Employee Benefit Plans Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Net Benefit Costs [Table Text Block]

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						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2014			2013			2014			2013
	(in millions)
Service cost	$	1		$	1		$	1		$	1
Interest cost on accumulated benefit obligation	1			2			4			4
Expected return on plan assets	(1		)	(1		)	(1		)	(1		)
Amortization of prior service cost	—			—			—			1
Amortization of loss	1			1			1			2
Net periodic cost	$	2		$	3		$	5		$	7