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Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]  
Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures [Table Text Block]
Houston Electric’s employees participate in CenterPoint Energy’s postretirement benefit plan. Houston Electric’s net periodic cost includes the following components relating to postretirement benefits:
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
(in millions)
Interest cost
 
$
3

 
$
3

Expected return on plan assets
 
(1
)
 
(2
)
Amortization of prior service credit
 
(1
)
 
—

Amortization of net loss
 
—

 
1

Net periodic cost
 
$
1

 
$
2