exv99w1

Exhibit 99.1


		For more information contact Media: Leticia Lowe Phone 713.207.7702 Investors: Marianne Paulsen Phone 713.207.6500


For Immediate Release		Page 1 of 4

CENTERPOINT ENERGY REPORTS SECOND QUARTER 2009 EARNINGS

Houston, TX — August 5, 2009 - CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) today reported net income of $86 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2009 compared to $101 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, for the same period of 2008. Operating income for the second quarter of 2009 was $253 million compared to $297 million for the same period of 2008.

“Despite the weak economy and changing energy markets, our business units continued to perform well,” said David M. McClanahan, president and chief executive officer of CenterPoint Energy. “Our regulated electric and gas utilities turned in solid operating performances as did our pipeline and field services core operations. However, revenues from ancillary services declined from 2008 when we benefited from unusually high commodity prices. We continue to believe that the overall fundamentals of our balanced portfolio of electric and natural gas businesses remain strong and position us well as the economy recovers and the energy markets rebound.”

For the six months ended June 30, 2009, net income was $153 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, compared to $223 million, or $0.66 per diluted share, for the same period of 2008. Operating income for the six months ended June 30, 2009, was $538 million compared to $633 million for the same period of 2008.

OPERATING INCOME BY SEGMENT

Electric Transmission & Distribution

The electric transmission & distribution segment reported operating income of $162 million for the second quarter of 2009, consisting of $129 million from the regulated electric transmission & distribution utility operations (TDU) and $33 million related to transition bonds. Operating income for the second quarter of 2008 was $164 million, consisting of $129 million from the TDU and $35 million related to transition bonds. Operating income for the TDU benefited from growth of over 28,000 metered customers since June 2008 and higher net transmission revenues. Operating income for the second quarter of 2008 included a $9 million gain from a land sale.

As a result of the storm restoration cost recovery legislation enacted by the Texas Legislature in April 2009, the company recorded a regulatory asset of $41 million for carrying costs incurred through June 30, 2009, on amounts it spent for Hurricane Ike storm restoration. Of that amount, $14 million was reflected in the company’s second quarter 2009 earnings, and the remaining $27 million will be recognized over the life of the storm cost recovery bonds the company expects to issue later this year.

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For Immediate Release		Page 2 of 4

Operating income for the six months ended June 30, 2009, was $232 million, consisting of $166 million from the TDU and $66 million related to transition bonds. Operating income for the same period of 2008 was $255 million, consisting of $183 million from the TDU, $67 million related to transition bonds and $5 million from the competition transition charge (CTC). The CTC was discontinued in February 2008 when the company securitized the remaining true-up balance.

Natural Gas Distribution

The natural gas distribution segment reported operating income of $2 million for the second quarter of 2009 compared to $4 million for the same period of 2008. Operating income benefited from rate increases and lower bad debt expense, which were more than offset by higher pension and other employee-related expenses. Due to seasonal impacts, this segment typically reports minimal earnings in the second quarter.

Operating income for the six months ended June 30, 2009, was $120 million compared to $125 million for the same period of 2008.

Interstate Pipelines

The interstate pipelines segment reported operating income of $61 million for the second quarter of 2009 compared to $101 million for the same period of 2008. Operating income for the second quarter of 2008 included an $18 million gain from the sale of two storage development projects. Operating income benefited from higher revenue from the Carthage to Perryville pipeline and from new firm transportation contracts for gas-fired power generation, which were more than offset by a decline in ancillary services due to significantly lower commodity prices, as well as higher pension and other operation and maintenance expenses.

In addition to operating income, this business had equity income of $9 million for the second quarter of 2009 from its 50 percent interest in the Southeast Supply Header (SESH), a new pipeline that went into service in September 2008. In the second quarter of 2008, equity income was $10 million from pre-operating allowance for funds used during construction.

