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Short Term Borrowings and Long Term Debt Long-term Debt (Details)
1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jan. 15, 2019
USD ($)
Nov. 01, 2018
USD ($)
Oct. 05, 2018
USD ($)
Mar. 26, 2018
USD ($)
Feb. 28, 2018
USD ($)
Jan. 31, 2019
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2018
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]                
Size of credit facility             $ 4,500,000,000 $ 2,900,000,000
Senior Notes Due 2021 [Member]                
Long-term debt:                
Debt instrument interest rate [1]     3.60%          
Maturity date of debt issued [1]     Nov. 01, 2021          
Principal amount of debt issued [1]     $ 500,000,000          
Senior Notes Due 2024 [Member]                
Long-term debt:                
Debt instrument interest rate [1]     3.85%          
Maturity date of debt issued [1]     Feb. 01, 2024          
Principal amount of debt issued [1]     $ 500,000,000          
Senior Notes Due 2028 [Member]                
Long-term debt:                
Debt instrument interest rate [1]     4.25%          
Maturity date of debt issued [1]     Nov. 01, 2028          
Principal amount of debt issued [1]     $ 500,000,000          
Securitization Bonds [Member]                
Annual maturities of long term debt, capital leases, and sinking fund requirements, excluding ZENS obligations [Abstract]                
2018             458,000,000  
2019             231,000,000  
2020             211,000,000  
2021             219,000,000  
2022             156,000,000  
Long term Debt Excluding ZENS [Member]                
Annual maturities of long term debt, capital leases, and sinking fund requirements, excluding ZENS obligations [Abstract]                
2018 [2]             458,000,000  
2019 [2]             231,000,000  
2020 [2]             1,706,000,000  
2021 [2]             1,230,000,000  
2022 [2]             656,000,000  
Houston Electric [Member]                
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]                
Size of credit facility             300,000,000 300,000,000
Annual maturities of long term debt, capital leases, and sinking fund requirements, excluding ZENS obligations [Abstract]                
2018 [2]             458,000,000  
2019 [2]             231,000,000  
2020 [2]             613,000,000  
2021 [2]             519,000,000  
2022 [2]             356,000,000  
Additional first mortgage bonds and general mortgage bonds that could be issued             $ 4,300,000,000  
Percentage of property additions             70.00%  
Houston Electric [Member] | General Mortgage Bonds Due 2048 [Member]                
Long-term debt:                
Debt instrument interest rate [3]         3.95%      
Maturity date of debt issued [3]         Mar. 01, 2048      
Principal amount of debt issued [3]         $ 400,000,000      
Houston Electric [Member] | First mortgage bonds 9.15% due 2021                
Long-term debt:                
Debt instrument interest rate             9.15%  
Annual maturities of long term debt, capital leases, and sinking fund requirements, excluding ZENS obligations [Abstract]                
Secured debt amount with asset liens             $ 102,000,000  
Replacement fund requirements to be satisfied in 2018             283,000,000  
Sinking fund requirements to be satisfied in 2018             1,600,000  
Long-Term             102,000,000 102,000,000
Houston Electric [Member] | General mortgage bonds 1.85% to 6.95% due 2021 to 2048                
Annual maturities of long term debt, capital leases, and sinking fund requirements, excluding ZENS obligations [Abstract]                
Secured debt amount with asset liens             3,300,000,000  
Long-Term             3,212,000,000 2,812,000,000
CERC Corp [Member]                
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]                
Size of credit facility             900,000,000 [4] 900,000,000 [5]
Annual maturities of long term debt, capital leases, and sinking fund requirements, excluding ZENS obligations [Abstract]                
2018             0  
2019             0  
2020             593,000,000  
2021             210,000,000  
2022             300,000,000  
CERC Corp [Member] | Senior Notes Due 2023 [Member]                
Long-term debt:                
Debt instrument interest rate [3],[6]       3.55%        
Maturity date of debt issued [3],[6]       Apr. 01, 2023        
Principal amount of debt issued [3],[6]       $ 300,000,000        
CERC Corp [Member] | Senior Notes Due 2028 [Member]                
Long-term debt:                
Debt instrument interest rate [3],[6]       4.00%        
Maturity date of debt issued [3],[6]       Apr. 01, 2028        
Principal amount of debt issued [3],[6]       $ 300,000,000        
CERC Corp [Member] | Commercial paper (4)                
Annual maturities of long term debt, capital leases, and sinking fund requirements, excluding ZENS obligations [Abstract]                
Long-Term [7],[8]             210,000,000 898,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]                
Annual maturities of long term debt, capital leases, and sinking fund requirements, excluding ZENS obligations [Abstract]                
Long-term Line of Credit             0 0
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Houston Electric [Member]                
Annual maturities of long term debt, capital leases, and sinking fund requirements, excluding ZENS obligations [Abstract]                
Long-term Line of Credit             0 0
