<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!--Generated by DFIN XBRL Instance Document - http://www.dfinsolutions.com/ - Version R3.0 - on 05-February-2021 [02:35:57] {AM}-->
<linkbase xmlns="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase http://www.xbrl.org/2003/xbrl-linkbase-2003-12-31.xsd">
<roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="cnp-20210204.xsd#CoverPage" roleURI="http://cnp.com/role/CoverPage" />
<presentationLink xlink:type="extended" xlink:role="http://cnp.com/role/CoverPage">
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_CoverAbstract" xlink:label="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_2" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntitiesTable" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntitiesTable_3" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_2" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntitiesTable_3" use="optional" order="1" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_4" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntitiesTable_3" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_4" use="optional" order="2" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityDomain" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_5" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_4" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_5" use="optional" order="3" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="cnp-20210204.xsd#cnp_CenterPointEnergyHoustonElectricLLCMember" xlink:label="loc_cnp_CenterPointEnergyHoustonElectricLLCMember_11" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_5" xlink:to="loc_cnp_CenterPointEnergyHoustonElectricLLCMember_11" use="optional" order="4" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="cnp-20210204.xsd#cnp_CenterPointEnergyResourcesCorp.Member" xlink:label="loc_cnp_CenterPointEnergyResourcesCorp.Member_12" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_5" xlink:to="loc_cnp_CenterPointEnergyResourcesCorp.Member_12" use="optional" order="5" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_6" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntitiesTable_3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_6" use="optional" order="6" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_7" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_7" use="optional" order="7" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockMember" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_13" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_13" use="optional" order="8" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="cnp-20210204.xsd#cnp_DepositarysharesMember" xlink:label="loc_cnp_DepositarysharesMember_14" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_7" xlink:to="loc_cnp_DepositarysharesMember_14" use="optional" order="9" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="cnp-20210204.xsd#cnp_A9.15FirstMortgageBondsdue2021Member" xlink:label="loc_cnp_A9.15FirstMortgageBondsdue2021Member_15" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_7" xlink:to="loc_cnp_A9.15FirstMortgageBondsdue2021Member_15" use="optional" order="10" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="cnp-20210204.xsd#cnp_A6.95GeneralMortgageBondsdue2033Member" xlink:label="loc_cnp_A6.95GeneralMortgageBondsdue2033Member_16" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_7" xlink:to="loc_cnp_A6.95GeneralMortgageBondsdue2033Member_16" use="optional" order="11" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="cnp-20210204.xsd#cnp_A6.625SeniorNotesdue2037Member" xlink:label="loc_cnp_A6.625SeniorNotesdue2037Member_17" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_7" xlink:to="loc_cnp_A6.625SeniorNotesdue2037Member_17" use="optional" order="12" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityListingsExchangeAxis" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityListingsExchangeAxis_8" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntitiesTable_3" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityListingsExchangeAxis_8" use="optional" order="13" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_ExchangeDomain" xlink:label="loc_dei_ExchangeDomain_9" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityListingsExchangeAxis_8" xlink:to="loc_dei_ExchangeDomain_9" use="optional" order="14" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="cnp-20210204.xsd#cnp_NewYorkStockExchangeMember" xlink:label="loc_cnp_NewYorkStockExchangeMember_18" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_ExchangeDomain_9" xlink:to="loc_cnp_NewYorkStockExchangeMember_18" use="optional" order="15" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="cnp-20210204.xsd#cnp_ChicagoStockExchangeMember" xlink:label="loc_cnp_ChicagoStockExchangeMember_19" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_ExchangeDomain_9" xlink:to="loc_cnp_ChicagoStockExchangeMember_19" use="optional" order="16" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityInformationLineItems" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_10" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntitiesTable_3" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_10" use="optional" order="17" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentType" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentType_20" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_10" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_20" use="optional" order="18" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_21" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_10" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_21" use="optional" order="19" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityRegistrantName" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_22" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_10" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_22" use="optional" order="20" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityFileNumber" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_23" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_10" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_23" use="optional" order="21" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_24" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_10" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_24" use="optional" order="22" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_25" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_10" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_25" use="optional" order="23" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_26" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_10" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_26" use="optional" order="24" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_27" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_10" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_27" use="optional" order="25" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_28" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_10" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_28" use="optional" order="26" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_CityAreaCode" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_29" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_10" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_29" use="optional" order="27" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_LocalPhoneNumber" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_30" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_10" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_30" use="optional" order="28" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_WrittenCommunications" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_31" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_10" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_31" use="optional" order="29" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_SolicitingMaterial" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_32" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_10" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_32" use="optional" order="30" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_33" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_10" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_33" use="optional" order="31" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_34" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_10" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_34" use="optional" order="32" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_Security12bTitle" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_35" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_10" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_35" use="optional" order="33" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_TradingSymbol" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_36" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_10" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_36" use="optional" order="34" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_NoTradingSymbolFlag" xlink:label="loc_dei_NoTradingSymbolFlag_813755" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_10" xlink:to="loc_dei_NoTradingSymbolFlag_813755" use="optional" order="35" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_SecurityExchangeName" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_37" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_10" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_37" use="optional" order="36" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_38" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_10" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_38" use="optional" order="37" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_AmendmentFlag" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_39" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_10" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_39" use="optional" order="38" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityCentralIndexKey" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_40" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_10" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_40" use="optional" order="39" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
<loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_41" />
<presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_10" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_41" use="optional" order="40" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
</presentationLink>
</linkbase>
