CenterPoint Energy, Inc. today reported net income of $54 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2005 compared to $57 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, for the same period of 2004.

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Net income for the second quarter of 2005 included an extraordinary gain of $30 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, reflecting an adjustment to the extraordinary loss recorded in the second half of 2004 to write-down generation-related regulatory assets as a result of the final orders issued by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC). In addition, net income for the second quarter of 2005 included a loss of $3 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, from discontinued operations compared to income of $60 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, from discontinued operations for the second quarter of 2004.

Income from continuing operations before extraordinary item for the second quarter of 2005 was $27 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, compared to a loss of $3 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2004. The second quarter of 2005 included after-tax income of $23 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, related to interest on the company's authorized true- up balance.

"Our core energy delivery businesses had another quarter of solid operating and financial performance," said David M. McClanahan, president and chief executive officer of CenterPoint Energy. "We continue to make good progress towards enhancing the performance of each of our core businesses and positioning them for the future. I am also pleased that a final order from the Texas Public Utility Commission will allow us to begin recovering a portion of our stranded cost true-up balance through a competition transition charge to be implemented in the fall."

For the six months ended June 30, 2005, net income was $121 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, compared to $131 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, for the same period of 2004. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2005, included the extraordinary gain of $30 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, reflecting the adjustment to the extraordinary loss discussed above. In addition, net income for the six months ended June 30, 2005, included a loss of $3 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, from discontinued operations compared to income of $105 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, from discontinued operations for the same period of 2004.

Income from continuing operations before extraordinary item for the six months ended June 30, 2005, was $94 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, compared to $26 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, for the same period of 2004. The six months ended June 30, 2005, included after-tax income of $45 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, related to interest on the company's authorized true-up balance.

   OPERATING INCOME BY SEGMENT DETAILED

  Electric Transmission & Distribution

The electric transmission & distribution segment reported operating income of $122 million in the second quarter of 2005, consisting of $113 million for the regulated electric transmission & distribution utility (TDU) and $9 million for the transition bond company, which is an amount sufficient to pay interest on the transition bonds. Operating income for the second quarter of 2004 totaled $127 million, consisting of $118 million for the TDU and $9 million for the transition bond company.

The TDU's revenues continued to benefit from solid customer growth, with over 48,000 metered customers added since June 30, 2004. Revenues also increased from favorable weather, increased usage and higher transmission cost recovery. Operation and maintenance expenses for the second quarter of 2004 reflected the impact of a $15 million partial reversal of a reserve related to the final fuel reconciliation of the formerly integrated electric utility. Excluding this impact, operation and maintenance expenses were $13 million greater than the prior year primarily due to higher tree trimming and transmission costs. Reduced pension expenses partially offset other expense increases. Taxes other than income taxes increased primarily due to higher state and local taxes.

Operating income for the six months ended June 30, 2005, was $202 million, consisting of $184 million for the TDU and $18 million for the transition bond company. Operating income for the same period of 2004 totaled $212 million, consisting of $193 million for the TDU and $19 million for the transition bond company.

Natural Gas Distribution

The natural gas distribution segment reported operating income of $19 million for the second quarter of 2005, compared to $23 million for the same period of 2004. The impacts of rate increases, continued customer growth with the addition of nearly 47,000 customers since June 30, 2004, and higher income from the company's competitive natural gas sales business were offset by decreased throughput. Operation and maintenance expenses remained flat in the second quarter of 2005 compared to the same period of 2004, primarily due to a decrease in benefit and pension expenses and the capitalization of previously incurred restructuring expenses as allowed by a recent regulatory order, which offset other expense increases. Depreciation expense increased in the quarter compared to the prior year due to higher plant balances.

Operating income for the six months ended June 30, 2005, was $158 million compared to $140 million for the same period of 2004.

Pipelines and Gathering

The pipelines and gathering segment reported operating income of $52 million for the second quarter of 2005 compared to $42 million for the same period of 2004. The improvement in operating income for the quarter, largely driven by continuing favorable market dynamics, resulted primarily from higher operating margins in the pipeline business driven by increased demand for transportation and ancillary services. In addition, the company's core gas gathering operations benefited from increased throughput and demand for its services.