Operating income for the six months ended June 30, 2009, was $130 million compared to $172 million for the same period of 2008. In addition to operating income, this business had equity income of $7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009, from its interest in SESH. In the first quarter of 2009, the company recorded a non-cash charge of $5 million to reflect SESH’s decision to discontinue the use of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 71 — Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, equity income was $15 million from pre-operating allowance for funds used during construction.

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		For more information contact Media: Leticia Lowe Phone 713.207.7702 Investors: Marianne Paulsen Phone 713.207.6500


For Immediate Release		Page 3 of 4

Field Services

The field services segment reported operating income of $23 million for the second quarter of 2009 compared to $32 million for the same period of 2008. Solid growth in core gathering services was more than offset by the effect of lower natural gas and liquids prices, which declined from significantly higher levels in 2008.

In addition to operating income, this business had equity income of $2 million in the second quarter of 2009 compared to $4 million in the second quarter of 2008 from its 50 percent interest in a gas processing plant. The decline was due primarily to lower natural gas liquids prices.

Operating income for the six months ended June 30, 2009, was $49 million compared to $77 million for the same period of 2008. Operating income for the six months ended June 30, 2008, included gains of $17 million associated with the settlement of a contractual dispute and the sale of non-strategic assets. Equity income from the jointly-owned gas processing plant was $4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009, compared to $8 million for the same period of 2008.

Competitive Natural Gas Sales and Services

The competitive natural gas sales and services segment reported operating income of $6 million for the second quarter of 2009 compared to an operating loss of $5 million for the same period of 2008. Operating income for the second quarter of 2009 included gains of $3 million resulting from mark-to-market accounting for derivatives used to lock in economic margins of certain forward natural gas sales compared to charges of $10 million for the same period of 2008.

Operating income for the six months ended June 30, 2009, was $8 million compared to $1 million for the same period of 2008. Operating income for the six months ended June 30, 2009, included charges of $16 million resulting from mark-to-market accounting compared to charges of $32 million for the same period of 2008. The six months ended June 30, 2009 also included $6 million in write-downs of inventory to the lower of average cost or market.

DIVIDEND DECLARATION

On July 23, 2009, CenterPoint Energy’s board of directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.19 per share of common stock payable on September 10, 2009, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 14, 2009.

OUTLOOK REAFFIRMED FOR 2009

CenterPoint Energy reaffirmed its 2009 earnings guidance of $1.05 to $1.15 per diluted share. This guidance takes into consideration various economic and operational assumptions related to the business segments in which the company operates. The company has made certain assumptions regarding the timing and cost of certain financing activities and the impact to earnings

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		For more information contact Media: Leticia Lowe Phone 713.207.7702 Investors: Marianne Paulsen Phone 713.207.6500


For Immediate Release		Page 4 of 4

of various regulatory proceedings, including recovery of costs associated with Hurricane Ike. The company cannot predict the ultimate outcome of any of those proceedings. In providing this guidance, the company has not projected the impact of any changes in accounting standards, any impact from acquisitions or divestitures, the timing effects of mark-to-market or inventory accounting in the company’s competitive natural gas sales and services business, or the outcome of the TDU’s true-up appeal. The company has also excluded any impact to income from the change in value of Time Warner stocks and the related ZENS securities.

FILING OF FORM 10-Q FOR CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.

Today, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2009. A copy of that report is available on the company’s Web site, www.CenterPointEnergy.com, under the Investors section. Other filings the company makes with the SEC and other documents relating to its corporate governance can also be found on that site.

WEBCAST OF EARNINGS CONFERENCE CALL

CenterPoint Energy’s management will host an earnings conference call on Wednesday, August 5, 2009, 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 www.CenterPointEnergy.com. 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, competitive natural gas sales and services, interstate pipelines, and field services operations. The company serves more than five million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. Assets total nearly $19 billion. With about 8,800 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 135 years. For more information, visit the Web site at 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 appeals from the true-up proceedings, the timing and impact of future regulatory, legislative, and IRS 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 fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, CenterPoint Energy’s and its subsidiaries’ Form 10-Qs for the periods ended March 31, 2009, CenterPoint Energy’s Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2009, and other filings with the SEC.

