CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.

                               Power of Attorney

       WHEREAS, the undersigned, in his or her capacity as a director or officer
or both, as the case may be, of CenterPoint Energy, Inc., a Texas corporation
(the "Company"), may be required to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder
(collectively, the "Exchange Act"), Forms 3, 4 and 5 or other reports ("Forms")
relating to the undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities of the
Company;

       NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned, in his or her capacity as a director or
officer or both, as the case may be, of the Company, does hereby appoint  Rufus
S. Scott, Douglas H. Darrow and Richard B. Dauphin, and each of them severally,
as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact or attorneys-in-fact and agent or
agents with power to act with or without the other and with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, to execute in his or her name, place and stead,
in his or her capacity as a director or officer or both, as the case may be, of
the Company, Forms and any and all amendments thereto and any and all
instruments necessary or incidental in connection therewith, if any, and to file
the same with the Commission and any stock exchange or similar authority.  Each
said attorney-in-fact and agent shall have full power and authority to do and
perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned in any and all capacities,
every act whatsoever necessary or desirable to be done in the premises, as fully
and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person,
the undersigned hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said attorney.  The
powers and authority of each said attorney-in-fact and agent herein granted
shall remain in full force and effect until the undersigned is no longer
required to file Forms under the Exchange Act, unless earlier revoked by the
undersigned by giving written notice of such revocation to the Company.  The
undersigned acknowledges that the said attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such
capacity at the request of the undersigned, are not assuming, nor is the Company
assuming, any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of
the Exchange Act.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument this 3rd day of
June, 2004.



Name: Robert T. O'Connell