CenterPoint Energy Raises Quarterly Dividend 2.6% / Dividend increases from 19 cents to 19.5 cents per share

HOUSTON, Jan. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CenterPoint Energy, Inc.'s board of directors today declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.195 per share of common stock payable on March 10, 2010, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 16, 2010. This represents more than a 2.6 percent increase over the $0.190 per common share quarterly dividends paid by the company in 2009.

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"I am pleased that for the fifth consecutive year, CenterPoint Energy is raising its dividend," said David M. McClanahan, president and chief executive officer of CenterPoint Energy. "This increase demonstrates a strong commitment to our shareholders and the confidence the board of directors has in our ability to deliver sustainable earnings and cash flow."

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/.

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 events and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect actual results include the financial performance of CenterPoint Energy, the timing and impact of future regulatory decisions, and other factors discussed in CenterPoint Energy's Form 10-K for the period ended Dec. 31, 2008, and Form 10-Qs for the periods ended March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2009, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For more information contact Media: Leticia Lowe Phone [phone] Investors: Marianne Paulsen Phone [phone]

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CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

CONTACT: Media, Leticia Lowe, [phone], or Investors, Marianne
Paulsen, [phone], both of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

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