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Cover and table of contents

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)
☑QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2024

OR

☐TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM __________________ TO __________________

Commission file number 1-31447

CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Texas74-0694415
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
1111 LouisianaHoustonTexas77002
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)(Zip Code)

(713) 207-1111

Registrant's telephone number, including area code

Commission file number 1-3187

CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Texas22-3865106
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
1111 LouisianaHoustonTexas77002
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)(Zip Code)

(713) 207-1111

Registrant's telephone number, including area code

Commission file number 1-13265

CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware76-0511406
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
1111 LouisianaHoustonTexas77002
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)(Zip Code)

(713) 207-1111

Registrant's telephone number, including area code

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
RegistrantTitle of each classTrading SymbolName 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

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.YesþNoo
CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLCYesþNoo
CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.YesþNoo

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.YesþNoo
CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLCYesþNoo
CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.YesþNoo

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 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 Exchange Act. 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☐Noþ
CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLCYes☐Noþ
CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.Yes☐Noþ

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuers’ classes of common stock as of October 21, 2024:

CenterPoint Energy, Inc.651,727,276shares 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 Instructions H(1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-Q and are therefore filing this form with the reduced disclosure format specified in General Instruction H(2) of Form 10-Q.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I.FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.Financial Statements1
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. Financial Statements (Unaudited)1
CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC Financial Statements (Unaudited)7
CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp. Financial Statements (Unaudited)12
Combined Notes to Interim Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited)18
(1) Background and Basis of Presentation18
(2) New Accounting Pronouncements19
(3) Held for Sale and Divestitures19
(4) Revenue Recognition and Allowance for Credit Losses21
(5) Employee Benefit Plans24
(6) Regulatory Matters25
(7) Derivative Instruments28
(8) Fair Value Measurements31
(9) Goodwill33
(10) Equity Securities and Indexed Debt Securities (ZENS)34
(11) Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt34
(12) Income Taxes38
(13) Commitments and Contingencies39
(14) Earnings Per Share45
(15) Reportable Segments46
(16) Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow and Balance Sheet Information48
(17) Related Party Transactions48
(18) Equity50
(19) Leases51
Item 2.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations55
Recent Events55
Consolidated Results of Operations57
Results of Operations by Reportable Segment58
Certain Factors Affecting Future Earnings66
Liquidity and Capital Resources67
Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk84
Item 4.Controls and Procedures85
PART II.OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.Legal Proceedings86
Item 1A.Risk Factors86
Item 5.Other Information87
Item 6.Exhibits87
Signatures90

i

GLOSSARY
ACEAffordable Clean Energy
AFUDCAllowance for funds used during construction
ALJAdministrative Law Judge
AMAAsset Management Agreement
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
ARPAlternative revenue program
ASCAccounting Standards Codification
ASUAccounting Standards Update
AT&T CommonAT&T Inc. 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
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
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
CEOHVectren Energy Delivery of Ohio, LLC, doing business as CenterPoint Energy Ohio, which converted its corporate structure from Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio, Inc. to an Ohio limited liability company on June 13, 2022, formerly a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vectren, acquired by CERC on June 30, 2022
CEPCapital Expenditure Program
CERCCERC Corp., together with its subsidiaries
CERC Corp.CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.
CESCenterPoint Energy Services, Inc. (now known as Symmetry Energy Solutions, LLC), previously a wholly-owned subsidiary of CERC Corp.
Charter CommonCharter Communications, Inc. common stock
CIPConservation Improvement Program
CODMChief Operating Decision Maker, who is each Registrant’s Chief Operating Executive
Common StockCenterPoint Energy, Inc. common stock, par value $0.01 per share
Convertible NotesCenterPoint Energy’s 4.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026
Convertible Notes IndentureIndenture dated as of August 4, 2023 by and between CenterPoint Energy and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association, as trustee
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
DOCU.S. Department of Commerce
DRRDistribution Replacement Rider
DSMADemand Side Management Adjustment

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GLOSSARY
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
Energy Systems GroupEnergy Systems Group, LLC, previously a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vectren
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
ERCOTElectric Reliability Council of Texas
ESG Holdings GroupESG Holdings Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and an affiliate of Oaktree Capital Management
Exchange ActThe Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
February 2021 Winter Storm EventThe extreme and unprecedented winter weather event in February 2021 (Winter Storm Uri) that resulted 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
FASBFinancial Accounting Standards Board
FERCFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
FitchFitch Ratings, Inc.
Form 10-QQuarterly Report on Form 10-Q
General MortgageGeneral Mortgage Indenture, dated as of October 10, 2002, between Houston Electric and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Trustee, as supplemented
GHGGreenhouse gases
GHRIThe Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative, which was announced by Houston Electric in August 2024 and includes targeted actions to improve the resiliency of Houston Electric’s electric grid, as well as improve customer communications and community partnerships
GRIPGas Reliability Infrastructure Program
GWhGigawatt-hours
Houston ElectricCenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC and its subsidiaries
Hurricane BerylThe powerful and destructive storm that made landfall in Texas on July 8, 2024 and caused widespread damage to Houston Electric’s electric system
IASInternational Accounting Standards
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., formerly a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vectren, acquired by CERC on June 30, 2022
Indiana NorthGas operations of Indiana Gas
Indiana SouthGas operations of SIGECO
Indiana UtilitiesThe combination of Indiana Electric, Indiana North and Indiana South
Interim Condensed Financial StatementsUnaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements and combined notes
IRAInflation Reduction Act of 2022
IRPIntegrated Resource Plan
IRSInternal Revenue Service
IURCIndiana Utility Regulatory Commission
Junior Subordinated Notes IndentureJunior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of August 14, 2024, between CenterPoint Energy and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company , National Association, as trustee, as supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture to the Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of August 14, 2024, between CenterPoint Energy and the trustee
kVKilovolt
LAMS Asset Purchase AgreementAsset Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 19, 2024, by and among CERC Corp. and the LAMS Buyers

iii

GLOSSARY
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
LPSCLouisiana Public Service Commission
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
MDLMulti-district litigation
May 2024 Storm EventsThe sudden and destructive severe weather events in May 2024 that included hurricane-like winds and tornadoes and resulted in widespread damage to Houston Electric’s electric delivery system
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.
Merger AgreementAgreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 21, 2018, among CenterPoint Energy, Vectren and Merger Sub
Merger SubPacer Merger Sub, Inc., an Indiana corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy
MGPManufactured gas plant
MISOMidcontinent Independent System Operator
MMBtuOne million British thermal units
Moody’sMoody’s Investors Service, Inc.
MPSCMississippi Public Service Corporation
MPUCMinnesota Public Utilities Commission
MWMegawatt
NERCNorth American Electric Reliability Corporation
NOLsNet operating losses
NRGNRG Energy, Inc.
NYSENew York Stock Exchange
OridenOriden LLC
OrigisOrigis Energy USA Inc.
OUCCIndiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor
Posey SolarPosey Solar, LLC, a special purpose entity
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
RestructuringCERC Corp.’s common control acquisition of Indiana Gas and CEOH from VUH on June 30, 2022
ROEReturn on equity
ROURight of use
RRARate Regulation Adjustment
RSPRate Stabilization Plan
S&PS&P Global Ratings
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

iv

GLOSSARY
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 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
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
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 the Public Utility Regulatory Act Section 39.918, also referred to as temporary generation
Topic 326Accounting Standards Update 2016-13 – Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments
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 February 1, 2019
Vectren Energy ServicesVectren Energy Services Corporation, an Indiana corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy
VIEVariable interest entity
Vistra Energy Corp.Texas-based energy company focused on the competitive energy and power generation markets
VRPVoluntary Remediation Program
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 September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, consisted of AT&T Common, Charter Common and WBD Common
2023 Form 10-KAnnual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 as filed with the SEC on February 20, 2024

v

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-Q, 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.

The following are some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied by the Registrants’ forward-looking statements and apply to all Registrants unless otherwise indicated:

  • CenterPoint Energy’s business strategies and strategic initiatives, restructurings, joint ventures and acquisitions or dispositions of assets or businesses, including the announced sale of our Louisiana and Mississippi natural gas LDC businesses, and the completed sale of Energy Systems Group, which we cannot assure will have the anticipated benefits to us;

  • industrial, commercial and residential growth in our service territories and changes in market demand, including the effects of energy efficiency measures and demographic patterns;

  • our ability to fund and invest planned capital and the timely recovery of our investments, including the timing of and amounts sought for those related to Indiana Electric’s generation transition plan as part of its IRPs and Houston Electric’s GHRI and longer-term resiliency plans;

  • our ability to successfully construct, operate, repair and maintain electric generating facilities, natural gas facilities, TEEEF and electric transmission facilities, including complying with applicable environmental standards and the implementation of a well-balanced energy and resource mix, as appropriate;

  • timely and appropriate rate actions that allow and authorize timely recovery of costs and a reasonable return on investment, including the timing of and amounts sought for recovery of Houston Electric’s TEEEF leases and restoration costs relating to the May 2024 Storm Events and Hurricane Beryl, and requested or favorable adjustments to rates and approval of other requested items as part of base rate proceedings;

  • economic conditions in regional and national markets, including changes to inflation and interest rates, and their effect on sales, prices and costs;

  • weather variations and other natural phenomena, including the impact of severe weather events on operations, capital, legislation and/or regulations, such as seen in connection with the February 2021 Winter Storm Event, the May 2024 Storm Events and Hurricane Beryl;

  • volatility in the markets for natural gas as a result of, among other factors, armed conflicts, including the conflict in the Middle East and any broader related conflict, and the conflict in Ukraine, and the related sanctions on certain Russian entities;

  • disruptions to the global supply chain, including volatility in commodity prices, and tariffs and other legislation impacting the supply chain, that could prevent CenterPoint Energy from securing the resources needed to, among other things, fully execute on its 10-year capital plan or achieve its net zero and carbon emissions reduction goals;

  • non-payment for our services due to financial distress of our customers and the ability of our customers, including REPs, to satisfy their obligations to CenterPoint Energy, Houston Electric, and CERC, and the negative impact on such ability related to adverse economic conditions and severe weather events;

