Repurchase price of debt obligations expressed as a percentage of principal amount

No definition available.

Name:	cehe_ExtinguishmentOfDebtPurchasePricePercentageOfPrincipal
Namespace Prefix:	cehe_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

First Mortgage Bonds Retired

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

First Mortgage Bonds Used as Collateral

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cehe_FirstMortgageBondsUsedAsCollateral
Namespace Prefix:	cehe_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

General mortgage bonds used as collateral

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cehe_GeneralMortgageBondsUsedAsCollateral
Namespace Prefix:	cehe_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage on limitation of debt to total capitalization under covenant.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cehe_PercentageOnLimitationOfDebtToTotalCapitalizationUnderCovenantInHundredths
Namespace Prefix:	cehe_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Gross amount of debt extinguished.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAmountOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Description of the interest rate for the amounts borrowed under the credit facility, including the terms and the method for determining the interest rate (for example, fixed or variable, LIBOR plus a percentage, increasing rate, timing of interest rate resets, remarketing provisions).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Long-term Debt (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified			9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Line of Credit [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Line of Credit [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 August 1st, 2013 [Member] CenterPoint Energy [Member] Bonds Pollution Control Due2015 Member	Sep. 30, 2013 August 1st, 2013 [Member] CenterPoint Houston [Member] Intercompany note payable	Sep. 30, 2013 August 1st, 2013 [Member] CenterPoint Houston [Member] Bonds First Mortgage Due2015 Member [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 October 15th, 2013 [Member] CenterPoint Energy [Member] Bonds Pollution Control Due2015 Member	Sep. 30, 2013 October 15th, 2013 [Member] CenterPoint Houston [Member] Intercompany note payable	Sep. 30, 2013 October 15th, 2013 [Member] CenterPoint Houston [Member] Bonds First Mortgage Due2015 Member [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity			$ 300	$ 300
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate Description			London Interbank Offered Rate plus 125
Loans Outstanding			0	0
Letters Of Credit Outstanding			4	4
Percentage on limitation of debt to total capitalization under covenant (in hundredths)			65.00%
First Mortgage Bonds Used as Collateral	59	151
General mortgage bonds used as collateral	408	408
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount					92	92		59	59
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage						4.00%			4.00%
Extinguishment Of Debt Purchase Price Percentage Of Principal						101.00%			101.00%
First Mortgage Bonds Retired							$ 92			$ 59