Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]

Schedule of Cash Flow, Supplemental Disclosures [Table Text Block]

The table below provides supplemental disclosure of cash flow information and has not been recast to exclude the Infrastructure Services and Energy Services Disposal Groups.

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020						2019
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy			Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Cash Payments/Receipts:
Interest, net of capitalized interest	$	148	$	68	$	35	$	154		$	86	$	35
Income tax refunds, net	—		—		—		(4		)	—		—
Non-cash transactions:
Accounts payable related to capital expenditures	200		110		66		166			98		49
ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities (1)	14		—		5		29			1		26

(1) 2019 includes the transition impact of adoption of ASU 2016-02 Leases.

The table below provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets to the amount reported in the Condensed Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows and has not been recast to exclude the Infrastructure Services and Energy Services Disposal Groups.

	March 31, 2020						December 31, 2019
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	220	$	196	$	1	$	241	$	216	$	2
Restricted cash included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets	27		19		—		30		19		—
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in Condensed Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows	$	247	$	215	$	1	$	271	$	235	$	2