CenterPoint Energy Names Scott M. Prochazka Executive Vice President And Chief Operating Officer

HOUSTON , July 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- CenterPoint Energy , Inc. (NYSE:CNP) today announced that Scott M. Prochazka has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer effective August 1, 2012. In this role, Prochazka will be responsible for the company's five business units and certain corporate functions.

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"During his tenure with the company, Scott has demonstrated outstanding leadership and strategic vision," said David M. McClanahan, president and chief executive officer of CenterPoint Energy. "He has helped us achieve strong financial and operational performance in our largest business, Houston Electric, and is equally well versed in our natural gas delivery business. I look forward to working with him in his new role."

Prochazka, 46, joined CenterPoint Energy in 2001 and has held many key leadership positions within the company. Since February 2009, he has been responsible for the company's electric transmission and distribution utility serving more than 2.1million consumers in the Houston area.

He also served in leadership roles in Corporate Strategic Planning, Customer Service and Gas Operations, the company's natural gas distribution business responsible for delivering natural gas to more than 3.2 million customers in six states. Prior to joining CenterPoint Energy, Prochazka worked for Dow Chemical from 1989 to 2001 in a variety of roles.

Prochazka received a bachelor's degree with honors in chemical engineering from The University of Texas. He has also completed executive development programs at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.

He currently serves on the boards of The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. and Gridwise Alliance. He is the current chairman of the Southeastern Electric Exchange and is a past chairman of the Texas Gas Association.

Additionally, Prochazka is active in the community and is currently on the board of directors of Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas. He also serves on the president's advisory council for the University of St. Thomas in Houston.

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 more than $22 billion.  With about 8,800 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 135 years. For more information, visit the Web site at www.CenterPointEnergy.com .

For more information contactMedia: Leticia LowePhone [phone]Investors: Marianne PaulsenPhone [phone]

SOURCE CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

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