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CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC

For the period ended Dec 31, 2023. Filed Feb 20, 2024.

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A company's yearly report to the SEC, with audited financial statements. It is the fullest account a company gives of its business, its finances and the risks it sees.

FY2023 · Filed Feb 20, 2024

CNP$40.66+1.7%Stored close · as of Nov 6, 2026
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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

(Mark One)
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023
OR
☐TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM TO
Registrant, State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization
Commission file number · Address of Principal Executive Offices, Zip Code and Telephone Number · I.R.S. Employer Identification No.
1-31447CenterPoint Energy, Inc.74-0694415
(a Texas corporation)
1111 Louisiana
Houston,Texas77002
(713)207-1111
1-3187CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC22-3865106
(a Texas limited liability company)
1111 Louisiana
Houston,Texas77002
(713)207-1111
1-13265CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.76-0511406
(a Delaware corporation)
1111 Louisiana
Houston,Texas77002
(713)207-1111
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
RegistrantTitle of each classTrading symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered
CenterPoint Energy, Inc.Common Stock, $0.01 par valueCNPNew York Stock Exchange
NYSE Chicago
CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC6.95% General Mortgage Bonds due 2033n/aNew York Stock Exchange
CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.6.625% Senior Notes due 2037n/aNew York Stock Exchange
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc.YesþNo o
CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLCYesþNo o
CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.YesþNo o

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc.Yes oNoþ
CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLCYes oNoþ
CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.Yes oNoþ

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc.YesþNo o
CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLCYesþNo o
CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.YesþNo o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

CenterPoint Energy, Inc.YesþNo o
CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLCYesþNo o
CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.YesþNo o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company”, and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filerAccelerated filerNon-accelerated filerSmaller reporting companyEmerging growth company
CenterPoint Energy, Inc.þoo☐☐
CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLCooþ☐☐
CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.ooþ☐☐

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 Act. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.☑

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc.o
CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLCo
CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.o

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b).

CenterPoint Energy, Inc.o
CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLCo
CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

CenterPoint Energy, Inc.Yes☐No þ
CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLCYes☐No þ
CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.Yes☐No þ

The aggregate market values of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrants as of June 30, 2023 are as follows:

CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (using the definition of beneficial ownership contained in Rule 13d-3 promulgated pursuant to Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and excluding shares held by directors and executive officers)$18,251,183,835
CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLCNone
CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.None

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuers’ classes of common stock as of February 12, 2024:

CenterPoint Energy, Inc.631,594,706shares of common stock outstanding, excluding 166 shares held as treasury stock
CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC1,000common shares outstanding, all held by Utility Holding, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.1,000shares of common stock outstanding, all held by Utility Holding, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC and CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp. meet the conditions set forth in general instruction I(1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-K and are therefore filing this Form 10-K with the reduced disclosure format specified in General Instruction I(2) of Form 10-K.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the definitive proxy statement relating to the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of CenterPoint Energy, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of December 31, 2023, are incorporated by reference in Item 10, Item 11, Item 12, Item 13 and Item 14 of Part III of this Form 10-K.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I
Page
Item 1.Business1
Item 1A.Risk Factors18
Item 1B.Unresolved Staff Comments38
Item 1C.Cybersecurity38
Item 2.Properties40
Item 3.Legal Proceedings43
Item 4.Mine Safety Disclosures43
PART II
Item 5.Market for Registrants’ Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities43
Item 6.[Reserved]44
Item 7.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations44
Item 7A.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk82
Item 8.Financial Statements and Supplementary Data84
Item 9.Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure172
Item 9A.Controls and Procedures172
Item 9B.Other Information175
Item 9C.Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections175
PART III
Item 10.Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance176
Item 11.Executive Compensation176
Item 12.Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters177
Item 13.Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence177
Item 14.Principal Accounting Fees and Services177
PART IV
Item 15.Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules178

