CenterPoint Energy, Inc.'s board of directors today declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share of common stock payable on March 10, 2006, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 16, 2006. In declaring this dividend, the board of directors indicated its intent to return to the company's traditional practice of paying consistent quarterly dividends. During 2005, the company paid irregular quarterly dividends based on earnings in each specific quarter in order to comply with requirements under the Public Utility Holding Company Act. That law, with its requirements associated with dividends, has been repealed effective as of February 8, 2006. An annualized dividend based on a $0.15 quarterly dividend represents a 50 percent increase over the $0.40 per common share in total dividends paid by the company in 2005.

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"I am delighted to announce the increase in our dividend," said David M. McClanahan, president and chief executive officer of CenterPoint Energy. "This action reflects the confidence the board of directors has in our ability to deliver sustainable earnings and cash flow. I am very pleased that the financial flexibility resulting from operational improvements and the completion of our transition period allows us to deliver a dividend to our shareholders more in line with our stated dividend payout target."

CenterPoint Energy, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission & distribution, natural gas distribution and sales, and 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 events and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect actual results include the financial performance of CenterPoint Energy, the timing and impact of future regulatory decisions, and other factors discussed in CenterPoint Energy's Form 10-K for the period ended Dec. 31, 2004, and Form 10-Qs for the periods ended March 31, June 30, and Sept. 30, 2005, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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SOURCE: CenterPoint Energy, Inc.