XML 101 R84.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.23.1

Commitments and Contingencies - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions |  |  | 3 Months Ended |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Feb. 10, 2023 USD ($) | Oct. 27, 2021 | Mar. 31, 2023 USD ($) surety_bond day ashPond lawsuit gasManufacturingAndStorageSite warranty_obligation | Feb. 28, 2023 class lawsuit | Jul. 05, 2022 MW | Jan. 31, 2022 MW
Long-Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of surety bond obligations outstanding | surety_bond |  |  | 66 |  |  |
Performance guarantee obligations outstanding face amount | $ |  |  | $ 666 |  |  |
Percentage of work yet to be completed on projects with open surety bonds (as a percent) |  |  | 36.00% |  |  |
Number of warranty obligations outstanding | warranty_obligation |  |  | 34 |  |  |
Warranty obligations outstanding face amount | $ |  |  | $ 517 |  |  |
Energy savings commitments not guaranteed | $ |  |  | 1,400 |  |  |
Guarantor obligations, maximum exposure, undiscounted | $ |  |  | $ 523 |  |  |
Pending lawsuits |  |  | 5 |  |  |
Number of owned coal ash ponds | ashPond |  |  | 3 |  |  |
Estimated project costs | $ | $ 50 |  |  |  |  |
Pending Litigation |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Pending lawsuits |  |  | 2 |  |  |
F.B. Culley |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of owned coal ash ponds | ashPond |  |  | 2 |  |  |
A.B. Brown |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of owned coal ash ponds | ashPond |  |  | 1 |  |  |
F.B. Culley East |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of owned coal ash ponds | ashPond |  |  | 1 |  |  |
Indiana Gas Service Territory |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Environmental remediation number of sites with potential remedial responsibility | gasManufacturingAndStorageSite |  |  | 26 |  |  |
SIGECO |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Environmental remediation number of sites with potential remedial responsibility | gasManufacturingAndStorageSite |  |  | 5 |  |  |
CERC | Indiana Gas Service Territory |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Environmental remediation number of sites with potential remedial responsibility | gasManufacturingAndStorageSite |  |  | 26 |  |  |
Indiana Electric |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset retirement obligation | $ |  |  | $ 105 |  |  |
Indiana Electric | Minimum |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated capital expenditure to clean ash ponds | $ |  |  | 60 |  |  |
Indiana Electric | Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated capital expenditure to clean ash ponds | $ |  |  | $ 80 |  |  |
Loss from Catastrophes |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Pending lawsuits |  |  |  | 12 |  |
Loss from Catastrophes | Harris County |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Pending lawsuits |  |  |  | 9 |  |
February 2021 Winter Storm Event | Utility Holding, LLC |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Pending lawsuits | day |  |  | 15 |  |  |
February 2021 Winter Storm Event | Loss from Catastrophes |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Pending lawsuits |  |  | 220 |  |  |
February 2021 Winter Storm Event | Loss from Catastrophes | CenterPoint Energy and Houston Electric |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Pending lawsuits |  |  | 155 |  |  |
Harris County vs. CERC - Putative | Loss from Catastrophes |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Pending lawsuits |  |  |  | 1 |  |
Number Of Classes of Electric and Natural Gas Customers | class |  |  |  | 2 |  |
Other Texas Lawsuits Brought By Assignee vs. Company | Loss from Catastrophes |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Pending lawsuits |  |  |  | 2 |  |
Other Texas Lawsuits Brought By Assignee vs. Company | Loss from Catastrophes | Harris County |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Pending lawsuits |  |  |  | 1 |  |
Other Texas Lawsuits Brought By Assignee vs. Company | Loss from Catastrophes | Tom Green County |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Pending lawsuits |  |  |  | 1 |  |
ESG |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of guarantees | $ |  |  | $ 0 |  |  |
Posey Solar |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Solar array assets, useful life |  | 35 years |  |  |  |
Solar array generating capacity (in MW) | MW |  |  |  |  |  | 191
Pike Solar |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Solar array generating capacity (in MW) | MW |  |  |  |  | 130 |

X
- Definition Number of sites identified where the entity may potentially have some remedial responsibility + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | cnp_Environmentalremediationnumberofsiteswithpotentialremedialresponsibility
Namespace Prefix: | cnp_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Estimated Capital Expenditure to Clean Ash Ponds + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | cnp_EstimatedCapitalExpenditureToCleanAshPonds
Namespace Prefix: | cnp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Estimated Project Costs + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | cnp_EstimatedProjectCosts
Namespace Prefix: | cnp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number Of Classes of Electric and Natural Gas Customers + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | cnp_NumberOfClassesOfElectricAndNaturalGasCustomers
