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Statement - Condensed Statements of Consolidated Changes in Equity link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 1009010 - Statement - Condensed Statements of Consolidated Changes in Equity (Parenthetical) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 1010011 - Statement - Condensed Statements of Consolidated Income - Houston Electric link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 1011012 - Statement - Condensed Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income - Houston Electric link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 1012013 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - Houston Electric link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 1013014 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - Houston Electric (Parenthetical) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 1014015 - Statement - Condensed Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows - Houston Electric link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 1015016 - Statement - Condensed Statements of Consolidated Changes in Equity - Houston Electric link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 1016017 - Statement - Condensed Statements of Consolidated Income - CERC link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 1017018 - Statement - Condensed Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income - CERC link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 1018019 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - CERC link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 1019020 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - CERC (Parenthetical) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 1020021 - Statement - Condensed Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows - CERC link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 1021022 - Statement - Condensed Statements of Consolidated Changes in Equity - CERC link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2101101 - Disclosure - Background and Basis of Presentation link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2202201 - Disclosure - Background and Basis of Presentation (Policies) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2403401 - Disclosure - Background and Basis of Presentation (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2104102 - Disclosure - New Accounting Pronouncements link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2305301 - Disclosure - New Accounting Pronouncements (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2106103 - Disclosure - Divestitures (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2307302 - Disclosure - Divestitures (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2408402 - Disclosure - Divestitures (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) - Divestitures Narrative (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2409403 - 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Revenue Recognition and Allowance for Credit Losses - Summary of Contract Assets and Liabilities (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2416408 - Disclosure - Revenue Recognition and Allowance for Credit Losses - Remaining Performance Obligations (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2416408 - Disclosure - Revenue Recognition and Allowance for Credit Losses - Remaining Performance Obligations (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2117105 - Disclosure - Employee Benefit Plans link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2318304 - Disclosure - Employee Benefit Plans (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2419409 - Disclosure - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2120106 - Disclosure - Regulatory Matters link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2321305 - Disclosure - 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