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Statement - Condensed Statements of Consolidated Changes in Equity (Unaudited) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 0000009 - Statement - Condensed Statements of Consolidated Changes in Equity (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 0000010 - Statement - Condensed Statements of Consolidated Income (Unaudited) - Houston Electric link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 0000011 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) - Houston Electric link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 0000012 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) - Houston Electric (Parenthetical) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 0000013 - Statement - Condensed Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows (Unaudited) - Houston Electric link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 0000014 - Statement - Condensed Statements of Consolidated Changes in Equity (Unaudited) - 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Statement - Condensed Statements of Consolidated Changes in Equity (Unaudited) - CERC link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 0000022 - Disclosure - Background and Basis of Presentation link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 0000023 - Disclosure - New Accounting Pronouncements link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 0000024 - Disclosure - Held for Sale and Divestitures (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 0000025 - Disclosure - Revenue Recognition and Allowance for Credit Losses link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 0000026 - Disclosure - Employee Benefit Plans link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 0000027 - Disclosure - Regulatory Matters link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 0000028 - Disclosure - Derivative Instruments link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 0000029 - 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Disclosure - Related Party Transactions (Houston Electric and CERC) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 0000039 - Disclosure - Equity link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 0000040 - Disclosure - Leases link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 0000041 - Disclosure - Subsequent Events (CenterPoint Energy) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9954471 - Disclosure - Background and Basis of Presentation (Policies) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9954472 - Disclosure - Held for Sale and Divestitures (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9954473 - Disclosure - Revenue Recognition and Allowance for Credit Losses (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9954474 - Disclosure - Employee Benefit Plans (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9954475 - 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Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt - Schedule of Revolving Credit Facilities (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9954510 - Disclosure - Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt - Schedule of Utilization of Credit Facilities (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9954511 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9954512 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies - Narrative (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9954513 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies - Schedule of Undiscounted Minimum Purchase Obligations (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9954514 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies - Schedule of Estimated Accrued Costs (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9954515 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share (CenterPoint Energy) (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 9954516 - 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