CenterPoint Energy, Inc. - CNP STOCK NEWS

CenterPoint Energy is focusing its Hurricane Francine response efforts on supporting nearly 400,000 natural gas customers in Louisiana and Mississippi. The company has mobilized personnel and resources to assist these areas, while transitioning electric operations in the Greater Houston area back to normal. Key actions include:

1. Readying Texas-based natural gas personnel for deployment
2. Releasing 1,500 frontline mutual aid workers to other utilities
3. Finishing storm-related vegetation management in Houston
4. Coordinating with government officials
5. Conducting outreach to critical care customers
6. Preparing for damage assessment and patrols

CenterPoint emphasizes safety measures for natural gas customers, including not turning off gas at the meter, being alert for gas smells, and proper post-flood inspections.

CenterPoint Energy is actively preparing for Tropical Storm Francine across its Gulf Coast service area. The company has activated Emergency Operations Centers in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Key actions include:

- Deploying 1,850 local frontline workers and 500 mutual assistance workers
- Mobilizing 1,300+ vegetation management crews
- Conducting outreach to 3,000+ Critical Care customers
- Coordinating with government officials and emergency partners
- Preparing for potential service disruptions and restoration efforts

CenterPoint is also making 1,000 frontline mutual aid workers available to assist other utilities. The company urges its 2.25 million natural gas customers to take proactive safety measures ahead of the storm's landfall.

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) is actively preparing for Tropical Storm Francine's potential impact on the Greater Houston area and Gulf Coast. The company has activated its Emergency Operations Center and is implementing a comprehensive response plan. Key actions include:

- Mobilizing 1,300+ vegetation management workers
- Readying 1,850 local frontline workers and identifying 1,625 mutual assistance workers
- Preparing four crew staging sites
- Conducting outreach to 3,000 Critical Care and Chronic Care customers
- Organizing additional call center staffing
- Coordinating temporary generation deployment

CenterPoint is urging customers to enroll in their Power Alert Service® for updates and to use the improved Outage Tracker for real-time information.

CenterPoint Energy is actively preparing for potential impacts from a tropical system in the Gulf of Mexico with a 90% chance of development. The company has 2,000 frontline workers and 600+ vegetation management personnel conducting pre-storm activities. They've secured 700 additional vegetation management personnel and identified 5,000+ additional frontline workers if needed.

Key actions include:

• Preparing staging sites, crews, and equipment
• Securing additional resources from mutual assistance companies
• Encouraging customers to enroll in Power Alert Service
• Implementing a new Outage Tracker system
• Urging customers with critical needs to make alternate arrangements

CenterPoint has also launched the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative, installing stronger poles, trimming vegetation, and adding automation devices to improve system resilience.

CenterPoint Energy is actively preparing for a potential tropical system in the Gulf of Mexico that may impact the Texas coast and Greater Houston area. The company is securing work sites, preparing crews and equipment, and obtaining additional resources from mutual assistance companies. CenterPoint has implemented improvements since Hurricane Beryl, including the installation of over 1,100 stronger fiberglass poles, vegetation trimming along 2,000+ miles of power lines, and the addition of 300+ automation devices.

Customers are encouraged to enroll in Power Alert Service® for outage updates and use the new, improved Outage Tracker. The company emphasizes the importance of emergency planning, especially for those dependent on electricity for life-sustaining equipment. CenterPoint also provides important safety reminders for both electric and natural gas services during severe weather events.

CenterPoint Energy (NYSE: CNP) has appointed Keith Stephens as Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, effective immediately. This newly created role is part of CenterPoint's commitment to improve communications following Hurricane Beryl. Stephens brings extensive utility industry and communications experience, having previously served as Senior VP of Corporate Affairs at National Grid and VP and Chief Communications Officer at Pacific Gas and Electric Company.

CenterPoint President and CEO Jason Wells emphasized Stephens' deep experience in emergency communications related to extreme weather events, natural disasters, and operational issues. Stephens is also the immediate past chair of the Edison Electric Institute's Executive Advisory Committee for Communications and a member of the American Gas Association's Communications & Marketing Committee.

CenterPoint Energy has completed core resiliency actions ahead of schedule as part of its Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI). The company announced a bold series of additional resiliency actions, including a proposed $5 billion investment from 2026 to 2028, potentially doubling its prior planned investment. This represents the largest investment in Greater Houston infrastructure in the company's nearly 160-year history.

CenterPoint's plan includes immediate, near-term, and longer-term actions. The company has already completed installing over 300 automation devices, 1,000 stronger poles, and trimming vegetation from more than 2,000 miles of power lines. Near-term actions will focus on further strengthening grid resiliency, improving communications, and strengthening partnerships. The company aims to build the most resilient coastal grid in the country.

CenterPoint also proposed to forego $110 million in profits to address concerns about temporary emergency generation. The company remains committed to customer affordability and will conduct an independent assessment of the benefits and costs of these investments.

CenterPoint Energy's Indiana-based electric utility business, CenterPoint Energy Indiana South, has issued an All-Source Request for Proposals (RFP) to meet the energy needs of its 150,000 electric customers in southwestern Indiana. The RFP seeks generation technologies capable of providing fully accredited capacity by March 1, 2028. Proposals are encouraged for utility-scale solar, wind, storage projects, thermal generation, load-modifying resources, demand-side resources, and other innovative solutions.

Key dates include: RFP issued on August 15, 2024; Notice of Intent due August 28, 2024; Proposals due October 8, 2024. 1898 & Co., a division of Burns & McDonnell, will manage the RFP process. The 2024 RFP aligns with CenterPoint's commitment to maintain a reliable and sustainable energy supply and supports its Integrated Resource Plan (IRP).

CenterPoint Energy (NYSE: CNP) has priced a public offering of 9,754,194 shares of common stock at $25.63 per share, expecting to raise approximately $250 million in gross proceeds. The company plans to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes, including repaying a portion of outstanding commercial paper. Barclays Capital Inc. and Citigroup are acting as joint book-running managers and underwriters for the offering. The offering is being made through CenterPoint Energy's effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 filed with the SEC. Prospectus and related documents are available from the SEC's website and the underwriters.