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(Parent Company) Statements of Comprehensive Income (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2419401 - Disclosure - Schedule I: Financial Information of CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (Parent Company) Statements of Income (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2120100 - Disclosure - Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2420401 - Disclosure - Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2112100 - Disclosure - Short Term Borrowings and Long Term Debt link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2412403 - Disclosure - Short Term Borrowings and Long Term Debt (Long-term Debt) (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2412402 - Disclosure - Short Term Borrowings and Long Term Debt (Schedule of Debt) (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2312301 - Disclosure - Short Term Borrowings and Long Term Debt (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 1006000 - Statement - STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 1002000 - Statement - STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE INCOME link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 1003500 - Statement - STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Parenthetical) STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Parentheticals) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 1001000 - Statement - STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 1007000 - Statement - STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 1008500 - Statement - STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Parenthetical) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2106100 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plans and Employee Benefit Plans link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2406405 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plans and Employee Benefit Plans (Change in Control Agreements and Other Employee Matters) (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2406403 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plans and Employee Benefit Plans (Pension and Postretirement Benefits) (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2406404 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plans and Employee Benefit Plans (Plan Assets) (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2406402 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plans and Employee Benefit Plans (Stock Based Incentive Compensation) (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2306301 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plans and Employee Benefit Plans (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2118100 - Disclosure - Subsequent Events link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2418401 - Disclosure - Subsequent Events (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2102100 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2402403 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2202201 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2302302 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2116100 - Disclosure - Unaudited Quarterly Information link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2416402 - Disclosure - Unaudited Quarterly Information (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2316301 - Disclosure - Unaudited Quarterly Information (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2409402 - Disclosure - Unconsolidated Affiliates (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2409403 - Disclosure - Unconsolidated Affiliates Financial Data (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2109100 - Disclosure - Unconsolidated Affiliates (Notes) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2309301 - Disclosure - Unconsolidated Affiliates (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink