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Regulatory Accounting (Tables)
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Other Disclosures [Abstract]  
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Table Text Block]
The following is a list of regulatory assets and liabilities reflected on the Registrants’ respective Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:
 
March 31, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
 
CenterPoint Energy
 
Houston Electric
 
CERC
 
CenterPoint Energy
 
Houston Electric
 
CERC
Regulatory Assets:
(in millions)
Current regulatory assets (1)
$
36

 
$

 
$
36

 
$
77

 
$

 
$
77

Non-current regulatory assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securitized regulatory assets
977

 
977

 

 
1,059

 
1,059

 

Unrecognized equity return (2)
(202
)
 
(202
)
 

 
(213
)
 
(213
)
 

Unamortized loss on reacquired debt
66

 
66

 

 
68

 
68

 

Pension and postretirement-related regulatory asset (3)
711

 
34

 
29

 
725

 
33

 
30

Hurricane Harvey restoration costs-not earning a return
68

 
64

 
4

 
68

 
64

 
4

Regulatory assets related to TCJA (4)
29

 
23

 
6

 
33

 
23

 
10

Other regulatory assets-not earning a return (5)
114

 
57

 
26

 
81

 
55

 
26

Other regulatory assets
466

 
37

 
115

 
146

 
35

 
111

Total non-current regulatory assets
2,229

 
1,056

 
180

 
1,967

 
1,124

 
181

Total regulatory assets
2,265

 
1,056

 
216

 
2,044

 
1,124

 
258

Regulatory Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current regulatory liabilities (6)
67

 
11

 
38

 
38

 
17

 
21

Non-current regulatory liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Regulatory liabilities related to TCJA (4)
1,628

 
841

 
456

 
1,323

 
847

 
476

Estimated removal costs
1,404

 
271

 
624

 
886

 
269

 
617

Other regulatory liabilities
417

 
160

 
153

 
316

 
182

 
134

Total non-current regulatory liabilities
3,449

 
1,272

 
1,233

 
2,525

 
1,298

 
1,227

Total regulatory liabilities
3,516

 
1,283

 
1,271

 
2,563

 
1,315

 
1,248

Total regulatory assets and liabilities, net
$
(1,251
)
 
$
(227
)
 
$
(1,055
)
 
$
(519
)
 
$
(191
)
 
$
(990
)

(1)
Current regulatory assets are included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets in the Registrants’ respective Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

(2)
The unrecognized equity return will be recognized as it is recovered in rates through 2024. During the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, Houston Electric recognized approximately $11 million and $21 million, respectively, of the allowed equity return. The timing of Houston Electric’s recognition of the equity return will vary each period based on amounts actually collected during the period. The actual amounts recognized are adjusted at least annually to correct any over-collections or under-collections during the preceding 12 months.

(3)
Includes a portion of Houston Electric’s and CERC’s NGD’s actuarially determined pension and other postemployment expense in excess of the amount being recovered through rates that is being deferred for rate making purposes, of which $34 million and $3 million as of March 31, 2019, respectively, and $33 million and $4 million as of December 31, 2018, respectively, were not earning a return.

(4)
The EDIT and deferred revenues will be recovered or refunded to customers as required by tax and regulatory authorities.

(5)
Regulatory assets acquired in the Merger and not earning a return were recorded at fair value as of the Merger Date. Such fair value adjustments are recognized over time until the regulatory asset is recovered.

(6)
Current regulatory liabilities are included in Other current liabilities in each of the Registrants’ respective Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.