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 30, 2009
CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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| Texas
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1-31447
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74-0694415 |
| (State or other jurisdiction
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(Commission File Number)
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(IRS Employer |
| of incorporation)
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Identification No.) |
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| 1111 Louisiana |
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| Houston, Texas
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77002 |
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(Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (713) 207-1111
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
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On April 30, 2009, Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw Hill Companies
(“S&P”), issued a report on CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (the “Company”), CenterPoint Energy Houston
Electric, LLC (“CenterPoint Houston”) and CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp. (“CERC”). In its
report, S&P affirmed the senior long-term debt ratings of the three companies but revised its
outlook to negative from stable. S&P also lowered short-term corporate credit and commercial paper
program ratings of the Company and CERC
to “A-3” from “A-2”. The Company cannot assure you that these
ratings will remain in effect for any given period of time or that these ratings will not be
lowered or withdrawn entirely. The Company notes that these credit ratings are not recommendations
to buy, sell or hold its securities and may be revised or withdrawn at any time. Each rating
should be evaluated independently of any other rating. Any future reduction or withdrawal of one
or more of the Company’s credit ratings could have a material adverse impact on its ability to
obtain short- and long-term financing, the cost of such financing and the execution of its
commercial strategies.
On May 1, 2009, Reliant Energy, Inc. (“RRI”) confirmed the completion of the sale of its Texas
retail business to NRG Retail LLC, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, Inc. As a consequence of its
acquisition of the RRI retail business, NRG Retail LLC, which the Company understands will continue
to make retail electric sales under the “Reliant Energy” brand, is expected to become CenterPoint
Houston’s largest customer for retail electric deliveries. In connection with the sale, RRI
changed its name to RRI Energy, Inc. and no longer provides service as a retail electric provider
in CenterPoint Houston’s service territory. The sale does not alter RRI’s contractual obligations
to indemnify the Company and its subsidiaries for certain liabilities, including their
indemnification regarding certain litigation, nor does it affect the terms of existing guaranty
arrangements for certain RRI gas transportation contracts.