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Income Taxes - Schedule of Income Tax Reconciliation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2023 | Dec. 31, 2022 | Dec. 31, 2021
Income tax reconciliation [Abstract] |  |  |
Income before income taxes | $ 1,087 | $ 1,417 | $ 778
Increase (decrease) in tax expense resulting from: |  |  |
Total income tax expense (benefit) | $ 170 | $ 360 | $ 110
Houston Electric |  |  |
Other Tax Carryforward [Line Items] |  |  |
Effective tax rate (as a percent) | 22.00% | 20.00% | 17.00%
Income tax reconciliation [Abstract] |  |  |
Income before income taxes | $ 761 | $ 635 | $ 457
Federal statutory income tax rate (as a percent) | 21.00% | 21.00% | 21.00%
Expected federal income tax expense | $ 160 | $ 133 | $ 96
Increase (decrease) in tax expense resulting from: |  |  |
State income tax expense, net of federal income tax | 27 | 13 | 18
Excess deferred income tax amortization | (17) | (18) | (41)
Other, net | (2) | (3) | 3
Total | 8 | (8) | (20)
Total income tax expense (benefit) | $ 168 | $ 125 | $ 76
Effective tax rate (as a percent) | 22.00% | 20.00% | 17.00%
CERC Corp |  |  |
Income tax reconciliation [Abstract] |  |  |
Income before income taxes | $ 486 | $ 961 | $ 466
Increase (decrease) in tax expense resulting from: |  |  |
Total income tax expense (benefit) | $ (26) | $ 236 | $ 76
Consolidated |  |  |
Other Tax Carryforward [Line Items] |  |  |
Effective tax rate (as a percent) | 16.00% | 25.00% | 14.00%
Income tax reconciliation [Abstract] |  |  |
Income before income taxes | $ 1,087 | $ 1,417 | $ 778
Federal statutory income tax rate (as a percent) | 21.00% | 21.00% | 21.00%
Expected federal income tax expense | $ 228 | $ 298 | $ 163
Increase (decrease) in tax expense resulting from: |  |  |
State income tax expense, net of federal income tax | 25 | 46 | 63
State valuation allowance, net of federal income tax | 0 | 0 | (15)
State law change, net of federal income tax | 69 | 0 | 23
Equity AFUDC | 13 | 8 | 6
Excess deferred income tax amortization | (44) | (51) | (75)
Goodwill impairment | 0 | 84 | 0
Sale of Energy Systems Group | 28 | 0 | 0
Other, net | 15 | (9) | 3
Total | (58) | 62 | (53)
Total income tax expense (benefit) | 170 | $ 360 | $ 110
Income tax rate reconciliation, state deferred remeasurement, net of federal income tax | $ (69) |  |
Effective tax rate (as a percent) | 16.00% | 25.00% | 14.00%
Consolidated | CERC Corp |  |  |
Other Tax Carryforward [Line Items] |  |  |
Effective tax rate (as a percent) | (5.00%) | 25.00% | 16.00%
Income tax reconciliation [Abstract] |  |  |
Income before income taxes | $ 486 | $ 961 | $ 466
Federal statutory income tax rate (as a percent) | 21.00% | 21.00% | 21.00%
Expected federal income tax expense | $ 102 | $ 202 | $ 98
Increase (decrease) in tax expense resulting from: |  |  |
State income tax expense, net of federal income tax | (40) | 35 | 31
State valuation allowance, net of federal income tax | 0 | 0 | (15)
State law change, net of federal income tax | 66 | 0 | 9
Excess deferred income tax amortization | (23) | (28) | (30)
Goodwill impairment | 0 | 30 | 0
Other, net | 1 | (3) | 1
Total | (128) | 34 | (22)
Total income tax expense (benefit) | (26) | $ 236 | $ 76
Income tax rate reconciliation, state deferred remeasurement, net of federal income tax | $ (66) |  |
Effective tax rate (as a percent) | (5.00%) | 25.00% | 16.00%
Discontinued Operations |  |  |
Other Tax Carryforward [Line Items] |  |  |
Effective tax rate (as a percent) | 0.00% | 0.00% | 20.00%
Income tax reconciliation [Abstract] |  |  |
Income before income taxes | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 1,019
Federal statutory income tax rate (as a percent) | 0.00% | 0.00% | 21.00%
Expected federal income tax expense | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 214
Increase (decrease) in tax expense resulting from: |  |  |
State income tax expense, net of federal income tax | 0 | 0 | 14
State law change, net of federal income tax | 0 | 0 | 27
Total | 0 | 0 | (13)
Total income tax expense (benefit) | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 201
Effective tax rate (as a percent) | 0.00% | 0.00% | 20.00%

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