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


	Quarter Ended						Six Months Ended
	June 30,						June 30,
	2008			2009			2008			2009
Revenues:
Electric Transmission & Distribution	$	510		$	521		$	919		$	933
Natural Gas Distribution		726			518			2,426			1,939
Competitive Natural Gas Sales and Services		1,243			432			2,363			1,197
Interstate Pipelines		192			155			325			308
Field Services		62			56			120			113
Other Operations		2			3			5			6
Eliminations		(65	)		(45	)		(125	)		(90	)

Total		2,670			1,640			6,033			4,406


Expenses:
Natural gas		1,750			710			4,143			2,499
Operation and maintenance		342			398			707			811
Depreciation and amortization		188			188			346			354
Taxes other than income taxes		93			91			204			204

Total		2,373			1,387			5,400			3,868

Operating Income		297			253			633			538


Other Income (Expense):
Gain (loss) on marketable securities		17			55			(37	)		21
Gain (loss) on indexed debt securities		(17	)		(46	)		33			(24	)
Interest and other finance charges		(114	)		(129	)		(230	)		(258	)
Interest on transition bonds		(35	)		(33	)		(68	)		(66	)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates		14			11			23			11
Other — net		—			18			4			22

Total		(135	)		(124	)		(275	)		(294	)


Income Before Income Taxes		162			129			358			244

Income Tax Expense		(61	)		(43	)		(135	)		(91	)


Net Income	$	101		$	86		$	223		$	153

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

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


	Quarter Ended						Six Months Ended
	June 30,						June 30,
	2008			2009			2008		2009
Basic Earnings Per Common Share	$	0.30		$	0.24		$	0.68	$	0.44


Diluted Earnings Per Common Share	$	0.30		$	0.24		$	0.66	$	0.44


Dividends Declared per Common Share	$	0.1825		$	0.19		$	0.365	$	0.38

Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding (000):
- Basic		331,354			352,461			329,316		346,660
- Diluted		342,027			354,280			340,873		348,522

Operating Income by Segment

Electric Transmission & Distribution:
Electric Transmission and Distribution Operations	$	129		$	129		$	183	$	166
Competition Transition Charge		—			—			5		—

Total Electric Transmission and Distribution Utility		129			129			188		166
Transition Bond Companies		35			33			67		66

Total Electric Transmission & Distribution		164			162			255		232
Natural Gas Distribution		4			2			125		120
Competitive Natural Gas Sales and Services		(5	)		6			1		8
Interstate Pipelines		101			61			172		130
Field Services		32			23			77		49
Other Operations		1			(1	)		3		(1	)


Total	$	297		$	253		$	633	$	538

Reference is made to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
contained in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q 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
	2008			2009			Fav/(Unfav)			2008			2009			Fav/(Unfav)
Results of Operations:
Revenues:
Electric transmission and distribution utility	$	419		$	432			3	%	$	765		$	778			2	%
Transition bond companies		91			89			(2	%)		154			155			1	%

Total		510			521			2	%		919			933			2	%


Expenses:
Operation and maintenance		167			181			(8	%)		335			369			(10	%)
Depreciation and amortization		71			69			3	%		137			137			—
Taxes other than income taxes		52			53			(2	%)		105			106			(1	%)
Transition bond companies		56			56			—			87			89			(2	%)

Total		346			359			(4	%)		664			701			(6	%)

Operating Income	$	164		$	162			(1	%)	$	255		$	232			(9	%)


Operating Income:
Electric transmission and distribution operations	$	129		$	129			—		$	183		$	166			(9	%)
Competition transition charge		—			—			—			5			—			(100	%)
Transition bond companies		35			33			(6	%)		67			66			(1	%)

Total Segment Operating Income	$	164		$	162			(1	%)	$	255		$	232			(9	%)


