<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>sv8</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 2pt">As filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May&nbsp;29, 2009</DIV>

<DIV align="right" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Registration No.&nbsp;333-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</DIV>

<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt; margin-top: 3pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 10pt"><B>UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 1px; margin-top: 6pt">
<DIV align="center">
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; margin-top: 6pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>FORM S-8</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 10pt"><B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT<BR>
UNDER<BR>
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 1px; margin-top: 6pt">
<DIV align="center">
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; margin-top: 6pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 24pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="47%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="47%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>Texas</B>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>74-0694415</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(State or other jurisdiction of
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(I.R.S. Employer</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">incorporation or organization)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Identification No.)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>1111 Louisiana</B>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>77002</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>Houston, Texas</B>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(Zip Code)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt">
<DIV align="center">
<DIV style="font-size: 1px; margin-top: 13pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV><BR>
<B>CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC. 2009 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN</B><BR>
(Full title of the plan)</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt">
<DIV align="center">
<DIV style="font-size: 1px; margin-top: 13pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV><BR>
<B>Rufus S. Scott<BR>
Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary<BR>
1111 Louisiana<BR>
Houston, Texas 77002</B><BR>
(Name and address of agent for service)</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt">
<DIV align="center">
<DIV style="font-size: 1px; margin-top: 13pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV><BR>
<B>(713)&nbsp;207-1111</B><BR>
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt">
<DIV align="center">
<DIV style="font-size: 1px; margin-top: 13pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV><BR>
<I>Copy to</I>:</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Gerald M. Spedale<BR>
Baker Botts L.L.P.<BR>
910 Louisiana<BR>
One Shell Plaza<BR>
Houston, Texas 77002-4995<BR>
(713)&nbsp;229-1234</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 1px; margin-top: 6pt">
<DIV align="center">
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; margin-top: 6pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Indicate by
check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer,
or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of &#147;large accelerated filer,&#148; &#147;accelerated filer&#148;
and &#147;smaller reporting company&#148; in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):</DIV>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="23%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="23%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="23%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="23%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="left" valign="top" nowrap>Large accelerated filer <FONT face="Wingdings">&#254;</FONT></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top" nowrap>Accelerated filer <FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top" nowrap>Non-accelerated filer <FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT><br> (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top" nowrap>Smaller reporting company <FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<TR style="font-size: 6pt">
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="50%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="8%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="9%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="6%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="6%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="23" style="border-bottom: 3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
<TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Proposed maximum</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Proposed maximum</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
<TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Amount to be</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>offering price per</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>aggregate offering</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Amount of</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
<TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Title of securities to be registered</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>registered (1)</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>share (2)</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>price</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>registration fee</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
                    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Common stock, par value $0.01 per share (3)</DIV></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>

<TD colspan="3" align="center" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000" nowrap>13,137,101 shares</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000" colspan="3">$9.88</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$</TD>

<TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">129,794,558</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">7,243</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="23" style="border-top: 3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD width="96"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(1)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Pursuant to Rule&nbsp;416 under the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement also
covers any additional shares of the Common Stock of CenterPoint Energy, Inc., along with the
associated preferred stock purchase rights, that may become issuable under the plan as a
result of the antidilution provisions thereof.</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 3pt"><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(2)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule
457(c) and (h)&nbsp;of the Securities Act based upon the average of the high and low prices of the
Common Stock of CenterPoint Energy, Inc. as reported on The New York Stock Exchange Composite
Tape on May&nbsp;22, 2009.</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 3pt"><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(3)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Each share of Common Stock to be registered includes one associated preferred stock purchase
right. No separate consideration is payable for the preferred stock purchase rights.</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>
<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>
<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<!--TOC-->
<!--/TOC-->

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT</B></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (the &#147;Registrant&#148; or the &#147;Company&#148;) is filing this Registration
Statement on Form S-8 relating to its common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and associated
rights to purchase its Series&nbsp;A preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (such common stock and
associated rights are collectively referred to in this Registration Statement as the &#147;Common
Stock&#148;), issuable pursuant to the terms of the CenterPoint Energy, Inc. 2009 Long Term Incentive
Plan (the &#147;Plan&#148;).</DIV>

