Employee Benefit Plans

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract]

Employee Benefit Plans

Employee Benefit Plans

CERC’s employees participate in CenterPoint Energy’s postretirement benefit plan. CERC’s net periodic cost includes the following components relating to postretirement benefits:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2011		2012
	(in millions)
Interest cost on accumulated benefit obligation	1		1
Amortization of prior service cost	1		1
Net periodic cost	$	2	$	2

CERC expects to contribute approximately $9 million to its postretirement benefit plan in 2012, of which $2 million was contributed during the three months ended March 31, 2012.