Background

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Background and Basis of Presentation

Background

CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp. (CERC Corp. and, together with its subsidiaries, CERC), which owns and operates natural gas distribution systems in six states (Gas Operations). A wholly owned subsidiary of CERC Corp. offers variable and fixed-price physical natural gas supplies primarily to commercial and industrial customers and electric and gas utilities in 21 states. As of December 31, 2013, CERC Corp. also owned approximately 58.3% of the limited partner interests in Enable, an unconsolidated partnership jointly controlled with OGE Energy Corp., which owns, operates and develops natural gas and crude oil infrastructure assets.

CERC Corp. is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (CenterPoint Energy), a public utility holding company.

For a description of CERC's reportable business segments, see Note 15.