Cover Page - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2022	Jul. 21, 2022
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2022
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-31447
Entity Registrant Name	CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	TX
Entity Tax Identification Number	74-0694415
Entity Address, Address Line One	1111 Louisiana
Entity Address, City or Town	Houston
Entity Address, State or Province	TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	77002
City Area Code	713
Local Phone Number	207-1111
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		629,502,911
Entity Central Index Key	0001130310
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2022
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Houston Electric
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	TX
Entity Tax Identification Number	22-3865106
Entity Address, Address Line One	1111 Louisiana
Entity Address, City or Town	Houston
Entity Address, State or Province	TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	77002
City Area Code	713
Local Phone Number	207-1111
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,000
Entity Central Index Key	0000048732
Entity Shell Company	false
CERC
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	76-0511406
Entity Address, Address Line One	1111 Louisiana
Entity Address, City or Town	Houston
Entity Address, State or Province	TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	77002
City Area Code	713
Local Phone Number	207-1111
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,000
Entity Central Index Key	0001042773
Entity Shell Company	false
Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value | New York Stock Exchange
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.01 par value
Trading Symbol	CNP
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value | Chicago Stock Exchange
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.01 par value
Trading Symbol	CNP
Security Exchange Name	CHX
6.95% General Mortgage Bonds due 2033 | New York Stock Exchange | Houston Electric
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	6.95% General Mortgage Bonds due 2033
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
No Trading Symbol Flag	true
6.625% Senior Notes due 2037 | New York Stock Exchange | CERC
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	6.625% Senior Notes due 2037
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
No Trading Symbol Flag	true