Long-term Debt (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Debt [Table Text Block]

	December 31, 2011				December 31, 2012
	Long-Term		Current(1)		Long-Term			Current(1)
	(in millions)
Long-term debt:
First mortgage bonds 9.15% due 2021(2)	$	102	$	—	$	102		$	—
General mortgage bonds 2.25% to 6.95% due 2013 to 2042(2)	1,762		—		1,312			450
Pollution control bonds 4.25% to 5.60% due 2017 to 2027(3)	183		46		183			—
System restoration bonds 1.833% to 4.243% due 2013 to 2022	556		45		510			46
Transition bonds 0.90% to 5.63% due 2013 to 2024	1,659		262		2,890			401
Other	—		—		(2		)	—
Total long-term debt	$	4,262	$	353	$	4,995		$	897

  ____________

(1) Includes amounts due or scheduled to be paid within one year of the date noted.

(2) Debt issued as collateral is excluded from the financial statements because of the contingent nature of the obligation.

(3) These series of debt are secured by CenterPoint Houston’s general mortgage bonds.

Schedule of Line of Credit Facilities [Table Text Block]

Revolving Credit Facility. As of December 31, 2011 and 2012, CenterPoint Houston had the following revolving credit facility and utilization of such facility (in millions):

December 31, 2011						December 31, 2012
Size of Facility		Loans		Letters of Credit		Size of Facility		Loans		Letters of Credit
$	300	$	—	$	4	$	300	$	—	$	4