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 30, 2008

CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Texas (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		1-31447 (Commission File Number)		74-0694415 (IRS Employer Identification No.)

1111 Louisiana Houston, Texas (Address of principal executive offices)		77002 (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):

o		Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o		Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o		Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o		Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

Item 2.02.		Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

     On April 30, 2008, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (“CenterPoint Energy”) reported first quarter 2008 earnings. For additional information regarding CenterPoint Energy’s first quarter 2008 earnings, please refer to CenterPoint Energy’s press release attached to this report as Exhibit 99.1 (the “Press Release”), which Press Release is incorporated by reference herein. The information in the Press Release is being furnished, not filed, pursuant to Item 2.02. Accordingly, the information in the Press Release will not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement filed by CenterPoint Energy under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless specifically identified therein as being incorporated therein by reference.

Item 9.01.		Financial Statements and Exhibits.

     The exhibit listed below is furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 of this Form 8-K.

	(d)		Exhibits.
	99.1		Press Release issued April 30, 2008 regarding CenterPoint Energy, Inc.’s first quarter 2008 earnings.

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.

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number				Description
99.1		—		Press Release issued April 30, 2008 regarding CenterPoint Energy, Inc.’s first quarter 2008 earnings.

Exhibit 99.1

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE		Page 1 of 3

CENTERPOINT ENERGY REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2008 EARNINGS

     Houston, TX – April 30, 2008 - CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) today reported net income of $123 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2008 compared to $130 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, for the same period of 2007.

     “While higher natural gas prices had a negative impact on our regulated utilities and on the reported earnings of our competitive natural gas sales and services business, our overall financial results demonstrated the benefit of our balanced portfolio,” said David M. McClanahan, president and chief executive officer of CenterPoint Energy.  “The investments we have made over the last several years in our interstate pipelines and field services businesses continue to make significant contributions to our profitability, and in contrast to economic slowdowns in some areas of the country, we continue to experience solid customer growth in our regulated electric and natural gas utilities.”

OPERATING INCOME BY SEGMENT

Electric Transmission & Distribution

     The electric transmission & distribution segment reported operating income of $91 million in the first quarter of 2008, consisting of $54 million from the regulated electric transmission & distribution utility operations (TDU), $5 million from the competition transition charge (CTC), and $32 million related to transition bonds. Operating income for the first quarter of 2007 was $104 million, consisting of $62 million from the TDU, $11 million from the CTC, and $31 million related to transition bonds.

     Operating income for the TDU for the first quarter of 2008 declined due to reduced usage, resulting in part from milder winter weather, and an increase in transmission costs and other operating expenses. This was partially offset by continued strong customer growth of over 52,000 metered customers since March 2007 and by higher revenues from ancillary services.

Natural Gas Distribution

     The natural gas distribution segment reported operating income of $121 million for the first quarter of 2008 compared to $129 million for the same period of 2007. The decrease was attributable to the impact of customer conservation and higher operating expenses primarily related to customer service and bad debts. The decrease was partially offset by continued customer growth of nearly 36,000 metered customers since March 2007 and the benefit of new rates implemented in late 2007.

-more-

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE		Page 2 of 3

Interstate Pipelines

     The interstate pipelines segment reported operating income of $71 million for the first quarter of 2008 compared to $44 million for the same period of 2007. The increase was driven primarily by the new Carthage to Perryville pipeline, which went into commercial service in May 2007, and increased ancillary services.

Field Services

     The field services segment reported operating income of $45 million for the first quarter of 2008 compared to $22 million for the same period of 2007. Operating income increased from higher throughput, increased ancillary services, and $17 million associated with the sale of non-strategic assets and the settlement of a contractual dispute.

     In addition to operating income, this business had equity income of $4 million in the first quarter of 2008 compared to $2 million in the first quarter of 2007 from its 50 percent interest in a jointly-owned gas processing plant. These amounts are included in Other – net under the Other Income (Expense) caption.

Competitive Natural Gas Sales and Services

     The competitive natural gas sales and services segment reported operating income of $6 million for the first quarter of 2008 compared to $56 million for the same period of 2007. The decline was partially due to reduced locational and seasonal price differentials. In addition, the first quarter of 2008 included charges of $22 million resulting from mark-to-market accounting for derivatives used to lock in economic margins of certain forward natural gas sales compared to charges of $8 million for the same period of 2007. The first quarter of 2008 also included $4 million in gains on sales of gas from inventory compared to $28 million for the first quarter of 2007.

DIVIDEND DECLARATION

     On April 24, 2008, CenterPoint Energy’s board of directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.1825 per share of common stock payable on June 10, 2008, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 16, 2008.

OUTLOOK REAFFIRMED FOR 2008

     CenterPoint Energy reaffirmed its 2008 earnings guidance of $1.15 to $1.25 per share. This guidance takes into consideration various economic and operational assumptions related to the business segments in which the company operates. The company has made certain assumptions regarding the impact to earnings of various regulatory proceedings but cannot

-more-

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE		Page 3 of 3

predict the ultimate outcome of any of those proceedings. In providing this guidance, the
company has not projected the impact of any changes in accounting standards, any impact from acquisitions or divestitures, or the outcome of the TDU’s true-up appeal.

FILING OF FORM 10-Q FOR CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.

     Today, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2008.  A copy of that report is available on the company’s web site, www.CenterPointEnergy.com, under the Investors section.  Other filings the company makes at the SEC and other documents relating to its corporate governance can also be found on that site. 

WEBCAST OF EARNINGS CONFERENCE CALL

     CenterPoint Energy’s management will host an earnings conference call on Wednesday, April 30, 2008, at 10:30 a.m. Central time or 11:30 a.m. Eastern time. Interested parties may listen to a live audio broadcast of the conference call at www.CenterPointEnergy.com. A replay of the call can be accessed approximately two hours after the completion of the call and will be archived on the Web site for at least one year.

     CenterPoint Energy, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission & distribution, natural gas distribution, competitive natural gas sales and services, interstate pipelines and field services operations. The company serves more than five million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. Assets total over $17 billion. With about 8,600 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 130 years. For more information, visit the Web site at www.CenterPointEnergy.com.

     This news release includes forward-looking statements. Actual events and results may differ materially from those projected. The statements in this news release regarding future financial performance and results of operations and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect actual results include the timing and outcome of appeals from the true-up proceedings, the timing and impact of future regulatory, legislative and IRS decisions, effects of competition, weather variations, changes in CenterPoint Energy’s or its subsidiaries’ business plans, financial market conditions, the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices, particularly natural gas, the impact of unplanned facility outages, and other factors discussed in CenterPoint Energy’s and its subsidiaries’ Form 10-Ks for the period ended December 31, 2007, CenterPoint Energy’s Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2008, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

###

CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Statements of Consolidated Income
(Millions of Dollars)
(Unaudited)

		Quarter Ended
		March 31,
		2007				2008
Revenues:
Electric Transmission & Distribution		$	406			$	409
Natural Gas Distribution			1,567				1,700
Competitive Natural Gas Sales and Services			1,064				1,120
Interstate Pipelines			90				133
Field Services			39				58
Other Operations			2				3
Eliminations			(62	)			(60	)
Total			3,106				3,363
Expenses:
Natural gas			2,150				2,393
Operation and maintenance			352				365
Depreciation and amortization			145				158
Taxes other than income taxes			106				111
Total			2,753				3,027
Operating Income			353				336
Other Income (Expense) :
Loss on Time Warner investment			(44	)			(54	)
Gain on indexed debt securities			41				50
Interest and other finance charges			(123	)			(115	)
Interest on transition bonds			(31	)			(33	)
Other — net			6				13
Total			(151	)			(139	)
Income Before Income Taxes			202				197
Income Tax Expense			(72	)			(74	)
Net Income		$	130			$	123

Reference is made to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
contained in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Selected Data From Statements of Consolidated Income
(Millions of Dollars, Except Share and Per Share Amounts)
(Unaudited)

		Quarter Ended
		March 31,
		2007				2008
Basic Earnings Per Common Share:
Net Income		$	0.41			$	0.38
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share:
Net Income		$	0.38			$	0.36
Dividends Declared per Common Share		$	0.17			$	0.1825
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding (000):
- Basic			318,060				327,279
- Diluted			340,103				339,448
Operating Income (Loss) by Segment
Electric Transmission & Distribution:
Electric Transmission and Distribution Operations		$	62			$	54
Competition Transition Charge			11				5
Total Electric Transmission and Distribution Utility		73					59
Transition Bond Companies			31				32
Total Electric Transmission & Distribution			104				91
Natural Gas Distribution			129				121
Competitive Natural Gas Sales and Services			56				6
Interstate Pipelines			44				71
Field Services			22				45
Other Operations			(2	)			2
Total		$	353			$	336

Reference is made to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
contained in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Results of Operations by Segment
(Millions of Dollars)
(Unaudited)

		Electric Transmission & Distribution
		Quarter Ended
		March 31,								% Diff
		2007				2008				Fav/(Unfav)
Results of Operations:
Revenues:
Electric transmission and distribution utility		$	347			$	346				—
Transition bond companies			59				63				7	%
Total			406				409				1	%
Expenses:
Operation and maintenance			154				168				(9	%)
Depreciation and amortization			63				66				(5	%)
Taxes other than income taxes			57				53				7	%
Transition bond companies			28				31				(11	%)
Total			302				318				(5	%)
Operating Income		$	104			$	91				(13	%)
Operating Income:
Electric transmission and distribution operations		$	62			$	54				(13	%)
Competition transition charge			11				5				(55	%)
Transition bond companies			31				32				3	%
Total Segment Operating Income		$	104			$	91				(13	%)
Electric Transmission & Distribution Operating Data:
Actual MWH Delivered
Residential			4,658,059				4,403,312				(5	%)
Total			16,659,914				16,569,691				(1	%)
Weather (average for service area):
Percentage of 10-year average:
Cooling degree days			111	%			124	%			13	%
Heating degree days			117	%			96	%			(21	%)
Average number of metered customers:
Residential			1,752,264				1,801,272				3	%
Total			1,989,744				2,042,460				3	%

		Natural Gas Distribution
		Quarter Ended
		March 31,								% Diff
		2007				2008				Fav/(Unfav)
Results of Operations:
Revenues		$	1,567			$	1,700				8	%
Expenses:
Natural gas			1,212				1,333				(10	%)
Operation and maintenance			147				156				(6	%)
Depreciation and amortization			38				39				(3	%)
Taxes other than income taxes			41				51				(24	%)
Total			1,438				1,579				(10	%)
Operating Income		$	129			$	121				(6	%)
Natural Gas Distribution Operating Data:
Throughput data in BCF
Residential			86				84				(2	%)
Commercial and Industrial			81				83				2	%
Total Throughput			167				167				—
Weather (average for service area)
Percentage of 10-year average:
Heating degree days			99	%			106	%			7	%
Average number of customers:
Residential			2,946,203				2,975,591				1	%
Commercial and Industrial			245,576				250,988				2	%
Total			3,191,779				3,226,579				1	%

Reference is made to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
contained in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Results of Operations by Segment
(Millions of Dollars)
(Unaudited)

		Competitive Natural Gas Sales and Services
		Quarter Ended
		March 31,								% Diff
		2007				2008				Fav/(Unfav)
Results of Operations:
Revenues		$	1,064			$	1,120				5	%
Expenses:
Natural gas			998				1,105				(11	%)
Operation and maintenance			9				8				11	%
Depreciation and amortization			—				1				—
Taxes other than income taxes			1				—				—
Total			1,008				1,114				(11	%)
Operating Income		$	56			$	6				(89	%)
Competitive Natural Gas Sales and Services Operating Data:
Throughput data in BCF
Wholesale — third parties			94				70				(26	%)
Wholesale — affiliates			3				2				(33	%)
Retail & Pipeline			58				66				14	%
Total Throughput			155				138				(11	%)
Average number of customers:
Wholesale			223				154				(31	%)
Retail & Pipeline			6,764				8,338				23	%
Total			6,987				8,492				22	%

		Interstate Pipelines
		Quarter Ended
		March 31,								% Diff
		2007				2008				Fav/(Unfav)
Results of Operations:
Revenues		$	90			$	133				48	%
Expenses:
Natural gas			4				15				(275	%)
Operation and maintenance			27				30				(11	%)
Depreciation and amortization			10				12				(20	%)
Taxes other than income taxes			5				5				—
Total			46				62				(35	%)
Operating Income		$	44			$	71				61	%
Pipelines Operating Data:
Throughput data in BCF
Transportation			294				424				44	%

Reference is made to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
contained in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Results of Operations by Segment
(Millions of Dollars)
(Unaudited)

		Field Services
		Quarter Ended
		March 31,								% Diff
		2007				2008				Fav/(Unfav)
Results of Operations:
Revenues		$	39			$	58				49	%
Expenses:
Natural gas			(3	)			(2	)			(33	%)
Operation and maintenance			16				11				31	%
Depreciation and amortization			3				3				—
Taxes other than income taxes			1				1				—
Total			17				13				24	%
Operating Income		$	22			$	45				105	%
Field Services Operating Data:
Throughput data in BCF
Gathering			93				98				5	%

		Other Operations
		Quarter Ended
		March 31,								% Diff
		2007				2008				Fav/(Unfav)
Results of Operations:
Revenues		$	2			$	3				50	%
Expenses			4				1				75	%
Operating Income (Loss)		$	(2	)		$	2				200	%

Capital Expenditures by Segment
(Millions of Dollars)
(Unaudited)

		Quarter Ended
		March 31,
		2007				2008
Capital Expenditures by Segment
Electric Transmission & Distribution		$	110			$	89
Natural Gas Distribution			33				38
Competitive Natural Gas Sales and Services			2				1
Interstate Pipelines			154				28
Field Services			27				18
Other Operations			11				8
Total		$	337			$	182

Interest Expense Detail
(Millions of Dollars)
(Unaudited)

		Quarter Ended
		March 31,
		2007				2008
Interest Expense Detail
Amortization of Deferred Financing Cost		$	19			$	6
Capitalization of Interest Cost			(8	)			(3	)
Transition Bond Interest Expense			31				33
Other Interest Expense			112				112
Total Interest Expense		$	154			$	148

Reference is made to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
contained in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Millions of Dollars)
(Unaudited)

		December 31,				March 31,
		2007				2008
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	129			$	70
Other current assets			2,659				2,281
Total current assets			2,788				2,351
Property, Plant and Equipment, net			9,740				9,802
Other Assets:
Goodwill			1,696				1,696
Regulatory assets			2,993				2,907
Other non-current assets			655				779
Total other assets			5,344				5,382
Total Assets		$	17,872			$	17,535
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Short-term borrowings		$	232			$	200
Current portion of transition bond long-term debt			159				186
Current portion of other long-term debt			1,156				724
Other current liabilities			2,244				2,174
Total current liabilities			3,791				3,284
Other Liabilities:
Accumulated deferred income taxes, net and investment tax credit			2,266				2,258
Regulatory liabilities			828				795
Other non-current liabilities			813				772
Total other liabilities			3,907				3,825
Long-term Debt:
Transition bond			2,101				2,485
Other			6,263				6,061
Total long-term debt			8,364				8,546
Shareholders’ Equity			1,810				1,880
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity		$	17,872			$	17,535

Reference is made to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
contained in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows
(Millions of Dollars)
(Unaudited)

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2007				2008
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income		$	130			$	123
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			164				165
Deferred income taxes			(13	)			27
Changes in net regulatory assets			22				14
Changes in other assets and liabilities			(56	)			226
Other, net			17				12
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities			264				567
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities			(403	)			(312	)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities			72				(314	)
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents			(67	)			(59	)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period			127				129
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period		$	60			$	70

Reference is made to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
contained in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.