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

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill by Reportable Segments

CenterPoint Energy’s goodwill by reportable segment as of December 31, 2020 and changes in the carrying amount of goodwill as of December 31, 2021 are as follows:

	December 31, 2020		Held for Sale			Disposals			December 31, 2021
	(in millions)
Electric (1)	$	936	$	—		$	—		$	936
Natural Gas	3,323		398		(2)	5		(3)	2,920
Corporate and Other	438		—			—			438
Total	$	4,697	$	398		$	5		$	4,294

CERC’s goodwill is as follows:

	December 31, 2020		Held for Sale			Disposals			December 31, 2021
	(in millions)
Goodwill	$	757	$	144	(2)	$	2	(3)	$	611

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

(2)Represents goodwill attributable to the Natural Gas businesses. For further information, see Note 4.

(3)Represents goodwill attributable to the MES disposal. For further information, see Note 4.

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets

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

	December 31, 2021						December 31, 2020
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Balance		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Balance
	(in millions)
Customer relationships	$	33	$	(12)	$	21	$	33	$	(8)	$	25
Trade names	16		(5)		11		16		(3)		13
Construction backlog (1)	—		—		—		5		(5)		—
Operation and maintenance       agreements (1)	12		(1)		11		12		(1)		11
Other	2		(1)		1		2		(1)		1
Total	$	63	$	(19)	$	44	$	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 Statements of Consolidated Income.

Finite-lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense

	Year Ended December 31,
	2021		2020		2019
	(in millions)
Amortization expense of intangible assets recorded in Depreciation and amortization (1) (2)	$	6	$	6	$	5
Amortization expense of intangible assets recorded in Non-utility cost of revenues, including natural gas (2)	1		2		4

(1)Includes $5 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 of amortization expense related to intangibles acquired in the Merger.

(2)Assets held for sale are not amortized. The table reflects amortization on continuing operations. For further information on discontinued operations, see Note 4.

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense

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

	Amortization Expense
	(in millions)
2022	$	6
2023	6
2024	5
2025	5
2026	5