Namespace Prefix: | cnp_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of Owned Coal Ash Ponds + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | cnp_NumberOfOwnedCoalAshPonds
Namespace Prefix: | cnp_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the absolute number of surety bonds the wholly owned subsidiary has outstanding in its role as general contractor + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | cnp_NumberOfSuretyBondObligationsOutstanding
Namespace Prefix: | cnp_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the number of warranties the wholly owned subsidiary has outstanding in its role as general contractor. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | cnp_NumberOfWarrantyObligationsOutstanding
Namespace Prefix: | cnp_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Other Guarantees, Additional Energy Savings Commitments + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | cnp_OtherGuaranteesAdditionalEnergySavingsCommitments
Namespace Prefix: | cnp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Percentage of work yet to be completed by wholly owned subsidiary on projects with open surety bonds. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | cnp_PercentageOfWorkYetToBeCompletedOnProjectsWithOpenSuretyBonds
Namespace Prefix: | cnp_
Data Type: | dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Face amount of individual surety bonds the wholly-owned subsidiary has outstanding + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | cnp_PerformanceGuaranteeObligationsOutstandingFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix: | cnp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Solar Array Assets, Useful Life + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | cnp_SolarArrayAssetsUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix: | cnp_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Solar Array Generating Capacity + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | cnp_SolarArrayGeneratingCapacity
Namespace Prefix: | cnp_
Data Type: | dtr-types:powerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Warranty obligations outstanding face amount + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | cnp_WarrantyObligationsOutstandingFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix: | cnp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 25 -Paragraph 4 -URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116646717&loc=d3e6290-110844 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b)(1) -URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124440162&loc=d3e12069-110248 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Fair value portion of guarantee, including, but not limited to, financial standby letter of credit, fair value guarantee, guarantee of collection of scheduled contractual cash flows from financial assets, and contracts that contingently require the guarantor to make payments or perform services. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph (a) -URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124440162&loc=d3e12201-110248 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteesFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- 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_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of pending claims pertaining to a loss contingency. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121557415&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a) -URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121557415&loc=d3e14557-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyPendingClaimsNumber
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis=us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | cnp_AshPondFacilityAxis=cnp_FBCulleyMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | cnp_AshPondFacilityAxis=cnp_ABBrownMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | cnp_AshPondFacilityAxis=cnp_FBCulleyEastMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationSiteAxis=cnp_IndianaGasServiceTerritoryMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationSiteAxis=cnp_SIGECOMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=cnp_CercCorpMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=cnp_IndianaElectricMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=us-gaap_LossFromCatastrophesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=cnp_HarrisCountyMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=cnp_February2021WinterStormEventMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=cnp_UtilityHoldingLLCMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=cnp_CenterPointEnergyAndHoustonElectricMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=cnp_HarrisCountyVsCERCPutativeMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=cnp_OtherTexasLawsuitsBroughtByAssigneeVsCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=cnp_TomGreenCountyMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=cnp_ESGMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | cnp_BuildTransferAgreementAxis=cnp_PoseySolarMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | cnp_BuildTransferAgreementAxis=cnp_PikeSolarMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |