$CNP
CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC Stock $cnp

$cnp Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2011 Q4 Form 10-Q Financial Statement

#000113031011000061 Filed on November 02, 2011

Income Statement

Concept	2011 Q4	2011 Q3	2010 Q4
Revenue	$2.145B	$1.881B	$2.098B
YoY Change	2.24%	-1.42%	-8.74%
Cost Of Revenue
YoY Change
Gross Profit
YoY Change
Gross Profit Margin
Selling, General & Admin
YoY Change
% of Gross Profit
Research & Development
YoY Change
% of Gross Profit
Depreciation & Amortization	$209.0M	$253.0M	$204.0M
YoY Change	2.45%	4.12%	12.71%
% of Gross Profit
Operating Expenses	$1.871B	$1.524B	$1.796B
YoY Change	4.18%	-3.61%	-10.2%
Operating Profit	$274.0M	$357.0M	$302.0M
YoY Change	-9.27%	9.17%
Interest Expense	-$119.0M	-$129.0M	-$143.0M
YoY Change	-16.78%	-1.53%	-7.74%
% of Operating Profit	-43.43%	-36.13%	-47.35%
Other Income/Expense, Net	$4.000M	$233.0M	$5.000M
YoY Change	-20.0%	-282.03%	0.0%
Pretax Income	$159.0M	$590.0M	$164.0M
YoY Change	-3.05%	196.48%	7.89%
Income Tax	$42.00M	$204.0M	$40.00M
% Of Pretax Income	26.42%	34.58%	24.39%
Net Earnings	$117.0M	$973.0M	$124.0M
YoY Change	-5.65%	691.06%	18.1%
Net Earnings / Revenue	5.45%	51.73%	5.91%
Basic Earnings Per Share	$0.27	$2.28	$0.29
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$0.27	$2.27	$0.29
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding	425.9B shares	425.9M shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding		428.8M shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2011 Q4	2011 Q3	2010 Q4
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$606.0M	$440.0M	$566.0M
YoY Change	7.07%	1.38%	-45.58%
Cash & Equivalents	$220.0M	$103.0M	$199.0M
Short-Term Investments	$386.0M	$337.0M	$367.0M
Other Short-Term Assets	$192.0M	$402.0M	$274.0M
YoY Change	-29.93%	-19.76%	-63.32%
Inventory	$353.0M	$418.0M	$375.0M
Prepaid Expenses
Receivables	$773.0M	$722.0M	$835.0M
Other Receivables	$0.00	$0.00	$138.0M
Total Short-Term Assets	$2.337B	$1.982B	$2.582B
YoY Change	-9.49%	-7.51%	-11.09%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$12.40B	$12.16B	$11.73B
YoY Change	5.71%	6.46%	8.75%
Goodwill	$1.696B	$1.696B	$1.696B
YoY Change	0.0%
Intangibles
YoY Change
Long-Term Investments	$472.0M	$474.0M	$468.0M
YoY Change	0.85%	-1.25%	1.08%
Other Assets	$157.0M	$154.0M	$172.0M
YoY Change	-8.72%	-95.79%	-95.61%
Total Long-Term Assets	$6.964B	$6.811B	$5.797B
YoY Change	20.13%	-60.53%	-65.64%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$2.337B	$1.982B	$2.582B
Total Long-Term Assets	$6.964B	$6.811B	$5.797B
Total Assets	$21.70B	$20.95B	$20.11B
YoY Change	7.92%	8.0%	1.71%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$560.0M	$417.0M	$667.0M
YoY Change	-16.04%	8.59%	2.93%
Accrued Expenses	$164.0M	$118.0M	$171.0M
YoY Change	-4.09%	-10.61%	-5.52%
Deferred Revenue
YoY Change
Short-Term Debt	$62.00M	$84.00M	$53.00M
YoY Change	16.98%	15.07%	-3.64%
Long-Term Debt Due	$484.0M	$483.0M	$428.0M
YoY Change	13.08%	-50.61%	-52.6%
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$2.593B	$2.319B	$2.620B
YoY Change	-1.03%	-19.51%	-13.76%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$8.641B	$8.497B	$9.001B
YoY Change	-4.0%	2.78%	-1.29%
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$305.0M	$236.0M	$447.0M
YoY Change	-31.77%	-89.61%	-79.54%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$6.247B	$5.928B	$5.292B
YoY Change	18.05%	-43.75%	-53.18%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$2.593B	$2.319B	$2.620B
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$6.247B	$5.928B	$5.292B
Total Liabilities	$8.840B	$8.247B	$7.912B
YoY Change	11.73%	-49.31%	-53.82%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings	$231.0M	$199.0M	-$789.0M
YoY Change	-129.28%
Common Stock	$4.000M	$4.000M	$4.000M
YoY Change	0.0%
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)
YoY Change
Treasury Stock Shares	166.0 shares	166.0 shares	166.0 shares
Shareholders Equity	$4.222B	$4.207B	$3.198B
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$21.70B	$20.95B	$20.11B
YoY Change	7.92%	8.0%	1.71%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2011 Q4	2011 Q3	2010 Q4
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	$117.0M	$973.0M	$124.0M
YoY Change	-5.65%	691.06%	18.1%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$209.0M	$253.0M	$204.0M
YoY Change	2.45%	4.12%	12.71%
Cash From Operating Activities	$439.0M	$312.0M	$403.0M
YoY Change	8.93%	89.09%	-0.25%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	-$343.0M	-$327.0M	-$456.0M
YoY Change	-24.78%	0.31%	29.91%
Acquisitions
YoY Change
Other Investing Activities	-$15.00M	$51.00M	$50.00M
YoY Change	-130.0%	64.52%	35.14%
Cash From Investing Activities	-$358.0M	-$276.0M	-$406.0M
YoY Change	-11.82%	-6.44%	29.3%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid
YoY Change
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net
YoY Change
Debt Paid & Issued, Net
YoY Change
Cash From Financing Activities	36.00M	-123.0M	103.0M
YoY Change	-65.05%	-65.25%	-82.51%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	439.0M	312.0M	403.0M
Cash From Investing Activities	-358.0M	-276.0M	-406.0M
Cash From Financing Activities	36.00M	-123.0M	103.0M
Net Change In Cash	117.0M	-87.00M	100.0M
YoY Change	17.0%	-82.02%	-85.27%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	$439.0M	$312.0M	$403.0M
Capital Expenditures	-$343.0M	-$327.0M	-$456.0M
Free Cash Flow	$782.0M	$639.0M	$859.0M
YoY Change	-8.96%	30.14%	13.77%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Interest In Joint Venture PaymentsToAcquireInterestInJointVenture	9000000	USD
	cnp	Number Of Days To Appeal Final Order NumberOfDaysToAppealFinalOrder	20
	cnp	Number Of Dcrf Filings Allowed NumberOfDcrfFilingsAllowed	4
	cnp	Number Of Dcrf Requests Allowed Per Year NumberOfDcrfRequestsAllowedPerYear	1
	dei	Amendment Flag AmendmentFlag	false
	dei	Current Fiscal Year End Date CurrentFiscalYearEndDate	--12-31
	dei	Document Fiscal Period Focus DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus	Q3
	dei	Document Fiscal Year Focus DocumentFiscalYearFocus	2011
	us-gaap	Inventory Write Down InventoryWriteDown	6000000	USD
	us-gaap	Inventory Write Down InventoryWriteDown	7000000	USD
	us-gaap	Revenues From Transactions With Other Operating Segments Of Same Entity RevenuesFromTransactionsWithOtherOperatingSegmentsOfSameEntity	0	USD
	us-gaap	Revenues From Transactions With Other Operating Segments Of Same Entity RevenuesFromTransactionsWithOtherOperatingSegmentsOfSameEntity	0	USD
	cnp	Weather Hedges Gain Loss Recognized WeatherHedgesGainLossRecognized	6000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Current AccountsPayableCurrent	417000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Current AccountsPayableCurrent	667000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	722000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	835000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Accrual For Environmental Loss Contingencies AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies	13000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	4433000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	4273000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Cumulative Changes In Net Gain Loss From Cash Flow Hedges Effect Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromCashFlowHedgesEffectNetOfTax	-3000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Cumulative Changes In Net Gain Loss From Cash Flow Hedges Effect Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromCashFlowHedgesEffectNetOfTax	-3000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Defined Benefit Pension And Other Postretirement Plans Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax	114000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Defined Benefit Pension And Other Postretirement Plans Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax	107000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-117000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-110000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Additional Collateral Aggregate Fair Value AdditionalCollateralAggregateFairValue	76000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Additional Collateral Aggregate Fair Value AdditionalCollateralAggregateFairValue	48000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital AdditionalPaidInCapital	4114000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital AdditionalPaidInCapital	4100000000	USD
	us-gaap	Amortization Of Financing Costs AmortizationOfFinancingCosts	22000000	USD
	us-gaap	Amortization Of Financing Costs AmortizationOfFinancingCosts	21000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	1522444	shares
	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	1522444	shares
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	20111000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Assets Assets	20951000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	1982000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	2582000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Assets Noncurrent AssetsNoncurrent	5797000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Assets Noncurrent AssetsNoncurrent	6811000000	USD
	us-gaap	Capital Expenditures Incurred But Not Yet Paid CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid	101000000	USD
	us-gaap	Capital Expenditures Incurred But Not Yet Paid CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid	104000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	103000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	199000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	740000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	99000000	USD
	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-641000000	USD
	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-96000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Collateral Already Posted Aggregate Fair Value CollateralAlreadyPostedAggregateFairValue	31000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Collateral Already Posted Aggregate Fair Value CollateralAlreadyPostedAggregateFairValue	2000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.585
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.195
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.1975
	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.5925
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.01
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	1000000000	shares
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	425919358	shares
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	424746343	shares
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	424746177	shares
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	425919192	shares
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	4000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	4000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	975000000	USD
	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	326000000	USD
	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	1247000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	126000000	USD
	us-gaap	Cost Of Natural Gas Purchases CostOfNaturalGasPurchases	2989000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Cost Of Natural Gas Purchases CostOfNaturalGasPurchases	808000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Cost Of Natural Gas Purchases CostOfNaturalGasPurchases	735000000	USD
	us-gaap	Cost Of Natural Gas Purchases CostOfNaturalGasPurchases	3521000000	USD
	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	112000000	USD
	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	404000000	USD
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Regulatory Assets And Liabilities DeferredTaxAssetsRegulatoryAssetsAndLiabilities	11000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Current DeferredTaxLiabilitiesCurrent	407000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Current DeferredTaxLiabilitiesCurrent	494000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Noncurrent DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent	2934000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Noncurrent DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent	3814000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Depreciation And Amortization DepreciationAndAmortization	253000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Depreciation And Amortization DepreciationAndAmortization	243000000	USD
	us-gaap	Depreciation And Amortization DepreciationAndAmortization	677000000	USD
	us-gaap	Depreciation And Amortization DepreciationAndAmortization	660000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Derivative Assets DerivativeAssets	64000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets DerivativeAssets	69000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets Current DerivativeAssetsCurrent	54000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Derivative Assets Current DerivativeAssetsCurrent	52000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Derivative Assets Noncurrent DerivativeAssetsNoncurrent	12000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets Noncurrent DerivativeAssetsNoncurrent	15000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Amount Offset Against Collateral Net DerivativeFairValueAmountOffsetAgainstCollateralNet	8000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Amount Offset Against Collateral Net DerivativeFairValueAmountOffsetAgainstCollateralNet	-15000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Asset DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset	80000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Asset DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset	87000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability	411000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability	278000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Derivative Financial Instruments Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure DerivativeFinancialInstrumentsLiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure	56000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Financial Instruments Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure DerivativeFinancialInstrumentsLiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure	84000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Current DerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent	68000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Current DerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent	53000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Noncurrent DerivativeLiabilitiesNoncurrent	16000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Noncurrent DerivativeLiabilitiesNoncurrent	3000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Net Liability Position Aggregate Fair Value DerivativeNetLiabilityPositionAggregateFairValue	107000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Derivative Net Liability Position Aggregate Fair Value DerivativeNetLiabilityPositionAggregateFairValue	51000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Description Of Derivative Activity Volume DescriptionOfDerivativeActivityVolume	626
	us-gaap	Description Of Derivative Activity Volume DescriptionOfDerivativeActivityVolume	585
	us-gaap	Description Of New Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted DescriptionOfNewAccountingPronouncementsNotYetAdopted	<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">New Accounting Pronouncements</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br clear="none"/></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;text-indent:24px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">In January 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued new accounting guidance to require additional fair value related disclosures. It also clarified existing fair value disclosure guidance about the level of disaggregation, inputs and valuation techniques. This new guidance was effective for the first reporting period beginning after December 15, 2009 except for certain disclosure requirements effective for the first reporting period beginning after December 15, 2010. CenterPoint Energy's adoption of this new guidance did not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. See Note 6 for the required disclosures.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br clear="none"/></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;text-indent:24px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">In May 2011, the FASB issued new accounting guidance to achieve common fair value measurements and disclosure requirements in U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Some of the provisions of the new accounting guidance include requiring (1) that only nonfinancial assets should be valued based on a determination of their best use, (2) disclosure of  quantitative information about unobservable inputs used in Level 3 fair value measurements and (3) disclosure of the level within the fair value hierarchy for each class of assets or liabilities not measured at fair value in the statement of financial position but for which the fair value is disclosed. This new guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. CenterPoint Energy expects that the adoption of this new guidance will not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br clear="none"/></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;text-indent:24px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">In June 2011, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on the presentation of comprehensive income. The new guidance is intended to improve the overall quality of financial reporting by increasing the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income and aligning the presentation of other comprehensive income in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP with those prepared in accordance with IFRS. The new guidance requires an entity to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. CenterPoint Energy expects that the adoption of this new guidance will not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br clear="none"/></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;text-indent:24px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">In September 2011, the FASB issued new accounting guidance that is intended to simplify how entities test goodwill for impairment. The new accounting guidance permits an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test.  If, after performing the qualitative assessment, it is determined that the fair value of a reporting unit is more likely than not less than its carrying value, then the quantitative two-step goodwill impairment test that exists under current GAAP must be performed; otherwise, goodwill is deemed to not be impaired and no further testing is required. An entity has the unconditional option to bypass the qualitative assessment and proceed directly to the quantitative assessment. This new guidance is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. CenterPoint Energy did not elect early adoption, but expects that the adoption of this new guidance will not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br clear="none"/></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;text-indent:24px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Management believes the impact of other recently issued standards, which are not yet effective, will not have a material impact on CenterPoint Energy’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows upon adoption.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br clear="none"/></font></div></div>
	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.79
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.29
	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	2.91
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	2.28
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	2.27
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.29
	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.78
	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	2.89
	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.41
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.38
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.35
	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.36
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Energy Related Inventory Natural Gas In Storage EnergyRelatedInventoryNaturalGasInStorage	211000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Energy Related Inventory Natural Gas In Storage EnergyRelatedInventoryNaturalGasInStorage	250000000	USD
	us-gaap	Extraordinary Item Gain Or Loss Net Of Tax Attributable To Reporting Entity ExtraordinaryItemGainOrLossNetOfTaxAttributableToReportingEntity	587000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Extraordinary Item Gain Or Loss Net Of Tax Attributable To Reporting Entity ExtraordinaryItemGainOrLossNetOfTaxAttributableToReportingEntity	0	USD
	us-gaap	Extraordinary Item Gain Or Loss Net Of Tax Attributable To Reporting Entity ExtraordinaryItemGainOrLossNetOfTaxAttributableToReportingEntity	0	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Extraordinary Items Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromExtraordinaryItemsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	1.38
	us-gaap	Income Loss From Extraordinary Items Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromExtraordinaryItemsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0.00
	us-gaap	Income Loss From Extraordinary Items Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromExtraordinaryItemsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	1.37
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Extraordinary Item Gain Or Loss Net Of Tax Attributable To Reporting Entity ExtraordinaryItemGainOrLossNetOfTaxAttributableToReportingEntity	587000000	USD
CY2005	us-gaap	Extraordinary Item Gain Or Loss Net Of Tax Attributable To Reporting Entity ExtraordinaryItemGainOrLossNetOfTaxAttributableToReportingEntity	-947000000	USD
	us-gaap	Extraordinary Items Gross ExtraordinaryItemsGross	921000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	1696000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	1696000000	USD
	us-gaap	Income Loss Before Extraordinary Items And Cumulative Effect Of Change In Accounting Principle IncomeLossBeforeExtraordinaryItemsAndCumulativeEffectOfChangeInAccountingPrinciple	318000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss Before Extraordinary Items And Cumulative Effect Of Change In Accounting Principle IncomeLossBeforeExtraordinaryItemsAndCumulativeEffectOfChangeInAccountingPrinciple	386000000	USD
	us-gaap	Income Loss Before Extraordinary Items And Cumulative Effect Of Change In Accounting Principle IncomeLossBeforeExtraordinaryItemsAndCumulativeEffectOfChangeInAccountingPrinciple	653000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss Before Extraordinary Items And Cumulative Effect Of Change In Accounting Principle IncomeLossBeforeExtraordinaryItemsAndCumulativeEffectOfChangeInAccountingPrinciple	123000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss Before Extraordinary Items And Cumulative Effect Of Change In Accounting Principle Per Basic Share IncomeLossBeforeExtraordinaryItemsAndCumulativeEffectOfChangeInAccountingPrinciplePerBasicShare	0.29
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss Before Extraordinary Items And Cumulative Effect Of Change In Accounting Principle Per Basic Share IncomeLossBeforeExtraordinaryItemsAndCumulativeEffectOfChangeInAccountingPrinciplePerBasicShare	0.90
	us-gaap	Income Loss Before Extraordinary Items And Cumulative Effect Of Change In Accounting Principle Per Basic Share IncomeLossBeforeExtraordinaryItemsAndCumulativeEffectOfChangeInAccountingPrinciplePerBasicShare	0.79
	us-gaap	Income Loss Before Extraordinary Items And Cumulative Effect Of Change In Accounting Principle Per Basic Share IncomeLossBeforeExtraordinaryItemsAndCumulativeEffectOfChangeInAccountingPrinciplePerBasicShare	1.53
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss Before Extraordinary Items And Cumulative Effect Of Change In Accounting Principle Per Diluted Share IncomeLossBeforeExtraordinaryItemsAndCumulativeEffectOfChangeInAccountingPrinciplePerDilutedShare	0.90
	us-gaap	Income Loss Before Extraordinary Items And Cumulative Effect Of Change In Accounting Principle Per Diluted Share IncomeLossBeforeExtraordinaryItemsAndCumulativeEffectOfChangeInAccountingPrinciplePerDilutedShare	1.52
	us-gaap	Income Loss Before Extraordinary Items And Cumulative Effect Of Change In Accounting Principle Per Diluted Share IncomeLossBeforeExtraordinaryItemsAndCumulativeEffectOfChangeInAccountingPrinciplePerDilutedShare	0.78
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss Before Extraordinary Items And Cumulative Effect Of Change In Accounting Principle Per Diluted Share IncomeLossBeforeExtraordinaryItemsAndCumulativeEffectOfChangeInAccountingPrinciplePerDilutedShare	0.29
	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	541000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	590000000	USD
	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	1015000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	199000000	USD
	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	22000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	10000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	8000000	USD
	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	22000000	USD
	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments Net Of Dividends Or Distributions IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestmentsNetOfDividendsOrDistributions	-3000000	USD
	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments Net Of Dividends Or Distributions IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestmentsNetOfDividendsOrDistributions	-4000000	USD
	us-gaap	Income Loss From Extraordinary Items Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromExtraordinaryItemsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	1.38
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Extraordinary Items Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromExtraordinaryItemsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	1.37
	us-gaap	Income Loss From Extraordinary Items Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromExtraordinaryItemsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0.00
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Extraordinary Items Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromExtraordinaryItemsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0.00
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Extraordinary Items Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromExtraordinaryItemsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0.00
	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	223000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	76000000	USD
	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	362000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	204000000	USD
	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	-204000000	USD
	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	210000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Income Taxes Receivable IncomeTaxesReceivable	138000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Income Taxes Receivable IncomeTaxesReceivable	0	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	-215000000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	-283000000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Commodity Contract Assets And Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInCommodityContractAssetsAndLiabilities	16000000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Commodity Contract Assets And Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInCommodityContractAssetsAndLiabilities	10000000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Income Taxes Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxesReceivable	-138000000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Income Taxes Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxesReceivable	113000000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	50000000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	83000000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Current Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherCurrentAssets	-17000000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Current Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherCurrentAssets	-14000000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Current Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherCurrentLiabilities	-38000000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Current Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherCurrentLiabilities	-23000000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Noncurrent Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherNoncurrentAssets	8000000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Noncurrent Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherNoncurrentAssets	1000000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Noncurrent Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherNoncurrentLiabilities	-49000000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Noncurrent Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherNoncurrentLiabilities	2000000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Capital Net IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet	-13000000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Capital Net IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet	-15000000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Over Under Energy Recovery IncreaseDecreaseInOverUnderEnergyRecovery	-43000000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Over Under Energy Recovery IncreaseDecreaseInOverUnderEnergyRecovery	52000000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Regulatory Assets And Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInRegulatoryAssetsAndLiabilities	-23000000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Regulatory Assets And Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInRegulatoryAssetsAndLiabilities	-22000000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Restricted Cash IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash	1000000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Restricted Cash IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash	2000000	USD
	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	529000	shares
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	548000	shares
	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	377000	shares
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	399000	shares
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Interest And Debt Expense InterestAndDebtExpense	121000000	USD
	us-gaap	Interest And Debt Expense InterestAndDebtExpense	341000000	USD
	us-gaap	Interest And Debt Expense InterestAndDebtExpense	364000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Interest And Debt Expense InterestAndDebtExpense	114000000	USD
	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	505000000	USD
	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	470000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Interest Payable Current InterestPayableCurrent	171000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Interest Payable Current InterestPayableCurrent	118000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Inventory Raw Materials And Supplies InventoryRawMaterialsAndSupplies	168000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Raw Materials And Supplies InventoryRawMaterialsAndSupplies	164000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Investments Fair Value Disclosure InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure	54000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Investments Fair Value Disclosure InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure	54000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Investments In Affiliates Subsidiaries Associates And Joint Ventures InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures	468000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Investments In Affiliates Subsidiaries Associates And Joint Ventures InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures	474000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	20951000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	20111000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	2319000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	2620000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Noncurrent LiabilitiesNoncurrent	5292000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Liabilities Noncurrent LiabilitiesNoncurrent	5928000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Amount Outstanding LineOfCreditFacilityAmountOutstanding	0	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Amount Outstanding LineOfCreditFacilityAmountOutstanding	0	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity	2360000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity	2450000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Noncurrent LongTermDebtNoncurrent	8497000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Noncurrent LongTermDebtNoncurrent	9001000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Longterm Commercial Paper Current And Noncurrent LongtermCommercialPaperCurrentAndNoncurrent	142000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Longterm Commercial Paper Current And Noncurrent LongtermCommercialPaperCurrentAndNoncurrent	183000000	USD
	us-gaap	Loss Contingency Damages Sought LossContingencyDamagesSought	in excess of $1 billion
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Marketable Securities Current MarketableSecuritiesCurrent	337000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Marketable Securities Current MarketableSecuritiesCurrent	367000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Marketable Securities Gain Loss MarketableSecuritiesGainLoss	19000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Marketable Securities Gain Loss MarketableSecuritiesGainLoss	-80000000	USD
	us-gaap	Marketable Securities Gain Loss MarketableSecuritiesGainLoss	-30000000	USD
	us-gaap	Marketable Securities Gain Loss MarketableSecuritiesGainLoss	35000000	USD
	us-gaap	Marketable Securities Unrealized Gain Loss MarketableSecuritiesUnrealizedGainLoss	35000000	USD
	us-gaap	Marketable Securities Unrealized Gain Loss MarketableSecuritiesUnrealizedGainLoss	-30000000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-610000000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-697000000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-1014000000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-848000000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	983000000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	1449000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	123000000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	1240000000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	318000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	973000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Nonoperating Income Expense NonoperatingIncomeExpense	-128000000	USD
	us-gaap	Nonoperating Income Expense NonoperatingIncomeExpense	-9000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Nonoperating Income Expense NonoperatingIncomeExpense	233000000	USD
	us-gaap	Nonoperating Income Expense NonoperatingIncomeExpense	-406000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Operating Expenses OperatingExpenses	1524000000	USD
	us-gaap	Operating Expenses OperatingExpenses	5740000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Operating Expenses OperatingExpenses	1581000000	USD
	us-gaap	Operating Expenses OperatingExpenses	5281000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	327000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	357000000	USD
	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	1024000000	USD
	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	947000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	172000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	154000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	2000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	2000000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	7000000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	7000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansTax	2000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansTax	2000000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansTax	5000000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansTax	5000000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	7000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	2000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	3000000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	8000000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Derivatives Included In Net Income Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeNetOfTax	0	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Derivatives Included In Net Income Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeNetOfTax	-1000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Derivatives Included In Net Income Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeNetOfTax	-1000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Derivatives Included In Net Income Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeNetOfTax	0	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Derivatives Included In Net Income Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeTax	0	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Derivatives Included In Net Income Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeTax	0	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Derivatives Included In Net Income Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeTax	0	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Derivatives Included In Net Income Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeTax	0	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	438000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	319000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	236000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	447000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Other Long Term Debt Current OtherLongTermDebtCurrent	46000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Other Long Term Debt Current OtherLongTermDebtCurrent	19000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Other Long Term Debt Noncurrent OtherLongTermDebtNoncurrent	6479000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Other Long Term Debt Noncurrent OtherLongTermDebtNoncurrent	6282000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	10000000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	7000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	3000000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	19000000	USD
	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	-3000000	USD
	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	-13000000	USD
	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	23000000	USD
	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	2000000	USD
	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends Common Stock PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	252000000	USD
	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends Common Stock PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	236000000	USD
	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Interest In Joint Venture PaymentsToAcquireInterestInJointVenture	21000000	USD
	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Productive Assets PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets	1053000000	USD
	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Productive Assets PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets	960000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Pension And Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans Liabilities Noncurrent PensionAndOtherPostretirementDefinedBenefitPlansLiabilitiesNoncurrent	842000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Pension And Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans Liabilities Noncurrent PensionAndOtherPostretirementDefinedBenefitPlansLiabilitiesNoncurrent	906000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.01
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Authorized PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	20000000	shares
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	190000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	274000000	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Commercial Paper ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommercialPaper	-41000000	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Commercial Paper ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommercialPaper	0	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Common Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock	392000000	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Common Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock	5000000	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	550000000	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	0	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	0	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	1000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	16005000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	16591000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	12158000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	11732000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Recorded Third Party Environmental Recoveries Amount RecordedThirdPartyEnvironmentalRecoveriesAmount	5400000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Recorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Due After Fifth Year RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueAfterFifthYear	410000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Recorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Due In Fifth Year RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueInFifthYear	235000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Recorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Due In Fourth Year RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueInFourthYear	388000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Recorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Due In Second Year RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueInSecondYear	499000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Recorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Due In Third Year RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueInThirdYear	498000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Recorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Due Within One Year RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueWithinOneYear	181000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Regulatory Assets Noncurrent RegulatoryAssetsNoncurrent	3446000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Regulatory Assets Noncurrent RegulatoryAssetsNoncurrent	4475000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Regulatory Liability Noncurrent RegulatoryLiabilityNoncurrent	1033000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Regulatory Liability Noncurrent RegulatoryLiabilityNoncurrent	989000000	USD
	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	909000000	USD
	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	783000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	199000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	-789000000	USD
	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	6305000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	1881000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	1908000000	USD
	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	6687000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Revenues From Transactions With Other Operating Segments Of Same Entity RevenuesFromTransactionsWithOtherOperatingSegmentsOfSameEntity	0	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Revenues From Transactions With Other Operating Segments Of Same Entity RevenuesFromTransactionsWithOtherOperatingSegmentsOfSameEntity	0	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Significant Change In Unrecognized Tax Benefits Is Reasonably Possible Estimated Range Of Change Upper Bound SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleEstimatedRangeOfChangeUpperBound	35000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	3198000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	4207000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Short Term Borrowings ShortTermBorrowings	84000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Short Term Borrowings ShortTermBorrowings	53000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Significant Change In Unrecognized Tax Benefits Is Reasonably Possible Amount Of Unrecorded Benefit SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleAmountOfUnrecordedBenefit	20000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Significant Change In Unrecognized Tax Benefits Is Reasonably Possible Amount Of Unrecorded Benefit SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleAmountOfUnrecordedBenefit	17000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Significant Change In Unrecognized Tax Benefits Is Reasonably Possible Estimated Range Of Change Lower Bound SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleEstimatedRangeOfChangeLowerBound	16000000	USD
	us-gaap	Tax Effect Of Extraordinary Item TaxEffectOfExtraordinaryItem	334000000	USD
	us-gaap	Taxes Excluding Income And Excise Taxes TaxesExcludingIncomeAndExciseTaxes	291000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Taxes Excluding Income And Excise Taxes TaxesExcludingIncomeAndExciseTaxes	86000000	USD
	us-gaap	Taxes Excluding Income And Excise Taxes TaxesExcludingIncomeAndExciseTaxes	282000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Taxes Excluding Income And Excise Taxes TaxesExcludingIncomeAndExciseTaxes	88000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Taxes Payable Current TaxesPayableCurrent	184000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Taxes Payable Current TaxesPayableCurrent	156000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares TreasuryStockShares	166	shares
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares TreasuryStockShares	166	shares
	us-gaap	Unrealized Gain Loss On Commodity Contracts UnrealizedGainLossOnCommodityContracts	14000000	USD
	us-gaap	Unrealized Gain Loss On Commodity Contracts UnrealizedGainLossOnCommodityContracts	8000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Unrealized Gain Loss On Commodity Contracts UnrealizedGainLossOnCommodityContracts	6000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Unrealized Gain Loss On Commodity Contracts UnrealizedGainLossOnCommodityContracts	19000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	252000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	52000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Interest On Income Taxes Accrued UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsInterestOnIncomeTaxesAccrued	0	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Interest On Income Taxes Accrued UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsInterestOnIncomeTaxesAccrued	12000000	USD
	us-gaap	Utilities Operating Expense Maintenance Operations And Other Costs And Expenses UtilitiesOperatingExpenseMaintenanceOperationsAndOtherCostsAndExpenses	1333000000	USD
	us-gaap	Utilities Operating Expense Maintenance Operations And Other Costs And Expenses UtilitiesOperatingExpenseMaintenanceOperationsAndOtherCostsAndExpenses	1268000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Utilities Operating Expense Maintenance Operations And Other Costs And Expenses UtilitiesOperatingExpenseMaintenanceOperationsAndOtherCostsAndExpenses	444000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Utilities Operating Expense Maintenance Operations And Other Costs And Expenses UtilitiesOperatingExpenseMaintenanceOperationsAndOtherCostsAndExpenses	448000000	USD
	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	407728000	shares
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	424968000	shares
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	428842000	shares
	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	428452000	shares
	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	425517000	shares
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	422178000	shares
	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	404957000	shares
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	425885000	shares
	cnp	Accounts Receivable And Unbilled Revenues Net AccountsReceivableAndUnbilledRevenuesNet	-245000000	USD
	cnp	Accounts Receivable And Unbilled Revenues Net AccountsReceivableAndUnbilledRevenuesNet	-434000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Cash Collateral Posted With Counterparties CashCollateralPostedWithCounterparties	32000000	USD
	cnp	Cash Paid For Debt Exchange CashPaidForDebtExchange	58000000	USD
	cnp	Cash Paid For Debt Exchange CashPaidForDebtExchange	0	USD
CY2010Q4	cnp	Accounts Receivable Net Variable Interest Entities AccountsReceivableNetVariableInterestEntities	49000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Accounts Receivable Net Variable Interest Entities AccountsReceivableNetVariableInterestEntities	73000000	USD
CY2010Q4	cnp	Accrued Unbilled Revenues AccruedUnbilledRevenues	340000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Accrued Unbilled Revenues AccruedUnbilledRevenues	160000000	USD
CY2004Q4	cnp	Amount Awarded In Final True Up Order AmountAwardedInFinalTrueUpOrder	2300000000	USD
CY2011Q2	cnp	Amount Excluded From Performance Bonus For Prior Years Program AmountExcludedFromPerformanceBonusForPriorYearsProgram	2100000	USD
CY2009Q4	cnp	Amount Of2008 Energy Efficiency Program Costs AmountOf2008EnergyEfficiencyProgramCosts	10000000	USD
CY2009Q2	cnp	Amount Of2010 Energy Efficiency Program Costs Submitted For Reimbursement AmountOf2010EnergyEfficiencyProgramCostsSubmittedForReimbursement	10000000	USD
	cnp	Amount Of Allowed Equity Return Recognized In Period AmountOfAllowedEquityReturnRecognizedInPeriod	13000000	USD
	cnp	Amount Of Allowed Equity Return Recognized In Period AmountOfAllowedEquityReturnRecognizedInPeriod	12000000	USD
CY2010Q3	cnp	Amount Of Allowed Equity Return Recognized In Period AmountOfAllowedEquityReturnRecognizedInPeriod	5000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Amount Of Allowed Equity Return Recognized In Period AmountOfAllowedEquityReturnRecognizedInPeriod	6000000	USD
CY2008	cnp	Amount Of Annual Revenue Increase Approved For Gas Operations In Service Area1 AmountOfAnnualRevenueIncreaseApprovedForGasOperationsInServiceArea1	3500000	USD
CY2010Q1	cnp	Amount Of Approved Annual Revenue Increase In Gas Operations In Service Area2 AmountOfApprovedAnnualRevenueIncreaseInGasOperationsInServiceArea2	5100000	USD
CY2011Q2	cnp	Amount Of Approved Base Rate Increase Per Year AmountOfApprovedBaseRateIncreasePerYear	14700000	USD
CY2011Q2	cnp	Amount Of Approved Decrease On Charges To Wholesale Transmission Customers AmountOfApprovedDecreaseOnChargesToWholesaleTransmissionCustomers	12300000	USD
CY2009Q4	cnp	Amount Of Bonus On2008 Energy Efficiency Program Costs Disallowed AmountOfBonusOn2008EnergyEfficiencyProgramCostsDisallowed	2000000	USD
CY2009Q3	cnp	Amount Of Carrying Costs Of Gas Inventory Excluded From Rate Increase AmountOfCarryingCostsOfGasInventoryExcludedFromRateIncrease	2000000	USD
	cnp	Amount Of Non Cash Recorded To Income Tax Expense As Result Of Change In Tax Law AmountOfNonCashRecordedToIncomeTaxExpenseAsResultOfChangeInTaxLaw	21000000	USD
CY2009Q4	cnp	Amount Of Partial Performance Bonus Approved By Texas Utility Commission Related To2010 Energy Efficiency Program AmountOfPartialPerformanceBonusApprovedByTexasUtilityCommissionRelatedTo2010EnergyEfficiencyProgram	8000000	USD
CY2010Q4	cnp	Amount Of Partial Performance Bonus Approved By Texas Utility Commission Related To2011 Energy Efficiency Program AmountOfPartialPerformanceBonusApprovedByTexasUtilityCommissionRelatedTo2011EnergyEfficiencyProgram	11000000	USD
	cnp	Amount Of Pension And Postemployment Benefits Deferred As Regulatory Asset AmountOfPensionAndPostemploymentBenefitsDeferredAsRegulatoryAsset	13000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Amount Of Pension And Postemployment Benefits Deferred As Regulatory Asset AmountOfPensionAndPostemploymentBenefitsDeferredAsRegulatoryAsset	2000000	USD
CY2010Q3	cnp	Amount Of Pension And Postemployment Benefits Deferred As Regulatory Asset AmountOfPensionAndPostemploymentBenefitsDeferredAsRegulatoryAsset	6000000	USD
	cnp	Amount Of Pension And Postemployment Benefits Deferred As Regulatory Asset AmountOfPensionAndPostemploymentBenefitsDeferredAsRegulatoryAsset	18000000	USD
CY2010Q1	cnp	Amount Of Reduction To Deferred Tax Assets Due To Actuarially Determined Net Present Value Of Lost Future Health Care Deductions AmountOfReductionToDeferredTaxAssetsDueToActuariallyDeterminedNetPresentValueOfLostFutureHealthCareDeductions	32000000	USD
CY2010Q3	cnp	Amount Of Total Gains For Period Included In Earnings AmountOfTotalGainsForPeriodIncludedInEarnings	1000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Amount Of Total Gains For Period Included In Earnings AmountOfTotalGainsForPeriodIncludedInEarnings	-1000000	USD
	cnp	Amount Of Total Gains For Period Included In Earnings AmountOfTotalGainsForPeriodIncludedInEarnings	2000000	USD
	cnp	Amount Of Total Gains For Period Included In Earnings AmountOfTotalGainsForPeriodIncludedInEarnings	4000000	USD
CY2010Q1	cnp	Approved Amount Of Surcharge In Gas Operations To Cover Storm Costs ApprovedAmountOfSurchargeInGasOperationsToCoverStormCosts	900000	USD
CY2011Q2	cnp	Approved Cost Of Debt ApprovedCostOfDebt	0.0674
CY2011Q2	cnp	Approved Percentage Of Capital Structure Based On Equity ApprovedPercentageOfCapitalStructureBasedOnEquity	0.45
CY2011Q2	cnp	Approved Percentage Of Capital Structure Based On Long Term Debt ApprovedPercentageOfCapitalStructureBasedOnLongTermDebt	0.55
CY2011Q2	cnp	Approved Percentage Of Overall Rate Of Return ApprovedPercentageOfOverallRateOfReturn	0.0821
CY2011Q2	cnp	Approved Rate Of Return On Equity ApprovedRateOfReturnOnEquity	0.1
CY2011Q2	cnp	Approved Reduction In Duration Of Residential Ams Surcharge Related To Reconciliation Plan ApprovedReductionInDurationOfResidentialAmsSurchargeRelatedToReconciliationPlan	6
CY2010Q2	cnp	Approximate Amount Of Costs Related To Energy Efficiency Programs ApproximateAmountOfCostsRelatedToEnergyEfficiencyPrograms	14400000	USD
CY2008Q1	cnp	Approximate Number Of Customers In Gas Operation In Service Area1 ApproximateNumberOfCustomersInGasOperationInServiceArea1	230000
CY2009Q3	cnp	Approximate Number Of Customers In Gas Operation In Service Area2 ApproximateNumberOfCustomersInGasOperationInServiceArea2	940000
CY2011Q1	cnp	Automatic Renewal Period For Cosa AutomaticRenewalPeriodForCosa	3
CY2011Q3	cnp	Capital Stock Shares Authorized CapitalStockSharesAuthorized	1020000000	shares
CY2010Q4	cnp	Cash And Cash Equivalents Variable Interest Entities CashAndCashEquivalentsVariableInterestEntities	198000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Cash And Cash Equivalents Variable Interest Entities CashAndCashEquivalentsVariableInterestEntities	103000000	USD
CY2010Q4	cnp	Cash Collateral Posted With Counterparties CashCollateralPostedWithCounterparties	84000000	USD
	cnp	Cash Received From Doe Grant CashReceivedFromDoeGrant	110000000	USD
	cnp	Cash Received From Doe Grant CashReceivedFromDoeGrant	58000000	USD
CY2010Q4	cnp	Collateral Netting CollateralNetting	84000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Collateral Netting CollateralNetting	32000000	USD
	cnp	Consecutive Period For System Restoration Costs To Exceed100 Million In Months ConsecutivePeriodForSystemRestorationCostsToExceed100MillionInMonths	12
	cnp	Decrease In Accrued Interest For Tax Reserves Related To Potential Normalization Violation DecreaseInAccruedInterestForTaxReservesRelatedToPotentialNormalizationViolation	9000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Decrease In Income Tax Expense For Release Of Accrued Interest Expense DecreaseInIncomeTaxExpenseForReleaseOfAccruedInterestExpense	11000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Decrease In Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reltated To Potential Normalization Violaton DecreaseInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReltatedToPotentialNormalizationViolaton	200000000	USD
	cnp	Derivative Gains And Losses In Statements Of Consolidated Income DerivativeGainsAndLossesInStatementsOfConsolidatedIncome	-43000000	USD
	cnp	Derivative Gains And Losses In Statements Of Consolidated Income DerivativeGainsAndLossesInStatementsOfConsolidatedIncome	27000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Derivative Gains And Losses In Statements Of Consolidated Income DerivativeGainsAndLossesInStatementsOfConsolidatedIncome	85000000	USD
CY2010Q3	cnp	Derivative Gains And Losses In Statements Of Consolidated Income DerivativeGainsAndLossesInStatementsOfConsolidatedIncome	-5000000	USD
	cnp	Derivative Gross Volume Basis Swaps Long Position DerivativeGrossVolumeBasisSwapsLongPosition	69	bcf
CY2010	cnp	Derivative Gross Volume Basis Swaps Long Position DerivativeGrossVolumeBasisSwapsLongPosition	63	bcf
CY2010	cnp	Derivative Gross Volume Long Position DerivativeGrossVolumeLongPosition	72	bcf
	cnp	Derivative Gross Volume Long Position DerivativeGrossVolumeLongPosition	69	bcf
	cnp	Derivative Gross Volume Segment Long Position DerivativeGrossVolumeSegmentLongPosition	10	bcf
CY2010	cnp	Derivative Gross Volume Segment Long Position DerivativeGrossVolumeSegmentLongPosition	26	bcf
CY2011Q3	cnp	Energy Efficiency Costs EnergyEfficiencyCosts	35800000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Energy Efficiency Performance Bonus EnergyEfficiencyPerformanceBonus	3600000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Equity Return Portion Of Recoverable True Up Balance After Tax EquityReturnPortionOfRecoverableTrueUpBalanceAfterTax	258000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Equity Return Portion Of Recoverable True Up Balance Pre Tax EquityReturnPortionOfRecoverableTrueUpBalancePreTax	405000000	USD
CY2011Q2	cnp	Estimated Reduction In Annual Operating Income EstimatedReductionInAnnualOperatingIncome	30000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Expense From Natural Gas Derivatives Unrealized Losses ExpenseFromNaturalGasDerivativesUnrealizedLosses	12000000	USD
	cnp	Expense From Natural Gas Derivatives Unrealized Losses ExpenseFromNaturalGasDerivativesUnrealizedLosses	31000000	USD
CY2010Q3	cnp	Expense From Natural Gas Derivatives Unrealized Losses ExpenseFromNaturalGasDerivativesUnrealizedLosses	9000000	USD
	cnp	Expense From Natural Gas Derivatives Unrealized Losses ExpenseFromNaturalGasDerivativesUnrealizedLosses	-9000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Assets Total FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisAssetsTotal	457000000	USD
CY2010Q4	cnp	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Assets Total FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisAssetsTotal	491000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Corporate Equities FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisCorporateEquities	339000000	USD
CY2010Q4	cnp	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Corporate Equities FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisCorporateEquities	368000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Liabilities Total FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisLiabilitiesTotal	223000000	USD
CY2010Q4	cnp	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Liabilities Total FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisLiabilitiesTotal	316000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Total Settlements Loss Included In Earning FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetTotalSettlementsLossIncludedInEarning	-1000000	USD
CY2010Q3	cnp	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Total Settlements Loss Included In Earning FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetTotalSettlementsLossIncludedInEarning	-2000000	USD
	cnp	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Total Settlements Loss Included In Earning FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetTotalSettlementsLossIncludedInEarning	-1000000	USD
	cnp	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Total Settlements Loss Included In Earning FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetTotalSettlementsLossIncludedInEarning	-3000000	USD
CY2010Q3	cnp	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Unrealized Gain Loss Included In Earnings FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetUnrealizedGainLossIncludedInEarnings	0	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Unrealized Gain Loss Included In Earnings FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetUnrealizedGainLossIncludedInEarnings	-1000000	USD
	cnp	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Unrealized Gain Loss Included In Earnings FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetUnrealizedGainLossIncludedInEarnings	3000000	USD
	cnp	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Unrealized Gain Loss Included In Earnings FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetUnrealizedGainLossIncludedInEarnings	2000000	USD
	cnp	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Unrealized Gain Loss Included In Regulatory Assets FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetUnrealizedGainLossIncludedInRegulatoryAssets	-1000000	USD
	cnp	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Unrealized Gain Loss Included In Regulatory Assets FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetUnrealizedGainLossIncludedInRegulatoryAssets	0	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Net Asset Liability Value FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisNetAssetLiabilityValue	3000000	USD
CY2010Q3	cnp	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Net Asset Liability Value FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisNetAssetLiabilityValue	3000000	USD
CY2010Q2	cnp	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Net Asset Liability Value FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisNetAssetLiabilityValue	5000000	USD
CY2011Q2	cnp	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Net Asset Liability Value FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisNetAssetLiabilityValue	5000000	USD
CY2010Q4	cnp	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Net Asset Liability Value FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisNetAssetLiabilityValue	3000000	USD
CY2009Q4	cnp	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Net Asset Liability Value FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisNetAssetLiabilityValue	-6000000	USD
	cnp	Gain Loss On Indexed Debt Securities GainLossOnIndexedDebtSecurities	65000000	USD
	cnp	Gain Loss On Indexed Debt Securities GainLossOnIndexedDebtSecurities	0	USD
CY2010Q3	cnp	Gain Loss On Indexed Debt Securities GainLossOnIndexedDebtSecurities	-5000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Gain Loss On Indexed Debt Securities GainLossOnIndexedDebtSecurities	88000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Guarantee Obligations Collateral Posted GuaranteeObligationsCollateralPosted	7000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Guarantee Obligations Demand Charges Present Value GuaranteeObligationsDemandChargesPresentValue	100000000	USD
	cnp	Included In Regulatory Assets Purchases Sales And Other Settlements Net IncludedInRegulatoryAssetsPurchasesSalesAndOtherSettlementsNet	9000000	USD
	cnp	Included In Regulatory Assets Purchases Sales And Other Settlements Net IncludedInRegulatoryAssetsPurchasesSalesAndOtherSettlementsNet	0	USD
	cnp	Increase Decrease In Short Term Borrowings Net IncreaseDecreaseInShortTermBorrowingsNet	31000000	USD
	cnp	Increase Decrease In Short Term Borrowings Net IncreaseDecreaseInShortTermBorrowingsNet	18000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Increase In Deferred Tax Liability IncreaseInDeferredTaxLiability	268000000	USD
CY2010Q3	cnp	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Restricted Stock IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToRestrictedStock	2242000	shares
	cnp	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Restricted Stock IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToRestrictedStock	2558000	shares
	cnp	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Restricted Stock IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToRestrictedStock	2242000	shares
CY2011Q3	cnp	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Restricted Stock IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToRestrictedStock	2558000	shares
CY2011Q3	cnp	Indexed Debt Current IndexedDebtCurrent	130000000	USD
CY2010Q4	cnp	Indexed Debt Current IndexedDebtCurrent	126000000	USD
CY2010Q4	cnp	Indexed Debt Securities Derivative IndexedDebtSecuritiesDerivative	232000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Indexed Debt Securities Derivative IndexedDebtSecuritiesDerivative	167000000	USD
CY2004Q1	cnp	Initial Amount Of True Up Application InitialAmountOfTrueUpApplication	3700000000	USD
	cnp	Interest And Taxes Accrued InterestAndTaxesAccrued	-25000000	USD
	cnp	Interest And Taxes Accrued InterestAndTaxesAccrued	-56000000	USD
	cnp	Interest On Transition And System Restoration Bonds InterestOnTransitionAndSystemRestorationBonds	106000000	USD
CY2010Q3	cnp	Interest On Transition And System Restoration Bonds InterestOnTransitionAndSystemRestorationBonds	34000000	USD
	cnp	Interest On Transition And System Restoration Bonds InterestOnTransitionAndSystemRestorationBonds	96000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Interest On Transition And System Restoration Bonds InterestOnTransitionAndSystemRestorationBonds	31000000	USD
CY2010Q4	cnp	Letters Of Credit Outstanding LettersOfCreditOutstanding	24000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Letters Of Credit Outstanding LettersOfCreditOutstanding	20000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Loss Contingency Defendants Dismissed LossContingencyDefendantsDismissed	2
CY2011Q3	cnp	Loss Contingency Kansas Gas Measurement Lawsuit Defendants LossContingencyKansasGasMeasurementLawsuitDefendants	245
CY2011Q3	cnp	Loss Contingency Lawsuit Amendments LossContingencyLawsuitAmendments	4
CY2011Q3	cnp	Loss Contingency Pending Gas Market Manipulation Lawsuits Number LossContingencyPendingGasMarketManipulationLawsuitsNumber	2
CY2011Q3	cnp	Loss Contingency Pending Measurement Lawsuit LossContingencyPendingMeasurementLawsuit	1
CY2011Q3	cnp	Loss Contingency Pending Natural Gas Measurement Lawsuits Number LossContingencyPendingNaturalGasMeasurementLawsuitsNumber	2
CY2011Q3	cnp	Loss Contingency Term Of Allegations LossContingencyTermOfAllegations	25
CY2011Q3	cnp	Loss Contingency Total Gas Market Manipulation Cases LossContingencyTotalGasMarketManipulationCases	30
CY2011Q3	cnp	Lost Revenues Associated With2010 Programs LostRevenuesAssociatedWith2010Programs	2200000	USD
	cnp	Margin Deposits Net MarginDepositsNet	-61000000	USD
	cnp	Margin Deposits Net MarginDepositsNet	38000000	USD
CY2008Q4	cnp	Number Of Cities Contesting New Rate For Gas Operations In Service Area1 NumberOfCitiesContestingNewRateForGasOperationsInServiceArea1	9
CY2008Q1	cnp	Number Of Cities In Gas Operation In Service Area1 NumberOfCitiesInGasOperationInServiceArea1	47
CY2009Q3	cnp	Number Of Cities In Gas Operation In Service Area2 NumberOfCitiesInGasOperationInServiceArea2	29
CY2011Q4	cnp	Number Of Days After Issuance Of Final Appealable Order Payment Made NumberOfDaysAfterIssuanceOfFinalAppealableOrderPaymentMade	30
	cnp	Number Of Days Subject To Appeal From Financing Order Issuance NumberOfDaysSubjectToAppealFromFinancingOrderIssuance	15
CY2011Q1	cnp	Number Of Years Cosa Initially Effective NumberOfYearsCosaInitiallyEffective	3
CY2010Q1	cnp	Number Of Years For Surcharge To Recover Storm Costs NumberOfYearsForSurchargeToRecoverStormCosts	3
CY2011Q2	cnp	Original Term Of Surcharge OriginalTermOfSurcharge	12
CY2011Q4	cnp	Payment Under Transmission Stipulation PaymentUnderTransmissionStipulation	5600000	USD
	cnp	Period Of Time For Possible Decrease In Unrecognized Tax Benefits In Months PeriodOfTimeForPossibleDecreaseInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsInMonths	12
CY2011Q2	cnp	Portion Of Application Seeking Energy Efficiency Performance Bonus Based On2010 Program Achievements PortionOfApplicationSeekingEnergyEfficiencyPerformanceBonusBasedOn2010ProgramAchievements	5800000	USD
CY2011Q2	cnp	Portion Of Application Seeking For Under Recovery Of2010 Program Costs PortionOfApplicationSeekingForUnderRecoveryOf2010ProgramCosts	500000	USD
CY2011Q2	cnp	Portion Of Application Seeking Recovery Of Energy Efficiency Program Costs PortionOfApplicationSeekingRecoveryOfEnergyEfficiencyProgramCosts	35800000	USD
CY2011Q2	cnp	Portion Of Application Seeking Recovery Of Lost Revenues Due To Verified And Reported2010 Energy Savings PortionOfApplicationSeekingRecoveryOfLostRevenuesDueToVerifiedAndReported2010EnergySavings	2200000	USD
CY2010Q4	cnp	Portion Of Requested Amount Excluded From Recovery Which Relates To Lost Revenues PortionOfRequestedAmountExcludedFromRecoveryWhichRelatesToLostRevenues	1400000	USD
CY2010Q4	cnp	Portion Of Requested Amount Excluded From Recovery Which Relates To Performance Bonus PortionOfRequestedAmountExcludedFromRecoveryWhichRelatesToPerformanceBonus	2000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Prepaid Expenses And Other Current Assets Variable Interest Entities PrepaidExpensesAndOtherCurrentAssetsVariableInterestEntities	41000000	USD
CY2010Q4	cnp	Prepaid Expenses And Other Current Assets Variable Interest Entities PrepaidExpensesAndOtherCurrentAssetsVariableInterestEntities	39000000	USD
CY2009Q3	cnp	Proposed Amount Of Annual Revenue Increase For Gas Operations In Service Area2 ProposedAmountOfAnnualRevenueIncreaseForGasOperationsInServiceArea2	20400000	USD
CY2010Q4	cnp	Receivables Facility Advance Capacity ReceivablesFacilityAdvanceCapacity	160000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Recoverable True Up Balance RecoverableTrueUpBalance	1695000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Reduction In Unrecognized Tax Benefits Related To Balance As Of12312010 ReductionInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsRelatedToBalanceAsOf12312010	211000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Reduction In Unrecognized Tax Benefits Related To Balance As Of6302011 ReductionInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsRelatedToBalanceAsOf6302011	68000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Reduction To Liability For Unrecognized Tax Benefits Recorded ReductionToLiabilityForUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsRecorded	279000000	USD
CY2010Q4	cnp	Regulatory Assets Variable Interest Entities RegulatoryAssetsVariableInterestEntities	2597000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Regulatory Assets Variable Interest Entities RegulatoryAssetsVariableInterestEntities	2352000000	USD
	cnp	Return On True Up Balance ReturnOnTrueUpBalance	352000000	USD
CY2010Q3	cnp	Return On True Up Balance ReturnOnTrueUpBalance	0	USD
	cnp	Return On True Up Balance ReturnOnTrueUpBalance	0	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Return On True Up Balance ReturnOnTrueUpBalance	352000000	USD
	cnp	Return On True Up Balance After Tax ReturnOnTrueUpBalanceAfterTax	224000000	USD
	cnp	Sales Revenue From Natural Gas Derivatives Unrealized Gains SalesRevenueFromNaturalGasDerivativesUnrealizedGains	-1000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Sales Revenue From Natural Gas Derivatives Unrealized Gains SalesRevenueFromNaturalGasDerivativesUnrealizedGains	18000000	USD
CY2010Q3	cnp	Sales Revenue From Natural Gas Derivatives Unrealized Gains SalesRevenueFromNaturalGasDerivativesUnrealizedGains	28000000	USD
	cnp	Sales Revenue From Natural Gas Derivatives Unrealized Gains SalesRevenueFromNaturalGasDerivativesUnrealizedGains	45000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Site Contingency Completed Remediation SiteContingencyCompletedRemediation	2
	cnp	Site Contingency Estimated Time Frame To Resolve Contingency High Estimate SiteContingencyEstimatedTimeFrameToResolveContingencyHighEstimate	50
	cnp	Site Contingency Estimated Time Frame To Resolve Contingency Low Estimate SiteContingencyEstimatedTimeFrameToResolveContingencyLowEstimate	30
	cnp	Site Contingency Loss Exposure High Estimate SiteContingencyLossExposureHighEstimate	41000000	USD
	cnp	Site Contingency Loss Exposure Low Estimate SiteContingencyLossExposureLowEstimate	6000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Site Contingency Remaining Minnesota Sites SiteContingencyRemainingMinnesotaSites	5
	cnp	Site Contingency Remediation Costs Included In Rates SiteContingencyRemediationCostsIncludedInRates	285000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Site Contingency Sites Without Liability SiteContingencySitesWithoutLiability	2
CY2011Q3	cnp	Tcso Annual Revenue Increase TcsoAnnualRevenueIncrease	3400000	USD
CY2011Q2	cnp	Total Amount Of Application Seeking Approval Of Recovery Of Various Costs TotalAmountOfApplicationSeekingApprovalOfRecoveryOfVariousCosts	44300000	USD
CY2010Q4	cnp	Transition And System Restoration Bonds Long Term Debt Current TransitionAndSystemRestorationBondsLongTermDebtCurrent	283000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Transition And System Restoration Bonds Long Term Debt Current TransitionAndSystemRestorationBondsLongTermDebtCurrent	307000000	USD
CY2010Q4	cnp	Transition And System Restoration Bonds Long Term Debt Non Current TransitionAndSystemRestorationBondsLongTermDebtNonCurrent	2522000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Transition And System Restoration Bonds Long Term Debt Non Current TransitionAndSystemRestorationBondsLongTermDebtNonCurrent	2215000000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Under Recovery Of2010 Program Costs UnderRecoveryOf2010ProgramCosts	500000	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Weather Hedges Gain Loss Recognized WeatherHedgesGainLossRecognized	0	USD
	cnp	Weather Hedges Gain Loss Recognized WeatherHedgesGainLossRecognized	5000000	USD
CY2010Q3	cnp	Weather Hedges Gain Loss Recognized WeatherHedgesGainLossRecognized	0	USD
	cnp	Weather Hedges Term WeatherHedgesTerm	10
	cnp	Unrealized Loss Gain On Indexed Debt Securities UnrealizedLossGainOnIndexedDebtSecurities	65000000	USD
	cnp	Unrealized Loss Gain On Indexed Debt Securities UnrealizedLossGainOnIndexedDebtSecurities	0	USD
CY2011Q3	cnp	Unrecognized Amount Of Allowed Equity Return UnrecognizedAmountOfAllowedEquityReturn	165000000	USD
	dei	Document Period End Date DocumentPeriodEndDate	2011-09-30
	dei	Document Type DocumentType	10-Q
	dei	Entity Central Index Key EntityCentralIndexKey	0001130310
CY2011Q4	dei	Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding	425932721000	shares
	dei	Entity Current Reporting Status EntityCurrentReportingStatus	Yes
	dei	Entity Filer Category EntityFilerCategory	Large Accelerated Filer
CY2010Q2	dei	Entity Public Float EntityPublicFloat	5507110378000000	USD
	dei	Entity Registrant Name EntityRegistrantName	CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC.
	dei	Entity Voluntary Filers EntityVoluntaryFilers	No
	dei	Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer EntityWellKnownSeasonedIssuer	Yes

Files In Submission

Name	View Source	Status
0001130310-11-000061-index-headers.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001130310-11-000061-index.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001130310-11-000061.txt	Edgar Link	pending
0001130310-11-000061-xbrl.zip	Edgar Link	pending
cnp-20110930.xml	Edgar Link	completed
cnp-20110930.xsd	Edgar Link	pending
cnp-20110930_cal.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
cnp-20110930_def.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
cnp-20110930_lab.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
cnp-20110930_pre.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
cnp_10qx9302011.htm	Edgar Link	pending
cnp_exhibit12x9302011.htm	Edgar Link	pending
cnp_exhibit311x9302011.htm	Edgar Link	pending
cnp_exhibit312x9302011.htm	Edgar Link	pending
cnp_exhibit321x9302011.htm	Edgar Link	pending
cnp_exhibit322x9302011.htm	Edgar Link	pending
FilingSummary.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
Financial_Report.xls	Edgar Link	pending
R1.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R10.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R11.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R12.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R13.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R14.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R15.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R16.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R17.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R18.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R19.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R2.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R20.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R21.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R22.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R23.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R24.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R25.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R26.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R27.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R28.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R29.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R3.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R30.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R31.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R32.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R33.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R34.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R35.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R36.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R37.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R38.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R39.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R4.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R40.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R41.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R42.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R5.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R6.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R7.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R8.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R9.htm	Edgar Link	pending
report.css	Edgar Link	pending
Show.js	Edgar Link	pending

Create your account

Find Stocks Worth Researching

Deeply Understand Businesses

Value Businesses Intelligently

$CNP
CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC Stock $cnp

2011 Q4 Form 10-Q Financial Statement

#000113031011000061 Filed on November 02, 2011

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$CNP CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC Stock $cnp

2011 Q4 Form 10-Q Financial Statement

#000113031011000061 Filed on November 02, 2011

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$CNP
CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC Stock $cnp