Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information [Text Block]

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information

The tables below provide supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

	2018						2017						2016
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy			Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Cash Payments/Receipts:
Interest, net of capitalized interest	$	363	$	200	$	105	$	378	$	205	$	116	$	406		$	209	$	116
Income taxes (refunds), net	89		154		3		15		76		4		(104		)	128		3
Non-cash transactions:
Accounts payable related to capital expenditures	201		124		80		144		104		56		87			65		35
Capital distribution associated with the Internal Spin	—		—		1,473		—		—		—		—			—		—

The table below provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets to the amount reported in the Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows:

	December 31, 2018						December 31, 2017
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Cash and cash equivalents (1) (2)	$	4,231	$	335	$	14	$	260	$	238	$	12
Restricted cash included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets	46		34		11		35		35		—
Restricted cash included in Other	1		1		—		1		1		—
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows	$	4,278	$	370	$	25	$	296	$	274	$	12

(1) CenterPoint Energy’s Cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2018 included $3.9 billion of temporary investments resulting from the Merger financings. CenterPoint Energy recorded interest income of $28 million, $2 million and $1 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively, in Other, net on CenterPoint Energy’s Statements of Consolidated Income. See Notes 13 and 14 for further details related to the Merger financings.

(2) Houston Electric’s Cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 included $335 million and $230 million, respectively, of cash related to the Bond Companies. Houston Electric recorded interest income of $4 million, $2 million and $1 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively, in Other, net on Houston Electric’s Statement of Consolidated Income.