
Property, plant and equipment	$ 48	$ 36
SIGECO
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]
Number of megawatts (in MW) \| MW	300
SIGECO's share of cost of Warrick Unit 4	$ 198
SIGECO's share of accumulated depreciation of Warrick Unit 4	$ 171

Revenue Recognition - Summary of Contract Assets and Liabilities (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)
Accounts Receivable
Opening balance as of December 31, 2022	$ 858
Closing balance as of December 31, 2023	652
Increase (decrease) in accounts receivable	(206)
Other Accrued Unbilled Revenues
Opening balance as of December 31, 2022	764
Closing balance as of December 31, 2023	516
Increase (decrease) in other accrued unbilled revenues	(248)
Contract Assets (1)
Opening balance as of December 31, 2022	4
Closing balance as of December 31, 2023	0
Increase (decrease) in contract with customer, asset	(4)
Contract Liabilities (1)
Opening balance as of December 31, 2022	45
Closing balance as of December 31, 2023	2
Increase (decrease) in contract with customer, liability	(43)
Revenue recognized included in the opening contract liability for the period	2
Houston Electric
Accounts Receivable
Opening balance as of December 31, 2022	271
Closing balance as of December 31, 2023	275
Increase (decrease) in accounts receivable	4
Other Accrued Unbilled Revenues
Opening balance as of December 31, 2022	142
Closing balance as of December 31, 2023	142
Increase (decrease) in other accrued unbilled revenues	0
Contract Liabilities (1)
Opening balance as of December 31, 2022	2
Closing balance as of December 31, 2023	2
Increase (decrease) in contract with customer, liability	0
Revenue recognized included in the opening contract liability for the period	2
CERC Corp
Accounts Receivable
Opening balance as of December 31, 2022	478
Closing balance as of December 31, 2023	330
Increase (decrease) in accounts receivable	(148)
Other Accrued Unbilled Revenues
Opening balance as of December 31, 2022	573
Closing balance as of December 31, 2023	329
Increase (decrease) in other accrued unbilled revenues	$ (244)

Income Taxes - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Deferred tax assets, valuation allowance	$ 10	$ 10
Accrued penalties and interest	29
Unrecognized tax benefits that would impact effective tax rate	25
Accrued penalties and interest not included	4
Decrease in unrecognized tax benefits, including penalties and interest, in the next 12 months	3
State and Local Jurisdiction
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Operating loss carryforwards	1,000
Deferred tax assets tax credit carryforwards	2
State and Local Jurisdiction \| CERC Corp
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Operating loss carryforwards	657
Deferred tax assets tax credit carryforwards	2
Domestic Tax Authority \| CERC Corp
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Deferred tax assets tax credit carryforwards	$ 931,000

Regulatory Matters (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Regulated Operations [Abstract]

Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities

The following is a list of regulatory assets and liabilities reflected on the Registrants’ respective Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:


	December 31, 2023
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Regulatory Assets:
Future amounts recoverable from ratepayers related to:
Benefit obligations (1)	$	379	$	—	$	5
Asset retirement obligations & other	290		75		186
Net deferred income taxes	96		41		42
Total future amounts recoverable from ratepayers	765		116		233
Amounts deferred for future recovery related to:

Cost recovery riders	113		—		73
Hurricane and February 2021 Winter Storm Event restoration costs	149		123		26

Other regulatory assets	147		59		72
Gas recovery costs	27		—		27
Decoupling	17		—		17
COVID-19 incremental costs	12		8		4
TEEEF costs	48		48		—
Unrecognized equity return (2)	(63)		(39)		(16)
Total amounts deferred for future recovery	450		199		203
Amounts currently recovered in customer rates related to:
Authorized trackers and cost deferrals	535		44		375
Securitized regulatory assets	434		74		—
Unamortized loss on reacquired debt and hedging	106		72		11
Gas recovery costs	34		—		34
Extraordinary gas costs	208		—		208
Regulatory assets related to TCJA	47		47		—
Hurricane Harvey restoration costs	17		17		—
Benefit obligations	11		11		—
Emergency Generation Costs	208		208		—
Unrecognized equity return (3)	(141)		(36)		(53)

Total amounts recovered in customer rates (4)	1,459		437		575
Total Regulatory Assets	$	2,674	$	752	$	1,011
Total Current Regulatory Assets (5)	$	161	$	—	$	161
Total Non-Current Regulatory Assets	$	2,513	$	752	$	850

