Texas Genco, CenterPoint Energy, Inc.'s wholly owned subsidiary, announced today that it will mothball 3,400 MW of gas-fired generation through at least May of 2003. Texas Genco has requested that the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) determine which, if any, of the mothballed plants are required for reliability purposes. A mothballed plant is one taken out of service because the market no longer needs its output, but can be returned to service if market conditions change. The company is evaluating the magnitude and timing of potential impact to its workforce.

"The current surplus of generating capacity in ERCOT, coupled with the lack of bids for these units in our previous capacity auctions, has caused us to take this action," said David Tees, president and chief executive officer of Texas Genco. "The company will still offer an adequate amount of gas-fired capacity in our upcoming auctions for retail energy providers and other purchasers."

Texas Genco owns over 14,000 MW of electric generation, fueled by natural gas, coal, lignite and nuclear fuels. The mothballed units represent about a third of Texas Genco's total gas-fired capacity. Additional gas-fired facilities could be mothballed if the market demand is insufficient. The company believes its decision to mothball these plants will have no effect on the adequacy of electricity in Texas.

  The plants, all located in the South Texas area, are included below:

   Plant                        MW       Location in Texas
   P.H. Robinson Units 1-4    2,213      Bacliff
   Green Bayou Unit 5           406      Houston
   Webster Unit 3               374      Webster
   T.H. Wharton Unit 2          229      Houston
   Deepwater Unit 7             174      Pasadena

CenterPoint Energy, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a domestic energy delivery company that includes electricity transmission and distribution, natural gas distribution and sales, interstate pipeline and gathering operations, and more than 14,000 megawatts of power generation in Texas. The company serves nearly five million customers in 11 states with assets totaling nearly $19 billion.

CenterPoint Energy became the new holding company for the regulated operations of the former Reliant Energy, Inc. in August 2002.

With more than 11,000 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 130 years. For more information, visit our Web site at http://www.centerpointenergy.com/ .

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SOURCE: CenterPoint Energy, Inc.