Operating income for the six months ended June 30, 2005, was $116 million compared to $87 million for the same period of 2004.

Other Operations

The company's other operations reported an operating loss of $7 million for the second quarter of 2005 compared to an operating loss of $6 million for the same period of 2004.

The operating loss for the six months ended June 30, 2005, was $14 million compared to an operating loss of $13 million for the same period of 2004.

PARTIAL RECOVERY OF TRUE-UP BALANCE

On July 14, 2005, the company received an order from the PUC allowing it to impose a competition transition charge (CTC) on retail electric providers to collect a portion of its approved true-up balance totaling approximately $570 million over 14 years, plus interest at an annual rate of 11.075 percent. Based on the accrual of interest provided for in the CTC order, the company expects that this amount will increase to approximately $600 million by the end of the third quarter, which is when the CTC is expected to be implemented. The CTC order also allows the company to collect approximately $24 million of rate case expenses over three years. The company cannot implement the CTC until the PUC takes final action on the motions for rehearing.

NEW CREDIT FACILITY

In June 2005, the company's natural gas distribution, pipelines and gathering operations subsidiary, CenterPoint Energy Resources, Corp. (CERC), closed on a five-year, $400 million revolving bank credit facility, replacing a three-year, $250 million facility due to mature in 2007. The new facility has a fully drawn cost of LIBOR plus 65 basis points at existing credit ratings, versus LIBOR plus 150 basis points for the facility it replaced.

WEBCAST OF EARNINGS CONFERENCE CALL

CenterPoint Energy's management will host an earnings conference call on Monday, August 8, 2005, at 10:30 a.m. Central time or 11:30 a.m. Eastern time. Interested parties may listen to a live, audio broadcast of the conference call at http://www.centerpointenergy.com/investors/events . A replay of the call can be accessed approximately two hours after the completion of the call, and will be archived on the web site for at least one year.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission & distribution, natural gas distribution and sales, interstate pipeline and gathering operations. The company serves nearly five million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. Assets total approximately $16 billion. With more than 9,000 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 130 years. For more information, visit the Web site at http://www.centerpointenergy.com/ .

This news release includes forward-looking statements. Actual events and results may differ materially from those projected. The statements in this news release regarding future financial performance and results of operations and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect actual results include the timing and outcome of the true-up proceeding and any legal proceedings related thereto, the timing and impact of future regulatory and legislative decisions, effects of competition, weather variations, changes in CenterPoint Energy's or its subsidiaries' business plans, financial market conditions, the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices, particularly natural gas, the impact of unplanned facility outages and other factors discussed in CenterPoint Energy's and its subsidiaries' Form 10-Ks for the period ended December 31, 2004, Form 10-Qs for the periods ended March 31, 2005 and June 30, 2005, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                    Statements of Consolidated Income
                          (Thousands of Dollars)
                               (Unaudited)

                                     Quarter Ended       Six Months Ended
                                        June 30,              June 30,
                                ---------------------  ---------------------
                                    2005       2004       2005       2004
                                ----------  ---------  ---------  ----------

  Revenues:
    Electric Transmission &
     Distribution                 $414,057   $375,250   $759,051   $705,563
    Natural Gas Distribution     1,429,692  1,244,985  3,759,924  3,376,317
    Pipelines and Gathering        125,015    113,397    245,796    215,800
    Other Operations                 4,010      2,891     10,689      5,780
    Eliminations                   (40,518)   (36,141)   (81,396)   (75,260)
       Total                     1,932,256  1,700,382  4,694,064  4,228,200

  Expenses:
    Natural gas                  1,192,626  1,010,613  3,140,962  2,772,490
    Operation and maintenance      324,776    297,638    637,847    613,480
    Depreciation and amortization  135,837    120,074    265,610    236,292
    Taxes other than income taxes   92,705     86,176    187,366    180,164
       Total                     1,745,944  1,514,501  4,231,785  3,802,426
  Operating Income                 186,312    185,881    462,279    425,774

