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Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plans and Employee Benefit Plans - Pension and Postretirement Benefits (Details)
$ in Millions
1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
USD ($)
beneficiary
defined_benefit_plan
Dec. 31, 2022
USD ($)
defined_benefit_plan
Dec. 31, 2021
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2020
USD ($)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]        
Defined Benefit Plan, Number Of Additional Plans | defined_benefit_plan 3 3    
Components of net periodic costs [Abstract]        
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit (Cost) Credit, Amortization of Gain (Loss), Statement of Income or Comprehensive Income [Extensible Enumeration]   Other income (expense), net Other income (expense), net Other income (expense), net
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Credit), Interest Cost, Statement of Income or Comprehensive Income [Extensible Enumeration]   Other income (expense), net Other income (expense), net Other income (expense), net
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit (Cost) Credit, Expected Return (Loss), Statement of Income or Comprehensive Income [Extensible Enumeration]   Other income (expense), net Other income (expense), net Other income (expense), net
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Credit), Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit), Statement of Income or Comprehensive Income [Extensible Enumeration]   Other income (expense), net Other income (expense), net Other income (expense), net
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit (Cost) Credit, Settlement Gain (Loss), Statement of Income or Comprehensive Income [Extensible Enumeration]   Other income (expense), net Other income (expense), net Other income (expense), net
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheets        
Other liabilities — benefit obligations $ (547) $ (547) $ (511)  
Discount rate period   99 years    
Annuity purchase   $ 136    
Changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income        
Amortization of net loss   (8) (7)  
Amortization of prior service cost   1 (1)  
Settlement   $ (67) (4)  
Defined Benefit Plan, Funded Plan, Closed        
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]        
Defined Benefit Plan, Number Of Additional Plans | defined_benefit_plan 2 2    
Defined Benefit Plan, Funded Plan, Frozen        
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]        
Defined Benefit Plan, Number Of Additional Plans | defined_benefit_plan 1 1    
Pension Plan        
Components of net periodic costs [Abstract]        
Service cost   $ 29 38  
Interest cost   73 59 $ 75
Expected return on plan assets   (87) (103) (112)
Amortization of net loss   31 36 41
Settlement cost   126 38 2
Net periodic cost (credit)   $ 172 $ 69 49
Assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit (income) cost        
Expected return on plan assets (as a percent)   6.50% 5.00%  
Change in benefit obligation [Roll Forward]        
Benefit obligation, beginning of year   $ 2,298 $ 2,507  
Service cost   29 38  
Interest cost   73 59 75
Benefits paid   (509) (285)  
Actuarial (gain) loss   (338) (22)  
Plan amendment   0 1  
Benefit obligation, end of year $ 1,553 1,553 2,298 2,507
Change in plan assets [Rollforward]        
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year   2,072 2,135  
Employer contributions   35 61  
Benefits paid   (509) (285)  
Actual investment return   (386) 161  
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 1,212 1,212 2,072 $ 2,135
Funded status, end of year (341) (341) (226)  
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheets        
Non-current assets 0 0 6  
Current liabilities — other (7) (7) (7)  
Other liabilities — benefit obligations (334) (334) (225)  
Net liability, end of year $ (341) $ (341) $ (226)  
Discount rate (as a percent) 5.15% 5.15% 2.80%  
Rate of increase in compensation levels (as a percent) 4.99% 4.99% 4.95%  
Interest crediting rate (as a percent) 3.00% 3.00% 2.25%  
Pension benefits that have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets        
Accumulated benefit obligation for all defined benefit pension plans $ 1,548 $ 1,548 $ 2,278  
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss        
Unrecognized actuarial loss (gain) 70 70 99  
Unrecognized prior service cost 0 0 0  
Net amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss (gain) 70 70 99  
Changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income        
Net loss (gain)   45    
Amortization of net loss   (7)    
Amortization of prior service cost   0    
Settlement   (67)    
Total recognized in comprehensive income   (29)    
Total expense recognized in net periodic cost and other comprehensive income   142    
Pension Plan | Qualified Plan        
Change in plan assets [Rollforward]        
Employer contributions   27    
Pension benefits that have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets        
Accumulated benefit obligation 1,497 1,497 2,216  
Projected benefit obligation 1,502 1,502 2,237  
Fair value of plan assets 1,212 1,212 2,072  
