<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001130310-23-000022.txt : 20230217
<SEC-HEADER>0001130310-23-000022.hdr.sgml : 20230217
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20230217163510
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001130310-23-000022
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20230215
FILED AS OF DATE:		20230217
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20230217

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Wells Jason P.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001661849

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31447
		FILM NUMBER:		23643218

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		77 BEALE ST.
		STREET 2:		P.O. BOX 770000
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94177

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001130310
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911]
		IRS NUMBER:				740694415
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TX
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1111 LOUISIANA ST.
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7132073000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1111 LOUISIANA ST.
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	RELIANT ENERGY REGCO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20001220
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wf-form4_167666967159979.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2023-02-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001130310</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CNP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001661849</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Wells Jason P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1111 LOUISIANA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77002</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President, COO &amp; CFO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2023-02-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>33642</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>94636</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>45560</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Wells/Koehler Family Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Time-based restricted stock units (&quot;RSUs&quot;) awarded under the Issuer's Long-Term Incentive Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;) and vesting (i) in February 2026 if the Reporting Person (&quot;R.P.&quot;) continues to be an employee of Issuer from the grant date through the vesting date, (ii) in the event of his earlier disability or death, (iii) on a pro-rata basis upon his earlier retirement unless he satisfies various conditions for full vesting or (iv) if the R.P. is not promoted to Chief Executive Officer by January 1, 2025, upon his termination without cause or resignation after such date, provided, however, that any such vesting is conditioned upon positive operating income in the last full calendar year of the restricted period except in the case of death or disability.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Total includes (i) 25,631 time-based restricted stock units (&quot;RSUs&quot;) previously awarded under the Issuer's Long-term Incentive Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;) and vesting in September 2023, (ii) 19,209 RSUs previously awarded under the Plan and vesting in February 2024, and (iii) 16,154 RSUs previously awarded under the plan and vesting in February 2025. The above awards shall vest (a) if the R.P. continues to be an employee of Issuer from grant date through vesting date, (b) in the event of her disability or death, or (c) on pro-rata basis upon retirement unless full vesting conditions satisfied. However, for shares vesting in February 2024 and February 2025, any such vesting is conditioned upon positive operating income in the last full calendar year of the restricted period except in the case of death or disability.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By Vincent A. Mercaldi,
Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2023-02-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
