UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 5, 2008

CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Texas (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		1-31447 (Commission File Number)		74-0694415 (IRS Employer Identification No.)

1111 Louisiana Houston, Texas (Address of principal executive offices)		77002 (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (713) 207-1111

     Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o		Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o		Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o		Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o		Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

ITEM 2.02. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.

          On November 5, 2008, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (“CenterPoint Energy”) reported third quarter 2008 earnings. For additional information regarding CenterPoint Energy’s third quarter 2008 earnings, please refer to CenterPoint Energy’s press release attached to this report as Exhibit 99.1 (the “Press Release”), which Press Release is incorporated by reference herein. The information in the Press Release is being furnished, not filed, pursuant to Item 2.02. Accordingly, the information in the Press Release will not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement filed by CenterPoint Energy under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless specifically identified therein as being incorporated therein by reference.

ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

          The exhibit listed below is furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 of this Form 8-K.

   (d) Exhibits.

99.1

Press Release issued November 5, 2008 regarding CenterPoint Energy, Inc.’s third quarter 2008 earnings.

SIGNATURE

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT
NUMBER		EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
99.1		Press Release issued November 5, 2008 regarding CenterPoint Energy, Inc.’s third quarter 2008 earnings

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 THIRD QUARTER 2008 EARNINGS
Results in natural gas gathering and commercial sales businesses produce strong quarter

     Houston, TX — November 5, 2008 - CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) today reported net income of $136 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2008 compared to $91 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, for the same period of 2007.

     “We continue to see the benefits of our balanced electric and natural gas portfolio. Strong results in our field services and competitive natural gas businesses helped offset the loss of revenue from Hurricane Ike,” said David M. McClanahan, president and chief executive officer of CenterPoint Energy. “With over 90 percent of our customers without power following the storm, the challenges brought on by Hurricane Ike were significant. I’m extremely proud of the extraordinary efforts of our employees and the thousands of workers from 35 other states and Canada who worked to repair our system and restore service to our customers.”

     For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, net income was $360 million, or $1.05 per diluted share, compared to $291 million, or $0.85 per diluted share, for the same period of 2007.

OPERATING INCOME BY SEGMENT

Electric Transmission & Distribution

     The electric transmission & distribution segment reported operating income of $202 million for the third quarter of 2008, consisting of $169 million from the regulated electric transmission & distribution utility operations (TDU) and $33 million related to transition bonds. Operating income for the third quarter of 2007 was $196 million, consisting of $155 million from the TDU, $30 million related to transition bonds, and $11 million from the competition transition charge (CTC). In February 2008, the company monetized the remaining allowed true-up balance resulting in the discontinuance of the CTC.

     When Hurricane Ike’s 110 mile-per-hour winds struck our service territory in September, more than 2 million customers lost power, but the TDU was able to restore power to all customers capable of receiving it within 18 days. As a result of this timely restoration effort, the estimated loss of third quarter revenue to the TDU was limited to $17 million. The loss of revenue from Hurricane Ike was more than offset by strong customer growth of over 42,000 metered customers since September 2007, increased usage, and reduced costs associated with normal operating and maintenance activities delayed because of the storm. In addition, taxes other than income taxes declined due to the Texas margin tax being classified as income tax beginning in 2008 and a refund of prior-year state franchise taxes.

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		Media: Leticia Lowe Phone 713.207.7702 Investors: Marianne Paulsen Phone 713.207.6500

For Immediate Release		Page 2 of 4

     The cost to repair the system and restore service is estimated to be in the range of $650 to $750 million. These costs are being deferred for future recovery through the regulatory process and therefore do not affect third quarter earnings.

     Operating income for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, was $457 million, consisting of $352 million from the TDU, $100 million related to transition bonds, and $5 million from the CTC. Operating income for the same period of 2007 was also $457 million, consisting of $335 million from the TDU, $90 million related to transition bonds, and $32 million from the CTC.

Natural Gas Distribution

     The natural gas distribution segment reported an operating loss of $6 million for the third quarter of 2008 compared to a loss of $8 million for the same period of 2007. Operating income benefited from new rates implemented in late 2007 and continued customer growth of nearly 26,000 metered customers since September 2007. Due to seasonal impacts, the third quarter is typically the weakest quarter for this segment.

     Operating income for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, was $119 million compared to $129 million for the same period of 2007.

Interstate Pipelines

     The interstate pipelines segment reported operating income of $55 million for the third quarter of 2008 compared to $70 million for the same period of 2007. The third quarter of 2008 included a $7 million write-down associated with pipeline assets removed from service, while the third quarter of 2007 included tax refunds of $4 million related to settlements of certain state tax issues and gains of $5 million associated with the sale of the pipeline services business. Excluding these items, higher income from the Carthage to Perryville pipeline and other transportation services was offset by reduced ancillary services and higher operation and maintenance expenses.

     Operating income for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, was $227 million compared to $166 million for the same period of 2007.

Field Services

     The field services segment reported operating income of $44 million for the third quarter of 2008 compared to $26 million for the same period of 2007. Operating income increased primarily from higher throughput, increased ancillary services, and a gain of $7 million associated with system imbalances.

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		Media: Leticia Lowe Phone 713.207.7702 Investors: Marianne Paulsen Phone 713.207.6500

For Immediate Release		Page 3 of 4

     In addition to operating income, this business had equity income of $4 million in the third quarter of 2008 compared to $2 million in the third quarter of 2007 from its 50 percent interest in a jointly-owned gas processing plant. These amounts are included in Other — net under the Other Income (Expense) caption.

     Operating income for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, was $121 million compared to $75 million for the same period of 2007. Equity income from the jointly-owned gas processing plant was $12 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, compared to $6 million for the same period of 2007.

Competitive Natural Gas Sales and Services

     The competitive natural gas sales and services segment reported operating income of $35 million for the third quarter of 2008 compared to $4 million for the same period of 2007. Approximately $7 million of the increase was due to favorable locational and seasonal price differentials. The third quarter of 2008 included gains of $46 million resulting from mark-to-market accounting for derivatives used to lock in economic margins of certain forward natural gas sales compared to mark-to-market gains of $2 million for the same period of 2007. The third quarter of 2008 also included a $24 million write-down of natural gas inventory to the lower of average cost or market, compared to a $5 million inventory write-down for the same period of 2007.

     Operating income for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, was $36 million compared to $56 million for the same period of 2007. The nine months ended September 30, 2008, included gains of $14 million resulting from mark-to-market accounting compared to charges of $12 million for the same period of 2007. Additionally, the nine months ended September 30, 2008, included $24 million in inventory write-downs compared to $11 million in inventory write-downs for the same period of 2007.

DIVIDEND DECLARATION

     On October 30, 2008, CenterPoint Energy’s board of directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.1825 per share of common stock payable on December 10, 2008, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 14, 2008.

2008 REVISED GUIDANCE

     CenterPoint Energy expects diluted earnings per share for 2008 to be in the range of $1.25 to $1.35. Previously-provided guidance was for earnings to be in the upper half of $1.15 to $1.25 per diluted share. This guidance takes into consideration performance to date as well as various economic and operational assumptions related to the business segments in which the company operates. The company has made certain assumptions regarding the impact to earnings of various regulatory proceedings, including recovery of costs associated with Hurricane Ike, but cannot

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For Immediate Release		Page 4 of 4

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 our competitive natural gas sales and services business, or the outcome of the TDU’s true-up appeal.

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 September 30, 2008. 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 at 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, November 5, 2008, 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 over $19 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 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 period ended December 31, 2007, CenterPoint Energy’s and its subsidiaries’ Form 10-Qs for the periods ended March 31, 2008, and June 30, 2008, CenterPoint Energy’s Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2008, and other filings with the SEC.

