HOUSTON, Oct. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CenterPoint Energy, Inc.''s board of directors today declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.19 per share of common stock payable on December 10, 2009, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 16, 2009.

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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 http://www.centerpointenergy.com/.

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

CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

CONTACT: media, Leticia Lowe, +1-713-207-7702, or investors, Marianne
Paulsen, +1-713-207-6500, both for CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

Web Site: http://www.centerpointenergy.com/