CenterPoint Energy Program Offers Houston Natural Gas Customers a $500 Credit for Installing Standby Generators

HOUSTON, June 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With the arrival of what forecasters are predicting to be an active hurricane season with an above-average number of storms, CenterPoint Energy's new Natural Gas Standby Generator Program can help Houstonians gain control over the uncertainty of severe weather. Through the program, participating dealers are offering Houston-area customers a $500 credit on their natural gas bill for purchasing and installing a qualifying natural gas standby generator.

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Customers can take advantage of the offer by following these three steps:

1. Visit CenterPointEnergy.com/generators for a list of dealers participating in the Natural Gas Standby Generator Program.
2. Purchase and install a natural gas standby generator from one of the participating dealers.
3. Receive $500 off your CenterPoint Energy natural gas bill.

"In the Houston area, we understand that life in the gulf coast region includes the possibility of severe weather interrupting our electric service," said Dan Dippon, southern region Marketing and Sales director. "If you've lost power for any length of time because of hurricanes, floods, extreme heat or even the rare ice storm, you can appreciate the benefits of backup power generation. Just as CenterPoint Energy plans and prepares for severe weather, this program gives our customers a little help as they plan and prepare their families and homes for the storm season ahead."

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting an active hurricane season with an above-average number of storms forecasted for the Gulf Coast, and CenterPoint Energy is encouraging customers to evaluate their hurricane preparedness plan.

Natural gas standby generators can power a whole house, including the air conditioner, or just essential circuits automatically if electric service is interrupted for any reason. They are conveniently fueled by a home's natural gas service and do not require constant manual refueling like a gasoline-powered generator.

Only CenterPoint Energy natural gas customers in the Greater Houston-area contracting for the purchase and installation of a qualifying generator between April 15, 2011 and April 14, 2012 are eligible for this offer. A $500 credit will appear as a credit on customers' natural gas accounts. The installation process from start to finish can take up to several weeks, so customers should act quickly to prepare for the 2011 hurricane season.

All participating dealers meet CenterPoint Energy's dealer selection criteria, which exceeds general industry standards. These dealers also are approved and recommended by Generac, the nation's sales leader of home standby generators.

For more information about the Natural Gas Standby Generator Program, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/generators.

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:
Alicia Dixon
Phone  713.207.5885
Pager  713.619.5143

SOURCE CenterPoint Energy