###

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

		Quarter Ended								Nine Months Ended
		September 30,								September 30,
		2007				2008				2007				2008
Revenues:
Electric Transmission & Distribution		$	528			$	552			$	1,399			$	1,471
Natural Gas Distribution			458				550				2,601				2,976
Competitive Natural Gas Sales and Services			770				1,269				2,715				3,632
Interstate Pipelines			137				143				348				468
Field Services			44				71				125				191
Other Operations			3				3				8				8
Eliminations			(58	)			(73	)			(175	)			(198	)
Total			1,882				2,515				7,021				8,548
Expenses:
Natural gas			991				1,532				4,349				5,675
Operation and maintenance			349				371				1,031				1,078
Depreciation and amortization			170				194				475				540
Taxes other than income taxes			85				81				284				285
Total			1,595				2,178				6,139				7,578
Operating Income			287				337				882				970
Other Income (Expense) :
Loss on Time Warner investment			(58	)			(36	)			(74	)			(73	)
Gain on indexed debt securities			56				33				70				66
Interest and other finance charges			(126	)			(116	)			(368	)			(344	)
Interest on transition bonds			(30	)			(34	)			(93	)			(102	)
Distribution from AOL Time Warner litigation settlement			32				—				32				—
Additional distribution to ZENS holders			(27	)			—				(27	)			—
Other — net			11				29				23				56
Total			(142	)			(124	)			(437	)			(397	)
Income Before Income Taxes			145				213				445				573
Income Tax Expense			(54	)			(77	)			(154	)			(213	)
Net Income		$	91			$	136			$	291			$	360

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								Nine Months Ended
		September 30,								September 30,
		2007				2008				2007				2008
Basic Earnings Per Common Share:
Net Income		$	0.29			$	0.40			$	0.91			$	1.08
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share:
Net Income		$	0.27			$	0.39			$	0.85			$	1.05
Dividends Declared per Common Share		$	0.17			$	0.1825			$	0.51			$	0.5475
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding (000):
- Basic			321,192				342,228				320,071				333,652
- Diluted			340,974				344,584				342,222				342,187
Operating Income (Loss) by Segment
Electric Transmission & Distribution:
Electric Transmission and Distribution Operations		$	155			$	169			$	335			$	352
Competition Transition Charge			11				—				32				5
Total Electric Transmission and Distribution Utility			166				169				367				357
Transition Bond Companies			30				33				90				100
Total Electric Transmission & Distribution			196				202				457				457
Natural Gas Distribution			(8	)			(6	)			129				119
Competitive Natural Gas Sales and Services			4				35				56				36
Interstate Pipelines			70				55				166				227
Field Services			26				44				75				121
Other Operations			(1	)			7				(1	)			10
Total		$	287			$	337			$	882			$	970

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												Nine Months Ended
		September 30,								% Diff				September 30,								% Diff
		2007				2008				Fav/(Unfav)				2007				2008				Fav/(Unfav)
Results of Operations:
Revenues:
Electric transmission and distribution utility		$	445			$	455				2	%		$	1,187			$	1,220				3	%
Transition bond companies			83				97				17	%			212				251				18	%
Total			528				552				5	%			1,399				1,471				5	%
Expenses:
Operation and maintenance			163				167				(2	%)			467				502				(7	%)
Depreciation and amortization			58				71				(22	%)			182				208				(14	%)
Taxes other than income taxes			58				48				17	%			171				153				11	%
Transition bond companies			53				64				(21	%)			122				151				(24	%)
Total			332				350				(5	%)			942				1,014				(8	%)
Operating Income		$	196			$	202				3	%		$	457			$	457				—
Operating Income:
Electric transmission and distribution operations		$	155			$	169				9	%		$	335			$	352				5	%
Competition transition charge			11				—				—				32				5				(84	%)
Transition bond companies			30				33				10	%			90				100				11	%
Total Segment Operating Income		$	196			$	202				3	%		$	457			$	457				—
Electric Transmission & Distribution Operating Data:
Actual MWH Delivered
Residential			8,381,258				8,445,744				1	%			19,060,031				19,623,125				3	%
Total			22,725,500				21,594,051				(5	%)			58,560,692				58,523,281				—
Weather (average for service area):
Percentage of 10-year average:
Cooling degree days			102	%			97	%			(5	%)			99	%			104	%			5	%
Heating degree days			0	%			0	%			0	%			114	%			95	%			(19	%)
Average number of metered customers:
Residential			1,782,281				1,822,351				2	%			1,767,431				1,812,821				3	%
Total			2,022,448				2,066,538				2	%			2,006,344				2,055,723				2	%

