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Roman',sans-serif;font-size:16pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">UNITED STATES</span></div><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:16pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</span></div><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Washington, D.C. 20549</span></div><div style="text-align:center"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:16pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">FORM <ix:nonNumeric contextRef="i64c7342dbb364eb0b081889d1ed447f5_D20210423-20210423" name="dei:DocumentType" 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style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:16pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">CENTERPOINT ENERGY , INC. </span></div><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</span></div><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">_______________________________</span></div><div style="margin-top:5pt;text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:420.75pt"><tr><td style="width:1.0pt"></td><td style="width:94.00pt"></td><td style="width:1.0pt"></td><td style="width:1.0pt"></td><td style="width:70.75pt"></td><td style="width:1.0pt"></td><td style="width:1.0pt"></td><td style="width:88.75pt"></td><td style="width:1.0pt"></td><td 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id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNhMTk1YjBjMGJjNTQ0MWRiZTAyN2RiZjI5N2Q4ZGUzL3NlYzpjYTE5NWIwYzBiYzU0NDFkYmUwMjdkYmYyOTdkOGRlM18xL2ZyYWc6YzdiNmYxODU2NDQ4NGI4MGIwYWE5OThhYTk2NDJiODYvdGFibGU6OGUyZjMzMWFmNzk4NDA5NmFjZWYyMDRmNTNjZDQ0YmIvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo4ZTJmMzMxYWY3OTg0MDk2YWNlZjIwNGY1M2NkNDRiYl84LTMtMS0xLTE4MDcwMA_36fa913a-5b50-4d31-ad9f-8257147a2ee0">(713)</ix:nonNumeric></span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%"><ix:nonNumeric contextRef="i64c7342dbb364eb0b081889d1ed447f5_D20210423-20210423" name="dei:LocalPhoneNumber" 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style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:130%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:130%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial Unicode MS',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:130%"><ix:nonNumeric contextRef="i64c7342dbb364eb0b081889d1ed447f5_D20210423-20210423" name="dei:SolicitingMaterial" format="ixt-sec:boolballotbox" id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNhMTk1YjBjMGJjNTQ0MWRiZTAyN2RiZjI5N2Q4ZGUzL3NlYzpjYTE5NWIwYzBiYzU0NDFkYmUwMjdkYmYyOTdkOGRlM18xL2ZyYWc6YzdiNmYxODU2NDQ4NGI4MGIwYWE5OThhYTk2NDJiODYvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpjN2I2ZjE4NTY0NDg0YjgwYjBhYTk5OGFhOTY0MmI4Nl8yODg0_29c180a1-38d2-4f22-b85b-6b859e75f367">&#9744;</ix:nonNumeric></span><span 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style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:130%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:130%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial Unicode MS',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:130%"><ix:nonNumeric contextRef="i64c7342dbb364eb0b081889d1ed447f5_D20210423-20210423" name="dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer" format="ixt-sec:boolballotbox" id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNhMTk1YjBjMGJjNTQ0MWRiZTAyN2RiZjI5N2Q4ZGUzL3NlYzpjYTE5NWIwYzBiYzU0NDFkYmUwMjdkYmYyOTdkOGRlM18xL2ZyYWc6YzdiNmYxODU2NDQ4NGI4MGIwYWE5OThhYTk2NDJiODYvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpjN2I2ZjE4NTY0NDg0YjgwYjBhYTk5OGFhOTY0MmI4Nl8yODg2_c39e0965-1c32-4036-aa37-4da0779f266f">&#9744;</ix:nonNumeric></span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:130%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</span></div><div style="margin-top:5pt;text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:95.412%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:41.688%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:17.008%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:38.004%"></td><td 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id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNhMTk1YjBjMGJjNTQ0MWRiZTAyN2RiZjI5N2Q4ZGUzL3NlYzpjYTE5NWIwYzBiYzU0NDFkYmUwMjdkYmYyOTdkOGRlM18xL2ZyYWc6YzdiNmYxODU2NDQ4NGI4MGIwYWE5OThhYTk2NDJiODYvdGFibGU6YTI3OWI5YzExYjY3NDhmMjk1YmNmM2VlZGRkNThjZWMvdGFibGVyYW5nZTphMjc5YjljMTFiNjc0OGYyOTViY2YzZWVkZGQ1OGNlY18yLTItMS0xLTE4MDcwMA_3d5dac07-44fe-4f21-bef5-1b100ddcec50">The New York Stock Exchange</ix:nonNumeric></span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"><ix:nonNumeric contextRef="ida292a3c07a4480e80d3ea4ce5483bec_D20210423-20210423" name="dei:SecurityExchangeName" format="ixt-sec:exchnameen" id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNhMTk1YjBjMGJjNTQ0MWRiZTAyN2RiZjI5N2Q4ZGUzL3NlYzpjYTE5NWIwYzBiYzU0NDFkYmUwMjdkYmYyOTdkOGRlM18xL2ZyYWc6YzdiNmYxODU2NDQ4NGI4MGIwYWE5OThhYTk2NDJiODYvdGFibGU6YTI3OWI5YzExYjY3NDhmMjk1YmNmM2VlZGRkNThjZWMvdGFibGVyYW5nZTphMjc5YjljMTFiNjc0OGYyOTViY2YzZWVkZGQ1OGNlY18zLTItMS0xLTE4MDcwMA_33e0d39c-ed70-47f4-974d-ffc03c67bf03">Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc.</ix:nonNumeric></span></td></tr></table></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:130%">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (&#167;230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (&#167;240.12b-2). </span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:144%">Emerging Growth Company </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial Unicode MS',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:144%"><ix:nonNumeric contextRef="i64c7342dbb364eb0b081889d1ed447f5_D20210423-20210423" name="dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany" format="ixt-sec:boolballotbox" id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNhMTk1YjBjMGJjNTQ0MWRiZTAyN2RiZjI5N2Q4ZGUzL3NlYzpjYTE5NWIwYzBiYzU0NDFkYmUwMjdkYmYyOTdkOGRlM18xL2ZyYWc6YzdiNmYxODU2NDQ4NGI4MGIwYWE5OThhYTk2NDJiODYvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpjN2I2ZjE4NTY0NDg0YjgwYjBhYTk5OGFhOTY0MmI4Nl8yODg3_941c625c-2b12-4d53-8ef5-02e5c0c4ea71">&#9744;</ix:nonNumeric></span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:144%"> </span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:144%">If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Wingdings',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:144%">o</span></div><div style="margin-top:5pt;text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:18.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:18.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:18.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:18.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:18.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr style="height:6pt"><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:3pt double #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:3pt double #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:3pt double #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:3pt double #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:3pt double #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr></table></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><span><br/></span></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"/><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><span><br/></span></div></div><div style="padding-left:72pt;text-indent:-72pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:115%">Item 5.02.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">At the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of CenterPoint Energy, Inc. ("CenterPoint Energy"), which was held on April 22, 2022 (the "2022 Annual Meeting"), CenterPoint Energy's shareholders approved the CenterPoint Energy, Inc. 2022 Long Term Incentive Plan (the "2022 Plan"). The 2022 Plan was previously approved, subject to shareholder approval, by the Board of Directors of CenterPoint Energy (the "Board"). </span></div><div style="padding-left:36pt"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">A summary of the material terms and conditions of the 2022 Plan and awards thereunder is included in CenterPoint Energy's definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 11, 2022 (the "Proxy Statement") under "Item 4: Approval of Adoption of CenterPoint Energy, Inc. 2022 Long Term Incentive Plan," which section is incorporated herein by reference. The preceding summary is qualified in its entirety by, and should be read in conjunction with, the 2022 Plan, which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to this Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.  The forms of the award agreements under the 2022 Plan are included as Exhibits 10.2 through 10.8 hereto and incorporated by reference herein. </span></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">On April 22, 2022, the Board approved the Second Amendment (the "Amendment") to the CenterPoint Energy 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan (as amended and restated effective January 1, 2009) (the "Deferred Compensation Plan") to freeze the Deferred Compensation Plan such that no additional deferrals of compensation may be made under such plan on or after January 1, 2023, including from any bonus otherwise payable on or after the date. </span></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">The descriptions of the Deferred Compensation Plan and the Amendment are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Deferred Compensation Plan and the Amendment, which are included as Exhibits 10.9, 10.10 and 10.11, respectively, hereto and incorporated by reference herein. </span></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">As previously disclosed by CenterPoint Energy in its Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 13, 2021, Kenneth M. Mercado, former Executive Vice President, Electric Utility, stepped down from his positions with CenterPoint Energy and its affiliated entities effective January 1, 2022. Mr. Mercado agreed to remain with CenterPoint Energy through the second quarter of 2022 to support the transition of his responsibilities. Mr. Mercado has informed CenterPoint Energy that he will retire on July 5, 2022. In connection with his retirement, Mr. Mercado is "retirement eligible" and will qualify for "enhanced retirement" under CenterPoint Energy's long term incentive plan if he satisfies the requirements set forth in the applicable award agreements prior to his retirement, which are included as exhibits 10(p)(2), 10(p)(5) and 10(p)(12) to CenterPoint Energy's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. </span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:115%">Item 5.07.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.</span></div><div style="margin-top:6pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:24.75pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">At the 2022 Annual Meeting, the matters voted upon and the number of votes cast for or against, as well as the number of abstentions and broker non-votes as to such matters, were as stated below. The proposals related to each matter are described in detail in the Proxy Statement. The voting results for each matter are set out below. </span></div><div style="margin-top:6pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:24.75pt"><span><br/></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:115%">Election of Directors (Item 1)</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:26.728%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.564%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:16.178%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.564%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:16.178%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.564%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:16.178%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.564%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:16.182%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Nominee</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">For</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Against</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Abstentions</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Broker Non-Votes</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Wendy Montoya Cloonan</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">449,904,352</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">68,554,289</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">700,258</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">36,777,397</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Earl M. Cummings</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">431,076,469</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">87,122,663</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">959,767</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">36,777,397</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Christopher H. Franklin</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">516,129,182</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">2,159,152</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">870,565</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">36,777,397</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">David J. Lesar</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">515,648,004</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">2,731,897</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">778,998</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">36,777,397</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Raquelle W. Lewis</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">514,006,163</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4,434,489</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">718,247</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">36,777,397</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Martin H. Nesbitt</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">511,960,533</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">6,183,651</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1,014,715</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">36,777,397</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Theodore