Electric Transmission & Distribution Operating Data:
Actual MWH Delivered
Residential		6,774,069			6,831,444			1	%		11,177,381			10,797,963			(3	%)
Total		20,359,540			19,840,955			(3	%)		36,929,230			34,983,263			(5	%)

Weather (average for service area):
Percentage of 10-year average:
Cooling degree days		111	%		108	%		(3	%)		113	%		109	%		(4	%)
Heating degree days		73	%		112	%		39	%		95	%		89	%		(6	%)

Number of metered customers — end of period:
Residential		1,820,092			1,846,908			1	%		1,820,092			1,846,908			1	%
Total		2,063,924			2,092,209			1	%		2,063,924			2,092,209			1	%


	Natural Gas Distribution
	Quarter Ended									Six Months Ended
	June 30,						% Diff			June 30,						% Diff
	2008			2009			Fav/(Unfav)			2008			2009			Fav/(Unfav)
Results of Operations:
Revenues	$	726		$	518			(29	%)	$	2,426		$	1,939			(20	%)

Expenses:
Natural gas		512			295			42	%		1,845			1,340			27	%
Operation and maintenance		141			152			(8	%)		297			321			(8	%)
Depreciation and amortization		39			41			(5	%)		78			81			(4	%)
Taxes other than income taxes		30			28			7	%		81			77			5	%

Total		722			516			29	%		2,301			1,819			21	%

Operating Income	$	4		$	2			(50	%)	$	125		$	120			(4	%)


Natural Gas Distribution Operating Data:
Throughput data in BCF
Residential		20			20			—			104			98			(6	%)
Commercial and Industrial		47			43			(9	%)		130			116			(11	%)

Total Throughput		67			63			(6	%)		234			214			(9	%)


Weather (average for service area)
Percentage of 10-year average:
Heating degree days		113	%		109	%		(4	%)		107	%		103	%		(4	%)

Number of customers — end of period:
Residential		2,945,460			2,961,941			1	%		2,945,460			2,961,941			1	%
Commercial and Industrial		250,993			241,875			(4	%)		250,993			241,875			(4	%)

Total		3,196,453			3,203,816			—			3,196,453			3,203,816			—

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

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


	Competitive Natural Gas Sales and Services
	Quarter Ended								Six Months Ended
	June 30,					% Diff			June 30,				% Diff
	2008			2009		Fav/(Unfav)			2008		2009		Fav/(Unfav)
Results of Operations:
Revenues	$	1,243		$	432		(65	%)	$	2,363	$	1,197		(49	%)

Expenses:
Natural gas		1,237			414		67	%		2,342		1,166		50	%
Operation and maintenance		10			10		—			18		20		(11	%)
Depreciation and amortization		—			1		—			1		2		(100	%)
Taxes other than income taxes		1			1		—			1		1		—

Total		1,248			426		66	%		2,362		1,189		50	%

Operating Income (Loss)	$	(5	)	$	6		220	%	$	1	$	8		700	%


Competitive Natural Gas Sales and Services Operating Data:
Throughput data in BCF		129			114		(12	%)		267		255		(4	%)


Number of customers — end of period		8,923			10,878		22	%		8,923		10,878		22	%


	Interstate Pipelines
	Quarter Ended							Six Months Ended
	June 30,				% Diff			June 30,				% Diff
	2008		2009		Fav/(Unfav)			2008		2009		Fav/(Unfav)
Results of Operations:
Revenues	$	192	$	155		(19	%)	$	325	$	308		(5	%)

Expenses:
Natural gas		58		34		41	%		73		63		14	%
Operation and maintenance		16		41		(156	%)		46		76		(65	%)
Depreciation and amortization		11		12		(9	%)		23		24		(4	%)
Taxes other than income taxes		6		7		(17	%)		11		15		(36	%)

Total		91		94		(3	%)		153		178		(16	%)

Operating Income	$	101	$	61		(40	%)	$	172	$	130		(24	%)


Pipelines Operating Data:
Throughput data in BCF
Transportation		361		390		8	%		785		857		9	%