Pension Plan | Nonqualified Plan        
Change in plan assets [Rollforward]        
Employer contributions   8    
Pension benefits that have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets        
Accumulated benefit obligation 51 51 62  
Projected benefit obligation 51 51 62  
Fair value of plan assets 0 $ 0 $ 0  
Pension Plan | CenterPoint Energy        
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]        
Decrease in benefit obligation from transfer 138      
Decrease in plan assets $ 136      
Change in benefit obligation (as a percent)   9.40%    
Number of beneficiaries | beneficiary 1,119      
Assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit (income) cost        
Discount rate (as a percent)   2.80% 2.45% 3.20%
Expected return on plan assets (as a percent)   5.00% 5.00% 5.75%
Rate of increase in compensation levels (as a percent)   4.95% 5.05% 4.95%
Pension benefits that have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets        
Settlement charge $ 47      
Other Postretirement Benefits Plan        
Components of net periodic costs [Abstract]        
Service cost   $ 2 $ 2 $ 2
Interest cost   9 9 11
Expected return on plan assets   (5) (4) (5)
Amortization of prior service cost   (3) (4) (4)
Amortization of net loss   4 0 0
Net periodic cost (credit)   $ (1) $ 3 $ 4
Assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit (income) cost        
Discount rate (as a percent)   2.85% 2.50% 3.25%
Expected return on plan assets (as a percent)   3.22% 3.20% 3.95%
Change in benefit obligation [Roll Forward]        
Benefit obligation, beginning of year   $ 336 $ 366  
Service cost   2 2 $ 2
Interest cost   9 9 11
Participant contributions   6 7  
Benefits paid   (20) (21)  
Early Retiree Reinsurance Program   0 20  
Actuarial (gain) loss   (73) (47)  
Plan amendment   3 0  
Benefit obligation, end of year 263 263 336 366
Change in plan assets [Rollforward]        
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year   132 134  
Employer contributions   8 7  
Participant contributions   6 7  
Benefits paid   (20) (21)  
Actual investment return   (17) 5  
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 109 109 132 134
Funded status, end of year (154) (154) (204)  
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheets        
Current liabilities — other (7) (7) (7)  
Other liabilities — benefit obligations (147) (147) (197)  
Net liability, end of year $ (154) $ (154) $ (204)  
Discount rate (as a percent) 5.15% 5.15% 2.85%  
Expected return on plan assets (as a percent)   3.66% 3.22%  
Pension benefits that have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets        
Prescription drug cost trend rate assumed for the next year - Pre-65   8.00% 8.00%  
Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (the ultimate trend rate) 4.50% 4.50% 4.50%  
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss        
Unrecognized actuarial loss (gain) $ (36) $ (36) $ (23)  
Unrecognized prior service cost 13 13 13  
Net amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss (gain) $ (23) (23) $ (10)  
Changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income        
Net loss (gain)   (13)    
Amortization of net loss   (1)    
Amortization of prior service cost   1    
Settlement   0    
Total recognized in comprehensive income   (13)    
Total expense recognized in net periodic cost and other comprehensive income   $ (19)    
Minimum | Other Postretirement Benefits Plan        
Pension benefits that have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets        
Health care cost trend rate assumed for the next year 6.50% 6.50% 6.00%  
Maximum | Other Postretirement Benefits Plan        
Pension benefits that have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets        
Health care cost trend rate assumed for the next year 23.66% 23.66% 18.71%  
Houston Electric        
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheets        
Other liabilities — benefit obligations $ (38) $ (38) $ (55)  
Changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income        
Amortization of net loss   0 0  
Amortization of prior service cost   0 0  
Settlement   0 0  
Houston Electric | Pension Plan | Qualified Plan        
Change in plan assets [Rollforward]        
Employer contributions   0    
Houston Electric | Pension Plan | Nonqualified Plan        
Change in plan assets [Rollforward]        
Employer contributions   0    
Houston Electric | Other Postretirement Benefits Plan        
Components of net periodic costs [Abstract]        
Service cost   0 0 0
Interest cost   4 4 5
Expected return on plan assets   (4) (3) (4)
Amortization of prior service cost   (4) (5) (5)
Amortization of net loss   2 0 0
Net periodic cost (credit)   $ (6) $ (4) $ (4)
Assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit (income) cost        
Discount rate (as a percent)   2.85% 2.50% 3.25%
Expected return on plan assets (as a percent)   3.32% 3.30% 4.05%
Change in benefit obligation [Roll Forward]        
Benefit obligation, beginning of year   $ 148 $ 168  
Service cost   0 0 $ 0
Interest cost   4 4 5
Participant contributions   2 2  
Benefits paid   (7) (9)  
