Revenue Recognition (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

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 March 31, 2021
	Electric		Natural Gas		Corporate  and Other		Total
	(in millions)
Revenue from contracts	$	833	$	1,655	$	53	$	2,541
Other (1)	(3)		8		1		6
Total revenues	$	830	$	1,663	$	54	$	2,547

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2020
	Electric		Natural Gas		Corporate  and Other		Total
	(in millions)
Revenue from contracts	$	767	$	1,296	$	78	$	2,141
Other (1)	—		25		1		26
Total revenues	$	767	$	1,321	$	79	$	2,167

(1)Primarily consists of income from ARPs, weather hedge gains (losses) and leases. Total lease income was $2 million and $1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Houston Electric

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2021		2020
	(in millions)
Revenue from contracts		$	687	$	638
Other (1)		(3)		(4)
Total revenues		$	684	$	634

(1)Primarily consists of income from ARPs and leases. Lease income was not significant for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

CERC

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
	(in millions)
Revenue from contracts	$	1,172	$	984
Other (1)	5		27
Total revenues	$	1,177	$	1,011

(1)Primarily consists of income from ARPs, weather hedge gains (losses) and leases. Lease income was not significant for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

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

The opening and closing balances of accounts receivable related to ASC 606 revenues, other accrued unbilled revenue, contract assets and contract liabilities from contracts with customers from continuing operations as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, respectively, are as follows:

CenterPoint Energy

	Accounts Receivable		Other Accrued Unbilled Revenues		Contract Assets		Contract Liabilities
	(in millions)
Opening balance as of December 31, 2020	$	604	$	505	$	27	$	18
Closing balance as of March 31, 2021	675		343		23		23
Increase (decrease)	$	71	$	(162)	$	(4)	$	5

The amount of revenue recognized in the three-month period ended March 31, 2021 that was included in the opening contract liability was $11 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, 2020	$	225	$	113	$	3
Closing balance as of March 31, 2021	216		83		8
Increase (decrease)	$	(9)	$	(30)	$	5

The amount of revenue recognized in the three-month period ended March 31, 2021 that was included in the opening contract liability was $1 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, 2020	$	214	$	261
Closing balance as of March 31, 2021	299		168
Increase (decrease)	$	85	$	(93)

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 March 31, 2021:
Corporate and Other	$	259	$	554	$	813
	$	259	$	554	$	813