Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operations, Transaction Costs

No definition available.

Name:	cnp_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationsTransactionCosts
Namespace Prefix:	cnp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Length Of Pipeline

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cnp_LengthOfPipeline
Namespace Prefix:	cnp_
Data Type:	dtr-types:lengthItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Transition Services Agreement, Accounts Receivable

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cnp_TransitionServicesAgreementAccountsReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	cnp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Transition Services Agreement, Charges

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cnp_TransitionServicesAgreementCharges
Namespace Prefix:	cnp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount classified as accounts, notes and loans receivable attributable to disposal group held for sale or disposed of.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 10
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109222160&loc=d3e1107-107759

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (e)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109226691&loc=d3e2941-110230

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5B
-Subparagraph (e)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109222650&loc=SL51721673-107760

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109222160&loc=SL51721533-107759

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationAccountsNotesAndLoansReceivableNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) from sale and disposal of integrated set of activities and assets capable of being conducted and managed for purpose of providing return in form of dividend, lower cost, or other economic benefit to investor, owner, member and participant.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126954810&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109239629&loc=SL4582445-111684

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the amount received from the sale of a portion of the company's business, for example a segment, division, branch or other business, during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126954810&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Return of or reimbursements received in relation to direct costs and expenses previously paid or incurred.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.2)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126953954&loc=SL114868664-224227

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RecoveryOfDirectCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=cnp_CercCorpMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=cnp_ArkansasAndOklahomaNaturalGasBusinessesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis=us-gaap_DisposalGroupHeldForSaleOrDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=cnp_MESMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Held for Sale and Divestitures (CenterPoint Energy and CERC) - Divestitures Narrative (Details) mi in Thousands, $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
	Apr. 29, 2021 USD ($) mi	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	May 31, 2022 USD ($)
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from divestitures (Note 4)		$ 2,075	$ 22	$ 1,215
Miles of pipeline \| mi	17
Gain on sale		303	8	0
Reimbursement of transition services		40
Transition services receivables		1
CERC Corp
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from divestitures (Note 4)		2,075	22	365
Gain on sale		557	11	$ 0
Arkansas and Oklahoma Natural Gas Businesses \| Disposal Group, Held-for-sale or Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from divestitures (Note 4)	$ 2,150
Recovery of costs	$ 425
Gain on sale		303
Disposal group, not discontinued operations, transaction costs		59
Receivables, net			46		$ 15
Arkansas and Oklahoma Natural Gas Businesses \| Disposal Group, Held-for-sale or Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations \| CERC Corp
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gain on sale		557
Disposal group, not discontinued operations, transaction costs		$ 59
Receivables, net			46		$ 15
MES
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gain on sale			8
MES \| CERC Corp
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gain on sale			$ 11