Regulatory Liabilities:
Regulatory liabilities related to TCJA	$	1,377	$	695	$	505
Estimated removal costs	1,322		91		1,150
Other regulatory liabilities	548		245		260
Total Regulatory Liabilities	$	3,247	$	1,031	$	1,915
Total Current Regulatory Liabilities (6)	$	39	$	6	$	33
Total Non-Current Regulatory Liabilities	$	3,208	$	1,025	$	1,882


	December 31, 2022
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Regulatory Assets:
Future amounts recoverable from ratepayers related to:
Benefit obligations (1)	$	392	$	—	$	5
Asset retirement obligations & other	237		64		155
Net deferred income taxes	83		34		40
Total future amounts recoverable from ratepayers	712		98		200
Amounts deferred for future recovery related to:
Extraordinary gas costs	1,073		—		1,073
Cost recovery riders	133		—		57
Hurricane and February 2021 Winter Storm Event restoration costs	129		113		16

Other regulatory assets	129		46		67
Gas recovery costs	108		—		108
Decoupling	3		—		3
COVID-19 incremental costs	13		8		5
TEEEF costs	182		182		—
Unrecognized equity return	(54)		(27)		(5)
Total amounts deferred for future recovery	1,716		322		1,324
Amounts currently recovered in customer rates related to:
Authorized trackers and cost deferrals	499		25		369
Securitized regulatory assets	229		229		—
Unamortized loss on reacquired debt and hedging	88		64		12
Gas recovery costs	79		—		30
Extraordinary gas costs	294		—		294
Regulatory assets related to TCJA	47		47		—
Hurricane Harvey restoration costs	30		30		—
Benefit obligations	18		18		—
Unrecognized equity return (3)	(134)		(55)		(49)

Total amounts recovered in customer rates	1,150		358		656
Total Regulatory Assets	$	3,578	$	778	$	2,180
Total Current Regulatory Assets (5)	$	1,385	$	—	$	1,336
Total Non-Current Regulatory Assets	$	2,193	$	778	$	844

Regulatory Liabilities:
Regulatory liabilities related to TCJA	$	1,436	$	716	$	536
Estimated removal costs	1,338		158		1,097
Other regulatory liabilities	496		281		193
Total Regulatory Liabilities	$	3,270	$	1,155	$	1,826
Total Current Regulatory Liabilities (6)	$	25	$	—	$	25
Total Non-Current Regulatory Liabilities	$	3,245	$	1,155	$	1,801

(1)Pension and postretirement-related regulatory assets balances are actuarially valued annually.

(5)Current regulatory assets for both CenterPoint Energy and CERC include extraordinary gas costs of $86 million and $1,175 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

(6)Current regulatory liabilities are included in Other current liabilities in each of the Registrants’ respective Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The table below reflects the amount of allowed equity return recognized by each Registrant in its Statements of Consolidated Income:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023						2022						2021
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Allowed equity return recognized	$	41	$	38	$	2	$	45	$	42	$	2	$	40	$	37	$	2

Equity Securities and Indexed Debt Securities (ZENS) (CenterPoint Energy)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Indexed Debt Securities [Abstract]

Equity Securities and Indexed Debt Securities (ZENS) (CenterPoint Energy)

(a) Equity Securities


	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
			(in millions)
AT&T Common	$	(17)	$	(63)	$	(43)
Charter Common	43		(273)		(8)
WBD Common	5		23		—
Energy Transfer Common Units (1)	—		95		(124)
Energy Transfer Series G Preferred Units (1)	—		(9)		2
Other	—		—		1
Total Gains (Losses) on Equity Securities	$	31	$	(227)	$	(172)

CenterPoint Energy recorded unrealized gains (losses) of $31 million, $(313) million, and $(52) million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively, for equity securities held as of December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021.


	Shares Held at December 31,		Carrying Value at December 31,
	2023	2022	2023		2022
			(in millions)
AT&T Common	10,212,945	10,212,945	$	171	$	188
Charter Common	872,503	872,503	339		296
WBD Common	2,470,685	2,470,685	28		23


Other			3		3
			$	541	$	510

(b) ZENS

In September 1999, CenterPoint Energy issued ZENS having an original principal amount of $1.0 billion, of which $828 million remained outstanding as of December 31, 2023. Each ZENS is exchangeable at the holder’s option at any time for an amount of cash equal to 95% of the market value of the reference shares attributable to such note. The number and identity of the reference shares attributable to each ZENS are adjusted for certain corporate events.

