CenterPoint Energy Seeks To Lower Customers’ Electric Bills

CenterPoint Energy Seeks To Lower Customers’ Electric Bills

(Securitization of A.B. Brown assets allows for expected customer savings of nearly $60 million)

​Evansville – May 10, 2022 – CenterPoint Energy, Inc.’s (NYSE: CNP) Indiana-based electric and natural gas business, Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Company (CenterPoint Energy Indiana South), has filed a request with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) for securitization of assets of its A.B. Brown coal plant, which should result in a decrease to customers’ electric bills by an estimated $60 million versus traditional rate making.

Last year, legislation was passed in Indiana allowing for a securitization pilot to benefit CenterPoint Energy’s customers. CenterPoint Energy advocated for the state law change to allow this pilot to demonstrate how the tool saves customers money over traditional rate making where costs typically are recovered at a much higher rate of return. As previously announced, CenterPoint Energy plans to retire the A.B. Brown coal plant in late 2023 as part of its long-term electric generation transition plan.

Securitization of these assets will allow for the removal of the remaining value of the coal plant from customer rates and effectively refinance them at a much lower interest rate. The remaining value will be financed, along with other qualified costs, through the issuance of low-cost bonds enabled by the legislation. If approved, customers should see a monthly bill reduction beginning in early 2023.  Future savings are expected, as deferred costs will be included within the securitization. Securitization is dependent on plans to retire the A.B. Brown plant.

“Keeping our customers’ and other stakeholders’ interests top-of-mind, we are deploying a cost-effective strategy to help reduce bill impacts as we continue on with our long-term electric generation transition plan,” said Steve Greenley, Senior Vice President of Generation Development for CenterPoint Energy. “CenterPoint Energy’s transition to a generation portfolio consisting of mostly renewable resources is expected to save customers an estimated $320 million over the next 20 years. If approved, the securitization of the A.B. Brown assets is expected to save nearly $60 million over the same general timeframe.”

While CenterPoint Energy will be the first utility to utilize securitization in Indiana, this is an established practice that has saved utility customers billions of dollars in nearly 30 states. CenterPoint Energy plans to reinvest the proceeds from the securitization bonds into its generation transition plan and invest in renewable resources such as wind- and solar-powered generation and battery storage which will be backed up by planned natural gas generation resources to maintain reliability.

“Securitization allows us to reinvest in our state and provides a catalyst for the continued growth of renewable energy in Indiana,” added Greenley. “The increasing use of renewable energy for CenterPoint Energy Indiana South’s generation is also expected to attract new economic development in Indiana, especially from companies with environmental and sustainability goals.”

For more information on CenterPoint Energy’s long-term electric generation transition plan, visitwww.centerpointenergy.com/smartenergyfuture.

FOOTNOTE: CenterPoint Energy delivers electricity to approximately 150,000 customers in southwest Indiana in all or portions of Gibson, Dubois, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Warrick counties. Programs and services are operated under the brand CenterPoint Energy by Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Company d/b/a CenterPoint Energy Indiana South.

Forward Looking Statement:

This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this news release, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “projection,” “should,” “target,” “will” or other similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions of management that are believed to be reasonable at the time made and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual events and results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Any statements in this news release regarding future events, such as the timing and approval of the CenterPoint Energy’s securitization request and the benefits therefrom, including anticipated reductions to customer bills and the success of securitization in Indiana, the timing of CenterPoint Energy’s generation transition plan, including the anticipated retirement of the A.B. Brown facility, and the mix of renewable resources and expected financial benefits of such generation transition to customers, and the intended use of securitization proceeds, and any other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement contained in this news release speaks only as of the date of this release. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the provided forward-looking information include risks and uncertainties relating to: (1) the impact of disruption to the global supply chain; (2) financial market conditions; (3) general economic conditions; (4) the timing and impact of future regulatory and legislative decisions; (5) effects of competition; (6) weather variations; (7) changes in business plans; and (8) other factors, risks and uncertainties discussed in CenterPoint Energy’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, CenterPoint Energy’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and other reports CenterPoint Energy or its subsidiaries may file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About CenterPoint Energy
As the only investor-owned electric and gas utility based in Texas, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) is an energy delivery company with electric transmission and distribution, power generation and natural gas distribution operations that serve more than 7 million metered customers in Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio and Texas. As of March 31, 2022, the company owned approximately $35 billion in assets. With approximately 8,900 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years. For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com.