<!-- link1 "PART I" -->
<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>PART I</B></DIV>

<DIV align="Center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS</B></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Note: The document(s) containing the information concerning the Plan required by Item&nbsp;1 of
Form S-8 and the statement of availability of registrant information and any other information
required by Item&nbsp;2 of Form S-8 will be sent or given to participants as specified by Rule&nbsp;428 under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#147;Securities Act&#148;). In accordance with Rule&nbsp;428 and the
requirements of Part&nbsp;I of Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the &#147;Commission&#148;) either as part of this registration statement or as
prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule&nbsp;424 under the Securities Act. The
Registrant shall maintain a file of such documents in accordance with the provisions of Rule&nbsp;428.
Upon request, the Registrant shall furnish to the Commission or its staff a copy or copies of all
of the documents included in such file.
</DIV>

<!-- link1 "PART II" -->
<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>PART II</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="Center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</B>

</DIV>
<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference" -->

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The following documents have been filed with the Commission by the Company (File No.&nbsp;1-31447)
pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#147;Exchange Act&#148;) and are hereby
incorporated in this registration statement by reference:
</DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(1)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>The Company&#146;s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31,
2008;</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(2)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>The Company&#146;s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March&nbsp;31,
2009;</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(3)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>The Company&#146;s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on February&nbsp;24, 2009, February
25, 2009 (related to the Company&#146;s continuous offering program), March&nbsp;26, 2009 and May
7, 2009; and</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(4)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>the description of our common stock (including the related preferred share
purchase rights) contained in our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October&nbsp;3, 2008,
as we may update that description from time to time.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All documents filed with the Commission by the Company pursuant to Sections&nbsp;13(a), 13(c), 14
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding information deemed to be furnished and not filed with the
Commission) subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to
this registration statement which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold, or
which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Any statement contained herein or incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be
modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement
contained herein or in any subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified
or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of
this registration statement.</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->2<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>
<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Experts</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The consolidated financial statements and the related consolidated financial statement
schedules, incorporated in this document by reference from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December&nbsp;31, 2008, and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial
reporting have been audited by Deloitte &#038; Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting
firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated
financial statements and consolidated financial statement schedules have been so incorporated in
reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and
auditing.
</DIV>
<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;4. Description of Securities" -->

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;4. Description of Securities.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.
</DIV>
<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel" -->

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.
</DIV>
<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers" -->

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Article&nbsp;2.02.A.(16) and Article&nbsp;2.02-1 of the Texas Business Corporation Act and Article&nbsp;V of
the Company&#146;s Amended and Restated Bylaws provide the Company with broad powers and authority to
indemnify its directors and officers and to purchase and maintain insurance for such purposes.
Pursuant to such statutory and Bylaw provisions, the Company has purchased insurance against
certain costs of indemnification that may be incurred by it and by its officers and directors.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Additionally, Article&nbsp;IX of the Company&#146;s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation
provides that a director of the Company is not liable to the Company for monetary damages for any
act or omission in the director&#146;s capacity as director, except that Article&nbsp;IX does not eliminate
or limit the liability of a director for (i)&nbsp;any breach of such director&#146;s duty of loyalty to the
Company or its shareholders, (ii)&nbsp;any act or omission not in good faith that constitutes a breach
of duty of such director to the Company or an act or omission that involves intentional misconduct
or a knowing violation of law, (iii)&nbsp;a transaction from which such director received an improper
benefit, whether or not the benefit resulted from an action taken within the scope of the
director&#146;s office or (iv)&nbsp;an act or omission for which the liability of a director is expressly
provided for by statute.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Article&nbsp;IX also provides that any subsequent amendments to Texas statutes that further limit
the liability of directors will inure to the benefit of the directors, without any further action
by shareholders. Any repeal or modification of Article&nbsp;IX shall not adversely affect any right of
protection of a director of the Company existing at the time of the repeal or modification.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;See &#147;Item&nbsp;9. Undertakings&#148; for a description of the Commission&#146;s position regarding such
indemnification provisions.
</DIV>
<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;7. Exemption from Registration Claimed" -->

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->3<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>
<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits" -->
<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits.</B></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The following documents are filed as part of this Registration Statement on Form S-8 or
incorporated by reference herein:</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="30%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="30%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="10%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>SEC File or</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Exhibit</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Report or</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Registration</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Number</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Document Description</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Registration Statement</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Number&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Exhibit Reference</B></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.1* -</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Restated Articles of Incorporation of CenterPoint Energy</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">CenterPoint Energy&#146;s Form&nbsp;8-K dated July  24, 2008</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">1-31447</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">3.2</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.2* -
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Amended and Restated Bylaws of
CenterPoint Energy</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">CenterPoint Energy&#146;s
Form&nbsp;8-K dated July
24, 2008</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">1-31447</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">3.1</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.3* -
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Rights Agreement dated as of
January&nbsp;1, 2002 between
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and
JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Rights
Agent</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">CenterPoint Energy&#146;s
Form&nbsp;10-K for the
year ended December
31, 2001</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">1-31447</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">4.2</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.4* -
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Form of CenterPoint Energy,
Inc. Stock Certificate</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">CenterPoint Energy&#146;s
Registration
Statement on Form&nbsp;S-4</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">333-69502</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">4.1</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.5* -
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">CenterPoint Energy, Inc. 2009
Long Term Incentive Plan</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">CenterPoint Energy&#146;s
Definitive Proxy
Statement on Schedule
14A filed on March
13, 2009</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">1-31447</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap colspan="3" align="center" valign="top">Appendix A</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5.1 -
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P.</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.1 -
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Deloitte &#038; Touche LLP</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.2 -
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Baker Botts L.L.P.
(included in Exhibit&nbsp;5.1)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24.1* -
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Powers of Attorney (included on
the signature page herein)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<DIV align="left">
<DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 18%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD width="96"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">*</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Incorporated herein by reference as indicated.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>


<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;9. Undertakings" -->

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;9. Undertakings.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)&nbsp;The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 2%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 4%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) To include any prospectus required by Section&nbsp;10(a)(3) of the Securities
Act;
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 4%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the
effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective
amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental
change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the
total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered)
and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range
may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to
Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and
price represent no more than a</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->4<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>
<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>
<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 4%">20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the
&#147;Calculation of Registration Fee&#148; table in the effective registration statement; and</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 4%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material
change to such information in the registration statement;
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 2%">provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do
not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the
Commission by the registrant
pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by
reference in the registration statement.</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 2%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each
such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to
the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 2%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the
securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 2%">(b)&nbsp;The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any
liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant&#146;s annual report pursuant
to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in
the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to
the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 2%">(c)&nbsp;Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be
permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the
foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of
the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a
director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any
action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion
of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->5<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>
<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">



<!-- link1 "SIGNATURES" -->

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>SIGNATURES</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it
has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and
has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston, the State of
Texas, on the 29th day of May,
2009.
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left">CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.<BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>

<TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000" align="left">/s/
David M. McClanahan</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">David M. McClanahan&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">President and Chief Executive Officer&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<!-- link1 "POWER OF ATTORNEY" -->

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>POWER OF ATTORNEY</B>
</DIV>



<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and
appoints Gary L. Whitlock, David M. McClanahan and Rufus S. Scott, and each of them, each of whom
may act without the joinder of the other, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and
agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name,
place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all
other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact
and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done, as fully and for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them
or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has
been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on
May&nbsp;29, 2009.
</DIV>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Signature</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Title</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">/s/ David M. McClanahan<BR>
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
David M. McClanahan
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">President, Chief Executive Officer and Director&nbsp; <BR>(Principal
Executive Officer)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">/s/ Gary L. Whitlock<BR>
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Gary L. Whitlock
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer&nbsp; <BR>(Principal
Financial Officer)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">/s/ Walter L. Fitzgerald<BR>
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Walter L. Fitzgerald
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer&nbsp; <BR>(Principal
Accounting Officer)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">/s/ Donald R. Campbell<BR>
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Donald R. Campbell
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Director&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">/s/ Milton Carroll<BR>
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Milton Carroll
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Director&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">/s/ Derrill Cody<BR>
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Derrill Cody
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Director&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->6<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Signature</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Title</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">/s/ O. Holcombe Crosswell<BR>
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
O. Holcombe Crosswell
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Director&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">/s/ Michael P. Johnson<BR>
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Michael P. Johnson
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Director&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">/s/ Janiece M. Longoria<BR>
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Janiece M. Longoria
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Director&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">/s/ Thomas F. Madison<BR>
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Thomas F. Madison
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Director&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">/s/ Robert T. O&#146;Connell<BR>
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Robert T. O&#146;Connell
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Director&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">/s/ Susan O. Rheney<BR>
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Susan O. Rheney
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Director&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">/s/ Michael E. Shannon<BR>
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Michael E. Shannon
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Director&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">/s/ Peter S. Wareing<BR>
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Peter S. Wareing
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Director&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">/s/ Sherman M. Wolff<BR>
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Sherman M. Wolff
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Director&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->7<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<!-- link1 "EXHIBIT INDEX" -->

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="7%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="10%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>SEC File or</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Exhibit</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Report or</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Registration</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Exhibit</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Number</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Document Description</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Registration Statement</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Number</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Reference</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.1* -
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Restated Articles of
Incorporation of CenterPoint
Energy
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">CenterPoint Energy&#146;s
Form&nbsp;8-K dated July
24, 2008
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">1-31447
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">3.2</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.2* -
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Amended and Restated Bylaws of
CenterPoint Energy
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">CenterPoint Energy&#146;s
Form&nbsp;8-K dated July
24, 2008
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">1-31447
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">3.1</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.3* -
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Rights Agreement dated as of
January&nbsp;1, 2002 between
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and
JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Rights
Agent
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">CenterPoint Energy&#146;s
Form&nbsp;10-K for the
year ended December
31, 2001
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">1-31447
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">4.2</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.4* -
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Form of CenterPoint Energy,
Inc. Stock Certificate
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">CenterPoint Energy&#146;s
Registration
Statement on Form&nbsp;S-4
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">333-69502
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">4.1</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.5* -
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">CenterPoint Energy, Inc. 2009
Long Term Incentive Plan
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">CenterPoint Energy&#146;s
Definitive Proxy
Statement on Schedule
14A filed on March
13, 2009
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">1-31447
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap colspan="3" align="center" valign="top">Appendix&nbsp;A
</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5.1 -
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P.</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.1 -
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Deloitte &#038; Touche LLP</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.2 -
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Baker Botts L.L.P.
(included in Exhibit&nbsp;5.1)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24.1* -
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Powers of Attorney (included on
the signature page herein)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<DIV align="left">
<DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 18%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD width="96"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">*</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Incorporated herein by reference as indicated.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>




<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->8<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>



