<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001193125-23-207408.txt : 20230809
<SEC-HEADER>0001193125-23-207408.hdr.sgml : 20230809
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20230809162903
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001193125-23-207408
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		18
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20230808
ITEM INFORMATION:		Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
ITEM INFORMATION:		Financial Statements and Exhibits
FILED AS OF DATE:		20230809
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20230809

FILER:

	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

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31447
		FILM NUMBER:		231155627

	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>
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<td style="vertical-align:top"><p style=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman;text-align:left">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</p></td></tr> </table> <p style="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&#160;</p>
<table style="border-collapse:collapse; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;border:0;width:100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
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<td style="vertical-align:top"><p style=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman;text-align:left">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule <span style="white-space:nowrap">14a-12</span> under the Exchange Act (17 CFR <span style="white-space:nowrap">240.14a-12)</span></p></td></tr> </table> <p style="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&#160;</p>
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<td style="width:4%">&#160;</td>
<td style="width:5%;vertical-align:top"><ix:nonNumeric name="dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer" contextRef="duration_2023-08-08_to_2023-08-08" format="ixt-sec:boolballotbox">&#9744;</ix:nonNumeric></td>
<td style="vertical-align:top"><p style=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman;text-align:left"><span style="white-space:nowrap">Pre-commencement</span> communications pursuant to Rule <span style="white-space:nowrap">14d-2(b)</span> under the Exchange Act (17 CFR <span style="white-space:nowrap">240.14d-2(b))</span></p></td></tr> </table> <p style="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&#160;</p>
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<td style="width:4%">&#160;</td>
<td style="width:5%;vertical-align:top"><ix:nonNumeric name="dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer" contextRef="duration_2023-08-08_to_2023-08-08" format="ixt-sec:boolballotbox">&#9744;</ix:nonNumeric></td>
<td style="vertical-align:top"><p style=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman;text-align:left"><span style="white-space:nowrap">Pre-commencement</span> communications pursuant to Rule <span style="white-space:nowrap">13e-4(c)</span> under the Exchange Act (17 CFR <span style="white-space:nowrap">240.13e-4(c))</span></p></td></tr> </table> <p style="margin-top:8pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:</p> <p style="font-size:8pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&#160;</p>
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<td style="vertical-align:bottom">&#160;</td>
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<td style="vertical-align:bottom">&#160;</td>
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<table style="border-collapse:collapse; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;border:0;width:100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr style="page-break-inside:avoid">
<td style="width:11%;vertical-align:top"><span style="font-weight:bold">Item&#160;1.01.</span></td>
<td style="vertical-align:top"> <p style=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:bold;text-align:left">Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.</p></td></tr></table> <p style="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">On August&#160;8, 2023, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (&#x201C;CenterPoint Energy,&#x201D; or the &#x201C;Company&#x201D;) entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the &#x201C;Underwriting Agreement&#x201D;) with Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Morgan Stanley&#160;&amp; Co. LLC, as representatives of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement (the &#x201C;Underwriters&#x201D;), relating to the underwritten public offering of (i) $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company&#x2019;s 5.25% Senior Notes due 2026 (the &#x201C;Notes&#x201D;). The offering is being made pursuant to CenterPoint Energy&#x2019;s registration statement on Form <span style="white-space:nowrap">S-3</span> (Registration <span style="white-space:nowrap">No.&#160;333-272025).</span></p> <p style="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Notes are being issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of May&#160;19, 2003, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association (successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (formerly JPMorgan Chase Bank)), as trustee (the &#x201C;Trustee&#x201D;), as supplemented by Supplemental Indenture No.&#160;14 to the Base Indenture to be dated as of August&#160;10, 2023 between the Company and the Trustee (&#x201C;Supplemental Indenture&#x201D;) with respect to the Notes. The form, terms and provisions of the Notes are further described in the Supplemental Indenture and the prospectus supplement of the Company dated August&#160;8, 2023, together with the related prospectus dated May&#160;17, 2023, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Rule 424(b)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on August&#160;9, 2023, which description is incorporated herein by reference.</p> <p style="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Underwriters and their affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. In the ordinary course of their respective businesses, certain of the Underwriters and/or their affiliates have engaged, and may in the future engage, in commercial banking, investment banking, trust or investment management transactions with CenterPoint Energy and its affiliates for which they have received, and will in the future receive, customary compensation.</p> <p style="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">A copy of the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and the form of the Supplemental Indenture (including the form of the Notes) have been filed as Exhibits 1.1, 4.1 and 4.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form <span style="white-space:nowrap">8-K</span> and are incorporated by reference herein.</p> <p style="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:bold">Item&#160;9.01.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Financial Statements and Exhibits</p> <p style="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The exhibits listed below are filed herewith.</p> <p style="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Agreements and forms of agreements included as exhibits are included only to provide information to investors regarding their terms. Agreements and forms of agreements listed below may contain representations, warranties and other provisions that were made, among other things, to provide the parties thereto with specified rights and obligations and to allocate risk among them, and no such agreement or form of agreement should be relied upon as constituting or providing any factual disclosures about CenterPoint Energy, any other persons, any state of affairs or other matters.</p> <p style="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(d)&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Exhibits.</p> <p style="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&#160;</p>
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<td style=" text-align: center;margin:auto; vertical-align:bottom;white-space:nowrap"> <p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:bold;text-align:center">EXHIBIT</p> <p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; display:inline-block; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:bold;text-align:center">NUMBER</p></td>
<td style="vertical-align:bottom">&#160;&#160;</td>
<td style=" text-align: center;margin:auto; vertical-align:bottom;white-space:nowrap"> <p style=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; display:inline-block; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:bold;text-align:center">EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION</p></td></tr>
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<td style="vertical-align:top;white-space:nowrap">&#160;&#160;1.1</td>
<td style="vertical-align:bottom">&#160;&#160;</td>
<td style="vertical-align:top"><a href="d527380dex11.htm">Underwriting Agreement dated August&#160;8, 2023, among CenterPoint Energy, Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Morgan Stanley&#160;&amp; Co. LLC, as representatives of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I thereto. </a></td></tr>
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<td style="vertical-align:top;white-space:nowrap">&#160;&#160;4.1</td>
<td style="vertical-align:bottom">&#160;&#160;</td>
<td style="vertical-align:top"><a href="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1130310/000095012903003045/h06499exv4w1.txt">Indenture dated as of May&#160;19, 2003, between CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association (successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (formerly JPMorgan Chase Bank)), as trustee (the &#x201C;Indenture&#x201D;) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&#160;4.1 to CenterPoint Energy&#x2019;s Current Report on Form <span style="white-space:nowrap">8-K</span> dated May&#160;19, 2003). </a></td></tr>
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<td style="vertical-align:top;white-space:nowrap">&#160;&#160;4.2</td>
<td style="vertical-align:bottom">&#160;&#160;</td>
<td style="vertical-align:top"><a href="d527380dex42.htm">Form of Supplemental Indenture No.&#160;14, to be dated as of August&#160;10, 2023, to the Indenture between CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association, as trustee. </a></td></tr>
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<td style="vertical-align:top;white-space:nowrap">&#160;&#160;4.3</td>
<td style="vertical-align:bottom">&#160;&#160;</td>
<td style="vertical-align:top"><a href="d527380dex42.htm">Form of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.&#x2019;s 5.25% Senior Notes due 2026 (included in Exhibit&#160;4.2 hereto). </a></td></tr>
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<td style="vertical-align:top;white-space:nowrap">&#160;&#160;5.1</td>
<td style="vertical-align:bottom">&#160;&#160;</td>
<td style="vertical-align:top"><a href="d527380dex51.htm">Opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P. </a></td></tr>
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<td style="vertical-align:top;white-space:nowrap">23.1</td>
<td style="vertical-align:bottom">&#160;&#160;</td>
<td style="vertical-align:top"><a href="d527380dex51.htm">Consent of Baker Botts L.L.P. (included in Exhibit&#160;5.1 hereto). </a></td></tr>
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<td style="vertical-align:top;white-space:nowrap">104</td>
<td style="vertical-align:bottom">&#160;&#160;</td>
<td style="vertical-align:top">Cover Page Interactive Data File - the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.</td></tr></table></div></div> <p style='page-break-before:always'></p> <hr style="color:#999999;height:3px;width:100%" /> <div style="text-align:center"> <div style="width:8.5in;text-align:left;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto"> <p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman;text-align:center">SIGNATURE</p> <p style="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:9%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.</p> <p style="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&#160;</p>
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<td style="vertical-align:bottom" colspan="3"><span style="font-weight:bold">CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.</span></td></tr>
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<td style="vertical-align:top">Date: August&#160;9, 2023</td>
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<td style="vertical-align:top;white-space:nowrap">By:</td>
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<td style="vertical-align:bottom;white-space:nowrap"> <p style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Kara Gostenhofer Ryan</p></td></tr>
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<td style="vertical-align:bottom">&#160;</td>
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<td style="vertical-align:bottom">Kara Gostenhofer Ryan</td></tr>
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<td style="vertical-align:bottom">Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer</td></tr></table></div></div></body></html>
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<HTML><HEAD>
<TITLE>EX-1.1</TITLE>
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<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="right"><B>Exhibit 1.1 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">$400,000,000 </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">5.25% Senior Notes
due 2026 </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Underwriting Agreement </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">August&nbsp;8, 2023 </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Barclays Capital Inc. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">745 Seventh Avenue </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">New York, New York 10019 </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Citigroup Global Markets Inc. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">388 Greenwich Street </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">New York, New York 10013 </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Morgan Stanley&nbsp;&amp; Co. LLC </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">1585 Broadway </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">New York, New York 10036 </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">as the Representatives of the several Underwriters </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Ladies and
Gentlemen: </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">CenterPoint Energy, Inc., a Texas corporation (the &#147;<B>Company</B>&#148;), confirms, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein,
its agreement to issue and sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the &#147;<B>Underwriters</B>&#148;) $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 5.25% Senior Notes due 2026 (the &#147;<B>Notes</B>&#148;) to be issued pursuant to
an Indenture dated as of May&nbsp;19, 2003 (the &#147;<B>Base Indenture</B>&#148;) between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association (successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association), as trustee (the
&#147;<B>Trustee</B>&#148;), a Supplemental Indenture No.&nbsp;14 to the Base Indenture to be dated as of August 10, 2023 (the &#147;<B>Supplemental Indenture</B>&#148; and, together with the Base Indenture and any amendments or supplements thereto,
the &#147;<B>Indenture</B>&#148;), between the Company and the Trustee. The Company understands that the several Underwriters propose to offer the Notes for sale upon the terms and conditions contemplated by this Agreement and by the documents
listed in Schedule&nbsp;III (such documents herein called the &#147;<B>Pricing Disclosure Package</B>&#148;). </P> <P STYLE="font-size:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>1.</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><B>Representations and Warranties of the Company. </B></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters, on and as of the date hereof and the Closing Date (as defined in
Section&nbsp;2) that: </P>
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<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(i) A joint registration statement on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">S-3</FONT> with respect to the
Notes and other securities (File Nos. <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">333-272025,</FONT> <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">333-272025-01</FONT></FONT> and <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">333-272025-02),</FONT></FONT> copies of which have been made available to the Underwriters, has been prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;<B>Commission</B>&#148;) by the Company,
together with CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC and CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp. Such registration statement, including a prospectus relating to the Notes, has become effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
&#147;<B>1933 Act</B>&#148;), and no stop order suspending its effectiveness has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section&nbsp;8A of the 1933 Act against the Company or related to the offering has been initiated or, to
the best knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission. The term &#147;<B>Registration Statement</B>&#148;<B> </B>means such registration statement, as deemed revised pursuant to Rule&nbsp;430B(f)(1) under the 1933 Act on the date of such
registration statement&#146;s effectiveness for purposes of Section&nbsp;11 of the 1933 Act, as such section applies to the Company and the Underwriters for the Notes pursuant to Rule&nbsp;430B(f)(2) under the 1933 Act (the &#147;<B>Effective
Date</B>&#148;).<B> </B>The base prospectus relating to the Notes included in the Registration Statement (exclusive of any supplement filed pursuant to Rule&nbsp;424 under the 1933 Act) is herein called the &#147;<B>Basic Prospectus</B>.&#148; The
Basic Prospectus as amended and supplemented by a preliminary prospectus supplement dated August 8, 2023 relating to the Notes immediately prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below) is hereinafter called the &#147;<B>Preliminary
Prospectus</B>.&#148; The Company proposes to file together with the Basic Prospectus and pursuant to Rule&nbsp;424 under the 1933 Act a prospectus supplement specifically relating to the Notes and reflecting the terms of the Notes and plan of
distribution arising from this Agreement (herein called the &#147;<B>Pricing Supplement</B>&#148;) and has previously advised the Underwriters of all the information to be set forth therein. The term &#147;<B>Prospectus</B>&#148;<B> </B>means the
Basic Prospectus together with the Pricing Supplement, as first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule&nbsp;424 under the 1933 Act. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Any reference herein to the Basic Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the
documents incorporated by reference therein, or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, and filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#147;<B>1934 Act</B>&#148;), on or before the date of such Basic Prospectus,
Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as applicable; any reference herein to the terms &#147;amend,&#148; &#147;amendment&#148; or &#147;supplement&#148; with respect to the Basic Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus shall be deemed
to refer to and include, without limitation, the filing of any document under the 1934 Act deemed to be incorporated therein by reference after the date of such Basic Prospectus, Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">For purposes of this Agreement, the &#147;<B>Applicable Time</B>&#148;<B> </B>is 3:20 p.m. (New York City Time) on the date of this Agreement.
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(ii) The Registration Statement, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus (as defined in Section&nbsp;3(a)), the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus
conform, and any amendments or supplements thereto will conform, in all material respects, to the requirements of the 1933 Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the &#147;<B>TIA</B>&#148;), and the rules and regulations of the
Commission under the 1933 Act and the TIA; and (A)&nbsp;the Registration Statement will not, as of the Effective Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, and (B) (i)&nbsp;the Pricing Disclosure Package does not, as of the Applicable Time, (ii)&nbsp;the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto will not, as of their dates, and (iii)&nbsp;the Prospectus,
as it may be amended or supplemented pursuant to Section&nbsp;4 hereof, as of the Closing Date will not, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; <I>provided, </I><I>however, </I>that this representation and warranty shall not apply to: (A)&nbsp;any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information
furnished in writing by, or through the Representatives on behalf of, any Underwriter for use therein, and (B)&nbsp;any Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">T-1</FONT> Statement of Eligibility and Qualification included as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement; </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">2 </P>

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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(iii) Each document filed, and to the extent such document has been amended, as so amended, or to be filed
pursuant to the 1934 Act and incorporated by reference, or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (including, without limitation, any document to be filed pursuant to the 1934 Act which will be
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus) conformed or, when so filed, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the 1934 Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and none of such documents
included, and to the extent such document has been amended, as so amended, or, when so filed, will include any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or, when so filed, will omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(iv) Any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or other Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus (such term having the meaning assigned to it by Rule 433 under the 1933 Act (&#147;<B>Rule 433</B>&#148;)) does not include anything that conflicts with the information contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus; and any such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or other Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, when taken together with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus, did not, when issued or filed pursuant to Rule 433, and does not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information furnished in writing by, or through
the Representatives on behalf of, any Underwriter for use therein; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(v) (A) At the time of filing of the Registration Statement, (B)&nbsp;at the time of
the most recent amendment to the Registration Statement for the purposes of complying with Section&nbsp;10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d)
of the 1934 Act or form of prospectus) and (C)&nbsp;at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) under the 1933 Act) made any offer relating to the Notes in reliance on the
exemption of Rule 163 under the 1933 Act, the Company was a &#147;well-known seasoned issuer&#148; (as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act); </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(vi) With
respect to the Registration Statement, (A)&nbsp;the Registration Statement is an &#147;automatic shelf registration statement&#148; (as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act), (B) the Company has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant
to Rule 401(g)(2) of the 1933 Act objecting to the use of the automatic shelf registration statement and (C)&nbsp;the conditions for use of Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">S-3</FONT> have been, and continue to be, satisfied by the Company;
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(vii) At the determination date for purposes of the Notes within the meaning of Rule 164(h) under the 1933 Act, the Company was not an &#147;ineligible
issuer&#148; as defined in Rule&nbsp;405 under the 1933 Act; </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">3 </P>

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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(viii) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing in good standing under the laws of the
State of Texas, with corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(ix) Each Significant Subsidiary (as defined in <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Regulation&nbsp;S-X</FONT> under the 1933 Act) (each such subsidiary, a
&#147;<B>Significant Subsidiary</B>&#148;) of the Company has been duly formed, and each Significant Subsidiary is validly existing in good standing (if applicable) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, with power and authority
(corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except to the extent that the failure to be in good standing or to have such power or authority would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (&#147;<B>Material Adverse
Effect</B>&#148;); and each Significant Subsidiary of the Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease
of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; all of the
issued and outstanding ownership interests of each Significant Subsidiary of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the organizational documents of such Significant Subsidiary, except to the extent that the
failure to be so qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the ownership interests of each Significant Subsidiary owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries,
are owned free from liens, encumbrances and defects; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(x) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(xi) The Notes and the Indenture have been duly authorized by the Company and, when the Supplemental Indenture has been duly executed and delivered by the
Company in accordance with its terms, and assuming the valid execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee, the Indenture will constitute, and, in the case of the Notes, when they are delivered by the Company, paid for pursuant to this Agreement and
the Indenture and duly authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, the Notes will, on the Closing Date, constitute, valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, subject, as to
enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors&#146; rights and to general equity principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); the Notes, when delivered by the Company, paid for pursuant to this Agreement and the Indenture and duly authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture;
and the Notes and the Indenture conform to the descriptions thereof in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; the Indenture has been qualified under the TIA; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(xii) The issuance by the Company of the Notes, the compliance by the Company with all of the applicable provisions of this Agreement, the Notes and the
Indenture, and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated herein and therein (a)&nbsp;will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any subsidiary is bound or to </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">4 </P>

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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">
which any of the property or assets of the Company or any subsidiary is subject, which conflict, breach, violation, or default would individually, or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect; and (b)&nbsp;will not result in any violation of the provisions of the Restated Articles of Incorporation or the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws or other organizational documents of the Company, the charter,
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">by-laws</FONT> or other organizational documents of any subsidiary of the Company or any existing statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the
Company&#146;s or any of its or its subsidiaries&#146; properties; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(xiii) No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or
with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the issuance of the Notes or the consummation by the Company of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Indenture, except such consents, approvals,
authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the issuance by the Company of the Notes and the purchase and distribution of the Notes by the Underwriters; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(xiv) The Company and its subsidiaries possess certificates, authorities or permits issued by appropriate governmental agencies or bodies necessary to conduct
the business now operated by them and have not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authority or permit that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would
individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(xv) Except as disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither
the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any statute, any rule, regulation, decision or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, relating to the use, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic
substances or relating to the protection or restoration of the environment or human exposure to hazardous or toxic substances (collectively, &#147;<B>Environmental Laws</B>&#148;), owns or operates any real property contaminated with any substance
that is subject to any Environmental Laws, is liable for any <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">off-site</FONT> disposal or contamination pursuant to any Environmental Laws, or is subject to any claim relating to any Environmental Laws, which
violation, contamination, liability or claim would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; and the Company is not aware of any pending investigation which has a reasonable possibility of leading to such a claim; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(xvi) Except as disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no pending actions, suits or proceedings against or affecting the
Company, any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect, or would materially and adversely
affect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under the Indenture or this Agreement, or which are otherwise material in the context of the sale of the Notes; and except as disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus, no such actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or, to the Company&#146;s knowledge, contemplated; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(xvii) The financial statements of
the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates shown and their
results of operations and cash flows for the periods shown, and, except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, such financial </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">5 </P>

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statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting
Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and is prepared in accordance with the
Commission&#146;s rules and guidelines applicable thereto; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(xviii) Since the date of the latest audited financial statements of the Company incorporated
by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (a)&nbsp;there has been no material adverse
change in the business, financial condition, prospects or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, and (b)&nbsp;there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any
class of its equity interests (other than regular quarterly dividends on the Company&#146;s common stock, par value $0.01 per share or Series A <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Fixed-to-Floating</FONT></FONT> Rate
Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share); </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(xix) The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls and
maintains disclosure controls and procedures in conformity with the requirements of the 1934 Act and is otherwise in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations
promulgated in connection therewith; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(xx) Deloitte&nbsp;&amp; Touche LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of each of the Company and its
subsidiaries, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries, within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United
States) and as required by the 1933 Act; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(xxi) The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Notes and the application of
the proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus under the caption &#147;Use of Proceeds,&#148; will not be an &#147;investment company&#148; as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the &#147;<B>Investment
Company Act</B>&#148;); </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(xxii) The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and, since January&nbsp;1, 2006, have been conducted at all times
in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements and the money laundering statutes and the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced
by any governmental agency (collectively, the &#147;<B>Money Laundering Laws</B>&#148;) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its
subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened; and </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(xxiii) Neither the Company nor
any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of
the U.S. Treasury Department (&#147;<B>OFAC</B>&#148;); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other
person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">6 </P>

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<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>2.</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><B>Sale and Delivery. </B></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters
agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, the principal amount of the Notes set forth in Schedule&nbsp;I opposite the name of such Underwriter (plus an additional amount of Notes that such Underwriter may become obligated to
purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section&nbsp;8 hereof) at a price equal to 99.366% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest, if any, from August&nbsp;10, 2023 to the Closing Date. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) The Notes to be purchased by each Underwriter hereunder will be represented by one or more registered global securities in book-entry form which will be
deposited by or on behalf of the Company with The Depository Trust Company (&#147;<B>DTC</B>&#148;) or its designated custodian. The Company will deliver the Notes to Morgan Stanley&nbsp;&amp; Co. LLC, acting on behalf of the Underwriters for the
account of each Underwriter, against payment by or on behalf of such Underwriter of the amount therefor, as set forth above, by wire transfer of Federal (same day) funds to a commercial bank account located in the United States and designated in
writing at least forty-eight hours prior to the Closing Date by the Company to Morgan Stanley&nbsp;&amp; Co. LLC, by causing DTC to credit the Notes to the account of Morgan Stanley&nbsp;&amp; Co. LLC, at DTC. The Company will cause the global
certificate representing the Notes to be made available to Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Morgan Stanley&nbsp;&amp; Co. LLC, as joint-book running managing underwriters (together, the &#147;<B>Representatives</B>&#148;),
acting on behalf of the Underwriters, for checking at least twenty-four hours prior to the Closing Date at the office of DTC or its designated custodian (the &#147;<B>Designated Office</B>&#148;). The time and date of such delivery and payment shall
be 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on August&nbsp;10, 2023 or such other time and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing. Such time and date are herein called the &#147;<B>Closing Date</B>.&#148; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(c) The documents to be delivered on the Closing Date by or on behalf of the parties hereto pursuant to Section&nbsp;6 hereof, including the cross-receipt for
the Notes and any additional certificates requested by the Underwriters pursuant to Section&nbsp;6(h) hereof, will be delivered at such time and date at the offices of Baker Botts L.L.P., 910 Louisiana Street, Houston, Texas 77002-4995 or such other
location as the Representatives and the Company may agree in writing (the &#147;<B>Closing Location</B>&#148;), and the Notes will be delivered at the Designated Office, all on the Closing Date. A meeting will be held at the Closing Location at 1:00
p.m., New York City time or at such other time as the Representatives and the Company may agree in writing, on the New York Business Day next preceding the Closing Date, at which meeting the final drafts of the documents to be delivered pursuant to
the preceding sentence will be available for review by the parties hereto. For the purposes of this Section&nbsp;2, &#147;<B>New York Business Day</B>&#148;<B> </B>shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on
which banking institutions in New York are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">7 </P>

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<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>3.</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><B>Free Writing Prospectuses. </B></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) The Company represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Notes
that would constitute a &#147;free writing prospectus&#148; as defined in Rule&nbsp;405 under the 1933 Act, other than a free writing prospectus (which shall include the Pricing Term Sheet discussed in Section&nbsp;3(b) hereof and as defined below),
the use of which has been consented to by the Company and the Representatives; provided that the prior written consent of the parties hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the free writing prospectuses listed on Schedule IV hereto.
Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Representatives and the Company is herein called a &#147;<B>Permitted Free Writing Prospectus</B>&#148;; each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, represents and agrees that, without the prior
consent of the Company and the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Notes that would constitute a &#147;free writing prospectus&#148; as defined in Rule&nbsp;405 under the 1933 Act, other than a Permitted Free
Writing Prospectus or a free writing prospectus that is not required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule&nbsp;433. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) The Company agrees to
prepare a term sheet specifying the terms of the Notes not contained in the Preliminary Prospectus, substantially in the form of Schedule&nbsp;II hereto and approved by the Representatives (the <B>&#147;Pricing Term Sheet&#148;</B>), and to file the
Pricing Term Sheet pursuant to Rule&nbsp;433(d)&nbsp;under the 1933 Act within the time period prescribed by such Rule. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(c) The Company and the
Representatives have complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule&nbsp;433 under the 1933 Act applicable to any free writing prospectus, including timely Commission filing where required and legending. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(d) The Company agrees that if at any time following issuance of a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or other Issuer Free Writing Prospectus any event has
occurred that results in such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or other Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicting, or it becomes known that such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or other Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicts with the
information in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or the Pricing Disclosure Package including an untrue statement of a material fact or omitting to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances then prevailing, not misleading, the Company will give prompt notice thereof to the Representatives and, if requested by the Representatives, will prepare and furnish without charge to each
Underwriter a free writing prospectus or other document, the use of which has been consented to by the Representatives, which will correct such conflict, statement or omission; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply
to any statements or omissions in the Pricing Disclosure Package made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by, or through the Representatives on behalf of, any Underwriter expressly for use therein.
</P> <P STYLE="font-size:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>4.</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><B>Covenants and Agreements. </B></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Company covenants and agrees with each of the Underwriters: </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">8 </P>

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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) That the Company will furnish without charge to the Underwriters a copy of the Registration Statement,
including all documents incorporated by reference therein and exhibits filed with the Registration Statement (other than exhibits which are incorporated by reference and have previously been so furnished), and, during the period mentioned in
paragraph (c)&nbsp;below, as many written and electronic copies of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, any documents incorporated by reference therein at or after the date thereof (including documents from
which information has been so incorporated) and any supplements and amendments thereto as each Underwriter may reasonably request; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) That the Company
will cause the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus to be filed pursuant to, and in compliance with, Rule 424(b) and will promptly advise the Underwriters (i)&nbsp;when any amendment to the Registration Statement shall have been filed;
provided, that, with respect to documents filed pursuant to the 1934 Act and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, such notice shall only be required during such time as the Underwriters are required in the reasonable opinion of
the Representatives, based on advice of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, to deliver a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the 1933 Act), (ii)&nbsp;of any request by the Commission for
any amendment of the Registration Statement, (iii)&nbsp;of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose or pursuant
to Section&nbsp;8A of the 1933 Act against the Company or related to the offering, (iv)&nbsp;of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Notes for sale in any jurisdiction or the
initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, and (v)&nbsp;of the receipt by the Company of any notice from the Commission pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the 1933 Act. So long as any Underwriter is required in the reasonable opinion
of the Representatives, based on advice of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, to deliver a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule&nbsp;173(a)&nbsp;under the 1933 Act), the Company will not file any amendment to the Registration
Statement or supplement to the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus to which the Representatives or Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP shall have reasonably objected in writing and the Company shall furnish one copy of every such amendment or supplement
to each of the Representatives and to Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP. If the Commission shall issue a stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the Company will take such steps to obtain the lifting of that order as promptly
as practical. If the Company receives a notice from the Commission pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the 1933 Act, the Company will promptly take such steps including, without limitation, amending the Registration Statement or filing a new registration
statement, at its own expense, as may be necessary to permit offers and sales of the Notes by the Underwriters (references herein to the Registration Statement shall include any such amendment or new registration statement); </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(c) That if, at any time when in the reasonable opinion of the Representatives, based on advice of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, the information in the Pricing
Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule&nbsp;173(a)&nbsp;under the 1933 Act) is required by law to be delivered by an Underwriter or a dealer, any event shall occur as a result of which it is
necessary, in the reasonable opinion of the Representatives, based on advice of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, or counsel for the Company, to amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or modify the information incorporated by
reference therein in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances existing when the information in the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the 1933 Act)
is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if it shall be necessary in the </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">9 </P>

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reasonable opinion of any such counsel, to amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or modify such information to comply with law, the Company will forthwith
(i)&nbsp;prepare and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and addresses the Underwriters will furnish to the Company) to whom Notes may have been sold by the Underwriters and to any other dealers upon
reasonable request, either amendments or supplements to the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or (ii)&nbsp;file with the Commission documents incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package and Prospectus, which shall be so
supplied to the Underwriters and such dealers, in either case so that the statements in the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus as so amended, supplemented or modified will not, in light of the circumstances when the information in the
Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the 1933 Act) is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will comply with law;
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(d) That the Company will endeavor to qualify, at its expense, the Notes for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions
as the Underwriters shall reasonably request and to pay all filing fees, reasonable expenses and legal fees in connection therewith and in connection with the determination of the eligibility for investment of the Notes; provided, that the Company
shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or a dealer in securities or to file any consents to service of process under the laws of any jurisdiction; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(e) That the Company will make generally available to its security holders and the holders of the Notes as soon as practicable an earnings statement of the
Company covering a twelve-month period beginning after the Closing Date which shall satisfy the provisions of Section&nbsp;11(a)&nbsp;of the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including Rule&nbsp;158 under the 1933
Act); and </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(f) That during the period beginning on the date of this Agreement and continuing to and including the Closing Date, the Company will not
offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise distribute any notes, any security convertible into or exchangeable into or exercisable for notes or any other debt securities substantially similar to the Notes (except for the Notes issued pursuant to
this Agreement), without the prior written consent of the Representatives. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>5.</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><B>Expenses. </B></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i)&nbsp;all
expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto; (ii)&nbsp;the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company&#146;s counsel and accountants in
connection with the issue of the Notes and all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the Basic Prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, any other Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Preliminary
Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and any amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (iii)&nbsp;all reasonable expenses in connection with the
qualification of the Notes for offering and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section&nbsp;4(d) hereof, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in
connection with the Blue Sky and legal investment surveys; (iv)&nbsp;any fees </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">10 </P>

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charged by rating services for rating the Notes; (v)&nbsp;the cost of preparing the Notes; (vi)&nbsp;costs and expenses relating to investor presentations or any &#147;road show&#148; in
connection with the offering and sale of the Notes including, without limitation, any travel expenses of the Company&#146;s officers and employees; (vii)&nbsp;the fees and expenses of the Trustee and any agent of the Trustee and the fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Trustee in connection with the Indenture; and (viii)&nbsp;all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section. It is
understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section, and Sections&nbsp;7 and 10 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make and the fees,
disbursements and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>6.</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><B>Conditions of Underwriters&#146; Obligations. </B></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder shall be subject to the accuracy, at and (except as otherwise stated herein) as of the date
hereof, at and as of the Applicable Time, and at and as of the Closing Date, of the representations and warranties made herein by the Company, to compliance at and as of the Closing Date by the Company with its covenants and agreements herein
contained and the other provisions hereof to be satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date, and to the following additional conditions: </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) (i)&nbsp;No
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose or pursuant to Section&nbsp;8A of the 1933 Act against the Company or related to the offering shall be pending before or
threatened by the Commission and no notice from the Commission pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the 1933 Act shall have been received, (ii)&nbsp;the Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the applicable time
period prescribed for filing by the rules and regulations under the 1933 Act and in accordance herewith and each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall have been filed by the Company with the Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed
for such filings by, and otherwise in compliance with Rule&nbsp;433 under the 1933 Act to the extent so required and (iii)&nbsp;the Underwriters shall have received on and as of the Closing Date, a certificate dated such date, signed by an executive
officer (including, without limitation, the Treasurer) of the Company, to the foregoing effect (which certificate may be to the best of such officer&#146;s knowledge after reasonable investigation). </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred (i)&nbsp;any change in the business, financial condition,
prospects or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as one enterprise which, in the reasonable judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impractical to proceed with completion of the offering or
the sale of and payment for the Notes on the terms set forth herein; (ii)&nbsp;any downgrading in the rating of any debt securities of the Company by any &#147;nationally recognized statistical rating organization&#148; (as defined under the 1934
Act), or any public announcement that any such organization has newly placed under surveillance or review its rating of any debt securities of the Company (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading, and no
implication of a possible downgrading, of such rating); (iii)&nbsp;any material suspension or material limitation of trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, or on the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">over-the-counter</FONT></FONT> market or any suspension of trading of any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">over-the-counter</FONT></FONT>
market; (iv)&nbsp;any general moratorium on </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">11 </P>

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commercial banking activities declared by U.S. Federal or New York State authorities; (v)&nbsp;any major disruption of settlements of securities or clearance services in the United States or
(vi)&nbsp;any act of terrorism in the United States, any attack on, outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States, any declaration of war by Congress or any other national or international calamity or crisis if, in the judgment
of the Representatives, the effect of any such attack, outbreak, escalation, act, declaration, calamity or crisis on the financial markets makes it impractical to proceed with completion of the offering or sale of and payment for the Notes on the
terms set forth herein. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(c) Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, shall have furnished to you such opinion or opinions, dated the
Closing Date, with respect to such matters as you may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(d) Monica Karuturi, Esq., Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Company, shall have furnished to you her written opinion, dated the Closing
Date, in form and substance satisfactory to you, to the effect that: </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(i) The Company is validly existing in good standing under the laws of the State of
Texas and has corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture and the
Notes, and the Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the
failure to so qualify would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(ii) Each Significant
Subsidiary of the Company is validly existing in good standing (if applicable) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the
Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and each Significant Subsidiary of the Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company in good standing in all other jurisdictions in
which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(iii) No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration with, any governmental regulatory body (other than such as may be required under
applicable state securities laws, as to which such counsel need not express an opinion) is required for the issuance and sale of the Notes being delivered at the Closing Date or for the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, the Indenture and the Notes; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(iv) To such counsel&#146;s knowledge and other than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened to which the Company is subject, which, individually or in the aggregate, have a reasonable possibility of having a Material Adverse Effect; </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">12 </P>

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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(v) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the Indenture and the issuance
and sale of the Notes, will not result in the breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, (a)&nbsp;the Restated Articles of Incorporation, the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws or other organizational documents of the Company, each as
amended to date, (b)&nbsp;any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or instrument for borrowed money to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound or to which its property is subject or (c)&nbsp;any law, order, rule or
regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or its property, in any manner which, in the case of clause (b), individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(vi) The description of statutes and regulations set forth in Part&nbsp;I of the Company&#146;s Annual Report on Form
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">10-K</FONT> for the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31, 2022 under the captions &#147;Business&#151;Regulation&#148; and &#147;Business&#151;Environmental Matters,&#148; and those described elsewhere in the Pricing
Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, fairly describe in all material respects the portions of the statutes and regulations addressed thereby; and </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(vii)
Such counsel does not know of any contracts or documents of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package or Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which are not so
described or filed. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(e) Baker Botts L.L.P., counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to you their written opinion, dated the Closing Date, in form
and substance satisfactory to you, to the effect that: </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(i) The statements set forth in (A)&nbsp;the Pricing Disclosure Package under the caption
&#147;Description of the Notes&#148; and those in the Basic Prospectus under the caption &#147;Description of Our Debt Securities,&#148; taken together, and (B)&nbsp;the Prospectus under the caption &#147;Description of the Notes&#148; and those in
the Basic Prospectus under the caption &#147;Description of Our Debt Securities,&#148; taken together, accurately summarize in all material respects the terms of the Notes; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(ii) The Notes are in the form prescribed in or pursuant to the Indenture, have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part
of the Company and, when duly executed, issued and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and delivered against payment therefor pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the
Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms and will be entitled to the benefits afforded by the Indenture, except as such enforceability and entitlement are subject to the effect of (a)&nbsp;any applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, fraudulent transfer or conveyance, moratorium, conservatorship and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors&#146; rights generally, (b)&nbsp;general principles of equity (whether considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law) and (c)&nbsp;principles of materiality and reasonableness and implied covenants of good faith and fair dealing (together, the &#147;<B>Enforceability Exceptions</B>&#148;); </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(iii) The execution and delivery of the Indenture have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company; the
Indenture has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company; the Indenture constitutes a valid and binding instrument enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability is subject to the
Enforceability Exceptions; </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">13 </P>

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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(iv) The Indenture has been duly qualified under the TIA; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(v) The Registration Statement has become effective under the 1933 Act, and, to such counsel&#146;s knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement or any part thereof has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose or pursuant to Section&nbsp;8A of the 1933 Act against the Company or related to the offering of the Notes have been instituted and are pending by the
Commission under the 1933 Act; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(vi) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of the Company, and this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(vii) The Company is not and,
immediately after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Notes and the application of the proceeds therefrom as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be required to register as an &#147;investment
company&#148; as defined in the Investment Company Act; and </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(viii) Although the discussion set forth in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus
under the heading &#147;Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences&#148; does not purport to discuss all possible United States Federal tax consequences of the purchase, ownership, and disposition of the Notes, such discussion constitutes, in all
material respects, a fair and accurate summary of the United States Federal income tax consequences of the ownership of the Notes and the disposition of the Notes by the holders addressed therein, based upon current law and subject to the
qualifications set forth therein. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In addition, the opinion shall contain a section or paragraph substantially to the following effect:
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Such counsel has reviewed the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and has participated in
conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company, with representatives of the Company&#146;s independent registered public accounting firm and with the Underwriters and their counsel, at which the contents of the Registration
Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and related matters were discussed. The purpose of their professional engagement was not to establish or confirm factual matters set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing
Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, and they have not undertaken to verify independently any of the factual matters in such documents. Moreover, many of the determinations required to be made in the preparation of the Registration Statement, the
Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus involve matters of a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-legal</FONT> nature. Accordingly, they are not passing upon, and do not assume any responsibility for, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of
the statements contained or included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (except to the extent stated in subparagraphs (i)&nbsp;and (viii) above). Subject to the foregoing and on the basis of the
information they gained in the course of performing the services referred to above, they advise the Underwriters that: </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">14 </P>

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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">I. the Registration Statement, as of the Effective Time, the Preliminary
Prospectus, as of the Applicable Time, the Pricing Term Sheet, as of its date, and the Prospectus, as of its date and the Closing Date, appear on their face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to the requirements of the 1933 Act
and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and each document incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, as of the Effective Time, and the Prospectus, as of its date and the Closing Date, as originally filed pursuant to
the 1934 Act, appears on its face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to the requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; and </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">II. nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe that: </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="9%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(1)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">the Registration Statement, as of the Effective Time, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="9%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(2)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, included an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="9%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(3)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">the Prospectus, as of its date or as of the Closing Date, included or includes an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">it being understood that in each case they have not been asked to, and do not, express any belief with respect to (a)&nbsp;the financial statements and
schedules or other financial, accounting or statistical information contained or included or incorporated by reference therein or omitted therefrom, (b)&nbsp;representations and warranties and other statements of fact contained in the exhibits to
the Registration Statement or documents incorporated by reference therein or (c)&nbsp;that part of the Registration Statement that constitutes the Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">T-1.</FONT> </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">For purposes of such opinion, the term &#147;<B>Effective Time</B>&#148; shall mean the earlier of the date the Prospectus is first used or
the date and time of the first contract of sale for the Notes. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(f) At the time of execution of this Agreement, Deloitte&nbsp;&amp; Touche LLP shall have
furnished to you a letter dated the date of such execution, substantially in the form heretofore supplied and deemed satisfactory to you with respect to the audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements and certain financial information of
the Company included or incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(g) At the Closing Date, Deloitte&nbsp;&amp; Touche LLP shall have
furnished you a letter, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that such accountants reaffirm, as of the Closing Date and as though made on the Closing Date, the statements made in the letter furnished by such accountants pursuant to paragraph
(f)&nbsp;of this Section&nbsp;6, except that the specified date referred to in such letter will be a date not more than three business days prior to the Closing Date. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">15 </P>

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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(h) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to you at the Closing Date certificates of
the President or any Vice President and a principal financial or accounting officer of the Company in which such officers, to the best of their knowledge after reasonable investigation, shall state that (i)&nbsp;the representations and warranties of
the Company in this Agreement are true and correct, (ii)&nbsp;the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date, and (iii)&nbsp;subsequent to
the date of the most recent financial statements in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there has been no material adverse change in the business, financial condition, prospects or results of operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole except as set forth in or contemplated by the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and (iv)&nbsp;as to such other matters as you may reasonably request. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(i) No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any governmental agency or body
which would as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or the sale of the Notes; and no injunction, restraining order or order of any other nature by any court of competent jurisdiction shall have been issued as of the Closing Date which would
prevent the issuance or sale of the Notes. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(j) The Notes shall be eligible for clearance and settlement through DTC. </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>7.</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><B>Indemnification and Contribution. </B></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, the directors and officers of each Underwriter and each person, if any,
who controls each Underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (including the reasonable cost of investigating and defending against any claims therefor and counsel fees
incurred in connection therewith as such expenses are incurred), joint or several, which may be based upon either the 1933 Act, or the 1934 Act, or any other statute or at common law, on the ground or alleged ground that the Registration Statement,
any preliminary prospectus, the Basic Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any other Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (or any such document, as from time to time amended, or deemed to be
amended, supplemented or modified) includes or allegedly includes an untrue statement of material fact or omits or allegedly omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not
misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by, or through the Representatives on behalf of, any Underwriter specifically for use in the preparation
thereof, it being understood and agreed that the only such information consists of the information described as such in subsection (b)&nbsp;below; provided that in no case is the Company to be liable with respect to any claims made against any
Underwriter, or any such affiliate, director, officer or controlling person unless such Underwriter or such affiliate, director, officer or controlling person shall have notified the Company in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or
other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Underwriter or such affiliate, director, officer or controlling person, but failure to notify the Company of any such claim (i)&nbsp;shall not
relieve the Company from liability under this paragraph unless and to the extent the Company did not otherwise learn of such claim and such failure results in the forfeiture by the Company of substantial rights and defenses and (ii)&nbsp;shall not
relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to such Underwriter or such affiliate, director, officer or controlling person otherwise than on account of the indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">16 </P>

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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Company will be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense, or, if it so
elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any such liability, but, if the Company elects to assume the defense, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it; provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the Underwriters. In the event that the Company elects to assume the defense of any such suit and retains such counsel, the Underwriter or Underwriters or affiliate or affiliates, director or directors, officer or officers
controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in the suit, may retain additional counsel but shall bear the fees and expenses of such counsel unless (i)&nbsp;the Company shall have specifically authorized the retaining of such counsel or
(ii)&nbsp;the parties to such suit include the Underwriter or Underwriters or affiliate or affiliates, director or directors, officer or officers, or controlling person or persons and the Underwriter or Underwriters or affiliate or affiliates,
director or directors, officer or officers or controlling person or persons and the Company have been advised by such counsel that one or more legal defenses may be available to it or them which may not be available to the Company, in which case the
Company shall not be entitled to assume the defense of such suit on behalf of such Underwriter or Underwriters or affiliate or affiliates, director or directors, officer or officers or controlling person or persons, notwithstanding their obligation
to bear the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel, it being understood, however, that the Company shall not, in connection with any one such suit or proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related actions or proceedings in the
same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (and not more than one local counsel) at any time for all such Underwriter or
Underwriters or affiliate or affiliates, director or directors, officer or officers or controlling person or persons, which firm shall be designated in writing by the Representatives. The Company shall not be liable to indemnify any person for any
settlement of any such claim effected without the Company&#146;s prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Underwriter or Underwriters or affiliate or
affiliates, director or directors, officer or officers or controlling person or persons, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any
Underwriter or affiliate, director, officer or controlling person is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such Underwriter or affiliate, director, officer or controlling person, unless such settlement,
compromise or consent (x)&nbsp;includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding and (y)&nbsp;does not include a statement as to or an admission of
fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Underwriter or affiliate, director, officer or controlling person. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company might otherwise have. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) Each Underwriter agrees severally and not jointly to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of the Company&#146;s directors, each of the
Company&#146;s officers who have signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (including the
reasonable cost of investigating and defending against any claims therefor and counsel fees incurred in connection therewith as such expenses are incurred), joint or several, which may be based upon the 1933 Act, or any other statute or at common
law, on the ground or alleged ground that the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Basic Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any other Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (or
any such document, as from time to time amended, or deemed </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">17 </P>

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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">
to be amended, supplemented or modified) includes or allegedly includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits or allegedly omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, but only insofar as any such statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by, or through the
Representatives on behalf of, such Underwriter specifically for use in the preparation thereof, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus: the information in the third paragraph, the third and fourth sentences of the fifth paragraph, the sixth paragraph and the seventh paragraph under the heading &#147;Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)&#148;; provided
that in no case is such Underwriter to be liable with respect to any claims made against the Company or any such director, officer or controlling person unless the Company or any such director, officer or controlling person shall have notified such
Underwriter in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon the Company or any such director, officer or controlling person, but failure to
notify such Underwriter of any such claim (i)&nbsp;shall not relieve such Underwriter from liability under this paragraph unless and to the extent such Underwriter did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by
such Underwriter of substantial rights and defenses and (ii)&nbsp;shall not relieve such Underwriter from any liability which it may have to the Company or any such director, officer or controlling person otherwise than on account of the indemnity
agreement contained in this paragraph. Such Underwriter will be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense, or, if it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any such liability, but, if such Underwriter elects
to assume the defense, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it; provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company. In the event that such Underwriter elects to assume the defense of any such suit
and retain such counsel, the Company or such director, officer or controlling person, defendant or defendants in the suit, may retain additional counsel but shall bear the fees and expenses of such counsel unless (i)&nbsp;such Underwriter shall have
specifically authorized the retaining of such counsel or (ii)&nbsp;the parties to such suit include the Company or any such director, officer or controlling person and such Underwriter and the Company or such director, officer or controlling person
have been advised by such counsel that one or more legal defenses may be available to it or them which may not be available to such Underwriter, in which case such Underwriter shall not be entitled to assume the defense of such suit on behalf of the
Company or such director, officer or controlling person, notwithstanding its obligation to bear the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel, it being understood, however, that such Underwriter shall not, in connection with any one such suit or
proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related actions or proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm
of attorneys (and not more than one local counsel) at any time for all of the Company or any such director, officer or controlling person, which firm shall be designated in writing by the Company. Such Underwriter shall not be liable to indemnify
any person for any settlement of any such claim effected without such Underwriter&#146;s prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. No Underwriter shall, without the prior written consent of the Company or any such
director, officer or controlling person, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which the Company or any such director, officer or controlling
person is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by the </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">18 </P>

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<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">
Company or director, officer or controlling person, unless such settlement, compromise or consent (x)&nbsp;includes an unconditional release of the Company or director, officer or controlling
person from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding and (y)&nbsp;does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of the Company or any such
director, officer or controlling person. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Underwriter might otherwise have. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(c)
If the indemnification provided for in this Section&nbsp;7 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a)&nbsp;or (b)&nbsp;above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable
by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in subsection (a)&nbsp;or (b)&nbsp;above (i)&nbsp;in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the
one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Notes or (ii)&nbsp;if the allocation provided by clause (i)&nbsp;above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative
benefits referred to in clause (i)&nbsp;above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities
as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before
deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters from the Company under this Agreement. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the
untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Underwriters and the parties&#146; relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection
(c)&nbsp;shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (c). Notwithstanding the
provisions of this subsection (c), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Notes purchased by it were resold exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section&nbsp;11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters&#146; obligations in this subsection (c)&nbsp;to contribute are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations and not joint. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>8. Substitution of Underwriters. </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">If any
Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the Notes which it has agreed to purchase hereunder and the aggregate principal amount of such Notes which such defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase does not exceed 10% of the
total principal amount of Notes, the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-defaulting</FONT> Underwriters may make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the purchase of the aggregate principal amount of such Notes by other persons, including
any of the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-defaulting</FONT> Underwriters, but if no such arrangements are made by the Closing Date, the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-defaulting</FONT> Underwriters shall be obligated severally, in
proportion to their respective </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">19 </P>

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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">
commitments hereunder, to purchase the Notes that such defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase. If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall so default and the aggregate principal amount
of Notes with respect to which such default or defaults occur exceeds 10% of the total principal amount of Notes and arrangements satisfactory to the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-defaulting</FONT> Underwriters and the Company for the
purchase of such Notes by other persons are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement will terminate. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">If the <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-defaulting</FONT> Underwriter or Underwriters or substituted underwriter or underwriters are required hereby or agree to take up all or part of the Notes of the defaulting Underwriter as provided in this
Section&nbsp;8, (i)&nbsp;the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date for a period of not more than five full business days, in order that the Company may effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration
Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package or Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees to promptly file any amendments to the Registration Statement or supplements to the Prospectus which may thereby be made necessary,
and (ii)&nbsp;the respective aggregate principal amount of Notes which the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-defaulting</FONT> Underwriters or substituted purchaser or purchasers shall thereafter be obligated to purchase shall be taken as the
basis of their underwriting obligation for all purposes of this Agreement. Nothing herein contained shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its liability to the Company or the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-defaulting</FONT> Underwriters
for damages occasioned by its default hereunder. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section&nbsp;8 shall be without liability on the part of the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-defaulting</FONT> Underwriters or the Company,
other than as provided in Sections&nbsp;7 and 10. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>9. Survival of Indemnities, Representations, Warranties, etc. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters, as set
forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any
Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, or the Company, or any officer or director or controlling person of the Company, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Notes. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>10. Termination. </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">If this Agreement shall
be terminated pursuant to Section&nbsp;8 or if for any reason the purchase of the Notes by the Underwriters is not consummated, the Company shall remain responsible for the expenses to be paid or reimbursed by it pursuant to Section&nbsp;5 and the
respective obligations of the Company and the Underwriters pursuant to Section&nbsp;7 shall remain in effect. If the purchase of the Notes by the Underwriters is not consummated for any reason other than solely because of the termination of this
Agreement pursuant to Section&nbsp;8 or the occurrence of any event specified in clause (iii), (iv), (v)&nbsp;or (vi)&nbsp;of Section&nbsp;6(b), the Company will reimburse the Underwriters for all <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">out-of-pocket</FONT></FONT> expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) reasonably incurred by them in connection with the offering of the Notes. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">20 </P>

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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>11. Notices. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In all dealings hereunder, the Representatives shall act on behalf of each of the Underwriters, and the parties hereto shall be entitled to act
and rely upon any statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by the Representatives. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">All
statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and (i)&nbsp;if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, or facsimile transmission to the Underwriters in care of Barclays Capital Inc., 745 Seventh Avenue,
New York, New York 10019, Attention: Syndicate Registration, Fax No.: (646) <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">834-8133);</FONT> Citigroup Global Markets Inc., 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013, Attention: General Counsel, Fax No.: (646) <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">291-1469;</FONT> Morgan Stanley&nbsp;&amp; Co. LLC, 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036, Attention: Investment Banking Division, Fax No.: (212) <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">507-8999;</FONT> and (ii)&nbsp;if to the
Company shall be delivered or sent by mail, email or facsimile transmission to the Company, 1111 Louisiana Street, Houston, Texas 77002, Attention: Monica Karuturi, Esq., <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">E-mail:</FONT>
monica.karuturi@centerpointenergy.com, (Fax No.: (713) <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">207-0141).</FONT> Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>12. Successors. </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">This Agreement shall
inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the several Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors and the directors, officers and controlling persons referred to in Section&nbsp;7 of this Agreement. Nothing expressed or mentioned
in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person other than the persons mentioned in the preceding sentence any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement, or any provisions herein
contained; this Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof being intended to be, and being, for the sole and exclusive benefit of such persons and for the benefit of no other person; except that the representations, warranties, covenants,
agreements and indemnities of the Company contained in this Agreement shall also be for the benefit of the person or persons, if any, who control any Underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, and the representations,
warranties, covenants, agreements and indemnities of the several Underwriters shall also be for the benefit of each director of the Company, each person who has signed the Registration Statement and the person or persons, if any, who control the
Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>13. Relationship. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i)&nbsp;the purchase and sale of the Notes pursuant to this Agreement is an <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">arm&#146;s-length</FONT> commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other, (ii)&nbsp;in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction each
Underwriter is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, (iii)&nbsp;no Underwriter has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the
process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) or any other obligation to the Company except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement and
(iv)&nbsp;the Company has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate. The Company agrees that it will not claim that the Underwriters, or any of them, has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect,
or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">21 </P>

</DIV></Center>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>14. Applicable Law. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Company hereby submits to the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-exclusive</FONT> jurisdiction of the Federal and state courts in the
Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>15. Waiver of Jury Trial. </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Each of the
parties hereto hereby waives any right to trial by jury in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>16. Patriot Act.
</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">107-56</FONT>
(signed into law October&nbsp;26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the names and address of their respective
clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>17. Counterparts. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an
original, but all such respective counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or any other rapid transmission device designed to produce a written record
of the communication transmitted shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart thereof. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The words
&#147;execution,&#148; &#147;executed,&#148; &#147;signed,&#148; signature,&#148; and words of like import in this Agreement or in any other certificate, agreement or document related to this Agreement shall include images of manually executed
signatures transmitted by facsimile, email or other electronic format (including, without limitation, &#147;pdf,&#148; &#147;tif&#148; or &#147;jpg&#148;) and other electronic signatures (including, without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign). The
use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and
enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State
Electronic Signatures and Records Act and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or the Uniform Commercial Code. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">22 </P>

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<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>18. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such
Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and
obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered
Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater
extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(c) For purposes of this Section&nbsp;18, (A) the term &#147;BHC Act Affiliate&#148; has the meaning assigned to the term &#147;affiliate&#148; in, and shall
be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. &#167; 1841(k); (B) the term &#147;Covered Entity&#148; means any of the following: (1)&nbsp;a &#147;covered entity&#148; as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. &#167;
252.82(b); (2) a &#147;covered bank&#148; as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. &#167; 47.3(b); or (3)&nbsp;a &#147;covered FSI&#148; as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R.
&#167; 382.2(b); (C) the term &#147;Default Rights&#148; has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. &#167;&#167; 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable; and (D)&nbsp;the term &#147;U.S Special
Resolution Regime&#148; means each of (1)&nbsp;the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (2)&nbsp;Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated
thereunder. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">23 </P>

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<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us the
enclosed duplicate hereof and upon the acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters and the Company. It is understood
that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the Underwriters is pursuant to the authority set forth in a form of Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to the Company for examination upon request, but without
warranty on your part as to the authority of the signers thereof. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><DIV ALIGN="right">
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="40%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="12%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="87%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3">Very truly yours,</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="3"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3">CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><I>/s/ Christopher A. Foster</I></P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Name:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Christopher A. Foster</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Title:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer</TD></TR>
</TABLE></DIV> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><I>[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement] </I></P>
</DIV></Center>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Accepted as of the date hereof: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="40%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="13%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="86%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3">BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><I>/s/ Lindsey VanEgmond</I></P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Name:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Lindsey VanEgmond</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Title:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Managing Director</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="3"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3">CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><I>/s/ Brian D. Bednarski</I></P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Name:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Brian D. Bednarski</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Title:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Managing Director</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="3"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3">MORGAN STANLEY&nbsp;&amp; CO. LLC</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><I>/s/ Nicholas Tatlow</I></P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Name: Nicholas Tatlow</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Title: Managing Director</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">For Themselves and as Representatives of the Underwriters Listed on Schedule&nbsp;I </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><I>[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement] </I></P>
</DIV></Center>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SCHEDULE I </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="86%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="5%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><B>Underwriters</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Principal&nbsp;Amount&nbsp;of</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Underwriters&#146;</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Notes</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>


<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Barclays Capital Inc.</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">128,000,000</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Citigroup Global Markets Inc.</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">128,000,000</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Morgan Stanley&nbsp;&amp; Co. LLC</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">128,000,000</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">C.L. King&nbsp;&amp; Associates, Inc.</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">16,000,000</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Total:</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">400,000,000</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">26 </P>

</DIV></Center>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SCHEDULE II </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>PRICING TERM SHEET </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">(to
Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, dated August&nbsp;8, 2023) </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="30%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="69%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Issuer:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (the &#147;Issuer&#148;)</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Legal Format:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">SEC Registered</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Anticipated Ratings*:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Intentionally omitted in exhibit format</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Security:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">5.25% Senior Notes due 2026</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Principal Amount:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">$400,000,000</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Maturity Date:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">August&nbsp;10, 2026</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Interest Payment Dates:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">February&nbsp;10 and August&nbsp;10 of each year, commencing February&nbsp;10, 2024</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Coupon:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">5.25%</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Benchmark Treasury:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">4.500% due July&nbsp;15, 2026</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Benchmark Treasury Yield:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">4.417%</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Spread to Benchmark Treasury:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">+90 basis points</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Re-offer</FONT> Yield:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">5.317%</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Price to Public:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">99.816% of the principal amount</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Optional Redemption:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Greater of: (1)(a) make-whole at treasury rate<SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">[1]</SUP> plus 15 basis points, less (b)&nbsp;interest accrued to the date of redemption and (2) 100%, plus, in either case, accrued and
unpaid interest.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">CUSIP/ISIN:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">15189T BF3 / US15189TBF30</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Denominations:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">$2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Trade Date:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">August&nbsp;8, 2023</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Expected Settlement Date:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">August&nbsp;10, 2023 (T+2)</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Joint Book-Running Managers:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Barclays Capital Inc.</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Citigroup Global Markets
Inc.</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Morgan Stanley&nbsp;&amp; Co. LLC</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Co-Manager:</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">C.L. King&nbsp;&amp; Associates, Inc.</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">[1]</SUP>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">The term &#147;treasury rate&#148; shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Issuer&#146;s Preliminary
Prospectus Supplement, dated August&nbsp;8, 2023. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">*</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Note: A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to
revision or withdrawal at any time. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">27 </P>

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<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Capitalized terms used and not defined herein have the meanings assigned in the Issuer&#146;s Preliminary
Prospectus Supplement, dated August&nbsp;8, 2023. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to
which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the Issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Issuer and this offering. You may get
these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the Issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling Barclays
Capital Inc. toll-free at (888) <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">603-5847,</FONT> Citigroup Global Markets Inc. toll-free at (800) <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">831-9146</FONT> or Morgan Stanley&nbsp;&amp; Co. LLC toll-free at (866) <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">718-1649.</FONT> </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">28 </P>

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<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SCHEDULE III </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>PRICING DISCLOSURE PACKAGE </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">1)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Preliminary Prospectus dated August&nbsp;8, 2023 </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">2)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Pricing Term Sheet attached as Schedule II hereto </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">29 </P>

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<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SCHEDULE IV </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>PERMITTED FREE WRITING PROSPECTUSES </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">1)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Pricing Term Sheet attached as Schedule II hereto </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">30 </P>

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<DESCRIPTION>EX-4.2
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<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="right"><B>Exhibit 4.2 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">To </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">(successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (formerly JPMorgan Chase Bank)) </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Trustee </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">SUPPLEMENTAL
INDENTURE NO. 14 </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Dated as of August&nbsp;10, 2023 </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">$400,000,000
5.25% Senior Notes due 2026 </P>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE NO. 14 </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">$400,000,000 5.25% Senior Notes due 2026 </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE No.&nbsp;14, dated as of August&nbsp;10, 2023, between CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC., a Texas corporation (the
&#147;<U>Company</U>&#148;), and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (formerly JPMorgan Chase Bank)), as Trustee (the &#147;<U>Trustee</U>&#148;). </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">RECITALS </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Company has
heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an Indenture, dated as of May&nbsp;19, 2003 (the &#147;<U>Original Indenture</U>&#148; and, as hereby supplemented and amended, the &#147;<U>Indenture</U>&#148;), providing for the issuance from time
to time of one or more series of the Company&#146;s Securities. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, the Company desires to provide
for the establishment of a new series of Securities to be designated as the &#147;5.25% Senior Notes due 2026&#148; (the &#147;<U>Notes</U>&#148;), the form and substance of such Notes and the terms, provisions and conditions thereof to be set forth
as provided in the Original Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture No.&nbsp;14. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Section&nbsp;301 of the Original Indenture provides
that various matters with respect to any series of Securities issued under the Indenture may be established in an indenture supplemental to the Indenture. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Subparagraph (7)&nbsp;of Section&nbsp;901 of the Original Indenture provides that the Company and the Trustee may enter into an indenture
supplemental to the Indenture to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301 of the Original Indenture. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">For and in consideration of the premises and the issuance of the series of Securities provided for herein, it is mutually covenanted and
agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series, as follows: </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">ARTICLE I </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Relation to Indenture; Additional Definitions </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Section&nbsp;101 <I>Relation to Indenture</I>. This Supplemental Indenture No.&nbsp;14 constitutes an integral part of the Original Indenture.
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Section&nbsp;102 <I>Additional Definitions. </I>For all purposes of this Supplemental Indenture No.&nbsp;14: </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">1 </P>

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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meaning specified herein or in
the Original Indenture, as the case may be; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&#147;<U>Affiliate</U>&#148; of, or a Person &#147;affiliated&#148; with, a
specific Person means a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Person specified. For purposes of this definition, &#147;control&#148; (including the
terms &#147;controlled by&#148; and &#147;under common control with&#148;) means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting
shares, by contract, or otherwise; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&#147;<U>Business Day</U>&#148; means, with respect to any Note, any day other than a
Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close. If any Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity or Redemption Date of a Note falls on a day
that is not a Business Day, the required payment will be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the relevant date that the payment was due and no interest will accrue on such payment for the period from
and after the Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be, to the date of that payment on the next succeeding Business Day. The definition of &#147;Business Day&#148; in this Supplemental Indenture No.&nbsp;14 and
the provisions described in the preceding sentence shall supersede the definition of Business Day in the Original Indenture and Section&nbsp;113 of the Original Indenture; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&#147;<U>CERC Corp.</U>&#148; means CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp., a Delaware corporation, and any successor thereto;
<U>provided</U>, that at any given time, there shall not be more than one such successor; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&#147;<U>Corporate Trust
Office</U>&#148; means the principal office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office as of the date hereof is located at: 601 Travis Street, 16th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002,
Attention: Global Corporate Trust; telephone: (713) <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">483-6817;</FONT> telecopy: (713) <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">483-7038;</FONT> </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&#147;<U>Finance Lease</U>&#148; means a lease that, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America, would be recorded as a finance lease on the balance sheet of the lessee, but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any operating leases or any other <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">non-finance</FONT> leases; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&#147;<U>Houston Electric</U>&#148; means CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, and any
successor thereto; <U>provided</U>, that at any given time, there shall not be more than one such successor; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&#147;<U>H.15</U>&#148; has the meaning set forth in Section&nbsp;302 hereof; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&#147;<U>H.15 TCM</U>&#148; has the meaning set forth in Section&nbsp;302 hereof; </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">2 </P>

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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The term &#147;<U>Indebtedness</U>&#148; as applied to any Person, means
bonds, debentures, notes and other instruments or arrangements representing obligations created or assumed by such Person, in respect of: (i)&nbsp;obligations for money borrowed (other than unamortized debt discount or premium); (ii) obligations
evidenced by a note or similar instrument given in connection with the acquisition of any business, properties or assets of any kind; (iii)&nbsp;obligations as lessee under a Finance Lease; and (iv)&nbsp;any amendments, renewals, extensions,
modifications and refundings of any such indebtedness or obligations listed in clause (i), (ii) or (iii)&nbsp;above. All indebtedness of such type, secured by a lien upon property owned by such Person although such Person has not assumed or become
liable for the payment of such indebtedness, shall also for all purposes hereof be deemed to be indebtedness of such Person. All indebtedness for borrowed money incurred by any other Persons which is directly guaranteed as to payment of principal by
such Person shall for all purposes hereof be deemed to be indebtedness of any such Person, but no other contingent obligation of such Person in respect of indebtedness incurred by any other Persons shall for any purpose be deemed to be indebtedness
of such Person; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&#147;<U>Interest Payment Date</U>&#148; has the meaning set forth in Section&nbsp;204(a) hereof; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&#147;<U>Issue Date</U>&#148; has the meaning set forth in Section&nbsp;204(a) hereof; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&#147;<U>Maturity Date</U>&#148; has the meaning set forth in Section&nbsp;203 hereof; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&#147;<U>Notes</U>&#148; has the meaning set forth in the second paragraph of the Recitals hereof; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&#147;<U>Original Indenture</U>&#148; has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of the Recitals hereof; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&#147;<U>Regular Record Date</U>&#148; has the meaning set forth in Section&nbsp;204(a) hereof; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&#147;<U>Remaining Life</U>&#148; has the meaning set forth in Section&nbsp;302 hereof; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&#147;<U>Treasury Rate</U>&#148; has the meaning set forth in Section&nbsp;302 hereof; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">All references herein to Articles and Sections, unless otherwise specified, refer to the corresponding Articles and Sections of
this Supplemental Indenture No.&nbsp;14; and </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The terms &#147;herein,&#148; &#147;hereof,&#148; &#147;hereunder&#148; and
other words of similar import refer to this Supplemental Indenture No.&nbsp;14. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">ARTICLE II </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">The Series of Securities </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Section&nbsp;201 <I>Title of the Securities. </I>The Notes shall be designated as the &#147;5.25% Senior Notes due 2026.&#148; </P>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Section&nbsp;202 <I>Limitation on Aggregate Principal Amount</I>. The Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver the Notes for original issue on the Issue Date in the aggregate principal amount of $400,000,000, upon a Company Order for the authentication and delivery thereof and satisfaction of Sections 301 and 303 of the Original
Indenture. Such order shall specify the amount of the Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated and the name or names of the initial Holder or Holders. The aggregate principal amount of the Notes
that may initially be outstanding shall not exceed $400,000,000; <I>provided, however</I>, that the authorized aggregate principal amount of the Notes may be increased above such amount by a Board Resolution to such effect. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Section&nbsp;203 <I>Stated Maturity</I>. The Stated Maturity of the Notes shall be August 10, 2026 (the &#147;<U>Maturity Date</U>&#148;).
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Section&nbsp;204 <I>Interest and Interest Rates.</I> </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) The Notes shall bear interest at a rate of 5.25% per year, from and including August 10, 2023 (the &#147;<U>Issue Date</U>&#148;) to, but
excluding, the Maturity Date. Such interest shall be payable semiannually in arrears on February&nbsp;10 and August&nbsp;10 of each year (each an &#147;<U>Interest Payment Date</U>&#148;), beginning February&nbsp;10, 2024, to the persons in whose
names the Notes (or one or more Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on January&nbsp;25 and July&nbsp;25 (each a &#147;<U>Regular Record Date</U>&#148;) (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, immediately
preceding such Interest Payment Date. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be
payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and shall either (i)&nbsp;be paid to the Person in whose name such Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Special Record Date for the payment of
such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of the Notes not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or (ii)&nbsp;be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the
requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Notes may be listed or traded, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange or automated quotation system, all as more fully provided in the Indenture.
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(c) The amount of interest payable for any period shall be computed on the basis of a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">360-day</FONT>
year of twelve <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">30-day</FONT> months. The amount of interest payable for any partial period shall be computed on the basis of a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">360-day</FONT> year of twelve <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">30-day</FONT> months and the days elapsed in any partial month. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on a Note is not a Business Day, then a payment of the interest payable on such date will be made on
the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay) with the same force and effect as if made on the date the payment was originally payable. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(d) Any principal and premium, if any, and any installment of interest, which is overdue shall bear interest at the rate of 5.25% per annum
(to the extent permitted by law) for the Notes from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment, and such interest shall be payable on demand. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Section&nbsp;205 <I>Paying Agent; Place of Payment</I>. The Trustee shall initially serve as the Paying Agent for the Notes. The Company may
appoint and change any Paying Agent or approve a change in the office through which any Paying Agent acts without notice, other than notice to the Trustee. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their Affiliates may act as Paying Agent.
The Place of Payment where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment shall </P>
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be the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. At the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made (i)&nbsp;by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address
shall appear in the Security Register or (ii)&nbsp;by wire transfer in immediately available funds at such place and to such account as may be designated in writing by the Person entitled thereto as specified in the Security Register. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Section&nbsp;206 <I>Place of Registration or Exchange; Notices and Demands With Respect to the Notes</I>. The place where the Holders of the
Notes may present the Notes for registration of transfer or exchange and may make notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes shall be the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Section&nbsp;207 <I>Percentage of Principal Amount</I>. The Notes shall be initially issued at 99.816% of their principal amount, plus accrued
interest, if any, from the Issue Date. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Section&nbsp;208 <I>Global Securities</I>. The Notes shall be issuable in whole or in part in the
form of one or more Global Securities. Such Global Securities shall be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, which shall act as Depositary with respect to the Notes. Such Global Securities shall bear the
legends set forth in the form of Security attached as <U>Exhibit A</U> hereto. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Section&nbsp;209 <I>Form of Securities</I>. The Notes
shall be substantially in the form attached as <U>Exhibit A</U> hereto. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Section&nbsp;210 <I>Securities Registrar</I>. The Trustee shall
initially serve as the Security Registrar for the Notes. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Section&nbsp;211 <I>Sinking Fund Obligations</I>. The Company shall have no
obligation to redeem or purchase any Notes pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous requirement or upon the happening of a specified event or at the option of a Holder thereof. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Section&nbsp;212 <I>Defeasance and Discharge; Covenant Defeasance</I> </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) Article Fourteen of the Original Indenture, including without limitation Sections 1402 and 1403 thereof (as modified by
Section&nbsp;212(b) hereof), shall apply to the Notes. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) Solely with respect to the Notes issued hereby, the first sentence of
Section&nbsp;1403 of the Original Indenture is hereby deleted in its entirety, and the following is substituted in lieu thereof: </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:9%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&#147;Upon the Company&#146;s exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section&nbsp;1403 applied to any Securities or any series of
Securities, as the case may be, (1)&nbsp;the Company shall be released from its obligations under Article Eight and under any covenants provided pursuant to Section&nbsp;301(20), 901(2) or 901(7) for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and
(2)&nbsp;the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 501(4) (with respect to Article Eight and to any such covenants provided pursuant to Section&nbsp;301(20), 901(2) or 901(7)) and 501(7) shall be deemed not to be or result in an Event of
Default, in each case with respect to such Securities as provided in this Section&nbsp;1403 on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section&nbsp;1404 are satisfied (hereinafter called &#147;Covenant Defeasance&#148;).&#148; </P>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">ARTICLE III </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Optional Redemption of the Notes </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Section&nbsp;301 <I>Redemption Price</I>. The Notes shall be redeemable, at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, at any time and
from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of (1)(a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest
on the Notes to be redeemed discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">360-day</FONT> year consisting of twelve <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">30-day</FONT> months) at the applicable
Treasury Rate plus 15 basis points less (b)&nbsp;interest accrued to the Redemption Date, and (2) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the
Redemption Date. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Section&nbsp;302 <I>Calculation. </I>&#147;<U>Treasury Rate</U>&#148; means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the
yield determined by the Company in accordance with the following two paragraphs. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The treasury rate shall be determined by the Company
after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third Business Day preceding the Redemption Date based upon the yield
or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as &#147;Selected Interest Rates (Daily)&#151;H.15&#148;
(or any successor designation or publication) (&#147;<U>H.15</U>&#148;) under the caption &#147;U.S. government securities&#150;Treasury constant maturities&#150;Nominal&#148; (or any successor caption or heading) (&#147;<U>H.15 TCM</U>&#148;). In
determining the treasury rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1)&nbsp;the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to the Maturity Date (the &#147;<U>Remaining Life</U>&#148;);
or (2)&nbsp;if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields &#150; one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to
the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life &#150; and shall interpolate to the Maturity Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal
places; or (3)&nbsp;if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the
applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the Redemption Date. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">If on the third Business Day preceding the Redemption Date H.15 TCM or any successor designation or publication is no longer published, the
Company shall calculate the treasury rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day preceding such Redemption Date of the United States Treasury
security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Maturity Date, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Maturity Date but there </P>
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are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Maturity Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Maturity Date and one with a maturity date
following the Maturity Date, the Company shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Maturity Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Maturity Date or two or more
United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon
the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00&nbsp;a.m., New York City time. In determining the treasury rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the
applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00&nbsp;a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to
three decimal places. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Company&#146;s actions and determinations in determining the Redemption Price shall be conclusive and binding
for all purposes, absent manifest error. The Trustee shall have no responsibility for the calculation of such amount. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Section&nbsp;303
<I>Partial Redemption</I>. If fewer than all of the Notes are to be redeemed by the Company pursuant to this Article III, not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, the particular Notes or portions thereof for redemption will be selected
from the outstanding Notes not previously called by lot by the Trustee. The Trustee may select for redemption Notes and portions of Notes in minimum amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000. A new Note in principal amount equal to the
unredeemed portion of the original Note shall be issued upon the cancellation of the original Note. In the case of a partial redemption of Notes registered in the name of Cede&nbsp;&amp; Co., the Notes to be redeemed will be determined in accordance
with the procedures of The Depository Trust Company. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Section&nbsp;304 <I>Notice of Optional Redemption</I>. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) The Trustee, at the written direction of the Company, will send a notice of redemption prepared by the Company to each holder of Notes to
be redeemed by first-class mail (or in accordance with the procedures of The Depository Trust Company with respect to Notes registered in the name of Cede&nbsp;&amp; Co.) at least 10 days and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for
redemption. Unless the Company defaults on payment of the Redemption Price, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the Redemption Date. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of
redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount to be redeemed. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) Notice of any redemption of the Notes may, at the
Company&#146;s discretion, be given subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of a corporate transaction that is pending (such as an equity or equity-linked offering, an incurrence of Indebtedness or an
acquisition or other strategic transaction involving a change of control in the Company or another entity). If such redemption is so subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall describe each such condition, and
such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied or otherwise waived by the Redemption Date. Once notice of redemption is mailed or sent, subject to the
</P>
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satisfaction of any conditions precedent provided in the notice of redemption, the Notes called for redemption will become due and payable on the Redemption Date and at the applicable Redemption
Price, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the Redemption Date. The Company shall notify holders of Notes called for redemption of any such rescission as soon as practicable after the Company determines that such conditions precedent will not be
able to be satisfied or the Company is not able or willing to waive such conditions precedent. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">ARTICLE IV </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Remedies </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><I>Section&nbsp;401
Additional Events of Default; Acceleration of Maturity </I></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) Solely with respect to the Notes issued hereby, Section&nbsp;501(5) of the
Original Indenture is hereby deleted in its entirety, and the following is substituted in lieu thereof as an Event of Default in addition to the other events set forth in Section&nbsp;501 of the Original Indenture: </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:9%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&#147;(5) the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A)&nbsp;a decree or order for relief in respect of the
Company, CERC Corp. or Houston Electric in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (B)&nbsp;a decree or order adjudging the Company, CERC Corp. or Houston
Electric, bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company, CERC Corp. or Houston Electric, under any applicable federal or state law, or
appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company, CERC Corp. or Houston Electric or of any substantial part of its respective property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation
of its respective affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; provided that any specified event in (A)&nbsp;or (B) involving CERC
Corp. or Houston Electric shall not constitute an Event of Default if, at the time such event occurs, CERC Corp. or Houston Electric, as the case may be, shall no longer be an Affiliate of the Company; or&#148; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) Solely with respect to the Notes issued hereby, Section&nbsp;501(6) of the Original Indenture is hereby deleted in its entirety, and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof as an Event of Default in addition to the other events set forth in Section&nbsp;501 of the Original Indenture: </P>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:9%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&#147;(6) the commencement by the Company, CERC Corp. or Houston Electric of
a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by any of them to the entry
of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company, CERC Corp. or Houston Electric in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement
of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against any of them, or the filing by any of them of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable federal or state law, or the consent by any of them to the
filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company, CERC Corp. or Houston Electric or of any substantial part of its
respective property, or the making by any of them of an assignment of a substantial part of its respective property for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by any of them in writing of the inability of any of the Company, CERC Corp. or
Houston Electric to pay its respective debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company, CERC Corp. or Houston Electric in furtherance of any such action; provided that any such specified event involving CERC
Corp. or Houston Electric shall not constitute an Event of Default if, at the time such event occurs, CERC Corp. or Houston Electric, as the case may be, shall no longer be an Affiliate of the Company; or&#148; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(c) Solely with respect to the Notes issued hereby, and pursuant to Section&nbsp;501(7) of the Original Indenture, Section&nbsp;501(7) of the
Original Indenture is hereby deleted in its entirety, and the following is substituted in lieu thereof, as an &#147;Event of Default&#148; in addition to the other events set forth in Section&nbsp;501 of the Original Indenture: </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:9%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&#147;(7) The default by the Company in a scheduled payment at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise, in the aggregate
principal amount of $125&nbsp;million or more, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, of any Indebtedness or the acceleration of any Indebtedness of the Company in such aggregate principal amount so that it becomes due and payable
prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable and such payment default is not cured or such acceleration is not rescinded within 30 days after notice to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Indebtedness.&#148;
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Section&nbsp;402 <I>Amendment of Certain Provisions</I>. Solely with respect to the Notes issued hereby, references to &#147;25%&#148; in
Article Five of the Indenture are hereby deleted in their entirety and &#147;33%&#148; is substituted in lieu thereof. </P>
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<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">ARTICLE V </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Miscellaneous Provisions </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Section&nbsp;501 The Indenture, as supplemented and amended by this Supplemental Indenture No.&nbsp;14, is in all respects hereby adopted,
ratified and confirmed. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Section&nbsp;502 This Supplemental Indenture No. 14&nbsp;may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The words &#147;execution,&#148; &#147;executed,&#148; &#147;signed,&#148; signature,&#148; and words of like import in this Supplemental
Indenture No.&nbsp;14 shall include images of manually executed signatures transmitted by facsimile, email or other electronic format (including, without limitation, &#147;pdf,&#148; &#147;tif&#148; or &#147;jpg&#148;) and other electronic
signatures (including, without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign). The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by
electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic
Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or the Uniform
Commercial Code. Without limitation to the foregoing, and anything in this Supplemental Indenture No.&nbsp;14 to the contrary notwithstanding, (a)&nbsp;any Officers&#146; Certificate, Company Order, Opinion of Counsel, Security, certificate of
authentication appearing on or attached to any Security or other certificate, Opinion of Counsel, instrument, agreement or other document delivered pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture No. 14&nbsp;may be executed, attested and transmitted by any
of the foregoing electronic means and formats, (b)&nbsp;all references in Section&nbsp;303 or elsewhere in the Indenture to the execution, attestation or authentication of any Security or any certificate of authentication appearing on or attached to
any Security by means of a manual or facsimile signature shall be deemed to include signatures that are made or transmitted by any of the foregoing electronic means or formats (provided that any electronic signature is a true representation of the
signer&#146;s actual signature), and (c)&nbsp;any requirement in Section&nbsp;303 or elsewhere in the Indenture that any signature be made under a corporate seal (or facsimile thereof) shall not be applicable to the Securities of such series. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Section&nbsp;503 THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE NO. 14 AND EACH NOTE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK AND SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Section&nbsp;504 If any provision in
this Supplemental Indenture No.&nbsp;14 limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision hereof which is required to be included herein by any provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provision shall control. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Section&nbsp;505 In case any provision in this Supplemental Indenture No.&nbsp;14 or the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">10 </P>

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<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture No.&nbsp;14
to be duly executed, as of the day and year first written above. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><DIV ALIGN="right">
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<TD WIDTH="92%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3">CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Name: Christopher A. Foster</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Title: &nbsp;&nbsp;Executive Vice President and Chief</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Financial Officer</TD></TR>
</TABLE></DIV> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="100%"></TD></TR>


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<TD VALIGN="top">Attest:</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Name: Vincent A. Mercaldi</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Title: Secretary</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><DIV ALIGN="right">
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<TD WIDTH="92%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3">THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3">As Trustee</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Name:</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Title:</TD></TR>
</TABLE></DIV>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">11 </P>

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<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><U>Exhibit A </U></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">[FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY] </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">[IF THIS SECURITY IS
TO BE A GLOBAL SECURITY -] THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITARY. THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES
REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF
THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">[FOR AS LONG AS THIS GLOBAL SECURITY IS DEPOSITED WITH OR ON BEHALF OF THE
DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY IT SHALL BEAR THE FOLLOWING LEGEND.] UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (&#147;DTC&#148;), TO CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC. OR ITS AGENT
FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE&nbsp;&amp; CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE&nbsp;&amp;
CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE&nbsp;&amp; CO., HAS
AN INTEREST HEREIN. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">5.25% Senior Notes due 2026 </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="48%"></TD></TR>


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<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Original Interest Accrual Date: August&nbsp;10, 2023</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Stated Maturity: August&nbsp;10, 2026</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Interest Rate: 5.25%</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Interest Payment Dates: February&nbsp;10 and August&nbsp;10</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Initial Interest Payment Date: February&nbsp;10, 2024</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Regular
Record Dates: January&nbsp;25 and July&nbsp;25 immediately preceding the respective Interest Payment Date</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Redeemable: Yes [X] No [ ]</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Redemption Date: At
any time.</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Redemption Price: Greater of (1)(a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Notes to
be redeemed discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">360-day</FONT> year consisting of twelve <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">30-day</FONT> months) at the applicable Treasury Rate plus 15
basis points less (b)&nbsp;interest accrued to the Redemption Date, and (2) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption
Date.</P></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">A-1 </P>

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<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">This Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">within the meaning of the within-mentioned Indenture. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="48%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Principal Amount</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="right">Registered No. <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">T-1</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="right">CUSIP 15189TBF3</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Texas (herein called the
&#147;Company,&#148; which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture referred to below), for value received, hereby promises to pay to </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>***</B>CEDE&nbsp;&amp; Co.<B>***</B> </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">, or
its registered assigns, the principal sum of &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; DOLLARS on the Stated Maturity specified above, and to pay interest thereon from
the Original Interest Accrual Date specified above or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on the Interest Payment Dates specified above in each year, commencing on
February&nbsp;10, 2024, and at Maturity, at the Interest Rate per annum specified above, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment, <I>provided </I>that any principal and premium, and any such installment of interest, which is
overdue shall bear interest at the rate of 5.25% per annum (to the extent permitted by applicable law), from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment, and such interest shall be payable on demand. The amount
of interest payable for any period shall be computed on the basis of twelve <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">30-day</FONT> months and a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">360-day</FONT> year. The amount of interest payable for any partial period shall
be computed on the basis of a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">360-day</FONT> year of twelve <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">30-day</FONT> months and the days elapsed in any partial month. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on
this Security is not a Business Day, then a payment of the interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay) with the same force and
effect as if made on the date the payment was originally payable. A &#147;Business Day&#148; shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or required by law,
regulation or executive order to close. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more
Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be January&nbsp;25 and July&nbsp;25 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment
Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and shall either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor
Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to
such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Securities of this series may be listed or traded, and upon such
notice as may be required by such exchange or automated quotation system, all as more fully provided in said Indenture. </P> <P STYLE="line-height:8.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;width:11%">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><SUP STYLE="font-size:75%; vertical-align:top">*</SUP>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Reference is made to Schedule A attached hereto with respect to decreases and increases in the aggregate
principal amount of Securities evidenced hereby. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">A-2 </P>

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<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and any such interest on this Security
will be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; <I>provided</I>, <I>however</I>, that at the
option of the Company payment of interest may be made (i)&nbsp;by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or (ii)&nbsp;by wire transfer in immediately available funds at such
place and to such account as may be designated in writing by the Person entitled thereto as specified in the Security Register. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Reference
is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual, facsimile or
electronic signature (provided that any electronic signature is a true representation of the signer&#146;s actual signature), this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">A-3 </P>

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<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed. </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Dated: August&nbsp;10, 2023</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3">CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Name:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Christopher A. Foster</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Title:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Executive Vice President and Chief</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Financial Officer</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="40%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="100%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Attest:</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Name: Vincent A. Mercaldi</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Title: Secretary</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture. </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="45%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="45%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3">THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3">As Trustee</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Dated: August&nbsp;10, 2023</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Authorized Signatory</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">A-4 </P>

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<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">SCHEDULE A </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The initial aggregate principal amount of Securities evidenced by the Certificate to which this Schedule is attached is
$&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;. The notations on the following table evidence decreases and increases in the aggregate principal
amount of Securities evidenced by such Certificate. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>

<TD WIDTH="18%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="19%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="20%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="20%"></TD>

<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="19%"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; display:table-cell; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; ">Date of Adjustment</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Decrease in</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Aggregate Principal</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Amount of</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Securities</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Increase in</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Aggregate Principal</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Amount of</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Securities</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Aggregate Principal</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Amount of</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Securities</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Remaining After</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Such Decrease or</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Increase</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Notation by</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Security Registrar</P></TD></TR></TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">A-5 </P>

</DIV></Center>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF SECURITY] </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">5.25%
SENIOR NOTES DUE 2026 </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the
&#147;Securities&#148;), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of May&nbsp;19, 2003 (herein called the &#147; Indenture,&#148; which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the
Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association (successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (formerly JPMorgan Chase Bank)), as Trustee (herein called the &#147;Trustee,&#148; which term includes any successor
trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the
Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, initially limited in aggregate principal amount to $400,000,000;
<I>provided</I>, <I>however</I>, that the authorized aggregate principal amount of the Securities may be increased above such amount by a Board Resolution to such effect. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">This Security shall be redeemable at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price
(expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of (1)(a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Notes to be redeemed discounted to
the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">360-day</FONT> year consisting of twelve <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">30-day</FONT> months) at the applicable Treasury Rate plus 15 basis points less
(b)&nbsp;interest accrued to the Redemption Date, and (2) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&#147;Treasury Rate&#148; means, with respect to any redemption date, the yield determined by the Company in accordance with the following two
paragraphs. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Company after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on
U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third Business Day preceding the Redemption Date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such
day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as &#147;Selected Interest Rates (Daily)&#151;H.15&#148; (or any successor designation or publication) (&#147;H.15&#148;) under
the caption &#147;U.S. government securities&#150;Treasury constant maturities&#150;Nominal&#148; (or any successor caption or heading) (&#147;H.15 TCM&#148;). In determining the treasury rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1)&nbsp;the
yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to the maturity date of the Notes (the &#147;Remaining Life&#148;); or (2)&nbsp;if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly
equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields &#150; one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining
Life &#150; and shall interpolate to the </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">A-6 </P>

</DIV></Center>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">
maturity date of the Notes on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3)&nbsp;if there is no such Treasury
constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or
maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the Redemption Date. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">If on the third Business Day preceding the Redemption Date H.15 TCM or any successor designation or publication is no longer published, the
Company shall calculate the treasury rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day preceding such Redemption Date of the United States Treasury
security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the maturity date of the Notes, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the maturity date of the Notes but there are two or more United States Treasury
securities with a maturity date equally distant from the maturity date of the Notes, one with a maturity date preceding the maturity date of the Notes and one with a maturity date following the maturity date of the Notes, the Company shall select
the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the maturity date of the Notes. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the maturity date of the Notes or two or more United States Treasury securities
meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked
prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00&nbsp;a.m., New York City time. In determining the treasury rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury
security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00&nbsp;a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Company&#146;s actions and determinations in determining the Redemption Price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent
manifest error. The Trustee shall have no responsibility for the calculation of such amount. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In the event of redemption of this Security
in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Securities of this series are not entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Indenture contains provisions for satisfaction and discharge of the entire indebtedness of this Security upon compliance by the Company
with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire
indebtedness of this Security or certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">A-7 </P>

</DIV></Center>


<p style="margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0em; page-break-before:always"> </p>
<HR SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be
continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations
of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding
to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by
the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future
Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any
proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to
the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 33% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default
as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and
shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of
principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">No reference herein to the
Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the times, place and
rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth,
the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this
Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon
one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. No service charge shall be made for any such
registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">A-8 </P>

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<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the
Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent
shall be affected by notice to the contrary. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in
denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of
Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">All
terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">THE INDENTURE
AND THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">A-9 </P>

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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="right"><B>Exhibit 5.1 </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">910 LOUISIANA HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002-4995</P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">TEL +1 713.229.1234</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">FAX +1 713.229.1522</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">BakerBotts.com</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">AUSTIN</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">BRUSSELS</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">DALLAS</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">DUBAI</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>HOUSTON</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">LONDON</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">NEW YORK</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">PALO ALTO</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">RIYADH</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">SAN FRANCISCO</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">SINGAPORE</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">WASHINGTON</P></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">August&nbsp;9, 2023 </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">CenterPoint Energy, Inc. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">1111 Louisiana Street </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Houston, Texas 77002 </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Ladies and Gentlemen: </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:9%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In connection with the issuance by CenterPoint Energy, Inc., a Texas corporation (the &#147;Company&#148;), of $400,000,000 aggregate principal
amount of the Company&#146;s 5.25% Senior Notes due 2026 (the &#147;Notes&#148;), pursuant to (a)&nbsp;the Registration Statement on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">S-3</FONT> (Registration Nos.
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">333-272025,</FONT> <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">333-272025-01</FONT></FONT> and <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">333-272025-02)</FONT></FONT> (the
&#147;Registration Statement&#148;), which was filed by the Company, CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC and CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp. with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;Commission&#148;) under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the &#147;Act&#148;), on May&nbsp;17, 2023, and (b)&nbsp;the related prospectus of the Company dated May&nbsp;17, 2023, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement of the Company relating to the sale of the Notes dated
August&nbsp;8, 2023 (as so supplemented, the &#147;Prospectus&#148;), as filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act, certain legal matters with respect to the Notes are being passed upon for you by us. At your
request, this opinion is being furnished to you for filing as Exhibit 5.1 to the Company&#146;s Current Report on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">8-K</FONT> to be filed with the Commission on the date hereof (the &#147;Form <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">8-K&#148;).</FONT> </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:9%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Notes are to be issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of May&nbsp;19, 2003 (the
&#147;Base Indenture&#148;), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (formerly JPMorgan Chase Bank)), as trustee (the &#147;Trustee&#148;), as supplemented by
Supplemental Indenture No.&nbsp;14 thereto, to be dated as of August&nbsp;10, 2023 (the &#147;Supplemental Indenture&#148; and, together with the Base Indenture, the &#147;Indenture&#148;), between the Company and the Trustee. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:9%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In our capacity as your counsel in the connection referred to above, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified,
of (i)&nbsp;the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company and the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, each as amended to date; (ii)&nbsp;the Underwriting Agreement, dated August&nbsp;8, 2023 (the &#147;Underwriting
Agreement&#148;), by and among the Company and the Underwriters named in Schedule I thereto (the &#147;Underwriters&#148;), relating to the issuance and sale of the Notes; (iii)&nbsp;the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; (iv)&nbsp;the Base
Indenture and the form of Supplemental Indenture as filed as an exhibit to the Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">8-K;</FONT> and (v)&nbsp;corporate records of the Company, including certain resolutions of the board of directors of the Company,
as furnished to us by you, certificates of governmental and public officials and of representatives of the Company, statutes and other instruments and documents as we have deemed necessary or advisable for purposes of the opinions hereinafter
expressed. In giving the opinions set forth below, we have relied, to the extent we deemed appropriate without independent investigation or verification, upon certificates, statements or other </P>
</DIV></Center>


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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center">- 2 -</TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="right"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="right">August 9, 2023</P></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">representations of officers or other authorized representatives of the Company and of governmental and public officials with
respect to the accuracy of the factual matters contained in or covered by such certificates, statements or representations. In giving the opinions set forth below, we have assumed that all signatures on all documents examined by us are genuine, all
documents submitted to us as originals are authentic and complete, all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies are true, correct and complete copies of the originals thereof and all information submitted to us was accurate and
complete. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:9%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">On the basis of the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications set forth herein, we are of the
opinion that the Notes will, when duly executed, issued and delivered by the Company in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and duly purchased and paid
for by the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as that enforcement is subject
to any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or conveyance or other laws relating to or affecting creditors&#146; rights generally, general principles of equity (regardless of whether that enforceability
is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and any implied covenants of good faith and fair dealing. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:9%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The opinions set forth above
in this opinion letter are limited in all respects to matters of the laws of the State of Texas, applicable federal law of the United States and the contract law of the State of New York as in effect on the date hereof. We hereby consent to the
filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">8-K.</FONT> We also consent to the references to our Firm under the heading &#147;Legal Matters&#148; in the Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not
hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section&nbsp;7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><DIV ALIGN="right">
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<TD VALIGN="top">Very truly yours,</TD></TR>
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<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">/s/ BAKER BOTTS L.L.P.</TD></TR>
</TABLE></DIV>
</DIV></Center>

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    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="cnp_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1" order="26.001" priority="2" use="optional" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="cnp_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown" order="26.031" priority="2" use="optional" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="cnp_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince" order="26.131" priority="2" use="optional" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="cnp_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode" order="26.231" priority="2" use="optional" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="cnp_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_CityAreaCode" order="30.001" priority="2" use="optional" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="cnp_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_LocalPhoneNumber" order="30.011" priority="2" use="optional" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="cnp_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_WrittenCommunications" order="32.001" priority="2" use="optional" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="cnp_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_SolicitingMaterial" order="33.001" priority="2" use="optional" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="cnp_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer" order="34.001" priority="2" use="optional" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="cnp_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer" order="35.001" priority="2" use="optional" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="cnp_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_Security12bTitle" order="36.001" priority="2" use="optional" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="cnp_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_TradingSymbol" order="40.001" priority="2" use="optional" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="cnp_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_SecurityExchangeName" order="41.001" priority="2" use="optional" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="cnp_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany" order="42.001" priority="2" use="optional" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="cnp_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_AmendmentFlag" order="44.001" priority="2" use="optional" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="cnp_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_EntityCentralIndexKey" order="45.001" priority="2" use="optional" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="cnp_DocumentAndEntityInformationTable" xlink:to="dei_EntityListingsExchangeAxis" order="1" priority="2" use="optional" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="dei_EntityListingsExchangeAxis" xlink:to="dei_ExchangeDomain" order="46.001" priority="2" use="optional" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="dei_EntityListingsExchangeAxis" xlink:to="dei_ExchangeDomain_2" order="46.0011" priority="2" use="optional" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="dei_ExchangeDomain" xlink:to="exch_XNYS" order="47.001" priority="2" use="optional" />
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="dei_ExchangeDomain" xlink:to="exch_XCHI" order="48.001" priority="2" use="optional" />
  </link:definitionLink>
</link:linkbase>
</XBRL>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-101.LAB
<SEQUENCE>7
<FILENAME>cnp-20230808_lab.xml
<DESCRIPTION>XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION LABEL LINKBASE
<TEXT>
<XBRL>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="us-ascii" standalone="yes"?>
<!-- DFIN - Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc. -->
<!-- CTU Version: 71.3.0 -->
<!-- Creation date: 8/9/2023 11:57:03 AM Eastern Time -->
<!-- Copyright (c) 2023 Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc. All Rights Reserved. -->
<link:linkbase
  xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase"
  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"
  xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
  xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase http://www.xbrl.org/2003/xbrl-linkbase-2003-12-31.xsd">
  <link:labelLink xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/link" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_CoverAbstract" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_CoverAbstract" />
    <link:labelArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/concept-label" xlink:from="dei_CoverAbstract" xlink:to="dei_CoverAbstract_lbl" />
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_CoverAbstract_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label">Cover [Abstract]</link:label>
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_CoverAbstract_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel">Cover [Abstract]</link:label>
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_DocumentType" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_DocumentType" />
    <link:labelArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/concept-label" xlink:from="dei_DocumentType" xlink:to="dei_DocumentType_lbl" />
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_DocumentType_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label">Document Type</link:label>
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_DocumentType_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel">Document Type</link:label>
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate" />
    <link:labelArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/concept-label" xlink:from="dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate" xlink:to="dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_lbl" />
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label">Document Period End Date</link:label>
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel">Document Period End Date</link:label>
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_EntityRegistrantName" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_EntityRegistrantName" />
    <link:labelArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/concept-label" xlink:from="dei_EntityRegistrantName" xlink:to="dei_EntityRegistrantName_lbl" />
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_EntityRegistrantName_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label">Entity Registrant Name</link:label>
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_EntityRegistrantName_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel">Entity Registrant Name</link:label>
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode" />
    <link:labelArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/concept-label" xlink:from="dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode" xlink:to="dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_lbl" />
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label">Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code</link:label>
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel">Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code</link:label>
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_EntityFileNumber" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_EntityFileNumber" />
    <link:labelArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/concept-label" xlink:from="dei_EntityFileNumber" xlink:to="dei_EntityFileNumber_lbl" />
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_EntityFileNumber_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label">Entity File Number</link:label>
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_EntityFileNumber_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel">Entity File Number</link:label>
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber" />
    <link:labelArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/concept-label" xlink:from="dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber" xlink:to="dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_lbl" />
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label">Entity Tax Identification Number</link:label>
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel">Entity Tax Identification Number</link:label>
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1" />
    <link:labelArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/concept-label" xlink:from="dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1" xlink:to="dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_lbl" />
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label">Entity Address, Address Line One</link:label>
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel">Entity Address, Address Line One</link:label>
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown" />
    <link:labelArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/concept-label" xlink:from="dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown" xlink:to="dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_lbl" />
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label">Entity Address, City or Town</link:label>
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel">Entity Address, City or Town</link:label>
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince" />
    <link:labelArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/concept-label" xlink:from="dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince" xlink:to="dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_lbl" />
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label">Entity Address, State or Province</link:label>
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel">Entity Address, State or Province</link:label>
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode" />
    <link:labelArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/concept-label" xlink:from="dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode" xlink:to="dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_lbl" />
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label">Entity Address, Postal Zip Code</link:label>
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel">Entity Address, Postal Zip Code</link:label>
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_CityAreaCode" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_CityAreaCode" />
    <link:labelArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/concept-label" xlink:from="dei_CityAreaCode" xlink:to="dei_CityAreaCode_lbl" />
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_CityAreaCode_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label">City Area Code</link:label>
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_CityAreaCode_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel">City Area Code</link:label>
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_LocalPhoneNumber" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_LocalPhoneNumber" />
    <link:labelArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/concept-label" xlink:from="dei_LocalPhoneNumber" xlink:to="dei_LocalPhoneNumber_lbl" />
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_LocalPhoneNumber_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label">Local Phone Number</link:label>
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_LocalPhoneNumber_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel">Local Phone Number</link:label>
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_WrittenCommunications" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_WrittenCommunications" />
    <link:labelArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/concept-label" xlink:from="dei_WrittenCommunications" xlink:to="dei_WrittenCommunications_lbl" />
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_WrittenCommunications_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label">Written Communications</link:label>
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_WrittenCommunications_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel">Written Communications</link:label>
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_SolicitingMaterial" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_SolicitingMaterial" />
    <link:labelArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/concept-label" xlink:from="dei_SolicitingMaterial" xlink:to="dei_SolicitingMaterial_lbl" />
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_SolicitingMaterial_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label">Soliciting Material</link:label>
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_SolicitingMaterial_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel">Soliciting Material</link:label>
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer" />
    <link:labelArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/concept-label" xlink:from="dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer" xlink:to="dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_lbl" />
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label">Pre-commencement Tender Offer</link:label>
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel">Pre-commencement Tender Offer</link:label>
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer" />
    <link:labelArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/concept-label" xlink:from="dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer" xlink:to="dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_lbl" />
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label">Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer</link:label>
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel">Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer</link:label>
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_Security12bTitle" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_Security12bTitle" />
    <link:labelArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/concept-label" xlink:from="dei_Security12bTitle" xlink:to="dei_Security12bTitle_lbl" />
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_Security12bTitle_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label">Title of 12(b) Security</link:label>
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_Security12bTitle_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel">Title of 12(b) Security</link:label>
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_EntityListingsExchangeAxis" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_EntityListingsExchangeAxis" />
    <link:labelArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/concept-label" xlink:from="dei_EntityListingsExchangeAxis" xlink:to="dei_EntityListingsExchangeAxis_lbl" />
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_EntityListingsExchangeAxis_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label">Entity Listings, Exchange [Axis]</link:label>
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_EntityListingsExchangeAxis_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel">Entity Listings, Exchange [Axis]</link:label>
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_ExchangeDomain" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_ExchangeDomain" />
    <link:labelArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/concept-label" xlink:from="dei_ExchangeDomain" xlink:to="dei_ExchangeDomain_lbl" />
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_ExchangeDomain_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label">Entity Listings, Exchange [Domain]</link:label>
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="dei_ExchangeDomain_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel">Entity Listings, Exchange [Domain]</link:label>
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/exch/2022/exch-2022.xsd#exch_XCHI" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="exch_XCHI" />
    <link:labelArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/concept-label" xlink:from="exch_XCHI" xlink:to="exch_XCHI_lbl" />
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="exch_XCHI_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/label">NYSE CHICAGO, INC. [Member]</link:label>
    <link:label xml:lang="en-US" xlink:label="exch_XCHI_lbl" xlink:type="resource" xlink:role="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel">NYSE CHICAGO, INC. [Member]</link:label>
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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-101.PRE
<SEQUENCE>8
<FILENAME>cnp-20230808_pre.xml
<DESCRIPTION>XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION PRESENTATION LINKBASE
<TEXT>
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<html>
<head>
<title></title>
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="include/report.css">
<script type="text/javascript" src="Show.js">/* Do Not Remove This Comment */</script><script type="text/javascript">
							function toggleNextSibling (e) {
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<span style="display: none;">v3.23.2</span><table class="report" border="0" cellspacing="2" id="idm140544012003680">
<tr>
<th class="tl" colspan="1" rowspan="1"><div style="width: 200px;"><strong>Document and Entity Information<br></strong></div></th>
<th class="th"><div>Aug. 08, 2023</div></th>
</tr>
<tr class="re">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_cnp_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems', window );"><strong>Document And Entity Information [Line Items]</strong></a></td>
<td class="text">&#160;<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="ro">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_dei_DocumentType', window );">Document Type</a></td>
<td class="text">8-K<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="re">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate', window );">Document Period End Date</a></td>
<td class="text">Aug.  08,  2023<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="ro">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_dei_EntityRegistrantName', window );">Entity Registrant Name</a></td>
<td class="text">CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="re">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode', window );">Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code</a></td>
<td class="text">TX<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="ro">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_dei_EntityFileNumber', window );">Entity File Number</a></td>
<td class="text">1-31447<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="re">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber', window );">Entity Tax Identification Number</a></td>
<td class="text">74-0694415<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="ro">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1', window );">Entity Address, Address Line One</a></td>
<td class="text">1111 Louisiana<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="re">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown', window );">Entity Address, City or Town</a></td>
<td class="text">Houston<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="ro">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince', window );">Entity Address, State or Province</a></td>
<td class="text">TX<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="re">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode', window );">Entity Address, Postal Zip Code</a></td>
<td class="text">77002<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="ro">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_dei_CityAreaCode', window );">City Area Code</a></td>
<td class="text">713<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="re">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_dei_LocalPhoneNumber', window );">Local Phone Number</a></td>
<td class="text">207-1111<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="ro">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_dei_WrittenCommunications', window );">Written Communications</a></td>
<td class="text">false<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="re">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_dei_SolicitingMaterial', window );">Soliciting Material</a></td>
<td class="text">false<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="ro">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer', window );">Pre-commencement Tender Offer</a></td>
<td class="text">false<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="re">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer', window );">Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer</a></td>
<td class="text">false<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="ro">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany', window );">Entity Emerging Growth Company</a></td>
<td class="text">false<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="re">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_dei_AmendmentFlag', window );">Amendment Flag</a></td>
<td class="text">false<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="ro">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey', window );">Entity Central Index Key</a></td>
<td class="text">0001130310<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="rh">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_dei_EntityListingsExchangeAxis=exch_XNYS', window );">NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, INC. [Member]</a></td>
<td class="text">&#160;<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="ro">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_cnp_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems', window );"><strong>Document And Entity Information [Line Items]</strong></a></td>
<td class="text">&#160;<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="re">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_dei_Security12bTitle', window );">Title of 12(b) Security</a></td>
<td class="text">Common Stock, $0.01 par value<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="ro">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_dei_TradingSymbol', window );">Trading Symbol</a></td>
<td class="text">CNP<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="re">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_dei_SecurityExchangeName', window );">Security Exchange Name</a></td>
<td class="text">NYSE<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="rh">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_dei_EntityListingsExchangeAxis=exch_XCHI', window );">NYSE CHICAGO, INC. [Member]</a></td>
<td class="text">&#160;<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="re">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_cnp_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems', window );"><strong>Document And Entity Information [Line Items]</strong></a></td>
<td class="text">&#160;<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="ro">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_dei_Security12bTitle', window );">Title of 12(b) Security</a></td>
<td class="text">Common Stock, $0.01 par value<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="re">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_dei_TradingSymbol', window );">Trading Symbol</a></td>
<td class="text">CNP<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="ro">
<td class="pl" style="border-bottom: 0px;" valign="top"><a class="a" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.showAR( this, 'defref_dei_SecurityExchangeName', window );">Security Exchange Name</a></td>
<td class="text">CHX<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<div style="display: none;">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="authRefData" style="display: none;" id="defref_cnp_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems">
<tr><td class="hide"><a style="color: white;" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.hideAR();">X</a></td></tr>
<tr><td><div class="body" style="padding: 2px;">
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">- References</a><div><p>No definition available.</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ Details</a><div style="display: none;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td><strong> Name:</strong></td>
<td style="white-space:nowrap;">cnp_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding-right: 4px;white-space:nowrap;"><strong> Namespace Prefix:</strong></td>
<td>cnp_</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Data Type:</strong></td>
<td>xbrli:stringItemType</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Balance Type:</strong></td>
<td>na</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Period Type:</strong></td>
<td>duration</td>
</tr>
</table></div>
</div></td></tr>
</table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="authRefData" style="display: none;" id="defref_dei_AmendmentFlag">
<tr><td class="hide"><a style="color: white;" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.hideAR();">X</a></td></tr>
<tr><td><div class="body" style="padding: 2px;">
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">- Definition</a><div><p>Boolean flag that is true when the XBRL content amends previously-filed or accepted submission.</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ References</a><div style="display: none;"><p>No definition available.</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ Details</a><div style="display: none;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td><strong> Name:</strong></td>
<td style="white-space:nowrap;">dei_AmendmentFlag</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding-right: 4px;white-space:nowrap;"><strong> Namespace Prefix:</strong></td>
<td>dei_</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Data Type:</strong></td>
<td>xbrli:booleanItemType</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Balance Type:</strong></td>
<td>na</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Period Type:</strong></td>
<td>duration</td>
</tr>
</table></div>
</div></td></tr>
</table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="authRefData" style="display: none;" id="defref_dei_CityAreaCode">
<tr><td class="hide"><a style="color: white;" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.hideAR();">X</a></td></tr>
<tr><td><div class="body" style="padding: 2px;">
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">- Definition</a><div><p>Area code of city</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ References</a><div style="display: none;"><p>No definition available.</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ Details</a><div style="display: none;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td><strong> Name:</strong></td>
<td style="white-space:nowrap;">dei_CityAreaCode</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding-right: 4px;white-space:nowrap;"><strong> Namespace Prefix:</strong></td>
<td>dei_</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Data Type:</strong></td>
<td>xbrli:normalizedStringItemType</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Balance Type:</strong></td>
<td>na</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Period Type:</strong></td>
<td>duration</td>
</tr>
</table></div>
</div></td></tr>
</table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="authRefData" style="display: none;" id="defref_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate">
<tr><td class="hide"><a style="color: white;" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.hideAR();">X</a></td></tr>
<tr><td><div class="body" style="padding: 2px;">
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">- Definition</a><div><p>For the EDGAR submission types of Form 8-K: the date of the report, the date of the earliest event reported; for the EDGAR submission types of Form N-1A: the filing date; for all other submission types: the end of the reporting or transition period.  The format of the date is YYYY-MM-DD.</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ References</a><div style="display: none;"><p>No definition available.</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ Details</a><div style="display: none;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td><strong> Name:</strong></td>
<td style="white-space:nowrap;">dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding-right: 4px;white-space:nowrap;"><strong> Namespace Prefix:</strong></td>
<td>dei_</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Data Type:</strong></td>
<td>xbrli:dateItemType</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Balance Type:</strong></td>
<td>na</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Period Type:</strong></td>
<td>duration</td>
</tr>
</table></div>
</div></td></tr>
</table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="authRefData" style="display: none;" id="defref_dei_DocumentType">
<tr><td class="hide"><a style="color: white;" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.hideAR();">X</a></td></tr>
<tr><td><div class="body" style="padding: 2px;">
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">- Definition</a><div><p>The type of document being provided (such as 10-K, 10-Q, 485BPOS, etc). The document type is limited to the same value as the supporting SEC submission type, or the word 'Other'.</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ References</a><div style="display: none;"><p>No definition available.</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ Details</a><div style="display: none;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td><strong> Name:</strong></td>
<td style="white-space:nowrap;">dei_DocumentType</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding-right: 4px;white-space:nowrap;"><strong> Namespace Prefix:</strong></td>
<td>dei_</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Data Type:</strong></td>
<td>dei:submissionTypeItemType</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Balance Type:</strong></td>
<td>na</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Period Type:</strong></td>
<td>duration</td>
</tr>
</table></div>
</div></td></tr>
</table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="authRefData" style="display: none;" id="defref_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1">
<tr><td class="hide"><a style="color: white;" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.hideAR();">X</a></td></tr>
<tr><td><div class="body" style="padding: 2px;">
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">- Definition</a><div><p>Address Line 1 such as Attn, Building Name, Street Name</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ References</a><div style="display: none;"><p>No definition available.</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ Details</a><div style="display: none;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td><strong> Name:</strong></td>
<td style="white-space:nowrap;">dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding-right: 4px;white-space:nowrap;"><strong> Namespace Prefix:</strong></td>
<td>dei_</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Data Type:</strong></td>
<td>xbrli:normalizedStringItemType</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Balance Type:</strong></td>
<td>na</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Period Type:</strong></td>
<td>duration</td>
</tr>
</table></div>
</div></td></tr>
</table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="authRefData" style="display: none;" id="defref_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown">
<tr><td class="hide"><a style="color: white;" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.hideAR();">X</a></td></tr>
<tr><td><div class="body" style="padding: 2px;">
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">- Definition</a><div><p>Name of the City or Town</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ References</a><div style="display: none;"><p>No definition available.</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ Details</a><div style="display: none;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td><strong> Name:</strong></td>
<td style="white-space:nowrap;">dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding-right: 4px;white-space:nowrap;"><strong> Namespace Prefix:</strong></td>
<td>dei_</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Data Type:</strong></td>
<td>xbrli:normalizedStringItemType</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Balance Type:</strong></td>
<td>na</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Period Type:</strong></td>
<td>duration</td>
</tr>
</table></div>
</div></td></tr>
</table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="authRefData" style="display: none;" id="defref_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode">
<tr><td class="hide"><a style="color: white;" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.hideAR();">X</a></td></tr>
<tr><td><div class="body" style="padding: 2px;">
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">- Definition</a><div><p>Code for the postal or zip code</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ References</a><div style="display: none;"><p>No definition available.</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ Details</a><div style="display: none;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td><strong> Name:</strong></td>
<td style="white-space:nowrap;">dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding-right: 4px;white-space:nowrap;"><strong> Namespace Prefix:</strong></td>
<td>dei_</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Data Type:</strong></td>
<td>xbrli:normalizedStringItemType</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Balance Type:</strong></td>
<td>na</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Period Type:</strong></td>
<td>duration</td>
</tr>
</table></div>
</div></td></tr>
</table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="authRefData" style="display: none;" id="defref_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince">
<tr><td class="hide"><a style="color: white;" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.hideAR();">X</a></td></tr>
<tr><td><div class="body" style="padding: 2px;">
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">- Definition</a><div><p>Name of the state or province.</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ References</a><div style="display: none;"><p>No definition available.</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ Details</a><div style="display: none;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td><strong> Name:</strong></td>
<td style="white-space:nowrap;">dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding-right: 4px;white-space:nowrap;"><strong> Namespace Prefix:</strong></td>
<td>dei_</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Data Type:</strong></td>
<td>dei:stateOrProvinceItemType</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Balance Type:</strong></td>
<td>na</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Period Type:</strong></td>
<td>duration</td>
</tr>
</table></div>
</div></td></tr>
</table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="authRefData" style="display: none;" id="defref_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey">
<tr><td class="hide"><a style="color: white;" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.hideAR();">X</a></td></tr>
<tr><td><div class="body" style="padding: 2px;">
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">- Definition</a><div><p>A unique 10-digit SEC-issued value to identify entities that have filed disclosures with the SEC. It is commonly abbreviated as CIK.</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ References</a><div style="display: none;"><p>Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef<br> -Publisher SEC<br> -Name Exchange Act<br> -Number 240<br> -Section 12<br> -Subsection b-2<br></p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ Details</a><div style="display: none;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td><strong> Name:</strong></td>
<td style="white-space:nowrap;">dei_EntityCentralIndexKey</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding-right: 4px;white-space:nowrap;"><strong> Namespace Prefix:</strong></td>
<td>dei_</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Data Type:</strong></td>
<td>dei:centralIndexKeyItemType</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Balance Type:</strong></td>
<td>na</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Period Type:</strong></td>
<td>duration</td>
</tr>
</table></div>
</div></td></tr>
</table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="authRefData" style="display: none;" id="defref_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany">
<tr><td class="hide"><a style="color: white;" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.hideAR();">X</a></td></tr>
<tr><td><div class="body" style="padding: 2px;">
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">- Definition</a><div><p>Indicate if registrant meets the emerging growth company criteria.</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ References</a><div style="display: none;"><p>Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef<br> -Publisher SEC<br> -Name Exchange Act<br> -Number 240<br> -Section 12<br> -Subsection b-2<br></p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ Details</a><div style="display: none;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td><strong> Name:</strong></td>
<td style="white-space:nowrap;">dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding-right: 4px;white-space:nowrap;"><strong> Namespace Prefix:</strong></td>
<td>dei_</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Data Type:</strong></td>
<td>xbrli:booleanItemType</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Balance Type:</strong></td>
<td>na</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Period Type:</strong></td>
<td>duration</td>
</tr>
</table></div>
</div></td></tr>
</table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="authRefData" style="display: none;" id="defref_dei_EntityFileNumber">
<tr><td class="hide"><a style="color: white;" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.hideAR();">X</a></td></tr>
<tr><td><div class="body" style="padding: 2px;">
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">- Definition</a><div><p>Commission file number. The field allows up to 17 characters. The prefix may contain 1-3 digits, the sequence number may contain 1-8 digits, the optional suffix may contain 1-4 characters, and the fields are separated with a hyphen.</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ References</a><div style="display: none;"><p>No definition available.</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ Details</a><div style="display: none;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td><strong> Name:</strong></td>
<td style="white-space:nowrap;">dei_EntityFileNumber</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding-right: 4px;white-space:nowrap;"><strong> Namespace Prefix:</strong></td>
<td>dei_</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Data Type:</strong></td>
<td>dei:fileNumberItemType</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Balance Type:</strong></td>
<td>na</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Period Type:</strong></td>
<td>duration</td>
</tr>
</table></div>
</div></td></tr>
</table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="authRefData" style="display: none;" id="defref_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode">
<tr><td class="hide"><a style="color: white;" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.hideAR();">X</a></td></tr>
<tr><td><div class="body" style="padding: 2px;">
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">- Definition</a><div><p>Two-character EDGAR code representing the state or country of incorporation.</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ References</a><div style="display: none;"><p>No definition available.</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ Details</a><div style="display: none;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td><strong> Name:</strong></td>
<td style="white-space:nowrap;">dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding-right: 4px;white-space:nowrap;"><strong> Namespace Prefix:</strong></td>
<td>dei_</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Data Type:</strong></td>
<td>dei:edgarStateCountryItemType</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Balance Type:</strong></td>
<td>na</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Period Type:</strong></td>
<td>duration</td>
</tr>
</table></div>
</div></td></tr>
</table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="authRefData" style="display: none;" id="defref_dei_EntityRegistrantName">
<tr><td class="hide"><a style="color: white;" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.hideAR();">X</a></td></tr>
<tr><td><div class="body" style="padding: 2px;">
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">- Definition</a><div><p>The exact name of the entity filing the report as specified in its charter, which is required by forms filed with the SEC.</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ References</a><div style="display: none;"><p>Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef<br> -Publisher SEC<br> -Name Exchange Act<br> -Number 240<br> -Section 12<br> -Subsection b-2<br></p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ Details</a><div style="display: none;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td><strong> Name:</strong></td>
<td style="white-space:nowrap;">dei_EntityRegistrantName</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding-right: 4px;white-space:nowrap;"><strong> Namespace Prefix:</strong></td>
<td>dei_</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Data Type:</strong></td>
<td>xbrli:normalizedStringItemType</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Balance Type:</strong></td>
<td>na</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Period Type:</strong></td>
<td>duration</td>
</tr>
</table></div>
</div></td></tr>
</table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="authRefData" style="display: none;" id="defref_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber">
<tr><td class="hide"><a style="color: white;" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.hideAR();">X</a></td></tr>
<tr><td><div class="body" style="padding: 2px;">
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">- Definition</a><div><p>The Tax Identification Number (TIN), also known as an Employer Identification Number (EIN), is a unique 9-digit value assigned by the IRS.</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ References</a><div style="display: none;"><p>Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef<br> -Publisher SEC<br> -Name Exchange Act<br> -Number 240<br> -Section 12<br> -Subsection b-2<br></p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ Details</a><div style="display: none;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td><strong> Name:</strong></td>
<td style="white-space:nowrap;">dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding-right: 4px;white-space:nowrap;"><strong> Namespace Prefix:</strong></td>
<td>dei_</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Data Type:</strong></td>
<td>dei:employerIdItemType</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Balance Type:</strong></td>
<td>na</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Period Type:</strong></td>
<td>duration</td>
</tr>
</table></div>
</div></td></tr>
</table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="authRefData" style="display: none;" id="defref_dei_LocalPhoneNumber">
<tr><td class="hide"><a style="color: white;" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.hideAR();">X</a></td></tr>
<tr><td><div class="body" style="padding: 2px;">
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">- Definition</a><div><p>Local phone number for entity.</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ References</a><div style="display: none;"><p>No definition available.</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ Details</a><div style="display: none;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td><strong> Name:</strong></td>
<td style="white-space:nowrap;">dei_LocalPhoneNumber</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding-right: 4px;white-space:nowrap;"><strong> Namespace Prefix:</strong></td>
<td>dei_</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Data Type:</strong></td>
<td>xbrli:normalizedStringItemType</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Balance Type:</strong></td>
<td>na</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong> Period Type:</strong></td>
<td>duration</td>
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<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ References</a><div style="display: none;"><p>Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef<br> -Publisher SEC<br> -Name Exchange Act<br> -Number 240<br> -Section 13e<br> -Subsection 4c<br></p></div>
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<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">- Definition</a><div><p>Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act.</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ References</a><div style="display: none;"><p>Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef<br> -Publisher SEC<br> -Name Exchange Act<br> -Number 240<br> -Section 14d<br> -Subsection 2b<br></p></div>
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<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">- Definition</a><div><p>Title of a 12(b) registered security.</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ References</a><div style="display: none;"><p>Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef<br> -Publisher SEC<br> -Name Exchange Act<br> -Number 240<br> -Section 12<br> -Subsection b<br></p></div>
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<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">- Definition</a><div><p>Name of the Exchange on which a security is registered.</p></div>
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<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">- Definition</a><div><p>Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act.</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ References</a><div style="display: none;"><p>Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef<br> -Publisher SEC<br> -Name Exchange Act<br> -Section 14a<br> -Number 240<br> -Subsection 12<br></p></div>
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<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">- Definition</a><div><p>Trading symbol of an instrument as listed on an exchange.</p></div>
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<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">- Definition</a><div><p>Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act.</p></div>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="Show.toggleNext( this );">+ References</a><div style="display: none;"><p>Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef<br> -Publisher SEC<br> -Name Securities Act<br> -Number 230<br> -Section 425<br></p></div>
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end
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