i

GLOSSARY
ACEAffordable Clean Energy
AFUDCAllowance for funds used during construction
AGCAlcoa Generating Corporation, a subsidiary of Alcoa, Inc.
AIArtificial intelligence
AMAsAsset Management Agreements
AMSAdvanced Metering System
ArevonArevon Energy, Inc., which was formed through the combination of Capital Dynamics, Inc.’s U.S. Clean Energy Infrastructure business unit and Arevon Asset Management
AROAsset retirement obligation
AROK Asset Purchase AgreementAsset Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 29, 2021, by and between CERC Corp. and Southern Col Midco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and an affiliate of Summit Utilities, Inc.
ARPAlternative revenue program
ASCAccounting Standards Codification
ASUAccounting Standards Update
AT&TAT&T Inc.
AT&T CommonAT&T common stock
ATM Forward PurchasersBank of America, N.A., Barclays Bank PLC, Citibank, N.A., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Mizuho Markets Americas LLC, MUFG Securities EMEA plc and Royal Bank of Canada
ATM Forward SellersBofA Securities, Inc. Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Mizuho Securities USA LLC, MUFG Securities Americas Inc. and RBC Capital Markets, LLC
ATM ManagersBofA Securities, Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Mizuho Securities USA LLC, MUFG Securities Americas Inc. and RBC Capital Markets, LLC
BcfBillion cubic feet
BoardCenterPoint Energy’s Board of Directors
Bond CompaniesBond Company IV and Restoration Bond Company, each a wholly-owned, bankruptcy remote entity formed solely for the purpose of purchasing and owning transition or system restoration property through the issuance of Securitization Bonds
Bond Company IVCenterPoint Energy Transition Bond Company IV, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Houston Electric
BTABuild Transfer Agreement
CAMTCorporate Alternative Minimum Tax
CARES ActCoronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act
CCNCertificate of Convenience and Necessity
CCRCoal Combustion Residuals
CECAClean Energy Cost Adjustment
CEIPCenterPoint Energy Intrastate Pipelines, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CERC Corp.
CenterPoint EnergyCenterPoint Energy, Inc., and its subsidiaries
CERC Corp.CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.
CERCCERC Corp., together with its subsidiaries
CERCLAComprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended
CESCenterPoint Energy Services, Inc. (now known as Symmetry Energy Solutions, LLC), previously a wholly-owned subsidiary of CERC Corp. until its divestiture on June 1, 2020
Charter CommonCharter Communications, Inc. common stock
CIPConservation Improvement Program
CNGCompressed natural gas
CodeThe Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
CODMChief Operating Decision Maker
Common StockCenterPoint Energy, Inc. common stock, par value $0.01 per share
Compensation CommitteeCompensation Committee of the Board

ii

GLOSSARY
Convertible NotesCenterPoint Energy’s 4.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026
COVID-19Novel coronavirus disease 2019, and any mutations or variants thereof, and related global outbreak that was subsequently declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization
CPCNCertificate of public convenience and necessity
CPPClean Power Plan
CSIACompliance and System Improvement Adjustment
DCRFDistribution Cost Recovery Factor
DE&I CouncilDiversity, Equity and Inclusion Council
DOCU.S. Department of Commerce
DOTU.S. Department of Transportation
DRRDistribution Replacement Rider
DSMADemand Side Management Adjustment
DthDekatherms
ECAEnvironmental Cost Adjustment
EDF RenewablesEDF Renewables Development, Inc.
EDITExcess deferred income taxes
EECREnergy Efficiency Cost Recovery
EECRFEnergy Efficiency Cost Recovery Factor
EEFCEnergy Efficiency Funding Component
EEFREnergy Efficiency Funding Rider
ELGEffluent Limitation Guidelines
EIAU.S. Energy Information Administration
Elk GP Merger SubElk GP Merger Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Energy Transfer
Elk Merger SubElk Merger Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Energy Transfer
EnableEnable Midstream Partners, LP
Enable Common UnitsEnable common units, representing limited partnership interests in Enable
Enable GPEnable GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of Enable
Enable MergerThe merger of Elk Merger Sub with and into Enable and the merger of Elk GP Merger Sub with and into Enable GP, in each case on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Enable Merger Agreement, with Enable and Enable GP surviving as wholly-owned subsidiaries of Energy Transfer, which closed on December 2, 2021
Enable Merger AgreementAgreement and Plan of Merger by and among Energy Transfer, Elk Merger Sub, Elk GP Merger Sub, Enable, Enable GP and, solely for the purposes of Section 2.1(a)(i) therein, Energy Transfer GP, and solely for the purposes of Section 1.1(b)(i) therein, CenterPoint Energy
Enable Series A Preferred UnitsEnable’s 10% Series A Fixed-to-Floating Non-Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units, representing limited partner interests in Enable
Energy ServicesOffered competitive variable and fixed-priced physical natural gas supplies primarily to commercial and industrial customers and electric and natural gas utilities through CES and CEIP
Energy Services Disposal GroupSubstantially all of the businesses within CenterPoint Energy’s and CERC’s Energy Services reporting unit that were sold under the Equity Purchase Agreement
Energy Systems GroupEnergy Systems Group, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vectren
Energy TransferEnergy Transfer LP, a Delaware limited partnership
Energy Transfer Common UnitsEnergy Transfer common units, representing limited partner interests in Energy Transfer
Energy Transfer GPLE GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and sole general partner of Energy Transfer
Energy Transfer Series G Preferred UnitsEnergy Transfer Series G Fixed-Rate Reset Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units, representing limited partner interests in Energy Transfer
EPAEnvironmental Protection Agency
Equity Distribution AgreementEquity Distribution Agreement, dated as of January 10, 2024, by and between CenterPoint Energy, the ATM Managers, the ATM Forward Purchasers and the ATM Forward Sellers
Equity Purchase AgreementEquity Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 21, 2023, by and between Vectren Energy Services and ESG Holdings Group

iii

GLOSSARY
ERCOTElectric Reliability Council of Texas
ERCOT ISOERCOT Independent System Operator
ERISAEmployee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
ERGEmployee Resource Group
EROElectric Reliability Organization
ESG Holdings GroupESG Holdings Group, LLC a Delaware limited liability company, and an affiliate of Oaktree Capital Management
FACFuel Adjustment Clause
FASBFinancial Accounting Standards Board
February 2021 Winter Storm EventThe extreme and unprecedented winter weather event in February 2021 (also known as Winter Storm Uri) resulting in electricity generation supply shortages, including in Texas, and natural gas supply shortages and increased wholesale prices of natural gas in the United States, primarily due to prolonged freezing temperatures.
FERCFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
FitchFitch Ratings, Inc.
FPAFederal Power Act
General MortgageGeneral Mortgage Indenture, dated as of October 10, 2002, between CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Trustee, as supplemented
GHGGreenhouse gases
GRIPGas Reliability Infrastructure Program
GWhGigawatt-hours
HLPSAHazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act of 1979
Houston ElectricCenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC and its subsidiaries
HVACHeating, ventilation and air conditioning
IBEWInternational Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
ICPAInter-Company Power Agreement
IDEMIndiana Department of Environmental Management
Indiana ElectricOperations of SIGECO’s electric transmission and distribution services, and includes its power generating and wholesale power operations
Indiana GasIndiana Gas Company, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of CERC Corp.
Indiana NorthGas operations of Indiana Gas
Indiana SouthGas operations of SIGECO
Indiana UtilitiesIndiana Electric, Indiana North and Indiana South, collectively
IRAInflation Reduction Act of 2022
IRPIntegrated Resource Plan
IRSInternal Revenue Service
IURCIndiana Utility Regulatory Commission
kVKilovolt
LAMS Asset Purchase AgreementAsset Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 19, 2024, by and among CERC Corp. and the LAMS Buyers
LAMS BuyersDelta Utilities No. LA, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Delta Utilities S. LA, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Delta Utilities MS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Delta Shared Services Co., LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
LDCLocal Distribution Company
LIBORLondon Interbank Offered Rate
LNGLiquefied natural gas
Load ShedCurtailing the amount of electricity a TDU can transmit and distribute to its customers
LPSCLouisiana Public Service Commission
LTIPsLong-term incentive plans
MCRAMISO Cost and Revenue Adjustment

iv

GLOSSARY
M&DOTMortgage and Deed of Trust, dated November 1, 1944, between Houston Lighting and Power Company and Chase Bank of Texas, National Association (formerly, South Texas Commercial National Bank of Houston), as Trustee, as amended and supplemented
MergerThe merger of Merger Sub with and into Vectren on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, with Vectren continuing as the surviving corporation and as a wholly-owned subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy, Inc., which closed on the Merger Date
Merger AgreementAgreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 21, 2018, among CenterPoint Energy, Vectren and Merger Sub
Merger DateFebruary 1, 2019
Merger SubPacer Merger Sub, Inc., an Indiana corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy
MESCenterPoint Energy Mobile Energy Solutions, Inc. (now known as Mobile Energy Solutions, Inc.), previously a wholly-owned subsidiary of CERC Corp.
MGPManufactured gas plant
MISOMidcontinent Independent System Operator
MMBtuOne million British thermal units
MMcfMillion cubic feet
Moody’sMoody’s Investors Service, Inc.
MPUCMinnesota Public Utilities Commission
MPSCMississippi Public Service Corporation
MvaMegavolt amperes
MWMegawatts
Natural GasNatural gas distribution businesses
NECANational Electrical Contractors Association
NERCNorth American Electric Reliability Corporation
NGANatural Gas Act of 1938
NGLsNatural gas liquids
NGPANatural Gas Policy Act of 1978
NGPSANatural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968
NOLsNet operating losses
NRGNRG Energy, Inc.
NYSENew York Stock Exchange
OPEIUOffice & Professional Employees International Union
OridenOriden LLC
OrigisOrigis Energy USA Inc.
OUCCIndiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor
OVECOhio Valley Electric Corporation
PHMSAPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
PIPES ActProtecting Our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2020
PPAPower purchase agreement
PRPsPotentially responsible parties
PTCsProduction Tax Credits
PUCOPublic Utilities Commission of Ohio
PUCTPublic Utility Commission of Texas
Railroad CommissionRailroad Commission of Texas
RCRAResource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976
RegistrantsCenterPoint Energy, Houston Electric and CERC, collectively
REPRetail electric provider
Restoration Bond CompanyCenterPoint Energy Restoration Bond Company, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Houston Electric

v

GLOSSARY
RestructuringCERC Corp.’s common control acquisition of Indiana Gas and VEDO from VUH on June 30, 2022
ROEReturn on equity
ROURight of use
RRARate Regulation Adjustment
RSPRate Stabilization Plan
Scope 1 emissionsDirect source of emissions from a company’s operations
Scope 2 emissionsIndirect source of emissions from a company’s energy usage
Scope 3 emissionsIndirect source of emissions from a company’s end-users
SECSecurities and Exchange Commission
Securitization BondsTransition and system restoration bonds issued by the Bond Companies and SIGECO Securitization Bonds issued by the SIGECO Securitization Subsidiary
Series A Preferred StockCenterPoint Energy’s previously outstanding Series A Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share
Series B Preferred StockCenterPoint Energy’s previously outstanding 7.00% Series B Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share
Series C Preferred StockCenterPoint Energy’s previously outstanding Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share
SIGECOSouthern Indiana Gas and Electric Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vectren
SIGECO Securitization BondsSIGECO Securitization Subsidiary’s Series 2023-A Senior Secured Securitization Bonds
SIGECO Securitization SubsidiarySIGECO Securitization I, LLC, a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of SIGECO
SOFRSecured Overnight Financing Rate
S&PS&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc.
SRCSales Reconciliation Component
TBDTo be determined
TCJATax reform legislation informally called the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
TCOSTransmission Cost of Service
TCRFTransmission Cost Recovery Factor
TDSICTransmission, Distribution and Storage System Improvement Charge
TDUTransmission and distribution utility
TEEEFAssets leased or costs incurred as “temporary emergency electric energy facilities” under Section 39.918 of the Public Utility Regulatory Act, also referred to as mobile generation
Texas RETexas Reliability Entity
Topic 326Accounting Standards Update 2016-13 - Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments
TSATransportation Security Administration
USWUnited Steelworkers Union
UWUAUtility Workers Union of America
Utility HoldingUtility Holding, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy
VectrenVectren, LLC, which converted its corporate structure from Vectren Corporation to a limited liability company on June 30, 2022, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy as of the Merger Date, and, after the Restructuring, is held indirectly by CenterPoint Energy through Vectren Affiliated Utilities, Inc.
Vectren Energy ServicesVectren Energy Services Corporation, an Indiana corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy
VEDOVectren Energy Delivery of Ohio, LLC, which converted its corporate structure from Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio, Inc. to a limited liability company on June 13, 2022, formerly a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vectren, acquired by CERC on June 30, 2022
VIEVariable interest entity
Vistra Energy Corp.Texas-based energy company focused on the competitive energy and power generation markets.
VRPVoluntary Remediation Program

vi

GLOSSARY
VUHVectren Utility Holdings, LLC, which converted its corporate structure from Vectren Utility Holdings, Inc. to a limited liability company on June 30, 2022, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vectren
WBD CommonWarner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Series A common stock
Winter Storm ElliottFrom December 21 to 26, 2022, a historic extratropical cyclone created winter storm conditions, including blizzards, high winds, snowfall and record cold temperatures across the majority of the United States and parts of Canada.
ZENS2.0% Zero-Premium Exchangeable Subordinated Notes due 2029
ZENS-Related SecuritiesAs of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, consisted of AT&T Common, Charter Common and WBD Common
2022 Annuity Lift-OutThe irrevocable group annuity contract purchased in December 2022 from an insurance company to transfer $138 million of CenterPoint Energy’s pension plan’s outstanding benefit obligation

vii

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

From time to time the Registrants make statements concerning their expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance and underlying assumptions and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. You can generally identify forward-looking statements by the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “projection,” “should,” “target,” “will” or other similar words.

The Registrants have based their forward-looking statements on management’s beliefs and assumptions based on information reasonably available to management at the time the statements are made. The Registrants caution you that assumptions, beliefs, expectations, intentions and projections about future events may and often do vary materially from actual results. Therefore, the Registrants cannot assure you that actual results will not differ materially from those expressed or implied by the Registrants’ forward-looking statements. In this Form 10-K, unless context requires otherwise, the terms “our,” “we” and “us” are used as abbreviated references to CenterPoint Energy, Inc. together with its consolidated subsidiaries, including Houston Electric, CERC and SIGECO.

Some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied by the Registrants’ forward-looking statements are described under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Certain Factors Affecting Future Earnings” and “ — Liquidity and Capital Resources — Other Matters — Other Factors That Could Affect Cash Requirements” in Item 7 of Part II of this report, which discussions are incorporated herein by reference.

You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement, and the Registrants undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

ContentsView on SEC.gov

The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.