New customer service feature sends text, email natural gas bill reminders

HOUSTON, May 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- CenterPoint Energy natural gas customers can now receive text messages and/or emails reminding them when their bill is due.

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The new bill reminder service sends emails and text messages up to five calendar days before a bill is due. Customers can also opt to receive courtesy email and text messages alerting them when a bill is past due.

"We have launched these new bill reminders in direct response to our customers' needs," said Gregory Knight, division vice president of Customer Service. "We are giving our customers more ways to interact with us in the way they want. Their satisfaction is very important to us, and we look forward to finding even more ways to add convenience to their lives."

The bill reminder service:

• Provides peace of mind by allowing customers to relax knowing a reminder will be on the way
• Helps customers avoid late payment charges
• Makes it easier for customers to manage their account
• Is a great way for customers to avoid paper clutter and manage their bills online when paired with CenterPoint Energy's Online Billing

These new services follow close on the heels of a number of new self-service technologies from CenterPoint Energy. Within the last six months, the company has launched My Energy Analyzer and Service Appointment Tracker, which allow customers to better understand their monthly bill and track service appointments with ease. Customers can now check gas usage history, make a one-time payment, set up a payment extension, request a letter of credit, update account information and more through the company's website.

Customers can sign up for bill reminders and other self-service account options by logging into their online account and selecting the new option, or by visiting CenterPointEnergy.com/selfservice. Many of these services also are available by automated phone system, easily accessed by calling the number listed on a customer's natural gas bill.

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 $21 billion. With over 8,800 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 135 years. For more information, visit the company's website at CenterPointEnergy.com.

For more information contact:
Alicia Dixon
Phone     713.207.5885
Pager      713.619.5143

SOURCE CenterPoint Energy, Inc.