F. Pound</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">401,989,344</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">116,399,700</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">769,855</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">36,777,397</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Phillip R. Smith</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">508,346,841</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">10,035,664</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">776,394</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">36,777,397</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Barry T. Smitherman</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">505,551,578</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">12,784,545</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">822,776</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">36,777,397</span></td></tr></table></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:115%">Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Item 2)</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><span><br/></span></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"/><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><span><br/></span></div></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:99.847%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:23.402%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.412%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:23.402%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.412%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:23.402%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.565%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:23.405%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">For</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Against</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Abstentions</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Broker Non-Votes</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">528,531,171</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">26,736,809</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">668,316</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;</span></td></tr></table></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:115%">Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation (Item 3)</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:99.847%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:23.402%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.412%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:23.402%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.412%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:23.402%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.565%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:23.405%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">For</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Against</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Abstentions</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Broker Non-Votes</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">114,856,702</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">402,992,832</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1,309,365</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">36,777,397</span></td></tr></table></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:115%">Approval of the CenterPoint Energy, Inc. 2022 Long Term Incentive Plan (Item 4)</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:99.847%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:23.402%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.412%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:23.402%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.412%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:23.402%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.565%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:23.405%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">For</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Against</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Abstentions</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Broker Non-Votes</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">476,822,394</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">41,177,142</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1,159,363</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">36,777,397</span></td></tr></table></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Item 9.01.</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Financial Statements and Exhibits.</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;(d)&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Exhibits. </span></div><div style="margin-top:11pt;text-align:center;text-indent:24.75pt"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:94.954%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:11.621%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:4.858%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:80.221%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:1.1pt;margin-top:1.1pt;text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">EXHIBIT</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:1.1pt;margin-top:1.1pt;text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">NUMBER</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;</span></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</span></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">10.1</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:middle"><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline" href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1130310/000119312522073412/d333523ddef14a.htm#toc333523_55">CenterPoint Energy, Inc. 2022 Long Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix A of CenterPoint Energy's </a><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline" href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1130310/000119312522073412/d333523ddef14a.htm#toc333523_55">proxy state</a><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline" href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1130310/000119312522073412/d333523ddef14a.htm#toc333523_55">ment filed March 11, 2022, File No. 001-31447)</a></span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">10.2</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:middle"><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline" href="exhibit102finalcnp_2022ceo.htm">Form of Performance Award Agreement for 20XX-20XX Performance Cycle for the CEO under Exhibit 10.1</a></span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">10.3</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:middle"><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline" href="exhibit103finalcnp_2022psu.htm">Form of Performance Award Agreement for 20XX-20XX Performance Cycle for Officers and Director Employees under Exhibit 10.1</a></span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">10.4</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:middle"><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline" href="exhibit104finalcnp_2022ret.htm">Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under Exhibit 10.1</a></span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">10.5</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:middle"><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline" href="exhibit105finalcnp_2022rsu.htm">Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for the CEO (with Performance Goals) under Exhibit 10.1</a></span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">10.6</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:middle"><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline" href="exhibit106finalcnp_2022rsu.htm">Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (with Performance Goals) under Exhibit 10.1</a></span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">10.7</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:middle"><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline" href="exhibit107finalcnp_2022rsu.htm">Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for Officers and Director Employees (with Performance Goals) under Exhibit 10.1</a></span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">10.8</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:middle"><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline" href="exhibit108finalcnp_2022ceo.htm">Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for the CEO under Exhibit 10.1</a></span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">10.9</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:middle"><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline" href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1130310/000113031008000023/ex10-1.htm">Amended and Restated CenterPoint Energy 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan, effective January 1, 2009 (incorporated by reference to </a><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline" href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1130310/000113031008000023/ex10-1.htm">Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q o</a><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline" href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1130310/000113031008000023/ex10-1.htm">f </a><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline" href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1130310/000113031008000023/ex10-1.htm">CenterPoint Energy's</a><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline" href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1130310/000113031008000023/ex10-1.htm"> for the quarter ended September 30, 2008</a><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline" href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1130310/000113031008000023/ex10-1.htm">)</a></span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">10.10</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:middle"><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline" href="exhibit1010finalenableterm.htm">First Amendment effective March 1, 2022 to Amended and Restated CenterPoint Energy 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan effective January 1, 2009</a></span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">10.11</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:middle"><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline" href="exhibit1011-formofsecondam.htm">Form of Second Amendment effective May 1, 2022 to Amended and Restated CenterPoint Energy 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan effective January 1, 2009</a></span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">104</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:justify;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cover Page Interactive Data File - the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document</span></td></tr></table></div><div style="margin-top:6pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:24.75pt"><span><br/></span></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><span><br/></span></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"/><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><span><br/></span></div></div><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">SIGNATURE</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:13.5pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="margin-top:5pt;text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:60.214%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:13.884%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:22.602%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.</span></td></tr><tr style="height:12pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Date:  April 25, 2022</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">By:</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">/s/ Monica Karuturi                     </span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Monica Karuturi</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Executive Vice President and General Counsel</span></td></tr></table></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><span><br/></span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><span><br/></span></div></div></div></body></html>
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cnp-20220422
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
April 22, 2022
CENTERPOINT ENERGY , INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
_______________________________
Texas
1-31447
76-0694415
(State or other jurisdiction
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer
of incorporation)
Identification No.)
1111 Louisiana
Houston
Texas
77002
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(713)
207-1111
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (
see
General Instruction A.2. below):
☐
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value
CNP
The New York Stock Exchange
Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2).
Emerging Growth Company
☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
o
Item 5.02.    Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
At the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of CenterPoint Energy, Inc. ("CenterPoint Energy"), which was held on April 22, 2022 (the "2022 Annual Meeting"), CenterPoint Energy's shareholders approved the CenterPoint Energy, Inc. 2022 Long Term Incentive Plan (the "2022 Plan"). The 2022 Plan was previously approved, subject to shareholder approval, by the Board of Directors of CenterPoint Energy (the "Board").
A summary of the material terms and conditions of the 2022 Plan and awards thereunder is included in CenterPoint Energy's definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 11, 2022 (the "Proxy Statement") under "Item 4: Approval of Adoption of CenterPoint Energy, Inc. 2022 Long Term Incentive Plan," which section is incorporated herein by reference. The preceding summary is qualified in its entirety by, and should be read in conjunction with, the 2022 Plan, which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to this Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.  The forms of the award agreements under the 2022 Plan are included as Exhibits 10.2 through 10.8 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.
On April 22, 2022, the Board approved the Second Amendment (the "Amendment") to the CenterPoint Energy 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan (as amended and restated effective January 1, 2009) (the "Deferred Compensation Plan") to freeze the Deferred Compensation Plan such that no additional deferrals of compensation may be made under such plan on or after January 1, 2023, including from any bonus otherwise payable on or after the date.
The descriptions of the Deferred Compensation Plan and the Amendment are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Deferred Compensation Plan and the Amendment, which are included as Exhibits 10.9, 10.10 and 10.11, respectively, hereto and incorporated by reference herein.
As previously disclosed by CenterPoint Energy in its Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 13, 2021, Kenneth M. Mercado, former Executive Vice President, Electric Utility, stepped down from his positions with CenterPoint Energy and its affiliated entities effective January 1, 2022. Mr. Mercado agreed to remain with CenterPoint Energy through the second quarter of 2022 to support the transition of his responsibilities. Mr. Mercado has informed CenterPoint Energy that he will retire on July 5, 2022. In connection with his retirement, Mr. Mercado is "retirement eligible" and will qualify for "enhanced retirement" under CenterPoint Energy's long term incentive plan if he satisfies the requirements set forth in the applicable award agreements prior to his retirement, which are included as exhibits 10(p)(2), 10(p)(5) and 10(p)(12) to CenterPoint Energy's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Item 5.07.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
At the 2022 Annual Meeting, the matters voted upon and the number of votes cast for or against, as well as the number of abstentions and broker non-votes as to such matters, were as stated below. The proposals related to each matter are described in detail in the Proxy Statement. The voting results for each matter are set out below.
Election of Directors (Item 1)
Nominee
For
Against
Abstentions
Broker Non-Votes
Wendy Montoya Cloonan
449,904,352
68,554,289
700,258
36,777,397
Earl M. Cummings
431,076,469
87,122,663
959,767
36,777,397
Christopher H. Franklin
516,129,182
2,159,152
870,565
36,777,397
David J. Lesar
515,648,004
2,731,897
778,998
36,777,397
Raquelle W. Lewis
514,006,163
4,434,489
718,247
36,777,397
Martin H. Nesbitt
511,960,533
6,183,651
1,014,715
36,777,397
Theodore F. Pound
401,989,344
116,399,700
769,855
36,777,397
Phillip R. Smith
508,346,841
10,035,664
776,394
36,777,397
Barry T. Smitherman
505,551,578
12,784,545
822,776
36,777,397
Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Item 2)
For
Against
Abstentions
Broker Non-Votes
528,531,171
26,736,809
668,316
—
Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation (Item 3)
For
Against
Abstentions
Broker Non-Votes
114,856,702
402,992,832
1,309,365
36,777,397
Approval of the CenterPoint Energy, Inc. 2022 Long Term Incentive Plan (Item 4)
For
Against
Abstentions
Broker Non-Votes
476,822,394
41,177,142
1,159,363
36,777,397
Item 9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d)    Exhibits.
EXHIBIT
NUMBER
EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
10.1
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. 2022 Long Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix A of CenterPoint Energy's
proxy state
ment filed March 11, 2022, File No. 001-31447)
10.2
Form of Performance Award Agreement for 20XX-20XX Performance Cycle for the CEO under Exhibit 10.1
10.3
Form of Performance Award Agreement for 20XX-20XX Performance Cycle for Officers and Director Employees under Exhibit 10.1
10.4
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under Exhibit 10.1
10.5
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for the CEO (with Performance Goals) under Exhibit 10.1
10.6
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (with Performance Goals) under Exhibit 10.1
10.7
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for Officers and Director Employees (with Performance Goals) under Exhibit 10.1
10.8
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for the CEO under Exhibit 10.1
10.9
Amended and Restated CenterPoint Energy 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan, effective January 1, 2009 (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q o
f
CenterPoint Energy's
for the quarter ended September 30, 2008
)
10.10
First Amendment effective March 1, 2022 to Amended and Restated CenterPoint Energy 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan effective January 1, 2009
10.11
Form of Second Amendment effective May 1, 2022 to Amended and Restated CenterPoint Energy 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan effective January 1, 2009
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File - the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.
Date:  April 25, 2022
By:
/s/ Monica Karuturi
Monica Karuturi
Executive Vice President and General Counsel