  Other Income (Expense):
    Gain (loss) on Time Warner
     investment                    (18,177)    15,581    (59,291)    (8,872)
    Gain (loss) on indexed debt
     securities                     23,819    (17,891)    63,348      9,123
    Interest and other finance
     charges                      (179,652)  (188,984)  (352,992)  (371,957)
    Interest on transition bonds    (9,077)    (9,547)   (18,297)   (19,221)
    Return on true-up balance       35,475        ---     69,557        ---
    Other - net                      6,936     12,425     10,748     13,932
       Total                      (140,676)  (188,416)  (286,927)  (376,995)

  Income (Loss) from Continuing
   Operations Before Income Taxes
   and Extraordinary Item           45,636     (2,535)   175,352     48,779

  Income Tax Expense               (17,931)      (191)   (80,995)   (22,607)

  Income (Loss) from Continuing
   Operations Before
   Extraordinary Item               27,705     (2,726)    94,357     26,172

  Discontinued Operations:
    Income (Loss) from Texas
     Genco, net of tax              (2,988)    75,636     10,685    131,922
    Minority Interest related to
     Texas Genco, net of tax           ---    (15,258)       ---    (26,855)
    Loss on Disposal of Texas
     Genco, net of tax                (735)       ---    (13,972)       ---
       Total                        (3,723)    60,378     (3,287)   105,067

  Income Before Extraordinary
   Item                             23,982     57,652     91,070    131,239

  Extraordinary Item, net of tax    30,441        ---     30,441        ---

  Net Income                       $54,423    $57,652   $121,511   $131,239

 Reference is made to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
 contained in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.



                CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries
           Selected Data From Statements of Consolidated Income
             (Thousands of Dollars, Except Per Share Amounts)
                               (Unaudited)

                                      Quarter Ended       Six Months Ended
                                        June 30,              June 30,
                                   ------------------    ------------------
                                     2005       2004      2005       2004
                                   --------  --------    -------    -------

  Basic Earnings Per
   Common Share:
    Income (Loss) from
     Continuing Operations          $0.09     $(0.01)    $0.30      $0.09
    Income (Loss) from
     Discontinued Operations        (0.01)      0.20     (0.01)      0.34
    Extraordinary Item,
     net of tax                      0.10        ---      0.10        ---
    Net Income                      $0.18      $0.19     $0.39      $0.43

  Diluted Earnings Per Common
   Share:
    Income from Continuing
     Operations                     $0.09     $(0.01)    $0.28      $0.08
    Income (Loss) from
     Discontinued Operations        (0.01)      0.20     (0.01)      0.34
    Extraordinary Item, net of
     tax                             0.08        ---      0.08        ---
    Net Income                      $0.16      $0.19     $0.35      $0.42

  Dividends Declared per
   Common Share                     $0.07 (A)  $0.10     $0.27 (A)  $0.20

  Weighted Average Common
   Shares Outstanding (000):
    - Basic                       309,098    307,250   308,786    306,631
    - Diluted                     361,436    309,638   361,076    308,977


  Operating Income (Loss) by
   Segment

  Electric Transmission &
   Distribution:
    Transmission & Distribution
     Operations                  $113,190   $117,822  $183,799   $193,129
    Transition Bond Company         8,932      9,498    18,015     19,106
       Total Electric Transmission
        & Distribution            122,122    127,320   201,814    212,235
  Natural Gas Distribution         19,038     22,775   158,531    139,399
  Pipelines and Gathering          52,079     42,236   116,110     87,092
  Other Operations                 (6,927)    (6,450)  (14,176)   (12,952)

  Total                          $186,312   $185,881  $462,279   $425,774


   (A) On January 26, 2005, the Company's board of directors declared a
       dividend of $0.10 per share of common stock payable on March 10, 2005
       to shareholders of record as of the close of business on
       February 16, 2005.  On March 3, 2005, the Company's board of
       directors declared a dividend of $0.10 per share of common stock
       payable on March 31, 2005 to shareholders of record as of the close
       of business on March 16, 2005.  This additional first quarter
       dividend was declared in lieu of the regular second quarter dividend
       to address technical restrictions that might limit the Company's
       ability to pay a regular dividend during the second quarter of this
       year.  On June 2, 2005, the Company's board of directors declared a
       dividend of $0.07 per share of common stock payable on June 30, 2005
       to shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 15,
       2005.

