HOUSTON, Jan 22, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX News Network/ -- HOUSTON, Jan. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) has named Clarence "Bud" Albright senior vice president, Policy and Government Affairs for CenterPoint Energy. In this role, Albright will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies to advance the company's legislative and regulatory agenda at the federal level.

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"Bud brings more than 30 years of government relations experience to CenterPoint Energy and I am pleased to have on our team, such a qualified individual who will provide us with a strong presence in Washington, D. C.," said David M. McClanahan, president and chief executive officer of CenterPoint Energy.

Albright is the immediate-past under secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). In that role, as the third most senior official at DOE, he provided leadership for energy and environmental programs and managed a budget of nearly $15 billion. Before joining DOE, Albright served the U.S. House of Representatives as staff director for the House Energy & Commerce Committee, directing legislative policy and tactics for energy, health care, telecommunications, trade and environmental matters. He also served as vice president of Federal Relations for Reliant Energy from 1997 to 2003 where he was responsible for Washington operations.

Albright has served in the government in a variety of additional capacities, including deputy associate attorney general and senior special assistant to the assistant attorney general of the Civil Division at the U.S. Department of Justice, and deputy general counsel of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Additionally, he served as associate counsel on the U.S. Senate Select Committee investigating the Iran-Contra incident. From 1981 through 1986, he also served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia. While attending law school, Albright worked on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee as a legislative aide.

A native of Rock Hill, S.C., Albright holds a bachelor's degree in history and political science from Presbyterian College in his home state and a Juris Doctor degree from George Mason University School of Law in Virginia. Albright, his wife, Ginger, and their two children live in McLean, Virginia.

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.

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

SOURCE CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

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