Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]

Schedule of Cash Flow, Supplemental Disclosures [Table Text Block]

The tables below provide supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

	2020						2019						2018
	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	$	471	$	201	$	114	$	436	$	229	$	109	$	363	$	200	$	105
Income tax payments, net	143		65		4		155		87		7		89		154		3
Non-cash transactions:
Accounts payable related to capital expenditures	153		102		69		236		117		86		201		124		80
Capital distribution associated with the Internal Spin (1)	—		—		—		—		—		28		—		—		1,473
ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities (2)	15		1		5		44		1		29		—		—		—
Beneficial conversion feature	32		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—
Amortization of beneficial conversion feature	(32)		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—

(1)The capital distribution in 2019 associated with the Internal Spin is a result of the return to accrual for the periods of CERC’s ownership during 2018.

(2)Includes the transition impact of adoption of ASU 2016-02 Leases as of January 1, 2019. The Registrants elected not to recast comparative periods in the year of adoption as permitted by the standard.

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 and has not been recast to exclude the Infrastructure Services and Energy Services Disposal Groups as of December 31, 2019:

	December 31, 2020						December 31, 2019
	CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC		CenterPoint Energy		Houston Electric		CERC
	(in millions)
Cash and cash equivalents (1)	$	147	$	139	$	1	$	241	$	216	$	2
Restricted cash included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets	20		15		—		30		19		—
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows	$	167	$	154	$	1	$	271	$	235	$	2

(1)Houston Electric’s Cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 included $139 million and $216 million, respectively, of cash related to the Bond Companies.