 Reference is made to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
 contained in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.



                CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                     Results of Operations by Segment
                          (Millions of Dollars)
                               (Unaudited)

                                     Electric Transmission & Distribution
                                  ------------------------------------------
                                    Quarter Ended     Six Months Ended
                                     June 30,    % Diff    June 30,  % Diff
                                  --------------   Fav/  -----------   Fav/
                                    2005   2004  (Unfav) 2005   2004 (Unfav)
                                  ------- ------ ------- ----- ----- -------
  Results of Operations:

  Electric transmission and
   distribution revenues            $388   $357     9%   $711   $672    6%

  Electric transmission and
   distribution expenses:
     Operation and maintenance       153    125   (22%)   291    258  (13%)
     Depreciation and amortization    64     63    (2%)   128    123   (4%)
     Taxes other than income taxes    58     51   (14%)   108     98  (10%)
       Total electric transmission
        and distribution expenses    275    239   (15%)   527    479  (10%)
  Operating Income - Electric
   transmission and distribution
   utility                           113    118    (4%)   184    193   (5%)
  Operating Income - Transition
   bond company                        9      9    ---     18     19   (5%)
  Total Segment Operating Income    $122   $127    (4%)  $202   $212   (5%)


  Electric Transmission
   & Distribution          Quarter Ended            Six Months Ended
  Operating Data:             June 30,                   June 30,
                      ---------------------       ---------------------
  Actual MWH Delivered    2005       2004            2005       2004
                      ----------  ---------       ---------- ----------
  Residential          6,593,895  5,800,958  14%  10,735,559 10,202,783  5%
  Total               18,956,313 18,545,202   2%  34,782,627 34,065,288  2%

  Weather (average for
   service area):
  Percentage of normal:
     Cooling degree
      days               103%       100%      3%     105%        100%    5%
     Heating degree
      days                47%       100%    (53%)     76%         86%  (10%)

  Average number of
   metered customers:
     Residential       1,675,573  1,634,202   3%   1,668,447  1,628,074  2%
     Total             1,904,090  1,856,846   3%   1,895,556  1,849,762  2%

 Reference is made to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
 contained in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.



                CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                     Results of Operations by Segment
                          (Millions of Dollars)
                               (Unaudited)

                                    Natural Gas Distribution
                         ---------------------------------------------------
                            Quarter Ended             Six Months Ended
                               June 30,    % Diff         June 30,   % Diff
                         -----------------   Fav/     --------------   Fav/
                            2005      2004 (Unfav)    2005       2004(Unfav)
                         --------    ----- -------   ------     ----- ------
  Results of Operations:
  Revenues                $1,430     $1,245  15%     $3,760     $3,376  11%
  Expenses:
    Natural gas            1,213      1,027 (18%)     3,188      2,816 (13%)
    Operation
     and maintenance         133        133  ---        273        283   4%
    Depreciation
     and amortization         39         35 (11%)        77         70 (10%)
    Taxes other than
     income taxes             26         27   4%         64         67   4%
       Total               1,411      1,222 (15%)     3,602      3,236 (11%)
  Operating Income           $19        $23 (17%)      $158       $140  13%

  Natural Gas Distribution
   Operating Data:
  Throughput data in BCF
  Residential                 21         21  ---         98        106  (8%)
  Commercial and Industrial   43         49 (12%)       120        132  (9%)
  Non-rate regulated         148        167 (11%)       331        306   8%
  Elimination                (29)       (63) 54%        (78)       (73) (7%)
    Total Throughput         183        174   5%        471        471  ---


  Weather (average for
   service area)
  Percentage of normal:
    Heating degree days       86%        92% (6%)        91%        96% (5%)