Early Retiree Reinsurance Program   0 0  
Actuarial (gain) loss   (32) (22)  
Plan amendment   0 5  
Benefit obligation, end of year 115 115 148 168
Change in plan assets [Rollforward]        
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year   104 106  
Employer contributions   1 1  
Participant contributions   2 2  
Benefits paid   (7) (9)  
Actual investment return   (16) 4  
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 84 84 104 106
Funded status, end of year (31) (31) (44)  
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheets        
Current liabilities — other 0 0 0  
Other liabilities — benefit obligations (31) (31) (44)  
Net liability, end of year $ (31) $ (31) $ (44)  
Discount rate (as a percent) 5.15% 5.15% 2.85%  
Expected return on plan assets (as a percent)   3.75% 3.32%  
Pension benefits that have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets        
Prescription drug cost trend rate assumed for the next year - Pre-65   8.00% 8.00%  
Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (the ultimate trend rate) 4.50% 4.50% 4.50%  
Houston Electric | Minimum | Other Postretirement Benefits Plan        
Pension benefits that have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets        
Health care cost trend rate assumed for the next year 6.50% 6.50% 6.00%  
Houston Electric | Maximum | Other Postretirement Benefits Plan        
Pension benefits that have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets        
Health care cost trend rate assumed for the next year 23.66% 23.66% 18.71%  
CERC Corp        
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheets        
Other liabilities — benefit obligations $ (76) $ (76) $ (100)  
Changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income        
Amortization of net loss   (1) 0  
Amortization of prior service cost   1 (1)  
Settlement   0 0  
CERC Corp | Pension Plan | Qualified Plan        
Change in plan assets [Rollforward]        
Employer contributions   0    
CERC Corp | Pension Plan | Nonqualified Plan        
Change in plan assets [Rollforward]        
Employer contributions   0    
CERC Corp | Other Postretirement Benefits Plan        
Components of net periodic costs [Abstract]        
Service cost   1 1 1
Interest cost   3 3 4
Expected return on plan assets   (1) (1) (1)
Amortization of prior service cost   2 1 1
Amortization of net loss   1 0 0
Net periodic cost (credit)   $ 4 $ 4 $ 5
Assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit (income) cost        
Discount rate (as a percent)   2.85% 2.50% 3.25%
Expected return on plan assets (as a percent)   2.86% 2.85% 3.35%
Change in benefit obligation [Roll Forward]        
Benefit obligation, beginning of year   $ 118 $ 122  
Service cost   1 1 $ 1
Interest cost   3 3 4
Participant contributions   3 3  
Benefits paid   (8) (8)  
Early Retiree Reinsurance Program   0 11  
Actuarial (gain) loss   (27) (14)  
Plan amendment   2 0  
Benefit obligation, end of year 92 92 118 122
Change in plan assets [Rollforward]        
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year   29 28  
Employer contributions   4 4  
Participant contributions   3 3  
Benefits paid   (8) (8)  
Actual investment return   (3) 2  
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 25 25 29 28
Funded status, end of year (67) (67) (89)  
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheets        
Current liabilities — other (4) (4) (4)  
Other liabilities — benefit obligations (64) (64) (85)  
Net liability, end of year $ (68) $ (68) $ (89)  
Discount rate (as a percent) 5.15% 5.15% 2.85%  
Expected return on plan assets (as a percent)   3.35% 2.86%  
Pension benefits that have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets        
Prescription drug cost trend rate assumed for the next year - Pre-65   8.00% 8.00%  
Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (the ultimate trend rate) 4.50% 4.50% 4.50%  
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss        
Unrecognized actuarial loss (gain) $ (28) $ (28) $ (18)  
Unrecognized prior service cost 11 11 12  
Net amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss (gain) $ (17) (17) $ (6)  
Changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income        
Net loss (gain)   (16)    
Amortization of net loss   (1)    
Amortization of prior service cost   1    
Settlement   0    
Total recognized in comprehensive income   (16)    
Total expense recognized in net periodic cost and other comprehensive income   $ (15)    
CERC Corp | Minimum | Other Postretirement Benefits Plan        
Pension benefits that have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets        
Health care cost trend rate assumed for the next year 6.50% 6.50% 6.00%  
CERC Corp | Maximum | Other Postretirement Benefits Plan        
Pension benefits that have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets        
Health care cost trend rate assumed for the next year 23.66% 23.66% 18.71%  
Operation And Maintenance Expense | Pension Plan        
Components of net periodic costs [Abstract]        
Service cost   $ 29 $ 39 43
Change in benefit obligation [Roll Forward]        
Service cost   $ 29 $ 39 $ 43