SEC FORM 4 SEC Form 4
FORM 4 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
 
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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
RHENEY SUSAN

(Last) (First) (Middle)
1111 LOUISIANA

(Street)
HOUSTON TX 77002

(City) (State) (Zip)
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC [ CNP ]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
X Director 10% Owner
Officer (give title below) Other (specify below)
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
08/11/2008
4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
X Form filed by One Reporting Person
Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 08/11/2008 P 2,000 A $16.457 2,000 D
Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year) 7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Explanation of Responses:
Remarks:
Richard B. Dauphin Attorney in Fact 08/13/2008
** Signature of Reporting Person Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
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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 Scott E.
Rozzell, 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 24th day
of July, 2008.

/s/ Susan O. Rheney