  Average number
   of customers:
    Residential        2,833,773  2,793,297   1%  2,842,645  2,802,379   1%
    Commercial
     and Industrial      246,032    242,111   2%    247,429    244,388   1%
    Non-rate regulated     6,533      6,265   4%      6,522      6,228   5%
       Total           3,086,338  3,041,673   1%  3,096,596  3,052,995   1%




                                           Pipelines and Gathering
                                 ------------------------------------------
                                  Quarter Ended       Six Months Ended
                                     June 30,   % Diff    June 30,   % Diff
                                 --------------   Fav/  -------------  Fav/
                                   2005   2004  (Unfav)  2005   2004 (Unfav)
                                 ------- ------  ------ ------ ------ ------
  Results of Operations:
  Revenues                          $125   $113    11%   $246   $216    14%
  Expenses:
    Natural gas                       18     18    ---     25     28    11%
    Operation and maintenance         40     37    (8%)    74     70    (6%)
    Depreciation and amortization     11     11    ---     22     22    ---
    Taxes other than income taxes      4      5    20%      9      9    ---
      Total                           73     71    (3%)   130    129    (1%)
  Operating Income                   $52    $42    24%   $116    $87    33%


  Pipelines and Gathering
   Operating Data:
  Throughput data in BCF
  Natural Gas Sales                    3      4   (25%)     4      7   (43%)
  Transportation                     230    207    11%    501    477     5%
  Gathering                           87     79    10%    170    154    10%
  Elimination                         (2)    (3)   33%     (3)    (5)   40%
    Total Throughput                 318    287    11%    672    633     6%

 Reference is made to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
 contained in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.



                  CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                       Results of Operations by Segment
                            (Millions of Dollars)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                           Other Operations
                                 -------------------------------------------
                                  Quarter Ended       Six Months Ended
                                     June 30,   % Diff     June 30,   % Diff
                                 --------------   Fav/ --------------  Fav/
                                   2005   2004  (Unfav)   2005   2004(Unfav)
                                 ------- ------  ----- -------- ----- ------
  Results of Operations:
  Revenues                            $4     $3    33%    $11     $6    83%
  Expenses                            11      9   (22%)    25     19   (32%)
  Operating Loss                     $(7)   $(6)  (17%)  $(14)  $(13)   (8%)



                       Capital Expenditures by Segment
                            (Millions of Dollars)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                            Quarter Ended   Six Months Ended
                                               June 30,          June 30,
                                             2005     2004     2005     2004
  Capital Expenditures by Segment
    Electric Transmission & Distribution      $87      $52     $142      $94
    Natural Gas Distribution                   56       43       96       80
    Pipelines and Gathering                    31        9       53       24
    Other Operations                            5        7       10       12
    Total                                    $179     $111     $301     $210



                           Interest Expense Detail
                            (Millions of Dollars)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                           Quarter Ended    Six Months Ended
                                              June 30,          June 30,
                                           --------------   ----------------
                                           2005     2004     2005     2004
                                           -----   ------   ------   -------
  Interest Expense Detail
    Amortization of Deferred Financing
     Cost                                   $19      $22      $39      $44
    Capitalization of Interest Cost          (1)      (1)      (2)      (2)
    Transition Bond Interest Expense          9        9       18       18
    Other Interest Expense                  161      168      316      331
    Total Interest Expense                  188      198      371      391

    Amortization of Deferred Financing
     Cost
      Reclassified to Discontinued
       Operations                           ---        1      ---        2
    Other Interest Reclassified to
     Discontinued Operations                ---       11      ---       22
      Total Interest Reclassified to
       Discontinued Operations (A)          ---       12      ---       24

    Interest Expense Incurred by
     Discontinued Operations                ---      ---        1      ---
      Total Expense in Discontinued
       Operations                           ---       12        1       24

      Total Interest Expense Incurred      $188     $210     $372     $415


   (A) In accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 87-24
       Allocation of Interest to Discontinued Operations", in 2004, we have
       reclassified interest to discontinued operations of Texas Genco based
       on net proceeds received from the sale of Texas Genco of
       $2.5 billion, and have applied the proceeds to the amount of debt
       assumed to be paid down in 2004 according to the terms of the
       respective credit facilities in effect for that period.  In periods
       where only the term loan was assumed to be repaid, the actual
       interest paid was reclassified.  In periods where a portion of the
       revolver was assumed to be repaid, the percentage of that portion of
       the revolver to the total outstanding balance was calculated, and
       that percentage was applied to the actual interest paid in those
       periods to compute the amount of interest reclassified.