CenterPoint Energy’s reference shares for each ZENS consisted of the following:


	December 31,
	2023	2022
	(in shares)
AT&T Common	0.7185	0.7185
Charter Common	0.061382	0.061382
WBD Common	0.173817	0.173817

CenterPoint Energy pays interest on the ZENS at an annual rate of 2% plus the amount of any quarterly cash dividends paid in respect of the reference shares attributable to the ZENS. The principal amount of the ZENS is subject to increases or decreases to the extent that the annual yield from interest and cash dividends on the reference shares is less than or more than 2.309%. The adjusted principal amount is defined in the ZENS instrument as “contingent principal.” As of December 31, 2023, the ZENS, having an original principal amount of $828 million and a contingent principal amount of $18 million, were outstanding and were exchangeable, at the option of the holders, for cash equal to 95% of the market value of the reference shares attributable to the ZENS. As of December 31, 2023, the market value of such shares was approximately $538 million, which would provide an exchange amount of $618 for each $1,000 original principal amount of ZENS. At maturity of the ZENS in 2029, CenterPoint Energy will be obligated to pay in cash the higher of the contingent principal amount of the ZENS or an amount based on the then-current market value of the reference shares, which will include any additional publicly-traded securities distributed with respect to the current reference shares prior to maturity.

The ZENS obligation is bifurcated into a debt component and a derivative component (the holder’s option to receive the appreciated value of the reference shares at maturity). The bifurcated debt component accretes through interest charges annually up to the contingent principal amount of the ZENS in 2029. Such accretion will be reduced by annual cash interest payments, as described above. The derivative component is recorded at fair value and changes in the fair value of the derivative component are recorded in CenterPoint Energy’s Statements of Consolidated Income. Changes in the fair value of the ZENS-Related Securities held by CenterPoint Energy are expected to substantially offset changes in the fair value of the derivative component of the ZENS.

The following table sets forth summarized financial information regarding CenterPoint Energy’s investment in ZENS-Related Securities and each component of CenterPoint Energy’s ZENS obligation.


	ZENS-Related Securities		Debt Component of ZENS		Derivative Component of ZENS
	(in millions)
Balance as of December 31, 2020	$	871	$	15	$	953
Accretion of debt component of ZENS	—		17		—
2% interest paid	—		(17)		—

Distribution to ZENS holders	—		(5)		—

Gain on indexed debt securities	—		—		(50)
Loss on ZENS-Related Securities	(51)		—		—
Balance as of December 31, 2021	820		10		903
Accretion of debt component of ZENS	—		17		—
2% interest paid	—		(17)		—

Distribution to ZENS holders	—		(3)		—

Gain on indexed debt securities	—		—		(325)
Loss on ZENS-Related Securities	(313)		—		—
Balance as of December 31, 2022	507		7		578

Accretion of debt component of ZENS	—		17		—
2% interest paid	—		(17)		—

Distribution to ZENS holders	—		(2)		—

Loss on indexed debt securities	—		—		27
Gain on ZENS-Related Securities	31		—		—
Balance as of December 31, 2023	$	538	$	5	$	605

Pay vs Performance Disclosure - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Pay vs Performance Disclosure - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Pay vs Performance Disclosure
Net income (loss)	$ 917	$ 1,057	$ 1,486

- Definition

The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

+ References

+ Details

Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plans and Employee Benefit Plans - Change in Control Agreements and Other Employee Matters (Details) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
	Jul. 21, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2023 severance
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Maximum number of times annual salary included in severance benefits \| severance		3
Board of Directors Chairman
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Lump sum cash payment for separation \| $	$ 28
Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		40.00%
Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements Expiring in May 2026 \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		17.00%
Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements Expiring in December 2025 \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		2.00%
Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements Expiring in April 2025 \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		5.00%
Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements Expiring December 2026 \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		3.00%
Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements Expiring in December 2025 (2) \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		3.00%
Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements Expiring in June 2027 \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		5.00%
Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements Expiring in June 2027 (2) \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		0.00%
Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements Expiring in June 2025 \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		3.00%
Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements Expiring in September 2024 \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		0.00%
Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements, Expiring in October 2024 \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		2.00%
Houston Electric \| Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		53.00%
Houston Electric \| Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements Expiring in May 2026 \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		53.00%
Houston Electric \| Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements Expiring in December 2025 \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		0.00%
Houston Electric \| Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements Expiring in April 2025 \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		0.00%
Houston Electric \| Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements Expiring December 2026 \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		0.00%
Houston Electric \| Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements Expiring in December 2025 (2) \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		0.00%
Houston Electric \| Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements Expiring in June 2027 \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		0.00%
Houston Electric \| Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements Expiring in June 2027 (2) \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		0.00%
Houston Electric \| Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements Expiring in June 2025 \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		0.00%
Houston Electric \| Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements Expiring in September 2024 \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		0.00%
Houston Electric \| Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements, Expiring in October 2024 \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		0.00%
CERC Corp \| Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		48.00%
CERC Corp \| Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements Expiring in May 2026 \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		0.00%
CERC Corp \| Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements Expiring in December 2025 \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		2.00%
CERC Corp \| Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements Expiring in April 2025 \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		13.00%
CERC Corp \| Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements Expiring December 2026 \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		8.00%
CERC Corp \| Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements Expiring in December 2025 (2) \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		7.00%
CERC Corp \| Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements Expiring in June 2027 \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		13.00%
CERC Corp \| Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements Expiring in June 2027 (2) \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		1.00%
CERC Corp \| Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements Expiring in June 2025 \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		0.00%
CERC Corp \| Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements Expiring in September 2024 \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		0.00%
CERC Corp \| Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements, Expiring in October 2024 \| Employees Subject To Collective Bargaining Agreements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)		4.00%

