Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Cash Payments/Receipts:
Interest, net of capitalized interest	$ 521	$ 376
Income tax payments, net	200	340
Non-cash transactions:
Accounts payable related to capital expenditures	264	333
ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities	3	1
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	120		$ 74
Restricted cash included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets	18		17
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in Condensed Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows	138	130	91	$ 254
Bond Companies and Securitization Bond Company
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	118		75
Houston Electric
Cash Payments/Receipts:
Interest, net of capitalized interest	211	188
Income tax payments, net	12	113
Non-cash transactions:
Accounts payable related to capital expenditures	137	197
ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities	1	0
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	113		75
Restricted cash included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets	13		13
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in Condensed Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows	126	127	88	233
Houston Electric | Bond Companies
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	113		75
CERC
Cash Payments/Receipts:
Interest, net of capitalized interest	153	67
Income tax payments, net	113	3
Non-cash transactions:
Accounts payable related to capital expenditures	122	145
ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities	0	0
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	1		0
Restricted cash included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets	0		0
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in Condensed Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows	$ 1	$ 1	$ 0	$ 15