A new study from J.D. Power and Associates has named two of CenterPoint Energy's natural gas delivery units as among the highest ranked in the nation. In its first-ever residential customer satisfaction study of local natural gas utilities in the U.S., J.D. Power and Associates named CenterPoint Energy Minnegasco an award recipient. CenterPoint Energy Entex also performed very well, tying for fourth highest in the nation.

CenterPoint Energy, formerly the regulated arm of Reliant Energy, was among the nation's 50 largest local gas distribution companies studied by J.D. Power and Associates. J.D. Power and Associates' "2002 Gas Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study"(SM) ranked each company based on its overall Customer Satisfaction Index score (CSI). The CSI was based on five factors: company image, price and value, billing and payment, field service and customer service.

"We're delighted with today's news," said Steve Schaeffer, CenterPoint Energy Executive Vice President and Group President for the company's gas distribution units. "Our employees have long been committed to providing outstanding service and value to our customers, and today's study tells us that customers appreciate the effort."

CenterPoint Energy Minnegasco, with a score of 104, tied with Consumers Energy as award recipients with the highest CSI marks in the Midwestern Region. With a CSI score of 107, CenterPoint Energy Entex tied for the third highest score in the South and the fourth highest score in the nation. The average national CSI score was 100.

The 2002 Gas Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study (SM) is based on over 9,000 telephone interviews with residential customers of the 50 largest local gas distribution companies throughout the continental United States. The responses were collected during June and July of 2002.

J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing firm whose quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of customers annually.

About CenterPoint Energy Entex:

CenterPoint Energy Entex serves more than 550,000 customers in 337 communities in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. In Houston, CenterPoint Energy Entex conducts business under the name "CenterPoint Energy."

About CenterPoint Energy Minnegasco:

Headquartered in Minneapolis, CenterPoint Energy Minnegasco is Minnesota's largest natural gas distribution company, serving approximately 700,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in over 240 communities. The company also provides non-regulated services through its Home Service Plus(R) business, offering a broad range of home services including: heating, cooling and appliance repair and maintenance service plans; locally monitored home security systems; sales of heating and air conditioning equipment; and other home comfort products.

About CenterPoint Energy:

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 primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. Assets total nearly $19 billion. CenterPoint Energy became the new holding company for the regulated operations of the former Reliant Energy, Incorporated 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 www.CenterPointEnergy.com .

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SOURCE: CenterPoint Energy, Inc.