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Regulatory Accounting	3 Months Ended
Regulatory Accounting	Mar. 31, 2014
regulatory accounting [Abstract]
Regulatory Matters [Text Block]	Regulatory Accounting As of March 31, 2014, CenterPoint Houston has not recognized an allowed equity return of $493 million because such return will be recognized as it is recovered in rates. During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, CenterPoint Houston recognized approximately $15 million and $8 million, respectively, of the allowed equity return not previously recognized.