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

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


	Field Services
	Quarter Ended							Six Months Ended
	June 30,				% Diff			June 30,				% Diff
	2008		2009		Fav/(Unfav)			2008		2009		Fav/(Unfav)
Results of Operations:
Revenues	$	62	$	56		(10	%)	$	120	$	113		(6	%)

Expenses:
Natural gas		8		11		(38	%)		6		18		(200	%)
Operation and maintenance		18		18		—			29		37		(28	%)
Depreciation and amortization		3		3		—			6		7		(17	%)
Taxes other than income taxes		1		1		—			2		2		—

Total		30		33		(10	%)		43		64		(49	%)

Operating Income	$	32	$	23		(28	%)	$	77	$	49		(36	%)


Field Services Operating Data:
Throughput data in BCF
Gathering		104		102		(2	%)		202		206		2	%


	Other Operations
	Quarter Ended								Six Months Ended
	June 30,					% Diff			June 30,					% Diff
	2008		2009			Fav/(Unfav)			2008		2009			Fav/(Unfav)
Results of Operations:
Revenues	$	2	$	3			50	%	$	5	$	6			20	%
Expenses		1		4			(300	%)		2		7			(250	%)

Operating Income (Loss)	$	1	$	(1	)		(200	%)	$	3	$	(1	)		(133	%)

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


	Quarter Ended				Six Months Ended
	June 30,				June 30,
	2008		2009		2008		2009
Capital Expenditures by Segment
Electric Transmission & Distribution	$	87	$	108	$	176	$	189
Hurricane Ike		—		2		—		18

Total Electric Transmission & Distribution		87		110		176		207
Natural Gas Distribution		56		43		94		77
Competitive Natural Gas Sales and Services		1		—		2		1
Interstate Pipelines		42		27		70		74
Field Services		28		66		46		104
Other Operations		5		2		13		9

Total	$	219	$	248	$	401	$	472

Interest Expense Detail
(Millions of Dollars)
(Unaudited)


	Quarter Ended						Six Months Ended
	June 30,						June 30,
	2008			2009			2008			2009
Interest Expense Detail
Amortization of Deferred Financing Cost	$	6		$	9		$	12		$	18
Capitalization of Interest Cost		(4	)		(1	)		(7	)		(3	)
Transition Bond Interest Expense		35			33			68			66
Other Interest Expense		112			121			225			243

Total Interest Expense	$	149		$	162		$	298		$	324

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

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


	December 31,		June 30,
	2008		2009
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	167	$	151
Other current assets		2,868		1,777

Total current assets		3,035		1,928


Property, Plant and Equipment, net		10,296		10,524


Other Assets:
Goodwill		1,696		1,696
Regulatory assets		3,684		3,606
Other non-current assets		965		963

Total other assets		6,345		6,265

Total Assets	$	19,676	$	18,717


LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current Liabilities:
Short-term borrowings	$	153	$	75
Current portion of transition bond long-term debt		208		211
Current portion of other long-term debt		125		133
Other current liabilities		2,362		1,675

Total current liabilities		2,848		2,094


Other Liabilities:
Accumulated deferred income taxes, net and investment tax credit		2,632		2,627
Regulatory liabilities		821		874
Other non-current liabilities		1,172		1,254

Total other liabilities		4,625		4,755


Long-term Debt:
Transition bond		2,381		2,274
Other		7,800		7,357

Total long-term debt		10,181		9,631


Shareholders’ Equity		2,022		2,237

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	$	19,676	$	18,717

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

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


	Six Months Ended June 30,
	2008			2009
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	$	223		$	153
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		361			374
Deferred income taxes		12			78
Write-down of natural gas inventory		—			6
Changes in net regulatory assets		14			19
Changes in other assets and liabilities		256			422
Other, net		2			4

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities		868			1,056

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities		(700	)		(504	)

Net Cash Used in Financing Activities		(147	)		(568	)


Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents		21			(16	)

Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period		129			167


Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$	150		$	151

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