<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001130310-23-000024.txt : 20230217
<SEC-HEADER>0001130310-23-000024.hdr.sgml : 20230217
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20230217163856
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001130310-23-000024
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:			Harkel-Rumford Lynne Louise
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001817095

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31447
		FILM NUMBER:		23643296

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1111 LOUISIANA STREET #4600
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002

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_167666990603337.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>0001817095</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Harkel-Rumford Lynne Louise</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>EVP and Chief HR Officer</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>7896</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>52345</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </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 her earlier disability or death, or (iii) on a pro-rata basis upon her earlier retirement unless she satisfies various conditions for full vesting, 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) 4,202 time-based restricted stock units (&quot;RSUs&quot;) previously awarded under the Plan and vesting in February 2023, (ii) 6,904 RSUs previously awarded under the Plan and vesting in February 2024, and (iii) 6,206 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 and (b) in the event of her disability or death. Also, the above awards shall vest on a pro-rata basis in the event of her retirement unless she satisfies various conditions for full vesting. 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>Vincent A. Mercaldi, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2023-02-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
