CenterPoint Energy, Inc. will host a live webcast of its conference call to present its second quarter 2004 results on Thursday, July 22, 2004 at 10:30 a.m. Central time / 11:30 a.m. Eastern time.

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

   What:     CenterPoint Energy Second Quarter 2004 Earnings Conference Call
             Webcast

   When:     Thursday, July 22, 2004 at 10:30 a.m. Central time /
             11:30 a.m. Eastern time

   Where:    http://www.centerpointenergy.com/investors/events
             Click the link, "CenterPoint Energy, Inc. Second Quarter 2004
             Earnings Conference Call Webcast"

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

   Contact:  Marianne Paulsen  (713) 207-6500

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, and more than 14,000 megawatts of power generation in Texas, of which approximately 2,500 megawatts are currently in mothball status. The company serves nearly five million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. Assets total over $21 billion. 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 the Web site at http://www.centerpointenergy.com/ .

The webcast will be archived at http://www.centerpointenergy.com/ , or http://www.prnewswire.com/ for at least one year.

(Minimum Requirements to listen to broadcast: The Windows Media Player software, downloadable free from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/EN/default.asp and at least a 28.8Kbps connection to the Internet. If you experience problems listening to the broadcast, send an email to webcastsupport@tfprn.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.

CONTACT: Marianne Paulsen of CenterPoint Energy, Inc., +1-713-207-6500