Goodwill and Other Intangibles (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block]

CenterPoint Energy’s goodwill by reportable segment as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 is as follows:

		December 31, 2019		Impairment		March 31, 2020
	(in millions)
Indiana Electric Integrated		$	1,121	$	185	$	936
Natural Gas Distribution		3,312		—		3,312
Corporate and Other		449		—		449
Total		$	4,882	$	185	$	4,697

CERC’s goodwill by reportable segment as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 is as follows:

	March 31, 2020		December 31, 2019
	(in millions)
Natural Gas Distribution	$	746	$	746
Corporate and Other	11		11
Total	$	757	$	757

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Table Text Block]

The tables below present information on CenterPoint Energy’s other intangible assets recorded in Other non-current assets on CenterPoint Energy’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and the related amortization expense included in Depreciation and amortization on CenterPoint Energy’s Condensed Statements of Consolidated Income, unless otherwise indicated.

	March 31, 2020							December 31, 2019
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Balance		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Balance
	(in millions)
Customer relationships	$	33	$	(5	)	$	28	$	33	$	(4	)	$	29
Trade names	16		(1		)	15		16		(1		)	15
Construction backlog (1)	5		(4		)	1		5		(4		)	1
Operation and maintenance agreements (1)	12		(1		)	11		12		—			12
Other	2		(1		)	1		2		(1		)	1
Total	$	68	$	(12	)	$	56	$	68	$	(10	)	$	58

(1)

Amortization expense related to the operation and maintenance agreements and construction backlog is included in Non-utility cost of revenues, including natural gas on CenterPoint Energy’s Condensed Statements of Consolidated Income.

Finite-lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense [Table Text Block]

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2020		2019
	(in millions)
Amortization expense of intangible assets recorded in Depreciation and amortization		$	1	$	—
Amortization expense of intangible assets recorded in Non-utility cost of revenues, including natural gas		1		7

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Table Text Block]

CenterPoint Energy estimates that amortization expense of intangible assets with finite lives for the next five years will be as follows:

	Amortization Expense
	(in millions)
Remaining nine months of 2020	$	6
2021	6
2022	6
2023	6
2024	5
2025	5