Income Taxes

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

The Registrants reported the following effective tax rates:

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
CenterPoint Energy (1) (2)	19	%	27	%	25	%	26	%
Houston Electric (3)	22	%	21	%	22	%	21	%
CERC (4) (5)	25	%	170	%	22	%	25	%

(1)CenterPoint Energy’s lower effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the same period ended September 30, 2022 was primarily due to the tax impacts of the absence of non-deductible goodwill

associated with the sale of the Natural Gas business in Arkansas and Oklahoma in 2022 and an increase in EDIT amortization of the net regulatory liability for EDIT.

(2)CenterPoint Energy’s lower effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the same period ended September 30, 2022 was primarily due to the tax impacts of the absence of non-deductible goodwill associated with the sale of the Natural Gas businesses in Arkansas and Oklahoma in 2022, partially offset by the tax impacts of the sale of Energy Systems Group and an increase in state income taxes.

(3)Houston Electric’s higher effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the same periods ended September 30, 2022 was primarily driven by an increase in state income taxes.

(4)CERC’s lower effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the same period ended September 30, 2022 was primarily driven by the tax impact of the absence of non-deductible goodwill associated with the sale of the Natural Gas businesses in Arkansas and Oklahoma in 2022 and an increase in the favorable impact of amortization of the net regulatory liability for EDIT.

(5)CERC’s lower effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the same period ended September 30, 2022 was primarily driven by the tax impact of the absence of non-deductible goodwill associated with the sale of the Natural Gas businesses in Arkansas and Oklahoma in 2022 and increase in the favorable impact of amortization of the net regulatory liability for EDIT, partially offset by an increase in state income taxes.

CenterPoint Energy reported a net uncertain tax liability, inclusive of interest and penalties, of $29 million as of September 30, 2023. The Registrants believe that it is reasonably possible that there will be no change in unrecognized tax benefits, including penalties and interest, in the next 12 months as a result of a lapse of statutes on older exposures, a tax settlement, and/or a resolution of open audits.

Tax Audits and Settlements. Tax years through 2018 have been audited and settled with the IRS for CenterPoint Energy. The 2019 and 2020 tax years are before IRS Appeals. For the 2021-2023 tax years, the Registrants are participants in the IRS’s Compliance Assurance Process. Vectren’s pre-Merger 2014-2019 tax years have been audited and settled with the IRS.