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Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt - Schedule of Debt (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2024 USD ($) day	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)
Long-term debt:
Unamortized debt issuance costs	$ (48)	$ (35)
Unamortized discount and premium, net	(6)	(5)
Long-term debt	20,397	17,559
Current debt	566	1,059
Short-term borrowings	$ 500	4
Number of days until commercial paper maturity | day	60
CenterPoint Energy
Long-term debt:
Number of days until commercial paper maturity | day	60
Houston Electric
Long-term debt:
Unamortized debt issuance costs	$ (62)	(59)
Unamortized discount and premium, net	(29)	(28)
Long-term debt	8,322	7,426
Current debt	500	161
Short-term borrowings	500	0
Houston Electric | Term loan
Long-term debt:
Short-term borrowings	500	0
CERC
Long-term debt:
Unamortized debt issuance costs	(31)	(31)
Unamortized discount and premium, net	0	1
Long-term debt	5,174	4,670
Current debt	10	4
Short-term borrowings	$ 0	4
Number of days until commercial paper maturity | day	30
CERC | Inventory Financing
Long-term debt:
Short-term borrowings	$ 0	4
ZENS debt, due 2029
Long-term debt:
Long-Term	0	0
Current	2	5
CenterPoint Energy senior notes 1.45% to 5.25% due 2026 to 2049
Long-term debt:
Long-Term	3,950	3,250
Current	0	850
CenterPoint Energy junior subordinated notes 6.70% to 7.00% due 2055
Long-term debt:
Long-Term	1,300	0
Current	0	0
CenterPoint Energy pollution control bonds 5.125% due 2028
Long-term debt:
Long-Term	68	68
Current	$ 0	0
CenterPoint Energy pollution control bonds 5.125% due 2028 | CenterPoint Energy
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	5.125%
CenterPoint Energy commercial paper
Long-term debt:
Long-Term	$ 382	1,036
Current	0	0
CenterPoint Energy commercial paper | CERC
Long-term debt:
Long-Term	599	484
SIGECO first mortgage bonds 3.450% to 6.00% due 2024 to 2055 | SIGECO
Long-term debt:
Long-Term	944	825
Current	41	22
SIGECO securitization bonds 5.026% to 5.172% due 2036 to 2041 | SIGECO
Long-term debt:
Long-Term	311	324
Current	13	17
CERC Debt | CERC
Long-term debt:
Long-term debt	5,174	4,670
General mortgage bonds, 2.35% to 6.95%, due 2026 to 2053 | Houston Electric
Long-term debt:
Long-Term	8,412	7,512
Current	0	0
Other | Houston Electric
Long-term debt:
Long-Term	1	1
Current	0	0
Transition bonds 3.028% due 2024 | Houston Electric
Long-term debt:
Long-Term	0	0
Current	0	161
Senior notes 1.75% to 6.625% due 2026 to 2047 | CERC
Long-term debt:
Long-Term	4,520	4,120
Current	0	0
Indiana Gas senior notes 6.34% to 7.08% due 2025 to 2029 | IGC
Long-term debt:
Long-Term	86	96
Current	$ 10	$ 0
Minimum | CenterPoint Energy senior notes 1.45% to 5.25% due 2026 to 2049 | CenterPoint Energy
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	1.45%
Minimum | CenterPoint Energy junior subordinated notes 6.70% to 7.00% due 2055 | CenterPoint Energy
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	6.70%
Minimum | SIGECO first mortgage bonds 3.450% to 6.00% due 2024 to 2055 | SIGECO
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	3.45%
Minimum | SIGECO securitization bonds 5.026% to 5.172% due 2036 to 2041 | SIGECO
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	5.026%
Minimum | General mortgage bonds, 2.35% to 6.95%, due 2026 to 2053 | Houston Electric
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	2.35%
Minimum | Senior notes 1.75% to 6.625% due 2026 to 2047 | CERC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	1.75%
Minimum | Indiana Gas senior notes 6.34% to 7.08% due 2025 to 2029 | IGC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	6.34%
Maximum | CenterPoint Energy senior notes 1.45% to 5.25% due 2026 to 2049 | CenterPoint Energy
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	5.25%
Maximum | CenterPoint Energy junior subordinated notes 6.70% to 7.00% due 2055 | CenterPoint Energy
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	7.00%
Maximum | SIGECO first mortgage bonds 3.450% to 6.00% due 2024 to 2055 | SIGECO
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	6.00%
Maximum | SIGECO securitization bonds 5.026% to 5.172% due 2036 to 2041 | SIGECO
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	5.172%
Maximum | General mortgage bonds, 2.35% to 6.95%, due 2026 to 2053 | Houston Electric
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	6.95%
Maximum | Transition bonds 3.028% due 2024 | Houston Electric
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	3.028%
Maximum | Senior notes 1.75% to 6.625% due 2026 to 2047 | CERC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	6.625%
Maximum | Indiana Gas senior notes 6.34% to 7.08% due 2025 to 2029 | IGC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	7.08%

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