Derivative Instruments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

The Registrants are exposed to various market risks. These risks arise from transactions entered into in the normal course of business. The Registrants utilize derivative instruments such as physical forward contracts, swaps and options to mitigate the impact of changes in commodity prices, weather and interest rates on operating results and cash flows.

(a) Non-Trading Activities

Commodity Derivative Instruments (CenterPoint Energy and CERC). CenterPoint Energy and CERC, through their Indiana utilities, enter into certain derivative instruments to mitigate the effects of commodity price movements. Outstanding derivative instruments designated as economic hedges at the Indiana Utilities hedge long-term variable rate natural gas purchases. The Indiana Utilities have authority to refund and recover mark-to-market gains and losses associated with hedging natural gas purchases, and thus the gains and losses on derivatives are deferred in a regulatory liability or asset. All other financial instruments do not qualify or are not designated as cash flow or fair value hedges.

Interest Rate Risk Derivative Instruments. From time to time, the Registrants may enter into interest rate derivatives that are designated as economic or cash flow hedges. The objective of these hedges is to offset risk associated with interest rates borne by the Registrants in connection with an anticipated future fixed rate debt offering or other exposure to variable rate debt. The Indiana Utilities have authority to refund and recover mark-to-market gains and losses associated with hedging financing activity, and thus the gains and losses on derivatives are deferred in a regulatory liability or asset. For the impacts of cash flow hedges to Accumulated other comprehensive income, see Note 12.

The table below summarizes CenterPoint Energy’s outstanding interest rate hedging activity:


	December 31, 2022		December 31, 2021
Hedging Classification	Notional Principal
	(in millions)
Economic hedge (1)	$	84		$	84

(1)Relates to interest rate derivative instruments at SIGECO.

Weather Hedges (CenterPoint Energy and CERC). As of December 31, 2022, CenterPoint Energy and CERC had weather normalization or other rate mechanisms that largely mitigate the impact of weather on Natural Gas in Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Minnesota and Ohio, as applicable. CenterPoint Energy’s and CERC’s Natural Gas in Texas and CenterPoint Energy’s electric operations in Texas and Indiana do not have such mechanisms, although fixed customer charges are historically higher in Texas for Natural Gas compared to its other jurisdictions. As a result, fluctuations from normal weather may have a positive or negative effect on CenterPoint Energy’s and CERC’s Natural Gas’ results in Texas and on CenterPoint Energy’s electric operations’ results in its Texas and Indiana service territories. Houston Electric and Indiana Electric do not enter into weather hedges. CenterPoint Energy and CERC did not enter into any weather hedges during the year ended December 31, 2022.

(b) Derivative Fair Values and Income Statement Impacts (CenterPoint Energy and CERC)

The following tables present information about derivative instruments and hedging activities. The first table provides a balance sheet overview of Derivative Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, while the last table provides a breakdown of the related income statement impacts for the years ending December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020.

Fair Value of Derivative Instruments and Hedged Items (CenterPoint Energy and CERC)

CenterPoint Energy


		December 31, 2022				December 31, 2021
	Balance Sheet Location	Derivative Assets Fair Value		Derivative Liabilities Fair Value		Derivative Assets Fair Value		Derivative Liabilities Fair Value
		(in millions)






Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Natural gas derivatives (1)	Current Assets: Non-trading derivative assets	$	9	$	—	$	9	$	—
Interest rate derivatives	Current Assets: Non-trading derivative assets	1		—		—		—
Natural gas derivatives (1)	Other Assets: Non-trading derivative assets	2		—		5		—

Interest rate derivatives	Current Liabilities: Non-trading derivative liabilities	—		—		—		2

Interest rate derivatives	Other Liabilities: Non-trading derivative liabilities	—		—		—		12
Indexed debt securities derivative (2)	Current Liabilities	—		578		—		903
	Total	$	12	$	578	$	14	$	917

CERC


		December 31, 2022				December 31, 2021
	Balance Sheet Location	Derivative Assets Fair Value		Derivative Liabilities Fair Value		Derivative Assets Fair Value		Derivative Liabilities Fair Value




Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:		(in millions)
Natural gas derivatives (1)	Current Assets: Non-trading derivative assets	$	7	$	—	$	8	$	—
Natural gas derivatives (1)	Other Assets: Non-trading derivative assets	2		—		4		—






Total		$	9	$	—	$	12	$	—

(1)Natural gas contracts are subject to master netting arrangements. This netting applies to all undisputed amounts due or past due. However, the mark-to-market fair value of each natural gas contract is in an asset position with no offsetting amount.

(2)Derivative component of the ZENS obligation that represents the ZENS holder’s option to receive the appreciated value of the reference shares at maturity. See Note 11 for further information.

Income Statement Impact of Hedge Accounting Activity (CenterPoint Energy)


		Year Ended December 31,
	Income Statement Location	2022		2021		2020
		(in millions)
Effects of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the income statement:
Indexed debt securities derivative	Gain (loss) on indexed debt securities	$	325	$	50	$	(60)

Total CenterPoint Energy		$	325	$	50	$	(60)

Certain of CenterPoint Energy’s derivative instruments contain provisions that require CenterPoint Energy’s debt to maintain an investment grade credit rating on its long-term unsecured unsubordinated debt from S&P and Moody’s. If CenterPoint Energy’s debt were to fall below investment grade, it would be in violation of these provisions, and the counterparties to the derivative instruments could request immediate payment.


	As of December 31,
	2022		2021
	(in millions)
Aggregate fair value of derivatives with credit-risk-related contingent features in a liability position	$	—	$	14
Fair value of collateral already posted	—		7
Additional collateral required to be posted if credit risk contingent features triggered (1)	—		7

(1)The maximum collateral required if further escalating collateral is triggered would equal the net liability position.