</BODY>
</HTML>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "h66936sv8.htm", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 63934}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC", "cik": "0001130310", "assigned-sic": "4911", "irs-number": "740694415", "fiscal-year-end": "0724"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-159586", "film-number": "09861437"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1111 LOUISIANA ST.", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77002", "phone": "7132073000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1111 LOUISIANA ST.", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77002"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "RELIANT ENERGY REGCO INC", "date-changed": "20001220"}}
sv8
As filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 29, 2009
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Texas
74-0694415
(State or other jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)
Identification No.)
1111 Louisiana
77002
Houston, Texas
(Zip Code)
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC. 2009 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
(Full title of the plan)
Rufus S. Scott
Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary
1111 Louisiana
Houston, Texas 77002
(Name and address of agent for service)
(713) 207-1111
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copy to
:
Gerald M. Spedale
Baker Botts L.L.P.
910 Louisiana
One Shell Plaza
Houston, Texas 77002-4995
(713) 229-1234
Indicate by
check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer,
or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer"
and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer
þ
Accelerated filer
o
Non-accelerated filer
o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
o
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Proposed maximum
Proposed maximum
Amount to be
offering price per
aggregate offering
Amount of
Title of securities to be registered
registered (1)
share (2)
price
registration fee
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share (3)
13,137,101 shares
$9.88
$
129,794,558
$
7,243
(1)
Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement also
covers any additional shares of the Common Stock of CenterPoint Energy, Inc., along with the
associated preferred stock purchase rights, that may become issuable under the plan as a
result of the antidilution provisions thereof.
(2)
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule
457(c) and (h) of the Securities Act based upon the average of the high and low prices of the
Common Stock of CenterPoint Energy, Inc. as reported on The New York Stock Exchange Composite
Tape on May 22, 2009.
(3)
Each share of Common Stock to be registered includes one associated preferred stock purchase
right. No separate consideration is payable for the preferred stock purchase rights.
INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (the "Registrant" or the "Company") is filing this Registration
Statement on Form S-8 relating to its common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and associated
rights to purchase its Series A preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (such common stock and
associated rights are collectively referred to in this Registration Statement as the "Common
Stock"), issuable pursuant to the terms of the CenterPoint Energy, Inc. 2009 Long Term Incentive
Plan (the "Plan").
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
Note: The document(s) containing the information concerning the Plan required by Item 1 of
Form S-8 and the statement of availability of registrant information and any other information
required by Item 2 of Form S-8 will be sent or given to participants as specified by Rule 428 under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). In accordance with Rule 428 and the
requirements of Part I of Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") either as part of this registration statement or as
prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act. The
Registrant shall maintain a file of such documents in accordance with the provisions of Rule 428.
Upon request, the Registrant shall furnish to the Commission or its staff a copy or copies of all
of the documents included in such file.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The following documents have been filed with the Commission by the Company (File No. 1-31447)
pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and are hereby
incorporated in this registration statement by reference:
(1)
The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2008;
(2)
The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31,
2009;
(3)
The Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on February 24, 2009, February
25, 2009 (related to the Company's continuous offering program), March 26, 2009 and May
7, 2009; and
(4)
the description of our common stock (including the related preferred share
purchase rights) contained in our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 3, 2008,
as we may update that description from time to time.
All documents filed with the Commission by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding information deemed to be furnished and not filed with the
Commission) subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to
this registration statement which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold, or
which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
Any statement contained herein or incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be
modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement
contained herein or in any subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified
or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of
this registration statement.
2
Experts
The consolidated financial statements and the related consolidated financial statement
schedules, incorporated in this document by reference from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2008, and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial
reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting
firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated
financial statements and consolidated financial statement schedules have been so incorporated in
reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and
auditing.
Item 4. Description of Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Article 2.02.A.(16) and Article 2.02-1 of the Texas Business Corporation Act and Article V of
the Company's Amended and Restated Bylaws provide the Company with broad powers and authority to
indemnify its directors and officers and to purchase and maintain insurance for such purposes.
Pursuant to such statutory and Bylaw provisions, the Company has purchased insurance against
certain costs of indemnification that may be incurred by it and by its officers and directors.
Additionally, Article IX of the Company's Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation
provides that a director of the Company is not liable to the Company for monetary damages for any
act or omission in the director's capacity as director, except that Article IX does not eliminate
or limit the liability of a director for (i) any breach of such director's duty of loyalty to the
Company or its shareholders, (ii) any act or omission not in good faith that constitutes a breach
