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<div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(4)       Derivative Instruments</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">CenterPoint Energy is exposed to various market risks. These risks arise from transactions entered into in the normal course of business. CenterPoint Energy utilizes derivative instruments such as physical forward contracts, swaps and options to mitigate the impact of changes in commodity prices, weather and interest rates on its operating results and cash flows.</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(a) Non-Trading Activities</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-STYLE: italic">Derivative Instruments.</font> CenterPoint Energy enters into certain derivative instruments to manage physical commodity price risks and does not engage in proprietary or speculative commodity trading.  These financial instruments do not qualify or are not designated as cash flow or fair value hedges.</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">During the year ended December 31, 2007, CenterPoint Energy recorded increased natural gas expense from unrealized net losses of $10 million.  During the year ended December 31, 2008, CenterPoint Energy recorded increased natural gas revenues from unrealized net gains of $101 million and increased natural gas expense from unrealized net losses of $88 million, a net unrealized gain of $13 million.  During the year ended December 31, 2009, CenterPoint Energy recorded decreased revenues from unrealized net losses of $80 million and decreased natural gas expense from unrealized net gains of $57 million, a net unrealized loss of $23 million.</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">In prior years, CenterPoint Energy entered into certain derivative instruments that were designated as cash flow hedges. The objective of these derivative instruments was to hedge the price risk associated with natural gas purchases and sales to reduce cash flow variability related to meeting CenterPoint Energy’s wholesale and retail customer obligations.  In 2007, CenterPoint Energy discontinued designating these instruments as cash flow hedges.   As of December 31, 2009, there are no remaining amounts deferred in other comprehensive income related to these instruments that had previously been designated as cash flow hedges.</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"> </div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-STYLE: italic">Weather Hedges.</font> CenterPoint Energy has weather normalization or other rate mechanisms that mitigate the impact of weather on its gas operations in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and a portion of Texas. The remaining Gas Operations jurisdictions do not have such mechanisms. As a result, fluctuations from normal weather may have a significant positive or negative effect on the results of the gas operations in the remaining jurisdictions and in CenterPoint Houston’s service territory.</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">In 2007, 2008 and 2009, CenterPoint Energy entered into heating-degree day swaps to mitigate the effect of fluctuations from normal weather on its financial position and cash flows for the respective winter heating seasons.  The swaps were based on ten-year normal weather. During the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, CenterPoint Energy recognized losses of $-0-, $17 million and $7 million, respectively, related to these swaps.  The </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">losses were substantially offset by increased revenues due to colder than normal weather. Weather hedge losses are included in revenues in the Statements of Consolidated Income.</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-STYLE: italic">Interest Rate Swaps.</font>  During 2002, CenterPoint Energy settled forward-starting interest rate swaps having an aggregate notional amount of $1.5 billion at a cost of $156 million, which was recorded in other comprehensive loss and was amortized into interest expense over the five-year life of the designated fixed-rate debt.  The settlement amount was fully amortized at December 31, 2007. Amortization of amounts deferred in accumulated other comprehensive loss for 2007 was $20 million.</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-STYLE: italic">Hedging of Future Debt Issuances.  </font>In December 2007 and January 2008, CenterPoint Energy entered into treasury rate lock derivative instruments (treasury rate locks) having an aggregate notional amount of $300 million and a weighted-average locked U.S. treasury rate on ten-year debt of 4.05%. These treasury rate locks were executed to hedge the ten-year U.S. treasury rate expected to be used in pricing $300 million of fixed-rate debt CenterPoint Energy planned to issue in 2008, because changes in the U.S treasury rate would cause variability in CenterPoint Energy’s forecasted interest payments. These treasury rate lock derivatives were designated as cash flow hedges. Accordingly, unrealized gains and losses associated with the treasury rate lock derivative instruments were recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income. In May 2008, CenterPoint Energy settled its treasury rate locks for a payment of $7 million. The $7 million loss recognized upon settlement of the treasury rate locks was recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss and will be recognized as a component of interest expense over the ten-year life of the related $300 million senior notes issued in May 2008. Amortization of amounts deferred in accumulated other comprehensive loss for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2009 was less than $1 million. During the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2008, CenterPoint Energy recognized a loss of $2 million and $5 million, respectively, for these treasury rate locks in accumulated other comprehensive loss. Ineffectiveness for the treasury rate locks was not material during the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2008.</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(b) Derivative Fair Values and Income Statement Impacts</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The following tables present information about CenterPoint Energy’s derivative instruments and hedging activities. The first table provides a balance sheet overview of CenterPoint Energy’s Non-trading Derivative Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2009, while the latter tables provide a breakdown of the related income statement impact for the year ended December 31, 2009.