Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures [Table Text Block]

Houston Electric’s employees participate in CenterPoint Energy’s postretirement benefit plan. Houston Electric’s net periodic cost includes the following components relating to postretirement benefits:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2017			2016
	(in millions)
Interest cost	$	2		$	3
Expected return on plan assets	(1		)	(1		)
Amortization of prior service credit	(1		)	(1		)
Net periodic cost	$	—		$	1