CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Net income (Loss)	$ 105	$ 195	$ (1,094)	$ 364
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Adjustment to pension and other postretirement plans, net of tax	1	2	2	3
Net deferred gain (loss) from cash flow hedges, net of tax	0	0	0	(1)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), Reclassification, after Tax	0	0	0	(1)
Reclassification of net deferred losses from cash flow hedges	15	0	15	0
Other comprehensive loss from unconsolidated affiliates, net of tax	0	0	(3)	0
Total	16	2	14	3
Comprehensive Income Net of Tax Before Preferred Stock Dividend	121	197	(1,080)	367
Income allocated to preferred shareholders	46	30	75	59
Comprehensive income (loss)	75	167	(1,155)	308
Houston Electric [Member]
Net income (Loss)	87	100	120	127
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Net deferred gain (loss) from cash flow hedges, net of tax	0	0	0	(1)
Reclassification of net deferred losses from cash flow hedges	15	0	15	0
Other comprehensive loss from unconsolidated affiliates, net of tax			0	0
Total	15	0	15	(1)
Comprehensive income (loss)	102	100	135	126
CERC Corp [Member]
Net income (Loss)	13	28	80	166
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Other comprehensive loss from unconsolidated affiliates, net of tax			0	0
Total			0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 13	$ 28	$ 80	$ 166