Equity

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Equity [Abstract]

Equity

Equity

Dividends Declared and Paid (CenterPoint Energy)

	Dividends Declared Per Share								Dividends Paid Per Share
	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,				Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020		2021		2020		2021		2020
Common Stock	$	0.330	$	0.150	$	0.490	$	0.590	$	0.160	$	0.150	$	0.320	$	0.590
Series A Preferred Stock	30.625		30.625		30.625		61.250		30.625		30.625		30.625		61.250
Series B Preferred Stock	17.500		17.500		35.000		52.500		17.500		17.500		35.000		52.500
Series C Preferred Stock (1)	—		0.150		—		0.300		—		0.150		—		0.300

(1)The Series C Preferred Stock was entitled to participate in any dividend or distribution (excluding those payable in Common Stock) with the Common Stock on a pari passu, pro rata, as-converted basis. The per share amount reflects the dividend per share of Common Stock as if the Series C Preferred Stock were converted into Common Stock. All of the outstanding Series C Preferred Stock was converted to Common Stock during April and May 2021 as described below.

Preferred Stock (CenterPoint Energy)

	Liquidation Preference Per Share		Shares Outstanding as of		Outstanding Value as of
			September 30, 2021	December 31, 2020	September 30, 2021		December 31, 2020
	(in millions, except shares and per share amounts)
Series A Preferred Stock	$	1,000	800,000	800,000	$	790	$	790
Series B Preferred Stock	1,000		—	977,400	—		950
Series C Preferred Stock	1,000		—	625,000	—		623
			800,000	2,402,400	$	790	$	2,363

Conversion of Series B Preferred Stock. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, 975,903 shares and 977,400 shares of Series B Preferred Stock, respectively, were converted into 35,875,574 shares and 35,921,441 shares of Common Stock. As of September 30, 2021, all shares of Series B Preferred Stock have been converted into shares of Common Stock.

Conversion of Series C Preferred Stock. No shares of Series C Preferred Stock were converted to Common Stock during the three months ended September 30, 2021. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, 625,000 shares of Series C Preferred Stock were converted into 40,822,990 shares of Common Stock. As of September 30, 2021, all shares of Series C Preferred Stock have been converted into shares of Common Stock.

Income Allocated to Preferred Shareholders (CenterPoint Energy)

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
	(in millions)
Series A Preferred Stock	$	12	$	12	$	37	$	37
Series B Preferred Stock	11		17		45		51
Series C Preferred Stock	—		7		—		14
Preferred dividend requirement	23		36		82		102
Amortization of beneficial conversion feature	—		16		—		25
Total income allocated to preferred shareholders	$	23	$	52	$	82	$	127

Temporary Equity (CenterPoint Energy)

On the approval and recommendation of the Compensation Committee and approval of the Board (acting solely through its independent directors), CenterPoint Energy entered into a retention incentive agreement with David J. Lesar, President and Chief Executive Officer of CenterPoint Energy, dated July 20, 2021. Under the terms of the retention incentive agreement, Mr. Lesar will receive equity-based awards under CenterPoint Energy’s LTIP covering a total of 1 million shares of Common Stock

(Total Stock Award) to be granted in multiple annual awards. In July 2021, 400 thousand restricted stock unit awards were awarded to Mr. Lesar that will vest in December 2022. Restricted stock unit awards covering the remaining 600 thousand shares will be awarded to Mr. Lesar in February 2022 and February 2023, in each case covering the remainder of the Total Stock Award not previously awarded or such lesser number of restricted stock units as may be required pursuant to the annual individual award limitations under the CenterPoint Energy’s LTIP and vesting in December 2023. In the event any shares under the Total Stock Award remain unawarded, in February 2024, a fully vested stock bonus award of the remaining shares will be granted. For accounting purposes, the 1 million shares under the Total Stock Award, consisting of both the awarded and unawarded equity-based awards described above, were considered granted in July 2021. In the event of death, disability, termination without cause or resignation for good reason, as defined in the retention incentive agreement, that occurs prior to the full Total Stock Award being awarded, CenterPoint Energy will pay a lump sum cash payment equal to the value of the unawarded equity-based awards, based on the closing trading price of Common Stock on the date of the event’s occurrence. Because the unawarded equity-based awards are redeemable for cash upon events that are not probable at the grant date, the equity associated with the unawarded equity-based awards will be classified as Temporary Equity on CenterPoint Energy’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Changes in accumulated comprehensive income (loss) are as follows:

	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2021						2020
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Beginning Balance	$	(85)	$	—	$	10	$	(84)	$	—	$	10
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications:
Other comprehensive income from unconsolidated affiliates	—		—		—		1		—		—
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
Prior service cost (1)	1		—		—		—		—		—
Actuarial losses (1)	1		—		—		2		—		—
Settlement (2)	3		—		—		—		—		—
Reclassification of deferred loss from cash flow hedges realized in net income	1		—		—		—		—		—
Tax expense	(1)		—		—		(1)		—		—
Net current period other comprehensive income	5		—		—		2		—		—
Ending Balance	$	(80)	$	—	$	10	$	(82)	$	—	$	10
	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021						2020
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Beginning Balance	$	(90)	$	—	$	10	$	(98)	$	(15)	$	10
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications:
Other comprehensive income (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates	2		—		—		(2)		—		—
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
Prior service cost (1)	1		—		—		1		—		—
Actuarial losses (1)	5		—		—		5		—		—
Settlement (2)	3		—		—		—		—		—
Reclassification of deferred loss from cash flow hedges realized in net income	1		—		—		—		—		—
Reclassification of deferred loss from cash flow hedges to regulatory assets (3)	—		—		—		19		19		—
Tax expense	(2)		—		—		(7)		(4)		—
Net current period other comprehensive income	10		—		—		16		15		—
Ending Balance	$	(80)	$	—	$	10	$	(82)	$	—	$	10

(1)Amounts are included in the computation of net periodic cost and are reflected in Other income (expense), net in each of the Registrants’ respective Statements of Consolidated Income.

(2)Amounts presented represent a one-time, non-cash settlement cost (benefit), prior to regulatory deferrals, which are required when the total lump sum distributions or other settlements of plan benefit obligations during a plan year exceed the service cost and interest cost components of the net periodic cost for that year. Amounts presented in the table above are included in Other income (expense), net in CenterPoint Energy’s Condensed Statements of Consolidated Income, net of regulatory deferrals.

(3)The cost of debt approved by the PUCT as part of Houston Electric’s Stipulation and Settlement Agreement included unrealized gains and losses on interest rate hedges. Accordingly, deferred gains and losses on interest rate hedges were reclassified to regulatory assets or liabilities, as appropriate.