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | CERC Corp [Member]                
Annual maturities of long term debt, capital leases, and sinking fund requirements, excluding ZENS obligations [Abstract]                
Long-term Line of Credit [5]             $ 0 0
Line of Credit [Member] | Houston Electric [Member]                
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]                
Percentage on limitation of debt to total capitalization under covenant (in hundredths) [9]             65.00%  
Ratio of indebtedness to net capital [10]             0.492  
Line of Credit [Member] | CERC Corp [Member]                
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]                
Percentage on limitation of debt to total capitalization under covenant (in hundredths) [4],[9]             65.00%  
Ratio of indebtedness to net capital [4],[10]             0.468  
Line of Credit [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Houston Electric [Member]                
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]                
Basis spread on LIBOR [11]             1.125%  
Line of Credit [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | CERC Corp [Member]                
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]                
Basis spread on LIBOR [4],[11]             1.125%  
Letter of Credit [Member]                
Annual maturities of long term debt, capital leases, and sinking fund requirements, excluding ZENS obligations [Abstract]                
Long-term Line of Credit             $ 11,000,000 11,000,000
Letter of Credit [Member] | Houston Electric [Member]                
Annual maturities of long term debt, capital leases, and sinking fund requirements, excluding ZENS obligations [Abstract]                
Long-term Line of Credit             4,000,000 4,000,000
Letter of Credit [Member] | CERC Corp [Member]                
Annual maturities of long term debt, capital leases, and sinking fund requirements, excluding ZENS obligations [Abstract]                
Long-term Line of Credit [5]             1,000,000 1,000,000
Commercial paper (4)                
Annual maturities of long term debt, capital leases, and sinking fund requirements, excluding ZENS obligations [Abstract]                
Long-term Line of Credit             210,000,000 1,753,000,000
Commercial paper (4) | Houston Electric [Member]                
Annual maturities of long term debt, capital leases, and sinking fund requirements, excluding ZENS obligations [Abstract]                
Long-term Line of Credit             0 0
Commercial paper (4) | CERC Corp [Member]                
Annual maturities of long term debt, capital leases, and sinking fund requirements, excluding ZENS obligations [Abstract]                
Long-term Line of Credit [5]             $ 210,000,000 $ 898,000,000
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate [5]             2.93% 1.72%
Subsequent Event [Member] | Houston Electric [Member] | General Mortgage Bonds Due 2049 [Member]                
Long-term debt:                
Debt instrument interest rate [3] 4.25%              
Maturity date of debt issued [3] Feb. 01, 2049              
Principal amount of debt issued [3] $ 700,000,000              
Subsequent Event [Member] | Vectren [Member]                
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]                
Long-term line of credit           90    
Subsequent Event [Member] | Vectren [Member] | Commercial paper (4)                
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]                
Weighted average interest rate of commercial paper issued in connection with the Merger [12],[13]           2.88%    
Annual maturities of long term debt, capital leases, and sinking fund requirements, excluding ZENS obligations [Abstract]                
Long-term Line of Credit [12],[13]           $ 1,660,000,000    
Parent Company [Member]                
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]                
Size of credit facility             $ 3,300,000,000 [14] $ 1,700,000,000
Annual maturities of long term debt, capital leases, and sinking fund requirements, excluding ZENS obligations [Abstract]                
Temporary increased line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity             3,300,000,000  
Parent Company [Member] | Commercial paper (4)                
Annual maturities of long term debt, capital leases, and sinking fund requirements, excluding ZENS obligations [Abstract]                
Long-Term [7]             $ 0 855,000,000
Parent Company [Member] | Pollution control bonds 5.125% due 2028 (6)                
Long-term debt:                
Amount of debt retired [15]   $ 50,000,000            
Debt instrument interest rate   5.05%         5.125%  
Maturity date of debt issued   Nov. 01, 2018            
Annual maturities of long term debt, capital leases, and sinking fund requirements, excluding ZENS obligations [Abstract]                
Secured debt amount with asset liens             $ 68,000,000 118,000,000
Long-Term [16]             68,000,000 68,000,000
Parent Company [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]                
Annual maturities of long term debt, capital leases, and sinking fund requirements, excluding ZENS obligations [Abstract]                
Long-term Line of Credit             $ 0 0
Parent Company [Member] | Line of Credit [Member]                
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]                
Percentage on limitation of debt to total capitalization under covenant (in hundredths) [9]             65.00%  
Ratio of indebtedness to net capital [10]             0.449  
Percentage on limitation of debt to total capitalization under covenant amended (in hundredths)             70.00%  
System restoration costs threshold for increase in permitted debt to EBITDA covenant ratio             $ 100,000,000  
Consecutive period for system restoration costs to exceed $100 million (in months)             12  
Parent Company [Member] | Line of Credit [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]                
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]                
Basis spread on LIBOR [11]             1.25%  
Parent Company [Member] | Letter of Credit [Member]                
Annual maturities of long term debt, capital leases, and sinking fund requirements, excluding ZENS obligations [Abstract]                
Long-term Line of Credit             $ 6,000,000 6,000,000
Parent Company [Member] | Commercial paper (4)                
Annual maturities of long term debt, capital leases, and sinking fund requirements, excluding ZENS obligations [Abstract]                
Long-term Line of Credit             $ 0 $ 855,000,000
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate             0.00% 1.88%
Parent Company [Member] | Vectren acquisition [Member]                
Annual maturities of long term debt, capital leases, and sinking fund requirements, excluding ZENS obligations [Abstract]                
Bridge Loan             $ 5,000,000,000  
Parent Company [Member] | Vectren acquisition [Member] | Line of Credit [Member]                
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]                
Percentage on limitation of debt to total capitalization under covenant amended (in hundredths)             75.00%  
Parent Company [Member] | April 2018 [Member]                
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]                
Size of credit facility             $ 1,700,000,000  
Parent Company [Member] | April 2018 [Member] | Vectren acquisition [Member]                
Annual maturities of long term debt, capital leases, and sinking fund requirements, excluding ZENS obligations [Abstract]                
Temporary increased line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity             3,300,000,000  
Parent Company [Member] | October 2018 [Member]                
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]                
Size of credit facility             1,700,000,000  
Parent Company [Member] | October 2018 [Member] | Vectren acquisition [Member]                
Annual maturities of long term debt, capital leases, and sinking fund requirements, excluding ZENS obligations [Abstract]                
Temporary increased line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity             $ 3,300,000,000  
[1] Proceeds from these debt issuances were used to fund a portion of the Merger and to pay related fees and expenses.
[2] These maturities include Securitization Bonds principal repayments on scheduled payment dates.
[3] Proceeds from these debt issuances were used for general limited liability company and corporate purposes, as applicable, including capital expenditures, repayment of portions of outstanding commercial paper and borrowings under CenterPoint Energy’s money pool.
[4] Issued by CERC Corp.
[5] Issued by CERC Corp.
[6] Issued by CERC Corp.
[7] Classified as long-term debt because the termination date of the facility that backstops the commercial paper is more than one year from the date noted.
[8] Issued by CERC Corp.
[9] For CenterPoint Energy and Houston Electric, the financial covenant limit will temporarily increase from 65% to 70% if Houston Electric experiences damage from a natural disaster in its service territory and CenterPoint Energy certifies to the administrative agent that Houston Electric has incurred system restoration costs reasonably likely to exceed $100 million in a consecutive 12-month period, all or part of which Houston Electric intends to seek to recover through securitization financing. Such temporary increase in the financial covenant would be in effect from the date CenterPoint Energy delivers its certification until the earliest to occur of (i) the completion of the securitization financing, (ii) the first anniversary of CenterPoint Energy’s certification or (iii) the revocation of such certification.
[10] As defined in the revolving credit facility agreement, excluding Securitization Bonds.
[11] Based on credit ratings as of December 31, 2018.
[12] Proceeds from these commercial paper issuances were used to fund a portion of the Merger and to pay related fees and expenses and were contributed to Vectren for its payment of its stub period cash dividend, long-term incentive payments and to fund the repayment of indebtedness of Vectren subsidiaries redeemed at the option of the holder as a result of the closing of the Merger.
[13] The commercial paper notes were issued at various times in January 2019 with maturities up to and including 90 days as of the time of issuance, and, prior to their use as described in connection with the closing of the Merger, the net proceeds of such issuances were invested in short-term investments.
[14] Pursuant to the amendment entered into in May 2018, the aggregate commitments under the CenterPoint Energy revolving credit facility increased to $3.3 billion on October 5, 2018 as a result of the satisfaction of certain conditions described above.
[15] Secured by general mortgage bonds of Houston Electric.
[16] $68 million and $118 million of these series of debt were secured by general mortgage bonds of Houston Electric as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.