CenterPoint Energy, Inc. announces the following webcast:

   (Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020930/CNPLOGO )

   What:     CenterPoint Energy, Inc. First Quarter 2006 Earnings Conference
             Call Webcast

   When:     Thursday, May 4, 2006 @ 10:30 a.m. Central time or
                                     11:30 a.m. Eastern time

   Where:    http://www.centerpointenergy.com/investors/events
             Click the link, "CenterPoint Energy, Inc. First Quarter 2006
             Earnings Conference Call Webcast"

   How:      Live over the Internet - Simply log on to the web at the
             address above.

   Contact:  Debby Stratton (713) 207-6500

   Replay:   If you are unable to participate during the live webcast, it
             will be archived at
             http://www.centerpointenergy.com/investors/events  or
             http://www.prnewswire.com/ for at least one year.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc. headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission and distribution, natural gas distribution and sales, and interstate pipeline and gathering operations. The company serves more than five million metered customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. Assets total approximately $17 billion. With about 9,000 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in the business for more than 130 years. For more information, visit the Web site at http://www.centerpointenergy.com/ .

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020930/CNPLOGO
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PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

SOURCE: CenterPoint Energy, Inc.