Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes [Text Block]	Income Taxes The effective tax rate reported for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was 36% compared to 37% for the same period in 2016. Houston Electric reported no uncertain tax liability as of March 31, 2017 and expects no significant change to the uncertain tax liability over the next twelve months. Tax years through 2014 have been audited and settled with the IRS. For the 2015-2017 tax years, CenterPoint Energy is a participant in the IRS’s Compliance Assurance Process.

Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Income Taxes

The effective tax rate reported for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was 36% compared to 37% for the same period in 2016.

Houston Electric reported no uncertain tax liability as of March 31, 2017 and expects no significant change to the uncertain tax liability over the next twelve months. Tax years through 2014 have been audited and settled with the IRS. For the 2015-2017 tax years, CenterPoint Energy is a participant in the IRS’s Compliance Assurance Process.