CenterPoint Energy and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman Announce Results of Pilot Project on Home Energy Use

HOUSTON, July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- CenterPoint Energy, Inc.'s (NYSE: CNP) electric transmission and distribution subsidiary, CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel B. Poneman on Tuesday released survey results from a 500 participant smart meter In-Home Display pilot program begun last fall.  Based on surveys, 71 percent of customers reported that they have changed their electricity consumption behavior as a result of the energy use data they accessed on their in-home displays.

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The results were released while Poneman visited Houston to see how smart meters and intelligent grid technology - partially funded with a $200 million Smart Grid Investment Grant from the U.S. Department of Energy - are enabling consumers to better monitor and manage their electric use and helping modernize the electric infrastructure.

In the survey:

• 83 percent of respondents reported turning off lights at night or when not in the room,
• 51 percent of respondents reported adjusting the temperature on their thermostat,
• 93 percent of respondents reported they are satisfied with their in-home display, and
• 97 percent of respondents reported they will continue using it.

"We are very excited about the performance of our system and the results received from the participants," said Kenny Mercado, CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric's division senior vice president, Regulated Operations Technology. "With our smart meter deployment and intelligent grid initiative, we are not only making significant improvements to modernize our electric infrastructure, we are also giving consumers detailed consumption information to help them manage their electricity usage."

"Through the Recovery Act, the Department of Energy is helping to build a smart, efficient, secure, and reliable 21st century electrical system in Houston and across the country," said U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman. "Smart grid technologies like those we are seeing here today will provide families and businesses with real-time information about their energy use, helping them to save money every month."

Consumers who have already received their smart meter no longer have to wait for their bill to access their electric consumption information. After a two-month acceptance period following the installation of a smart meter, consumers can get detailed information on their electric usage by visiting SmartMeterTexas.com.

In the future, consumers will have the option of purchasing an in-home display, providing them with up-to-the-minute usage information.  The survey responses from the pilot show that this type of real-time data can have a significant impact on consumers' energy use behavior.  

Mercado also said, "Next week, more Houstonians can join these consumers in taking control of their energy use. The consumer portion of the Biggest Energy Saver contest begins, in which Houstonians with smart meters can compete to reduce their electricity use for a chance to win a Chevy Volt, a suite of GE smart kitchen appliances and other prizes."

In addition, smart meters are read remotely, minimizing the need to go house-to-house. Smart meters will also automatically notify CenterPoint Energy about outages to help the company restore power more efficiently. To date, CenterPoint Energy has installed nearly 1.5 million smart meters in its 2.2 million meter system. The company is scheduled to complete deployment in mid 2012. By automating routine transactions, these new smart meters have eliminated more than 1 million service visits by employees in vehicles since 2009.

For an overview of Energy InSight(sm), CenterPoint Energy's integrated system of advanced metering and intelligent grid technologies, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/EnergyInSight for more information.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission & distribution, natural gas distribution, competitive natural gas sales and services, interstate pipelines and field services operations.  The company serves more than five million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. Assets total more than $19 billion.  With about 8,800 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 135 years.  For more information, visit the website at www.CenterPointEnergy.com.

For more information contact
Media:
Leticia Lowe
Phone  713.207.7702
Investors:
Marianne Paulsen
Phone  713.207.6500

SOURCE CenterPoint Energy, Inc.