</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div> <div align="center"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> <tr> <td colspan="10" valign="bottom" width="60%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Fair Value of Derivative Instruments</font></div> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> </tr><tr> <td valign="bottom" width="20%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">  </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td colspan="8" valign="bottom" width="39%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">December 31, 2009</font></div> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> </tr><tr> <td valign="bottom" width="20%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Total derivatives not designated as hedging</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">instruments</font></div> </td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="12%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Balance Sheet</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Location</font></div> </td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="12%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Derivative</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Assets</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Fair Value (2) (3)</font></div> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="12%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Derivative</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Liabilities</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Fair Value (2) (3)</font></div> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> </tr><tr> <td valign="bottom" width="20%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">  </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="12%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">  </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td colspan="6" valign="bottom" width="26%"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: -18pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(in millions)</font></div> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> </tr><tr bgcolor="#cceeff"> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="20%"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 45pt; TEXT-INDENT: -36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 5.05pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Commodity contracts (1)<font id="TAB1_0" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 12pt"></font></font></div> </td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="12%"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Current Assets</font></div> </td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">46</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(7</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td> </tr><tr bgcolor="white"> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="20%"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 45pt; TEXT-INDENT: -36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 5.05pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Commodity contracts<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt"> </font>(1)<font id="TAB2_1" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 3pt"> </font></font></div> </td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="12%"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Other Assets</font></div> </td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">16</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(1</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td> </tr><tr bgcolor="#cceeff"> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="20%"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 45pt; TEXT-INDENT: -36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 5.05pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Commodity contracts (1)<font id="TAB1_2" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 12pt"></font></font></div> </td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="12%"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Current Liabilities</font></div> </td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">20</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(123</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td> </tr><tr bgcolor="white"> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="20%"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 45pt; TEXT-INDENT: -36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 5.05pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Commodity contracts (1)<font id="TAB1_3" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 12pt"></font></font></div> </td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="12%"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Other Liabilities</font></div> </td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">1</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(86</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td> </tr><tr bgcolor="#cceeff"> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="20%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 45pt; TEXT-INDENT: -36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 5.05pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Indexed debt securities derivative<font id="TAB1_4" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 12pt"></font></font></div> </td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="12%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Current Liabilities</font></div> </td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">-</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(201</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td> </tr><tr bgcolor="white"> <td align="left" colspan="3" valign="bottom" width="33%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 27pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Total                                                                       </font></div> </td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">83</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(418</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td> </tr></table> </div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">_________</font></div> <div> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent_5" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> <tr valign="top"> <td style="WIDTH: 18pt"> <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">  </font></div> </td> <td style="WIDTH: 18pt"> <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(1)</font></div> </td> <td> <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Commodity contracts are subject to master netting arrangements and are presented on a net basis in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. This netting can cause derivative assets to be ultimately presented in a (liability) account on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.  Likewise, derivative (liabilities) could be presented in an asset account.</font></div> </td> </tr></table> </div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div> <div> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent_6" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> <tr valign="top"> <td style="WIDTH: 18pt"> <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">  </font></div> </td> <td style="WIDTH: 18pt"> <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(2)</font></div> </td> <td> <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The fair value shown for commodity contracts is comprised of derivative gross volumes totaling 674 billion cubic feet (Bcf) or a net 152 Bcf long position.   Of the net long position, basis swaps constitute 71 Bcf and volumes associated with price stabilization activities of the Natural Gas Distribution business segment comprise 51 Bcf.</font></div> </td> </tr></table> </div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div> <div> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent_7" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> <tr valign="top"> <td style="WIDTH: 18pt"> <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">  </font></div> </td> <td style="WIDTH: 18pt"> <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(3)</font></div> </td> <td> <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The net of total non-trading derivative assets and liabilities is a $39 million liability as shown on CenterPoint Energy’s Consolidated Balance Sheets, and is comprised of the commodity contracts derivative assets and liabilities separately shown above offset by collateral netting of $95 million.</font></div> </td> </tr></table> </div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"> </font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">For CenterPoint Energy’s price stabilization activities of the Natural Gas Distribution business segment, the settled costs of derivatives are ultimately recovered through purchased gas adjustments. Accordingly, the net unrealized gains and losses associated with interim price movements on contracts that are accounted for as derivatives and probable of recovery through purchased gas adjustments are recorded as net regulatory assets. For those derivatives that are not included in purchased gas adjustments, unrealized gains and losses and settled amounts are recognized in the Statements of Consolidated Income as revenue for retail sales derivative contracts and as natural gas expense for natural gas derivatives and non-retail related physical gas derivatives. Unrealized gains and losses on indexed debt securities are recorded as Other Income (Expense) on the Statements of Consolidated Income.</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div> <div align="center"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> <tr> <td colspan="6" valign="bottom" width="64%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Income Statement Impact of Derivative Activity</font></div> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> </tr><tr> <td valign="bottom" width="20%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Total derivatives not designated as hedging</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">instruments</font></div> </td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="30%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Income Statement Location</font></div> </td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="12%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Year</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Ended</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">December 31, 2009</font></div> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> </tr><tr> <td valign="bottom" width="20%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">  </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="30%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">  </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="12%"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(in millions)</font></div> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> </tr><tr bgcolor="#cceeff"> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="20%"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 45pt; TEXT-INDENT: -36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 5.05pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Commodity contracts<font id="TAB1_8" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 12pt"></font></font></div> </td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="30%"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Gains (Losses) in Revenue</font></div> </td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">102</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> </tr><tr bgcolor="white"> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="20%"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 45pt; TEXT-INDENT: -36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 5.05pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Commodity contracts (1)<font id="TAB1_9" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 12pt"></font></font></div> </td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="30%"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Gains (Losses) in Expense: Natural Gas</font></div> </td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(255</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td> </tr><tr bgcolor="#cceeff"> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="20%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 45pt; TEXT-INDENT: -36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 5.05pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Indexed debt securities derivative<font id="TAB1_10" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 12pt"></font></font></div> </td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="30%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Gains (Losses) in Other Income (Expense)</font></div> </td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(68</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td> </tr><tr bgcolor="white"> <td align="left" colspan="3" valign="bottom" width="51%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Total<font id="TAB1_11" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 12pt"></font></font></div> </td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(221</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td> </tr></table> </div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">_________</font></div> <div> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent_12" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> <tr valign="top"> <td style="WIDTH: 18pt"> <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">  </font></div> </td> <td style="WIDTH: 18pt"> <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(1)</font></div> </td> <td> <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The Gains (Losses) in Expense: Natural Gas includes $(181) million of costs associated with price stabilization activities of the Natural Gas Distribution business segment that will be ultimately recovered through purchased gas adjustments.</font></div> </td> </tr></table> </div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(c) Credit Risk Contingent Features</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">CenterPoint Energy enters into financial derivative contracts containing material adverse change provisions.  These provisions require CenterPoint Energy to post additional collateral if the Standard & Poor’s Rating Services or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. credit rating of CenterPoint Energy is downgraded.  The total fair value of the derivative instruments that contain credit risk contingent features that are in a net liability position at December 31, 2009 is $140 million.  The aggregate fair value of assets that are already posted as collateral at December 31, 2009 is $65 million.  If all derivative contracts (in a net liability position) containing credit risk contingent features were triggered at December 31, 2009, a maximum of $75 million of additional assets would be required to be posted as collateral.</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(d) Credit Quality of Counterparties</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">In addition to the risk associated with price movements, credit risk is also inherent in CenterPoint Energy’s non-trading derivative activities. Credit risk relates to the risk of loss resulting from non-performance of contractual obligations by a counterparty. The following table shows the composition of counterparties to the non-trading derivative assets of CenterPoint Energy as of December 31, 2008 and 2009 (in millions):</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"> <div align="center"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="97%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> <tr> <td valign="bottom" width="35%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">  </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td colspan="6" valign="bottom" width="26%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">December 31, 2008</font></div> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td colspan="6" valign="bottom" width="26%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">December 31, 2009</font></div> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> </tr><tr> <td valign="bottom" width="35%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">  </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="12%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Investment</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Grade(1)</font></div> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="12%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Total</font></div> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="12%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Investment</font></div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Grade(1)</font></div> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" width="12%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Total</font></div> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> </tr><tr bgcolor="#cceeff"> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="35%"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: -9pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 5.05pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Energy marketers<font id="TAB1_13" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 12pt"></font></font></div> </td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font id="TAB1_14" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 9.5pt"></font>8</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font id="TAB1_15" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 9.5pt"></font>9</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font id="TAB1_16" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 9.5pt"></font>6</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font id="TAB1_17" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 9.5pt"></font>6</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> </tr><tr bgcolor="white"> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="35%"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: -9pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 5.05pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Financial institutions<font id="TAB1_18" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 12pt"></font></font></div> </td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font id="TAB1_19" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 28.95pt"></font>4</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font id="TAB1_20" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 28.95pt"></font>4</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font id="TAB1_21" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 28.95pt"></font>2</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font id="TAB1_22" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 28.95pt"></font>4</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> </tr><tr bgcolor="#cceeff"> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="35%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: -9pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 5.05pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Retail end users (2)<font id="TAB1_23" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 12pt"></font></font></div> </td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font id="TAB1_24" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 28.95pt"></font>5</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font id="TAB1_25" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 15.65pt"></font>125</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font id="TAB1_26" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 28.95pt"></font>1</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font id="TAB1_27" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 22.3pt"></font>44</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> </tr><tr bgcolor="white"> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="35%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px"> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 18pt; TEXT-INDENT: -9pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 5.05pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Total<font id="TAB1_28" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 12pt"></font></font></div> </td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font id="TAB1_29" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 9.5pt"></font>17</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font id="TAB1_30" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 9.5pt"></font>138</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font id="TAB1_31" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 9.5pt"></font>9</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td> <td valign="bottom" width="11%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font id="TAB1_32" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 9.5pt"></font>54</font></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td> </tr></table> </div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">        __________</font></div> <div> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent_33" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> <tr valign="top"> <td style="WIDTH: 18pt"> <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">  </font></div> </td> <td style="WIDTH: 18pt"> <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(1)</font></div> </td> <td> <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">"Investment grade" is primarily determined using publicly available credit ratings along with the consideration of credit support (such as parent company guaranties) and collateral, which encompass cash and standby letters of credit. For unrated counterparties, CenterPoint Energy performs financial statement analysis, considering contractual rights and restrictions and collateral, to create a synthetic credit rating.</font></div> </td> </tr></table> </div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div> <div> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent_34" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> <tr valign="top"> <td style="WIDTH: 18pt"> <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">  </font></div> </td> <td style="WIDTH: 18pt"> <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(2)</font></div> </td> <td> <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Retail end users represent commercial and industrial customers who have contracted to fix the price of a portion of their physical gas requirements for future periods.</font></div> </td> </tr></table> </div> <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"> </font></div> </div>
(4)       Derivative Instruments CenterPoint Energy is exposed to various market risks. These risks arise
false
false
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No definition available.
No authoritative reference available.
false
false
1
2
false
UnKnown
UnKnown
UnKnown
false
true