  • public health threats and their effect on our operations, business and financial condition, our industries and the communities we serve, U.S. and world financial markets and supply chains, potential regulatory actions and changes in customer and stakeholder behavior relating thereto;

  • state and federal legislative and regulatory actions or developments affecting various aspects of our businesses, including, among others, any actions resulting from the May 2024 Storm Events and/or Hurricane Beryl, energy deregulation or re-regulation, pipeline integrity and safety and changes in regulation and legislation pertaining to trade, health care, finance and actions regarding the rates charged by our regulated businesses;

  • our ability to execute Houston Electric’s GHRI and longer-term resiliency plans;

  • direct or indirect effects on our facilities, resources, operations and financial condition resulting from terrorism, cyberattacks or intrusions, data security breaches or other attempts to disrupt our businesses or the businesses of third

vi

parties, or other catastrophic events such as fires, ice, earthquakes, explosions, leaks, floods, droughts, hurricanes, tornadoes and other severe weather events, pandemic health events or other occurrences;

  • risks relating to potential wildfires, including costs of potential regulatory penalties and damages in excess of insurance liability coverage;

  • tax legislation, including the effects of the IRA (which includes but is not limited to any potential changes to tax rates, CAMT imposed, tax credits and/or interest deductibility), as well as any changes in tax laws under the current or future administrations, and uncertainties involving state commissions’ and local municipalities’ regulatory requirements and determinations regarding the treatment of EDIT and our rates;

  • our ability to mitigate weather impacts through normalization or rate mechanisms, and the effectiveness of such mechanisms;

  • actions by credit rating agencies, including any potential downgrades to credit ratings;

  • matters affecting regulatory approval, legislative actions, construction, implementation of necessary technology or other issues with respect to major capital projects that result in delays or cancellation or in costs that cannot be recouped in rates;

  • local, state and federal legislative and regulatory actions or developments relating to the environment, including, among others, those related to global climate change, air emissions, carbon, waste water discharges and the handling and disposal of CCR that could impact operations, cost recovery of generation plant costs and related assets, and CenterPoint Energy’s net zero and carbon emissions reduction goals;

  • the impact of unplanned facility outages or other closures;

  • the sufficiency of our insurance coverage, including availability, cost, coverage and terms and ability to recover claims;

  • the availability and prices of raw materials and services and changes in labor for current and future construction projects and operations and maintenance costs, including our ability to control such costs;

  • impacts from CenterPoint Energy’s pension and postretirement benefit plans, such as the investment performance and increases to net periodic costs as a result of plan settlements and changes in assumptions, including discount rates;

  • changes in interest rates and their impact on costs of borrowing and the valuation of CenterPoint Energy’s pension benefit obligation;

  • commercial bank and financial market conditions, including disruptions in the banking industry, our access to capital, the cost of such capital, impacts on our vendors, customers and suppliers, and the results of our financing and refinancing efforts, including availability of funds in the debt capital markets;

  • inability of various counterparties to meet their obligations to us;

  • the extent and effectiveness of our risk management activities;

  • timely and appropriate regulatory actions, which include actions allowing requested securitization, for any hurricanes or other severe weather events, such as the May 2024 Storm Events and Hurricane Beryl, or natural disasters or other amounts sought for recovery of costs, including stranded coal-fired generation asset costs;

  • acquisition and merger or divestiture activities involving us or our industry, including the ability to successfully complete merger, acquisition and divestiture plans on the timelines we expect or at all, such as the proposed sale of our Louisiana and Mississippi natural gas LDC businesses;

  • our ability to recruit, effectively transition, motivate and retain management and key employees and maintain good labor relations;

  • changes in technology, particularly with respect to efficient battery storage or the emergence or growth of new, developing or alternative sources of generation, and their adoption by consumers;

  • the impact of climate change and alternate energy sources on the demand for natural gas and electricity generated or transmitted by us;

  • the timing and outcome of any audits, disputes and other proceedings related to taxes;

  • the recording of impairment charges;

  • political and economic developments, including energy and environmental policies under the current administration;

  • CenterPoint Energy’s ability to execute on its strategy, initiatives, targets and goals, including its net zero and carbon

emissions reduction goals and its operations and maintenance expenditure goals;

  • the outcome of litigation, including litigation related to the February 2021 Winter Storm Event and Hurricane Beryl;

  • obligations related to warranties, guarantees and other contractual and legal obligations;

  • the effect of changes in and application of accounting standards and pronouncements; and

  • other factors discussed in “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part I of the Registrants’ combined 2023 Form 10-K, which are incorporated herein by reference, Item 1A of Part II of this combined Form 10-Q, and in other reports that the Registrants file from time to time with the SEC.

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. Investors should note that the Registrants announce material financial and other information in SEC filings, press releases and public conference calls. Based on guidance from the SEC, the Registrants may use the Investors section of CenterPoint

vii

Energy’s website (http://www.centerpointenergy.com) to communicate with investors about the Registrants. It is possible that the financial and other information posted there could be deemed to be material information. The information on CenterPoint Energy’s website is not part of this combined Form 10-Q.

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Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Next: Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS