CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.

Power of Attorney

	WHEREAS, the undersigned, in his or her capacity as a director or officer or
both, as the case may be, of CenterPoint Energy, Inc., a Texas corporation (the
"Company"), may be required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the
"Exchange Act"), Forms 3, 4, and 5 or other reports, applications, and documents
("Forms") relating to the undersigned's holdings of and transactions in
securities of the Company;

	NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned, in his or her capacity as a director or
officer or both, as the case may be, of the Company, does hereby appoint Vincent
A. Mercaldi, and any duly appointed corporate secretary or assistant corporate
secretary of the Company, and each of them severally, as his or her true and
lawful attorney-in-fact or attorneys-in-fact and agent or agents with power to
act with or without the other and with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, to execute in his or her name, place and stead, in his or her
capacity as a director or officer or both, as the case may be, of the Company,
Forms and any and all amendments thereto and any and all instruments necessary
or incidental in connection therewith, if any, and to file the same with the
Commission and any stock exchange or similar authority.  Each said
attorney-in-fact and agent shall have full power and authority to do and perform
in the name and on behalf of the undersigned in any and all capacities, every
act whatsoever necessary or desirable to be done in the premises, as fully and
to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, the
undersigned hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said attorney.  The
powers and authority of each said attorney-in-fact and agent herein granted
shall remain in full force and effect until the undersigned is no longer
required to file Forms under the Exchange Act, unless earlier revoked by the
undersigned by giving written notice of such revocation to the Company.  The
undersigned acknowledges that the said attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such
capacity at the request of the undersigned, are not assuming, nor is the Company
assuming, any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply with the Exchange
Act.

	IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument this 4th day
of February, 2020.

                                          /s/ Kenneth M. Mercado
                                          Name:  Kenneth M. Mercado