Regulatory Matters - Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	$ 2,674	$ 3,578
Regulatory assets	161	1,385
Total Non-Current Regulatory Assets	2,513	2,193
Total Regulatory Liabilities	3,247	3,270
Total current regulatory liabilities	39	25
Total Non-Current Regulatory Liabilities	3,208	3,245
Regulatory liabilities related to TCJA
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Liabilities	1,377	1,436
Estimated removal costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Liabilities	1,322	1,338
Other Regulatory Assets (Liabilities)
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Liabilities	548	496
Extraordinary gas costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	86	1,175
Future Amounts Recoverable From Ratepayers
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	765	712
Future Amounts Recoverable From Ratepayers \| Benefit obligations
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	379	392
Future Amounts Recoverable From Ratepayers \| Asset retirement obligations & other
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	290	237
Future Amounts Recoverable From Ratepayers \| Net deferred income taxes
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	96	83
Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	450	1,716
Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery \| Extraordinary gas costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets		1,073
Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery \| Cost recovery riders
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	113	133
Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery \| Hurricane and February 2021 Winter Storm Event restoration costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	149	129
Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery \| Other Regulatory Assets (Liabilities)
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	147	129
Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery \| Gas recovery costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	27	108
Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery \| Decoupling
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	17	3
Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery \| COVID-19 incremental costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	12	13
Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery \| TEEEF costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	48	182
Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery \| Unrecognized equity return
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Unrecognized equity return	(63)	(54)
Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	1,459	1,150
Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| Benefit obligations
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	11	18
Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| Extraordinary gas costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	208	294
Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| Hurricane and February 2021 Winter Storm Event restoration costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	17	30
Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| Gas recovery costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	34	79
Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| TEEEF costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	208
Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| Unrecognized equity return
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Unrecognized equity return	(141)	(134)
Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| Regulatory assets related to TCJA
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	47	47
Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| Authorized trackers and cost deferrals
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	535	499
Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| Securitized regulatory assets
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	434	229
Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| Unamortized loss on reacquired debt and hedging
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	106	88
Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates, Earning Return
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	459
Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates, Not Earning A Return
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	$ 428
Remaining weighted average period for which no return on investment during recovery period is provided	12 years
Houston Electric
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	$ 752	778
Regulatory assets	0	0
Total Non-Current Regulatory Assets	752	778
Total Regulatory Liabilities	1,031	1,155
Total current regulatory liabilities	6	0
Total Non-Current Regulatory Liabilities	1,025	1,155
Houston Electric \| Regulatory liabilities related to TCJA
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Liabilities	695	716
Houston Electric \| Estimated removal costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Liabilities	91	158
Houston Electric \| Other Regulatory Assets (Liabilities)
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Liabilities	245	281
Houston Electric \| Future Amounts Recoverable From Ratepayers
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	116	98
Houston Electric \| Future Amounts Recoverable From Ratepayers \| Benefit obligations
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	0	0
Houston Electric \| Future Amounts Recoverable From Ratepayers \| Asset retirement obligations & other
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	75	64
Houston Electric \| Future Amounts Recoverable From Ratepayers \| Net deferred income taxes
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	41	34
Houston Electric \| Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	199	322
Houston Electric \| Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery \| Extraordinary gas costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets		0
Houston Electric \| Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery \| Cost recovery riders
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	0	0
Houston Electric \| Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery \| Hurricane and February 2021 Winter Storm Event restoration costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	123	113
Houston Electric \| Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery \| Other Regulatory Assets (Liabilities)
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	59	46
Houston Electric \| Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery \| Gas recovery costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	0	0
Houston Electric \| Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery \| Decoupling
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	0	0
Houston Electric \| Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery \| COVID-19 incremental costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	8	8
Houston Electric \| Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery \| TEEEF costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	48	182
