Repurchase price of debt obligations expressed as a percentage of principal amount

No definition available.

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- Definition

General mortgage bonds used as collateral

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	cehe_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage on limitation of debt to total capitalization under covenant.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	cehe_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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- Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Gross amount of debt extinguished.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Description of the interest rate for the amounts borrowed under the credit facility, including the terms and the method for determining the interest rate (for example, fixed or variable, LIBOR plus a percentage, increasing rate, timing of interest rate resets, remarketing provisions).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

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- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

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Long-term Debt (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended							6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014 Bonds General Mortgage Due 2044 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Line of Credit [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Line of Credit [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 CenterPoint Houston [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 CenterPoint Houston [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 CenterPoint Energy [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 CenterPoint Energy [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 January 2014 [Member] Bonds Pollution Control Due2017 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 January 2014 [Member] Bonds Pollution Control Due2027 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 April 2014 [Member] Bonds Pollution Control Due2017 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 April 2014 [Member] Bonds Pollution Control Due2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	$ 600
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.50%							4.25%	5.60%	4.25%	4.25%
Extinguishment Of Debt Purchase Price Percentage Of Principal								101.00%	101.00%	100.00%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Apr. 01, 2044							Mar. 01, 2017	Mar. 01, 2027		Dec. 01, 2017
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount								44	56	84
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		300	300
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate Description		London Interbank Offered Rate plus 112.5
Loans Outstanding		0	0
Letters Of Credit Outstanding		4	4
Percentage on limitation of debt to total capitalization under covenant (in hundredths)		65.00%
General mortgage bonds used as collateral				$ 408	$ 408	$ 290	$ 290