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

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block]

CenterPoint Energy’s goodwill by reportable segment as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 is as follows:

	December 31, 2019		Impairment		September 30, 2020
	(in millions)
Indiana Electric Integrated (1)	$	1,121	$	185	$	936
Natural Gas Distribution	3,312		—		3,312
Corporate and Other	449		—		449
Total	$	4,882	$	185	$	4,697

(1) CenterPoint Energy recognized a non-cash goodwill impairment charge as a result of the March 31, 2020 goodwill impairment test.

CERC’s goodwill by reportable segment as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 is as follows:

	(in millions)
Natural Gas Distribution	$	746
Corporate and Other	11
Total	$	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.

	September 30, 2020						December 31, 2019
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Balance		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Balance
	(in millions)
Customer relationships	$	33	$	(7)	$	26	$	33	$	(4)	$	29
Trade names	16		(3)		13		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	$	(16)	$	52	$	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 September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
	(in millions)
Amortization expense of intangible assets recorded in Depreciation and amortization (1)	$	2	$	1	$	5	$	2
Amortization expense of intangible assets recorded in Non-utility cost of revenues, including natural gas (1)	—		1		1		4

(1)Assets held for sale are not amortized. The table reflects amortization on continuing operations. For further information on discontinued operations, see Note 3.

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 (1)
	CenterPoint Energy
	(in millions)
Remaining three months of 2020	$	2
2021	6
2022	6
2023	6
2024	5
2025	5

(1)Assets held for sale are not amortized. The table reflects amortization on continuing operations. For further information on discontinued operations, see Note 3.