Unconsolidated Affiliates (Details) (USD $)	4 Months Ended	8 Months Ended	12 Months Ended					8 Months Ended										8 Months Ended		12 Months Ended				8 Months Ended		12 Months Ended					8 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	May 01, 2013		Dec. 31, 2013 Midstream Partnership [Member]	May 01, 2013 Midstream Partnership [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Midstream Partnership [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Other Entity [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Other Entity [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 SESH [Member]		May 01, 2013 SESH [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 SESH [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 Other Entity [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Other Entity [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Other Entity [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 SESH [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 SESH [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 SESH [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 SESH [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 Midstream Partnership [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Midstream Partnership [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Midstream Partnership [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Enable Midstream Partners [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Senior Subordinated Notes [Member]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage													25.05%																					58.30%
Contributed Assets						$ 5,800,000,000									$ 197,000,000
Contributed Assets, Plant, Property and Equipments						4,700,000,000
Goodwill, Transfers	629,000,000
Equity Method Investment, Additional Contribution of Ownership Percentage													24.95%		24.95%
Contributed Liabilities						1,500,000,000
Debt repayment by affiliate									1,050,000,000
Debt of Affiliate									363,000,000
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates		4,518,000,000	4,518,000,000	405,000,000				4,319,000,000	4,300,000,000	0	0	1,000,000	199,000,000	[1]		404,000,000	[1]
Guarantor Obligations, Current Amount						1,050,000,000		1,050,000,000
Transitional Service Costs to be Reimbursed		119,000,000
Transitional Service Costs Receivable		24,000,000
Term Loan of Affiliate						1,050,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum																																			2.10%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum																																			2.45%
Interest and Other Income								5,000,000
Cost of natural gas purchases, affiliates		123,000,000
Due to Affiliate		22,000,000	22,000,000
Equity Method Investment, Contributed Ownership Percentage															24.95%
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates		188,000,000	188,000,000	31,000,000	30,000,000													0	[2]	5,000,000	[2]	9,000,000	[2]	15,000,000	[1]	8,000,000	26,000,000	[1]	21,000,000	[1]	173,000,000	0	0
Operating revenues																															2,123,000,000
Cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization																															1,241,000,000
Operating income																															322,000,000
Net income attributable to Enable																															289,000,000
CERC's approximate 58.3% interest		173,000,000																													168,000,000
Basis difference accretion gain		5,000,000
CERC's approximate 58.3% interest, net		173,000,000																													168,000,000
Current assets								549,000,000
Non-current assets								10,683,000,000
Current liabilities								720,000,000
Non-current liabilities								2,331,000,000
Noncontrolling interest		33,000,000	33,000,000
Enable Partners' Capital		8,148,000,000	8,148,000,000
CERC's approximate 58.3% interest		4,753,000,000	4,753,000,000
CERC's basis difference		(434,000,000)	(434,000,000)
CERC's investment in Enable		4,319,000,000	4,319,000,000
Basis difference attributable to goodwill as of May 1, 2013 (1)						229,000,000	[3]
Basis difference to be accreted over 30 years as of May 1, 2013						210,000,000
Total basis difference as of May 1, 2013						439,000,000
Accumulated accretion of basis difference as of December 31, 2013		(5,000,000)	(5,000,000)
CERC's basis difference in Enable as of December 31, 2013		434,000,000	434,000,000
Proceeds from Equity Method Investment, Dividends or Distributions																								$ 23,000,000							$ 106,000,000

[1] On May 1, 2013, CERC contributed a 24.95% interest in SESH to Enable, leaving CERC with a 25.05% interest in SESH.

[2] On July 31, 2012, Waskom became a wholly owned subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy. Beginning on August 1, 2012, Waskom’s operating results are consolidated on the Statements of Consolidated Income. On May 1, 2013, CenterPoint Energy contributed Waskom to Enable.

[3] This difference related to CERC’s proportionate share of Enable’s goodwill arising from its acquisition of Enogex, and therefore will not be recognized by CERC.