Houston Electric \| Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery \| Unrecognized equity return
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Unrecognized equity return	(39)	(27)
Houston Electric \| Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	437	358
Houston Electric \| Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| Benefit obligations
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	11	18
Houston Electric \| Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| Extraordinary gas costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	0	0
Houston Electric \| Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| Hurricane and February 2021 Winter Storm Event restoration costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	17	30
Houston Electric \| Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| Gas recovery costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	0	0
Houston Electric \| Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| TEEEF costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	208
Houston Electric \| Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| Unrecognized equity return
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Unrecognized equity return	(36)	(55)
Houston Electric \| Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| Regulatory assets related to TCJA
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	47	47
Houston Electric \| Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| Authorized trackers and cost deferrals
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	44	25
Houston Electric \| Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| Securitized regulatory assets
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	74	229
Houston Electric \| Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| Unamortized loss on reacquired debt and hedging
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	72	64
Houston Electric \| Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates, Earning Return
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	365
Houston Electric \| Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates, Not Earning A Return
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	$ 72
Remaining weighted average period for which no return on investment during recovery period is provided	28 years
CERC Corp
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	$ 1,011	2,180
Regulatory assets	161	1,336
Total Non-Current Regulatory Assets	850	844
Total Regulatory Liabilities	1,915	1,826
Total current regulatory liabilities	33	25
Total Non-Current Regulatory Liabilities	1,882	1,801
CERC Corp \| Regulatory liabilities related to TCJA
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Liabilities	505	536
CERC Corp \| Estimated removal costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Liabilities	1,150	1,097
CERC Corp \| Other Regulatory Assets (Liabilities)
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Liabilities	260	193
CERC Corp \| Extraordinary gas costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	86	1,175
CERC Corp \| Future Amounts Recoverable From Ratepayers
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	233	200
CERC Corp \| Future Amounts Recoverable From Ratepayers \| Benefit obligations
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	5	5
CERC Corp \| Future Amounts Recoverable From Ratepayers \| Asset retirement obligations & other
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	186	155
CERC Corp \| Future Amounts Recoverable From Ratepayers \| Net deferred income taxes
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	42	40
CERC Corp \| Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	203	1,324
CERC Corp \| Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery \| Extraordinary gas costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets		1,073
CERC Corp \| Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery \| Cost recovery riders
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	73	57
CERC Corp \| Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery \| Hurricane and February 2021 Winter Storm Event restoration costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	26	16
CERC Corp \| Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery \| Other Regulatory Assets (Liabilities)
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	72	67
CERC Corp \| Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery \| Gas recovery costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	27	108
CERC Corp \| Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery \| Decoupling
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	17	3
CERC Corp \| Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery \| COVID-19 incremental costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	4	5
CERC Corp \| Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery \| TEEEF costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	0	0
CERC Corp \| Amounts Deferred For Future Recovery \| Unrecognized equity return
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Unrecognized equity return	(16)	(5)
CERC Corp \| Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	575	656
CERC Corp \| Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| Benefit obligations
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	0	0
CERC Corp \| Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| Extraordinary gas costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	208	294
CERC Corp \| Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| Hurricane and February 2021 Winter Storm Event restoration costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	0	0
CERC Corp \| Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| Gas recovery costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	34	30
CERC Corp \| Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| TEEEF costs
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	0
CERC Corp \| Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| Unrecognized equity return
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Unrecognized equity return	(53)	(49)
CERC Corp \| Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| Regulatory assets related to TCJA
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	0	0
CERC Corp \| Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| Authorized trackers and cost deferrals
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	375	369
CERC Corp \| Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| Securitized regulatory assets
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	0	0
CERC Corp \| Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates \| Unamortized loss on reacquired debt and hedging
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	11	$ 12
CERC Corp \| Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates, Earning Return
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	94
CERC Corp \| Amounts Currently Recovered In Customer Rates, Not Earning A Return
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Total Regulatory Assets	$ 320
Remaining weighted average period for which no return on investment during recovery period is provided	8 years