       Total interest expense was $188 million and $210 million for the
       three months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively, and $372
       million and $415 million for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and
       2004, respectively.  Interest expense of $12 million for the three
       months ended June 30, 2004, and $24 million for the six months ended
       June 30, 2004, was reclassified to discontinued operations of Texas
       Genco.

 Reference is made to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
 contained in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.



                  CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                           (Thousands of Dollars)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                               June 30,        December 31,
                                                 2005              2004
                ASSETS
  Current Assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents                   $408,162          $164,645
    Other current assets                       1,576,635         2,158,111
    Current assets of discontinued operations        ---           513,768
        Total current assets                   1,984,797         2,836,524

  Property, Plant and Equipment, net           8,273,291         8,186,393

  Other Assets:
    Goodwill, net                              1,744,252         1,740,510
    Regulatory assets                          2,928,968         3,349,944
    Other non-current assets                     958,383           997,428
    Non-current assets of discontinued
     operations                                      ---         1,051,158
        Total other assets                     5,631,603         7,139,040
          Total Assets                       $15,889,691       $18,161,957

     LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

  Current Liabilities:
    Current portion of transition bond
     long-term debt                              $49,352           $46,806
    Current portion of other long-term debt    1,748,083         1,789,182
    Other current liabilities                  1,840,224         2,902,238
    Current liabilities of discontinued
     operations                                      ---           448,974
        Total current liabilities              3,637,659         5,187,200

  Other Liabilities:
    Accumulated deferred income taxes,
     net and investment tax credit             2,522,664         2,468,833
    Regulatory liabilities                       744,260         1,081,370
    Other non-current liabilities                753,072           705,643
    Non-current liabilities of
     discontinued operations                         ---           420,393
        Total other liabilities                4,019,996         4,676,239

  Long-term Debt:
    Transition bond                              610,462           628,903
    Other                                      6,440,756         6,564,113
        Total long-term debt                   7,051,218         7,193,016

  Shareholders' Equity                         1,180,818         1,105,502
        Total Liabilities and
         Shareholders' Equity                $15,889,691       $18,161,957

 Reference is made to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
 contained in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.



                CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries
             Condensed Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows
                          (Thousands of Dollars)
                               (Unaudited)

                                                 Six Months Ended June 30,
                                                  2005              2004

  Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
    Net income                                  $121,511          $131,239
    Discontinued operations, net of tax            3,287          (105,067)
    Extraordinary item, net of tax               (30,441)              ---
    Income from continuing operations             94,357            26,172
    Adjustments to reconcile income from
     continuing operations to net cash
     provided by operating activities:
      Depreciation and amortization              305,131           279,957
      Deferred income taxes and investment
       tax credit                                 44,321            52,943
      Changes in net regulatory assets
       and liabilities                          (132,449)         (157,728)
      Changes in other assets and liabilities   (211,379)          253,248
      Other, net                                   6,166            21,045
  Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities      106,147           475,637

  Net Cash Provided by (Used in)
   Investing Activities                          397,549          (187,953)

  Net Cash Used in Financing Activities         (260,179)         (278,254)

  Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents      243,517             9,430

  Cash and Cash Equivalents at
   Beginning of Period                           164,645            86,922

  Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period    $408,162           $96,352

 Reference is made to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
 contained in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
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SOURCE: CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

CONTACT: media, Leticia Lowe, +1-713-207-7702, or investors, Marianne
Paulsen, +1-713-207-6500, both of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.