Divestitures (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) - Divestitures Narrative (Details) mi in Thousands, $ in Millions			12 Months Ended
	May 21, 2023 USD ($)	Apr. 29, 2021 USD ($) mi	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)	May 31, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 02, 2021	Aug. 31, 2021 state
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from divestiture of businesses			$ 144	$ 2,075	$ 22
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal, Statement of Income or Comprehensive Income [Extensible Enumeration]			Gain (loss) on sale
Miles of pipeline | mi		17
Reimbursement of transition services			$ 1	40
Transition services receivables			0	1
Gain (loss) on sale			(13)	303	8
Common and preferred units acquired (as a percent)							100.00%
CERC Corp
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from divestiture of businesses			0	2,075	22
Gain (loss) on sale			0	557	11
MES
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of states | state								48
Gain (loss) on sale					8
MES | CERC Corp
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on sale					$ 11
Disposal Group, Held-for-sale or Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations | Energy Systems Group
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Equity purchase agreement, purchase price	$ 157
Proceeds from divestiture of businesses	$ 154
Payable on divestiture			2
Gain (loss) on sale			(13)
Disposal group, not discontinued operations, transaction costs			3
Current tax expense of divestiture			$ 32
Disposal Group, Held-for-sale or Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations | Arkansas and Oklahoma Natural Gas Businesses
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from divestiture of businesses		$ 2,150
Gain (loss) on sale				303
Disposal group, not discontinued operations, transaction costs				59
Recovery of costs		$ 425
Disposal group, including discontinued operation, accounts, notes and loans receivable, net						$ 15
Disposal Group, Held-for-sale or Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations | Arkansas and Oklahoma Natural Gas Businesses | CERC Corp
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on sale				557
Disposal group, not discontinued operations, transaction costs				$ 59
Disposal group, including discontinued operation, accounts, notes and loans receivable, net						$ 15