Background

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Background [Abstract]

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]

Background

CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC (CenterPoint Houston) engages in the electric transmission and distribution business in the Texas Gulf Coast area that includes the city of Houston.  CenterPoint Houston is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (CenterPoint Energy), a public utility holding company.  At December 31, 2011, CenterPoint Houston had five subsidiaries, CenterPoint Energy Transition Bond Company, LLC, CenterPoint Energy Transition Bond Company II, LLC, CenterPoint Energy Transition Bond Company III, LLC, CenterPoint Energy Restoration Bond Company, LLC and CenterPoint Energy Transition Bond Company IV, LLC (collectively, the transition and system restoration bond companies).  Each is a special purpose Delaware limited liability company formed solely for the purpose of purchasing and owning transition or system restoration property through the issuance of transition bonds or system restoration bonds and activities incidental thereto.