CenterPoint Energy Declares $0.07 Dividend

HOUSTON, Aug. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CenterPoint Energy, Inc.'s board of directors today declared a dividend of $0.07 per common share, payable on Sept. 30, 2005, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on Sept. 12, 2005. When added to the three dividends declared and paid so far this year, dividends declared total $0.34 per share versus $0.30 per share for the first three quarters of 2004.

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In 2003 and 2004, CenterPoint Energy paid an annual dividend of $0.40 per share. It is the company's plan to pay a 2005 annual dividend of $0.40 per share, although the timing and amounts of specific dividends must comply with the dividend payment limitations currently imposed under the Public Utility Holding Company Act (PUHCA). Under these limitations, the company may declare and pay dividends only from earnings in the specific quarter in which the dividend is paid. After the effective date of the repeal of PUHCA in February 2006, these limitations will no longer apply.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission & distribution, natural gas distribution and sales, and interstate pipeline and gathering operations. The company serves nearly five million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. Assets total approximately $16 billion. With more than 9,000 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 130 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 CenterPoint Energy, the timing and impact of future regulatory decisions, and other factors discussed in CenterPoint Energy's Form 10-Ks for the period ended Dec. 31, 2004, and Form 10-Qs for the periods ended March 31 and June 30, 2005, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.