Related Party Transactions

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

Related Party Transactions

Related Party Transactions

CERC participates in a “money pool” through which it can borrow or invest on a short-term basis. Funding needs are aggregated and external borrowing or investing is based on the net cash position. The net funding requirements of the money pool are expected to be met with borrowings under CenterPoint Energy’s revolving credit facility or the sale of CenterPoint Energy’s commercial paper. CERC had money pool borrowings of $383 million and $414 million at December 31, 2011 and June 30, 2012, respectively, which are included in accounts and notes payable —affiliated companies in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.  

CERC had net interest expense related to affiliate borrowings of less than $1 million for both the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, and $1 million and $2 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012.

CenterPoint Energy provides some corporate services to CERC. The costs of services have been charged directly to CERC using methods that management believes are reasonable. These methods include negotiated usage rates, dedicated asset assignment and proportionate corporate formulas based on operating expenses, assets, gross margin, employees and a composite of assets, gross margin and employees. These charges are not necessarily indicative of what would have been incurred had CERC not been an affiliate of CenterPoint Energy. Amounts charged to CERC for these services were $42 million and $41 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2012, respectively, and $81 million for both the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2012, and are included primarily in operation and maintenance expenses.