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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 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 2105103 - Disclosure - Held for Sale and Divestitures (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2306301 - Disclosure - Held for Sale and Divestitures (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2407402 - 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Disclosure - Regulatory Matters link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2320304 - Disclosure - Regulatory Matters (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2421410 - Disclosure - Regulatory Matters (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2122107 - Disclosure - Derivative Instruments link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2323305 - Disclosure - Derivative Instruments (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2424411 - Disclosure - Derivative Instruments (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2125108 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2326306 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2427412 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2128109 - Disclosure - Unconsolidated Affiliate (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2329307 - Disclosure - Unconsolidated Affiliate (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2430413 - Disclosure - Unconsolidated Affiliate (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) - Narrative (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2431414 - Disclosure - Unconsolidated Affiliate (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) - Schedules of Investments and Equity in Earnings (Losses) (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2432415 - Disclosure - Unconsolidated Affiliate (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) - Schedule of Interests, Distributions, and Transactions with Enable (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2433416 - Disclosure - Unconsolidated Affiliate (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) - Summarized Financial Information (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2134110 - Disclosure - Goodwill and Other Intangibles (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2335308 - Disclosure - Goodwill and Other Intangibles (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2436417 - Disclosure - Goodwill and Other Intangibles (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2137111 - Disclosure - Indexed Debt Securities (ZENS) and Securities Related to ZENS (CenterPoint Energy) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2338309 - Disclosure - Indexed Debt Securities (ZENS) and Securities Related to ZENS (CenterPoint Energy) (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2439418 - Disclosure - Indexed Debt Securities (ZENS) and Securities Related to ZENS (CenterPoint Energy) (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2140112 - Disclosure - Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2341310 - 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Disclosure - Related Party Transactions (Houston Electric and CERC) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2365316 - Disclosure - Related Party Transactions (Houston Electric and CERC) (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2466431 - Disclosure - Related Party Transactions (Houston Electric and CERC) (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2167119 - Disclosure - Equity link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2368317 - Disclosure - Equity (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2469432 - Disclosure - Equity (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2170120 - Disclosure - Subsequent Events (CenterPoint Energy) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2371318 - Disclosure - Subsequent Events (CenterPoint Energy) (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2472433 - Disclosure - Subsequent Events (CenterPoint Energy) (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink