1.0.0.3 false (15) Subsequent Events false 1 $ false false u000 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 u002 Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 2 Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract] 0 cnp_NotesToFinancialStatementsAbstract cnp false na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 3 Subsequent Events 1 us-gaap_ScheduleOfSubsequentEventsTextBlock us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 <div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(15)    Subsequent Events</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">On January 21, 2010, CenterPoint Energy’s board of directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.195 per share of common stock payable on March 10, 2010, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 16, 2010.</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"> </div> </div> (15)    Subsequent Events On January 21, 2010, CenterPoint Energy’s board of directors declared a regular false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false false 1 2 false UnKnown UnKnown UnKnown false true