Revenue Recognition (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]

Disaggregation of Revenue [Table Text Block]

The following tables disaggregate revenues by reportable segment and major source:

CenterPoint Energy

	Three Months Ended September 30, 2020
	Houston Electric T&D		Indiana Electric Integrated		Natural Gas Distribution		Corporate and Other		Total
	(in millions)
Revenue from contracts	$	828	$	157	$	550	$	75	$	1,610
Other (1)	—		—		10		2		12
Total revenues	$	828	$	157	$	560	$	77	$	1,622
	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
	Houston Electric T&D		Indiana Electric Integrated		Natural Gas Distribution		Corporate and Other		Total
	(in millions)
Revenue from contracts	$	2,188	$	414	$	2,475	$	240	$	5,317
Other (1)	(2)		—		44		5		47
Total revenues	$	2,186	$	414	$	2,519	$	245	$	5,364

	Three Months Ended September 30, 2019
	Houston Electric T&D		Indiana Electric Integrated		Natural Gas Distribution		Corporate and Other		Total
	(in millions)
Revenue from contracts	$	861	$	165	$	527	$	91	$	1,644
Other (1)	(2)		—		14		2		14
Total revenues	$	859	$	165	$	541	$	93	$	1,658
	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
	Houston Electric T&D		Indiana Electric Integrated (2)		Natural Gas Distribution (2)		Corporate and Other (2)		Total
	(in millions)
Revenue from contracts	$	2,319	$	388	$	2,603	$	210	$	5,520
Other (1)	(6)		—		26		5		25
Total revenues	$	2,313	$	388	$	2,629	$	215	$	5,545

(1)Primarily consists of income from ARPs, weather hedge gains (losses) and leases. ARPs are contracts between the utility and its regulators, not between the utility and a customer. The Registrants recognize ARP revenue as other revenues when the regulator-specified conditions for recognition have been met. Upon recovery of ARP revenue through incorporation in rates charged for utility service to customers, ARP revenue is reversed and recorded as revenue from contracts with customers. The recognition of ARP revenues and the reversal of ARP revenues upon recovery through rates charged for utility service may not occur in the same period. Total lease income was $2 million and $4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $4 million and $5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

(2)Reflects revenues from Vectren subsidiaries for the period from February 1, 2019 to September 30, 2019.

Houston Electric

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
	(in millions)
Revenue from contracts	$	828	$	861	$	2,188	$	2,319
Other (1)	—		(2)		(6)		(9)
Total revenues	$	828	$	859	$	2,182	$	2,310

(1)Primarily consists of income from ARPs, weather hedge gains (losses) and leases. ARPs are contracts between the utility and its regulators, not between the utility and a customer. The Registrants recognize ARP revenue as other revenues when the regulator-specified conditions for recognition have been met. Upon recovery of ARP revenue through incorporation in rates charged for utility service to customers, ARP revenue is reversed and recorded as revenue from contracts with customers. The recognition of ARP revenues and the reversal of ARP revenues upon recovery through rates charged for utility service may not occur in the same period. Lease income was not significant for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019.

CERC

	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2020						2019
	Natural Gas Distribution		Corporate and Other		Total		Natural Gas Distribution		Corporate and Other		Total
	(in millions)
Revenue from contracts	$	414	$	3	$	417	$	403	$	5	$	408
Other (1)	8		1		9		12		—		12
Total revenues	$	422	$	4	$	426	$	415	$	5	$	420
	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2020						2019
	Natural Gas Distribution		Corporate and Other		Total		Natural Gas Distribution		Corporate and Other		Total
	(in millions)
Revenue from contracts	$	1,865	$	8	$	1,873	$	2,123	$	6	$	2,129
Other (1)	45		2		47		29		—		29
Total revenues	$	1,910	$	10	$	1,920	$	2,152	$	6	$	2,158

(1)Primarily consists of income from ARPs, weather hedge gains (losses) and leases. ARPs are contracts between the utility and its regulators, not between the utility and a customer. The Registrants recognize ARP revenue as other revenues when the regulator-specified conditions for recognition have been met. Upon recovery of ARP revenue through incorporation in rates charged for utility service to customers, ARP revenue is reversed and recorded as revenue from contracts with customers. The recognition of ARP revenues and the reversal of ARP revenues upon recovery through rates charged for utility service may not occur in the same period. Lease income was not significant for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019.

Contract with Customer, Asset and Liability [Table Text Block]

The opening and closing balances of accounts receivable, other accrued unbilled revenue, contract assets and contract liabilities from contracts with customers from continuing operations as of December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2020, respectively, are as follows:

CenterPoint Energy

	Accounts Receivable		Other Accrued Unbilled Revenues		Contract Assets		Contract Liabilities
	(in millions)
Opening balance as of December 31, 2019	$	566	$	469	$	6	$	30
Closing balance as of September 30, 2020	568		285		22		20
Increase (decrease)	$	2	$	(184)	$	16	$	(10)

The amount of revenue recognized in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2020 that was included in the opening contract liability was $29 million. The difference between the opening and closing balances of the contract liabilities primarily results from the timing difference between CenterPoint Energy’s performance and the customer’s payment.

Houston Electric

	Accounts Receivable		Other Accrued Unbilled Revenues		Contract Liabilities
	(in millions)
Opening balance as of December 31, 2019	$	210	$	117	$	3
Closing balance as of September 30, 2020	321		124		4
Increase	$	111	$	7	$	1

The amount of revenue recognized in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2020 that was included in the opening contract liability was $3 million. The difference between the opening and closing balances of the contract liabilities primarily results from the timing difference between Houston Electric’s performance and the customer’s payment.

CERC

	Accounts Receivable		Other Accrued Unbilled Revenues
	(in millions)
Opening balance as of December 31, 2019	$	222	$	249
Closing balance as of September 30, 2020	123		91
Decrease	$	(99)	$	(158)

CERC does not have any opening or closing contract asset or contract liability balances.

Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Table Text Block]

Remaining Performance Obligations (CenterPoint Energy). The table below discloses (1) the aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to performance obligations that are unsatisfied (or partially unsatisfied) as of the end of the reporting period for contracts and (2) when CenterPoint Energy expects to recognize this revenue. Such contracts include energy performance and sustainable infrastructure services contracts of ESG, which are included in Corporate and Other.

	Rolling 12 Months		Thereafter		Total
	(in millions)
Revenue expected to be recognized on contracts in place as of September 30, 2020:
Corporate and Other	$	209	$	590	$	799
	$	209	$	590	$	799