of duty of such director to the Company or an act or omission that involves intentional misconduct
or a knowing violation of law, (iii) a transaction from which such director received an improper
benefit, whether or not the benefit resulted from an action taken within the scope of the
director's office or (iv) an act or omission for which the liability of a director is expressly
provided for by statute.
Article IX also provides that any subsequent amendments to Texas statutes that further limit
the liability of directors will inure to the benefit of the directors, without any further action
by shareholders. Any repeal or modification of Article IX shall not adversely affect any right of
protection of a director of the Company existing at the time of the repeal or modification.
See "Item 9. Undertakings" for a description of the Commission's position regarding such
indemnification provisions.
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
3
Item 8. Exhibits.
The following documents are filed as part of this Registration Statement on Form S-8 or
incorporated by reference herein:
SEC File or
Exhibit
Report or
Registration
Number
Document Description
Registration Statement
Number
Exhibit Reference
4.1* -
Restated Articles of Incorporation of CenterPoint Energy
CenterPoint Energy's Form 8-K dated July  24, 2008
1-31447
3.2
4.2* -
Amended and Restated Bylaws of
CenterPoint Energy
CenterPoint Energy's
Form 8-K dated July
24, 2008
1-31447
3.1
4.3* -
Rights Agreement dated as of
January 1, 2002 between
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and
JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Rights
Agent
CenterPoint Energy's
Form 10-K for the
year ended December
31, 2001
1-31447
4.2
4.4* -
Form of CenterPoint Energy,
Inc. Stock Certificate
CenterPoint Energy's
Registration
Statement on Form S-4
333-69502
4.1
4.5* -
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. 2009
Long Term Incentive Plan
CenterPoint Energy's
Definitive Proxy
Statement on Schedule
14A filed on March
13, 2009
1-31447
Appendix A
5.1 -
Opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P.
23.1 -
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
23.2 -
Consent of Baker Botts L.L.P.
(included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1* -
Powers of Attorney (included on
the signature page herein)
*
Incorporated herein by reference as indicated.
Item 9. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities
Act;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the
effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective
amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental
change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the
total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered)
and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range
may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to
Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and
price represent no more than a
4
20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the
"Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material
change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do
not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the
Commission by the registrant
pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by
reference in the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each
such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to
the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the
securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any
liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant
to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in
the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to
the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be
permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the
foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of
the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a
director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any
action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion
of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.
5
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it
has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and
has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston, the State of
Texas, on the 29th day of May,
2009.
CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.
By:
/s/
David M. McClanahan
David M. McClanahan
President and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and
appoints Gary L. Whitlock, David M. McClanahan and Rufus S. Scott, and each of them, each of whom
may act without the joinder of the other, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and
agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name,
place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all
other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact
and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done, as fully and for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them
or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has
been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on
May 29, 2009.
Signature
Title
/s/ David M. McClanahan
David M. McClanahan
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal
Executive Officer)
/s/ Gary L. Whitlock
Gary L. Whitlock
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal
Financial Officer)
/s/ Walter L. Fitzgerald
Walter L. Fitzgerald
Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal
Accounting Officer)
/s/ Donald R. Campbell
Donald R. Campbell
Director
/s/ Milton Carroll
Milton Carroll
Director
/s/ Derrill Cody
Derrill Cody
Director
6
Signature
Title
/s/ O. Holcombe Crosswell
O. Holcombe Crosswell
Director
/s/ Michael P. Johnson
Michael P. Johnson
Director
/s/ Janiece M. Longoria
Janiece M. Longoria
Director
/s/ Thomas F. Madison
Thomas F. Madison
Director
/s/ Robert T. O'Connell
Robert T. O'Connell
Director
/s/ Susan O. Rheney
Susan O. Rheney
Director
/s/ Michael E. Shannon
Michael E. Shannon
Director
/s/ Peter S. Wareing
Peter S. Wareing
Director
/s/ Sherman M. Wolff
Sherman M. Wolff
Director
7
EXHIBIT INDEX
SEC File or
Exhibit
Report or
Registration
Exhibit
Number
Document Description
Registration Statement
Number
Reference
4.1* -
Restated Articles of
Incorporation of CenterPoint
Energy
CenterPoint Energy's
Form 8-K dated July
24, 2008
1-31447
3.2
4.2* -
Amended and Restated Bylaws of
CenterPoint Energy
CenterPoint Energy's
Form 8-K dated July
24, 2008
1-31447
3.1
4.3* -
Rights Agreement dated as of
January 1, 2002 between
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and
JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Rights
Agent
CenterPoint Energy's
Form 10-K for the
year ended December
31, 2001
1-31447
4.2
4.4* -
Form of CenterPoint Energy,
Inc. Stock Certificate
CenterPoint Energy's
Registration
Statement on Form S-4
333-69502
4.1
4.5* -
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. 2009
Long Term Incentive Plan
CenterPoint Energy's
Definitive Proxy
Statement on Schedule
14A filed on March
13, 2009
1-31447
Appendix A
5.1 -
Opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P.
23.1 -
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
23.2 -
Consent of Baker Botts L.L.P.
(included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1* -
Powers of Attorney (included on
the signature page herein)
*
Incorporated herein by reference as indicated.
8