		Natural Gas Distribution
		Quarter Ended												Nine Months Ended
		September 30,								% Diff				September 30,								% Diff
		2007				2008				Fav/(Unfav)				2007				2008				Fav/(Unfav)
Results of Operations:
Revenues		$	458			$	550				20	%		$	2,601			$	2,976				14	%
Expenses:
Natural gas			267				351				(31	%)			1,845				2,196				(19	%)
Operation and maintenance			139				139				—				421				436				(4	%)
Depreciation and amortization			38				40				(5	%)			114				118				(4	%)
Taxes other than income taxes			22				26				(18	%)			92				107				(16	%)
Total			466				556				(19	%)			2,472				2,857				(16	%)
Operating Income (Loss)		$	(8	)		$	(6	)			25	%		$	129			$	119				(8	%)
Natural Gas Distribution Operating Data:
Throughput data in BCF
Residential			12				13				8	%			118				117				(1	%)
Commercial and Industrial			42				41				(2	%)			168				171				2	%
Total Throughput			54				54				—				286				288				1	%
Weather (average for service area)
Percentage of 10-year average:
Heating degree days			75	%			57	%			(18	%)			98	%			106	%			8	%
Average number of customers:
Residential			2,910,041				2,937,618				1	%			2,927,122				2,956,500				1	%
Commercial and Industrial			246,021				245,514				—				246,382				248,759				1	%
Total			3,156,062				3,183,132				1	%			3,173,504				3,205,259				1	%

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												Nine Months Ended
		September 30,								% Diff				September 30,								% Diff
		2007				2008				Fav/(Unfav)				2007				2008				Fav/(Unfav)
Results of Operations:
Revenues		$	770			$	1,269				65	%		$	2,715			$	3,632				34	%
Expenses:
Natural gas			756				1,225				(62	%)			2,631				3,567				(36	%)
Operation and maintenance			7				8				(14	%)			23				26				(13	%)
Depreciation and amortization			3				1				67	%			4				2				50	%
Taxes other than income taxes			—				—				—				1				1				—
Total			766				1,234				(61	%)			2,659				3,596				(35	%)
Operating Income		$	4			$	35				775	%		$	56			$	36				(36	%)
Competitive Natural Gas Sales and Services Operating Data:
Throughput data in BCF			119				125				5	%			393				392				—
Average number of customers			6,976				9,245				33	%			7,014				8,974				28	%

		Interstate Pipelines
		Quarter Ended												Nine Months Ended
		September 30,								% Diff				September 30,								% Diff
		2007				2008				Fav/(Unfav)				2007				2008				Fav/(Unfav)
Results of Operations:
Revenues		$	137			$	143				4	%		$	348			$	468				34	%
Expenses:
Natural gas			27				24				11	%			55				97				(76	%)
Operation and maintenance			29				47				(62	%)			85				93				(9	%)
Depreciation and amortization			11				11				—				32				34				(6	%)
Taxes other than income taxes			—				6				—				10				17				(70	%)
Total			67				88				(31	%)			182				241				(32	%)
Operating Income		$	70			$	55				(21	%)		$	166			$	227				37	%
Pipelines Operating Data:
Throughput data in BCF
Transportation			312				360				15	%			880				1,145				30	%

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												Nine Months Ended
		September 30,								% Diff				September 30,								% Diff
		2007				2008				Fav/(Unfav)				2007				2008				Fav/(Unfav)
Results of Operations:
Revenues		$	44			$	71				61	%		$	125			$	191				53	%
Expenses:
Natural gas			(2	)			5				(350	%)			(9	)			11				(222	%)
Operation and maintenance			17				19				(12	%)			49				48				2	%
Depreciation and amortization			2				3				(50	%)			8				9				(13	%)
Taxes other than income taxes			1				—				—				2				2				—
Total			18				27				(50	%)			50				70				(40	%)
Operating Income		$	26			$	44				69	%		$	75			$	121				61	%
Field Services Operating Data:
Throughput data in BCF
Gathering			104				109				5	%			297				311				5	%

		Other Operations
		Quarter Ended												Nine Months Ended
		September 30,								% Diff				September 30,								% Diff
		2007				2008				Fav/(Unfav)				2007				2008				Fav/(Unfav)
Results of Operations:
Revenues		$	3			$	3				—			$	8			$	8				—
Expenses			4				(4	)			200	%			9				(2	)			122	%
Operating Income (Loss)		$	(1	)		$	7				800	%		$	(1	)		$	10				1,100	%

		Capital Expenditures by Segment
		(Millions of Dollars)
		(Unaudited)
		Quarter Ended								Nine Months Ended
		September 30,								September 30,
		2007				2008				2007				2008
Capital Expenditures by Segment
Electric Transmission & Distribution		$	83			$	80			$	304			$	256
Hurricane Ike			—				141				—				141
Total Electric Transmission & Distribution			83				221				304				397
Natural Gas Distribution			58				57				135				151
Competitive Natural Gas Sales and Services			1				1				5				3
Interstate Pipelines			39				60				253				130
Field Services			15				31				55				77
Other Operations			5				5				22				18
Total		$	201			$	375			$	774			$	776

		Interest Expense Detail
		(Millions of Dollars)
		(Unaudited)
		Quarter Ended								Nine Months Ended
		September 30,								September 30,
		2007				2008				2007				2008
Interest Expense Detail
Amortization of Deferred Financing Cost		$	11			$	6			$	42			$	18
Capitalization of Interest Cost			(3	)			(3	)			(18	)			(10	)
Transition Bond Interest Expense			30				34				93				102
Other Interest Expense			118				113				344				336
Total Interest Expense		$	156			$	150			$	461			$	446

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,				September 30,
		2007				2008
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	129			$	84
Other current assets			2,659				2,753
Total current assets			2,788				2,837
Property, Plant and Equipment, net			9,740				10,149
Other Assets:
Goodwill			1,696				1,696
Regulatory assets			2,993				3,219
Other non-current assets			655				1,131
Total other assets			5,344				6,046
Total Assets		$	17,872			$	19,032
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Short-term borrowings		$	232			$	150
Current portion of transition bond long-term debt			159				208
Current portion of other long-term debt			1,156				123
Other current liabilities			2,244				2,391
Total current liabilities			3,791				2,872
Other Liabilities:
Accumulated deferred income taxes, net and investment tax credit			2,266				2,713
Regulatory liabilities			828				808
Other non-current liabilities			813				783
Total other liabilities			3,907				4,304
Long-term Debt:
Transition bond			2,101				2,381
Other			6,263				7,416
Total long-term debt			8,364				9,797
Shareholders’ Equity			1,810				2,059
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity		$	17,872			$	19,032

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)

		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2007				2008
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income		$	291			$	360
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			519				560
Deferred income taxes			23				471
Changes in net regulatory assets			57				(48	)
Changes in other assets and liabilities			(410	)			(584	)
Other, net			12				(35	)
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities			492				724
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities			(933	)			(991	)
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities			368				222
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents			(73	)			(45	)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period			127				129
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period		$	54			$	84

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