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

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block]

CenterPoint Energy’s goodwill by reportable segment as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 is as follows:

	(in millions)
Electric (1)	$	936
Natural Gas	3,323
Corporate and Other	438
Total	$	4,697

(1)Amount presented is net of the accumulated goodwill impairment charge of $185 million recorded in 2020.

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

The tables below present information on CenterPoint Energy’s intangible assets, excluding goodwill, 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, 2021						December 31, 2020
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Balance		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Balance
	(in millions)
Customer relationships	$	33	$	(9)	$	24	$	33	$	(8)	$	25
Trade names	16		(3)		13		16		(3)		13
Construction backlog (1)	5		(5)		—		5		(5)		—
Operation and maintenance agreements (1)	12		(1)		11		12		(1)		11
Other	2		(1)		1		2		(1)		1
Total	$	68	$	(19)	$	49	$	68	$	(18)	$	50

(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,
		2021		2020
	(in millions)
Amortization expense of intangible assets recorded in Depreciation and amortization		$	1	$	1
Amortization expense of intangible assets recorded in Non-utility cost of revenues, including natural gas		—		1

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 nine months of 2021	$	5
2022	6
2023	6
2024	5
2025	5
2026	5