HOUSTON, March 1, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- CenterPoint Energy (NYSE: CNP) recently named Joe McGoldrick president of the company's natural gas operations. He was formerly division senior vice president of Finance and Regulatory for CenterPoint Energy's regulated businesses.

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

In his new role, McGoldrick is responsible for the company's natural gas operations business which serves three million customers in six states including Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas.

"Joe brings a wealth of finance, regulatory and strategic planning experience to this position and I am pleased that we are able to fill this position with such a qualified individual," said Tom Standish, group president of CenterPoint Energy's regulated businesses.

McGoldrick has more than 27 years of planning, finance and regulatory experience with CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies. He began his career with the company in 1979 and held a variety of positions in accounting, corporate budget, strategic management, corporate planning, and rate & research, before being named treasurer in 1993.

In 1996, he was named vice president of planning, policy development and treasurer. In 1997, he was named vice president of operations for the company's international business. He held that position until 2000, when he was named senior vice president, finance and administration for the company's retail group.

In 2001, McGoldrick was named vice president of Strategic Planning and was named senior vice president of Finance and Regulatory in 2005.

He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Miami in 1975 with a bachelor's degree in accounting and is a certified public accountant.

McGoldrick is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Texas Society of CPAs. He is a former co-chairman of the Executive Advisory Committee of the Economic and Public Policy/Strategic Planning Committee of the Edison Electric Institute.

McGoldrick is a native of Elmhurst, Illinois.

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 over $17 billion. With about 8,600 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 .

SOURCE CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

media, Alicia Dixon, +1-713-207-5885, or investors, Marianne Paulsen,
+1-713-207-6500, both of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

http://www.centerpointenergy.com

Copyright (C) 2007 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

News Provided by COMTEX