Recent drop in natural gas prices bring some relief but prices could rise depending upon winter

MINNEAPOLIS – October 10, 2008 – As the cold weather rushes in, more people will be turning on their heaters to stay warm – and that means their natural gas bills will be going up. The wholesale cost of natural gas remains variable. The Cost of Gas on a customer’s bill, which changes monthly depending on the market prices, is passed on directly to customers with no mark-up and makes up about 70-80 percent of a natural gas bill. Depending upon winter weather conditions, customers could see higher bills this winter. “Though wholesale natural gas prices have dropped somewhat recently, the price of natural gas can change quickly and we want our customers to prepare today for higher energy costs this coming winter. We encourage our customers to take advantage of our energy conservation programs, rebates and levelized billing program, Budget Plan, all offered on our Web site at CenterPointEnergy.com/readyforwinter,” said David Baker, vice president of operations for CenterPoint Energy. Customers can save energy and money by following these steps which cost little-to-nothing to do: Furnace: A furnace is the largest natural gas consumer, and makes up about 70 percent of your natural gas bill. • Schedule an annual tune-up by a professional to ensure that the heating system and other gas appliances are operating safely and efficiently, and to avoid costly and inconvenient repairs. • Lower your thermostat to 8-10 degrees when you’re away for 4 or more. By lowering your thermostat 10 – 15 percent for eight hours a day, you can save up to 10 percent on your heating costs. Installing a programmable thermostat can help you automatically control your heat usage and conserve energy • Change your air filters monthly. A dirty filter restricts airflow and can increase the operating cost of your furnace by as much as 10 percent. A good reminder is to change the filter each time you receive your natural gas bill. • Place furniture away from supply vents and registers to avoid restricting airflow. Water heater: The water heater is the second-largest gas consuming appliance making up about 25 percent of your bill. • Set the water heater temperature at 120 degrees and wrap water heater pipes. Lowering the temperature to 120 degrees from 140 degrees and insulating your pipes can save you up to 10 percent on your water heating costs. Other appliances: Although they consume less natural gas, you can still maximize their efficiency. • Run washing machine, dish washer and dryer only with full loads. Make your home more airtight and keep cold air outside: • Seal leaks around doors, windows, attic spaces and other openings such as pipes or ducts, with caulk or weather-stripping. The most common places where air escapes in homes are floors, walls and ceilings, ducts, fireplaces, plumbing penetrations, doors, windows, fans and vents, and electrical outlets. • On sunny days, open draperies and blinds to let the sun’s warmth in. Close them at night to insulate against the cold air outside. Get rebates for installation of energy saving equipment: • Homeowners and businesses: CenterPoint Energy's package of energy saving programs for efficient natural gas equipment can lower your energy use and operating costs. -more- • We reward residential customers for choosing high-efficiency natural gas equipment. Learn about our Heating System Rebates and Water Heater Rebates. Work with a heating dealer of your choice to determine the best equipment for your home. CenterPoint Energy also offers Home Energy Audits, which can help you take steps to save energy in your home. • CenterPoint Energy's Rebate Program for businesses includes high-efficiency furnace, boiler and other heating system rebates; boiler tune-ups and natural gas water heater rebates; foodservice equipment rebates and more. Ask our experts for a custom energy analysis of your business. Join CenterPoint Energy’s Budget Billing Plan: • Customers should also consider getting on CenterPoint Energy’s Budget Plan. By spreading your payments evenly throughout the year, you have a predictable, levelized payment each month and avoid high winter bill peaks. Schedule a low-cost energy audit: • Receive information about ways to reduce energy use and lower energy bills by visiting CenterPoint Energy.com/energyaudit. Customers who are having trouble or anticipate difficulty paying their natural gas bills: • Call us now to develop a payment plan at 1-612-372-4680 or 1-800-729-6164 or visit the company’s Web site at www.CenterPointEnergy.com/paybill Interested in helping others pay their bill? • Support the Salvation Army’s HeatShare program. Visit www.Heatshare-MN.org to make a donation. CenterPoint Energy, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission and 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 over $17 billion. With about 8,600 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 130 years. In Minnesota, CenterPoint Energy is the state’s largest natural gas distribution utility, serving nearly 790,000 customers in 260 communities. The utility also operates a non-regulated business in Minnesota called Home Service Plus®. For more information, visit the Web site at www.CenterPointEnergy.com.