0000001 - Document - Cover Page link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 0000002 - Document - Audit Information link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952151 - Statement - STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952152 - Statement - STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE INCOME link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952153 - Statement - STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Parenthetical) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952154 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952155 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952156 - Statement - STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952157 - Statement - STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CHANGES IN EQUITY link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952158 - Statement - STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CHANGES IN EQUITY (Parenthetical) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952159 - Statement - STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME - HOUSTON ELECTRIC link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952160 - Statement - STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - HOUSTON ELECTRIC link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952161 - Statement - STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - HOUSTON ELECTRIC (Parenthetical) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952162 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - HOUSTON ELECTRIC link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952163 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - HOUSTON ELECTRIC (Parenthetical) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952164 - Statement - STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS - HOUSTON ELECTRIC link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952165 - Statement - STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CHANGES IN EQUITY - HOUSTON ELECTRIC link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952166 - Statement - STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME - CERC link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952167 - Statement - STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - CERC link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952168 - Statement - STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - CERC (Parenthetical) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952169 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - CERC link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952170 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - CERC (Parenthetical) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952171 - Statement - STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS - CERC link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952172 - Statement - STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CHANGES IN EQUITY - CERC link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952173 - Disclosure - Background and Basis of Presentation link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952174 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952175 - Disclosure - Property, Plant and Equipment link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952176 - Disclosure - Held for Sale and Divestitures (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952177 - Disclosure - Revenue Recognition link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952178 - Disclosure - Goodwill (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952179 - Disclosure - Regulatory Matters link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952180 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plans and Employee Benefit Plans link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952181 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952182 - Disclosure - Equity Securities and Indexed Debt Securities (ZENS) (CenterPoint Energy) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952183 - Disclosure - Equity (CenterPoint Energy) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952184 - Disclosure - Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952185 - Disclosure - Income Taxes link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952186 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952187 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share (CenterPoint Energy) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952188 - Disclosure - Reportable Segments link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952189 - Disclosure - Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow and Balance Sheet Information link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952190 - Disclosure - Related Party Transactions (Houston Electric and CERC) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952191 - Disclosure - Leases link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9952192 - Disclosure - Subsequent Events link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955511 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955512 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955513 - Disclosure - Property, Plant and Equipment (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955514 - Disclosure - Held for Sale and Divestitures (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955515 - Disclosure - Revenue Recognition (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955516 - Disclosure - Goodwill (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955517 - Disclosure - Regulatory Matters (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955518 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plans and Employee Benefit Plans (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955519 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955520 - Disclosure - Equity Securities and Indexed Debt Securities (ZENS) (CenterPoint Energy) (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955521 - Disclosure - Equity (CenterPoint Energy) (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955522 - Disclosure - Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955523 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955524 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955525 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share (CenterPoint Energy) (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955526 - Disclosure - Reportable Segments (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955527 - Disclosure - Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow and Balance Sheet Information (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955528 - Disclosure - Related Party Transactions (Houston Electric and CERC) (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955529 - Disclosure - Leases (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955530 - Disclosure - Background and Basis of Presentation (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955531 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Schedule of LIFO Inventory (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955532 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Schedule of Interest Capitalized or Deferred (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955533 - Disclosure - Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955534 - Disclosure - Held for Sale and Divestitures (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) - Narrative (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955535 - Disclosure - Held for Sale and Divestitures (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) - Schedule of Assets and Liabilities (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955536 - Disclosure - Held for Sale and Divestitures (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) - Schedule of Pre-tax Income (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955537 - Disclosure - Revenue Recognition - Schedule of Disaggregate Revenue (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955538 - Disclosure - Revenue Recognition - Schedule of Contract with Customers (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955539 - Disclosure - Revenue Recognition - Schedule of Bad Debt Expense (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955540 - Disclosure - Goodwill (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955541 - Disclosure - Goodwill (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) - Narrative (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955542 - Disclosure - Regulatory Matters - Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955543 - Disclosure - Regulatory Matters - Schedule of Allowed Equity Return Recognized (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955544 - Disclosure - Regulatory Matters - Narrative (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955545 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plans and Employee Benefit Plans - Stock Based Incentive Compensation (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955546 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plans and Employee Benefit Plans - Pension and Postretirement Benefits (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955547 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plans and Employee Benefit Plans - Plan Assets (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955548 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plans and Employee Benefit Plans - Change in Control Agreements and Other Employee Matters (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955549 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements - Schedule of Assets and Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955550 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements - Schedule of Estimated Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955551 - Disclosure - Equity Securities and Indexed Debt Securities (ZENS) (CenterPoint Energy) - Schedule of Gain (Loss) On Equity Securities (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955552 - Disclosure - Equity Securities and Indexed Debt Securities (ZENS) (CenterPoint Energy) - Schedule of Securities Classified as Trading (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955553 - Disclosure - Equity Securities and Indexed Debt Securities (ZENS) (CenterPoint Energy) - Narrative (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955554 - Disclosure - Equity Securities and Indexed Debt Securities (ZENS) (CenterPoint Energy) - Schedule of Reference Shares (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955555 - Disclosure - Equity Securities and Indexed Debt Securities (ZENS) (CenterPoint Energy) - Schedule of Financial Information (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955556 - Disclosure - Equity (CenterPoint Energy) - Schedule of Dividends Declared and Dividends Paid (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955557 - Disclosure - Equity (CenterPoint Energy) - Narrative (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955558 - Disclosure - Equity (CenterPoint Energy) - Schedule of Series A Preferred Stock (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955559 - Disclosure - Equity (CenterPoint Energy) - Schedule of Income Allocated to Series A Preferred Shareholders (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955560 - Disclosure - Equity (CenterPoint Energy) - Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955561 - Disclosure - Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt - Schedule of Debt (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955562 - Disclosure - Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt - Schedule of Debt Instruments Were Issued or Incurred (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955563 - Disclosure - Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt - Narrative (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955564 - Disclosure - Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt - Schedule of Debt Instruments Were Repaid at Maturity (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955565 - Disclosure - Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt - Schedule of Early Extinguishment of Debt (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955566 - Disclosure - Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt - Schedule of Revolving Credit Facilities (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955567 - Disclosure - Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt - Schedule of Maturities (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955568 - Disclosure - Income Taxes - Schedule of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955569 - Disclosure - Income Taxes - Schedule of Reconciliation of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955570 - Disclosure - Income Taxes - Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955571 - Disclosure - Income Taxes - Narrative (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955572 - Disclosure - Income Taxes - Schedule of Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955573 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies - Narrative (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955574 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies - Schedule of Purchase Obligations (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955575 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies - Schedule of Estimated Accrued Costs (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955576 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share (CenterPoint Energy) (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955577 - Disclosure - Reportable Segments - Schedule of Financial Data (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955578 - Disclosure - Reportable Segments - Schedule of Interest Income and Expenditures for Long-Lived Assets (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955579 - Disclosure - Reportable Segments - Schedule of Revenues From Major External Customers (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955580 - Disclosure - Reportable Segments - Schedule of Revenues by Products and Services (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955581 - Disclosure - Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow and Balance Sheet Information - Schedule of Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955582 - Disclosure - Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow and Balance Sheet Information (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955583 - Disclosure - Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow and Balance Sheet Information - Narrative (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955584 - Disclosure - Related Party Transactions (Houston Electric and CERC) - Schedule of Money Pool Activity (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955585 - Disclosure - Related Party Transactions (Houston Electric and CERC) - Schedule of Affiliated-Related Net Interest Income (Expense) (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955586 - Disclosure - Related Party Transactions (Houston Electric and CERC) - Schedule of Amounts Charged For Services (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955587 - Disclosure - Related Party Transactions (Houston Electric and CERC) - Schedule of Transactions (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955588 - Disclosure - Leases (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955588 - Disclosure - Leases (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9955589 - Disclosure - Subsequent Events (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink