UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): APRIL 22, 2004
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CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
TEXAS 1-31447 74-0694415
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
of incorporation) Identification No.)
1111 LOUISIANA
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (713) 207-1111
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS AND REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.
FIRST QUARTER 2004 RESULTS
On April 22, 2004, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. ("CenterPoint Energy")
reported first quarter 2004 earnings. Net income was $74 million, or $0.24 per
diluted share, for the first quarter of 2004 compared to $81 million, or $0.27
per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2003 before discontinued operations
and the effect of an accounting change in that period.
Net income for the first quarter of 2003 was $168 million, or $0.56 per
diluted share, including a gain of $80 million ($0.27 per diluted share)
relating to the implementation of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 143, "Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations", and a $7 million ($0.02
per diluted share) gain from discontinued operations, primarily as a result of
the sale of a cogeneration facility in Argentina.
CenterPoint Energy's results for the first quarter of 2004 compared to
the same period of 2003 benefited from improved operating income from Texas
Genco Holdings, Inc. of $107 million, continued customer growth, with the
addition of almost 87,000 metered electric and gas customers, and a decrease in
interest expense of $33 million. CenterPoint Energy's results for the first
quarter of 2004 compared to the same period of 2003 were negatively impacted by
the termination of revenues related to Excess Cost Over Market (ECOM) as of
January 1, 2004 compared to ECOM revenues of $132 million recorded in the first
quarter of 2003, milder weather in 2004, impacting the quarter by $16 million,
and a charge of $8 million related to staff reductions in the natural gas
distribution business.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
(c) Exhibits.
The following exhibit is filed herewith:
99.1 Press Release issued April 22, 2004 regarding CenterPoint
Energy's first quarter 2004 earnings.
ITEM 12. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.
For additional information regarding CenterPoint Energy's first quarter
2004 earnings, please refer to CenterPoint Energy's press release attached to
this report as Exhibit 99.1 (the "Press Release"), which Press Release is
incorporated by reference herein. The information in the Press Release is being
furnished, not filed, pursuant to Item 12. Accordingly, the information in the
Press Release will not be incorporated by reference into any registration
statement filed by CenterPoint Energy under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, unless specifically identified therein as being incorporated therein by
reference.
SIGNATURE
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.
CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC .
Date: April 22, 2004 By: /s/ James S. Brian
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James S. Brian
Senior Vice President and
Chief Accounting Officer
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT
NUMBER EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
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99.1 Press Release issued April 22, 2004 regarding
CenterPoint Energy's first quarter 2004 earnings