CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (CNP)

CenterPoint Energy reported net income of $331 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2026 on 27 October 1. That compares with $0.45 per diluted share a year earlier 1.

The company said growth and rate recovery added $0.09 per share 1. Rate recovery means regulators let a utility earn back what it spends on its systems 1. Higher financing costs took away $0.04 per share 1.

The company raised its 2026 adjusted earnings guidance to $1.90 to $1.92 per share and its 10-year capital plan by $4.0 billion to $70.7 billion 1. Adjusted means some items, such as ZENS note gains and losses, are left out 1.

Chief executive Jason Wells told investors on 27 October that the company expects to energize at least 14 gigawatts of new customer electric demand by the end of 2030, Industrial Info reported 6.

Houston Electric estimates 10 gigawatts of base load demand remain in ERCOT's Batch Zero review of large new power users, and how much connects remains uncertain 3.

CenterPoint Energy is a public utility holding company, and its subsidiaries own electric transmission, distribution and generation facilities and natural gas distribution systems 2. The company says it and its predecessors have been in business for more than 150 years 1.

In February 2021, a winter storm left Texas without enough generated power, and ERCOT, the state grid operator, ordered utilities to cut load, which caused outages in Houston Electric's area 2.

On 30 June 2023 the company sold Energy Systems Group, a unit that did energy performance contracting and sustainable infrastructure work 2. It has since been selling gas businesses to focus on its core utilities 7.

The company spent to restore service after the May 2024 storm events and Hurricane Beryl 2. Agencies called for inquiries into how Houston Electric prepared for and responded to Beryl 2.

Revenue was $8,696 million in 2023, $8,643 million in 2024 and $9,357 million in 2025 2. Net income was $1,019 million in 2024 and $1,052 million in 2025 2.

Electric revenue rose from $4,590 million in 2024 to $4,866 million in 2025, and natural gas revenue from $4,046 million to $4,483 million 2. At Houston Electric, higher transmission revenue added $88 million in 2025 2.

On 7 March 2025 its Indiana utility bought Posey Solar, which was building a 191 MW solar array, for about $357 million 2. On 31 March 2025 it sold its Louisiana and Mississippi gas businesses for about $1.2 billion 2.

In September 2025 it announced a 10-year capital plan of $65 billion for 2026 through 2035 2. On 20 October 2025 it agreed to sell its Ohio gas business for about $2.62 billion 2.

Electric: Houston Electric

Houston Electric moves power from plants to substations and on to homes and businesses, and bills retail electricity sellers rather than households 2. It had 2,859,313 metered customers at the end of 2025 2.

No other transmission and distribution utility serves its area 2. The 10-K says it expects a nearly 50% rise in peak demand to over 30 GW by 2029 2.

Electric: Indiana Electric

Indiana Electric, run through SIGECO, serves 154,402 metered customers around Evansville and owns the power plants that supply them 2. The Electric segment brought in $4,866 million of 2025 revenue, 52.0 percent of the total (computed) 2.

Natural gas

The gas side delivers natural gas to homes and businesses in Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio and Texas, 4,029,085 customers at the end of 2025 2. It earned $4,483 million of 2025 revenue, 47.9 percent of the total (computed) 2.

Texas was the largest, with 1,968,055 gas customers, then Minnesota with 938,730 2. The Ohio business, with about 335,000 customers, was sold on 1 October 2026 4.

People and scale

Jason Wells is chair, president and chief executive 1. Chris Foster is chief financial officer 6.

The company has about 8,800 employees and nearly 7 million metered customers in Indiana, Minnesota and Texas 1.

Current problems

Houston Electric leases mobile generators for emergencies, called TEEEF units 2. In June 2025 it agreed to release 15 large units to the San Antonio area until March 2027, subject to regulator approval 2.

In February 2026 a Texas law changed the rule so utilities cannot lease new units above 5 MW 3.

The umbrella, in words

The 10-K lists significant subsidiaries: Utility Holding, LLC, CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC and CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp. 8. It also lists Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Company and Indiana Gas Company, Inc. 8.

It owns common stock of AT&T, Charter Communications and Warner Bros Discovery, held alongside its ZENS notes 1. Through Indiana Electric it owns 1.5 percent of OVEC, a power company 2.

Its Indiana electric arm has agreed to buy wind power from NextEra's Tama County, Iowa farm under a 27-year contract that began in 2025 2.

The company expects 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.90 to $1.92 per share and 2027 earnings of $2.07 to $2.09 per share 1. It expects growth at the mid-to-high end of a 7% to 9% annual range through 2030 1.

Its 10-year plan is now $70.7 billion, and the company says it sees at least $10 billion of further opportunities through 2035 1. It says the plan supports a rate base growth rate of more than 14% through 2030 1.

Wells said the company expects to energize at least 14 gigawatts of new customer demand by the end of 2030 6. Wells also said the company anticipates signing a deal with a large energy user in Indiana by the end of 2026 6.

Industrial Info reported that the company is considering 12 transmission investments in Greater Houston, with a final transmission study due next year 6.

Indiana Electric must file a multi-year rate case in January 2028 3. The Ohio buyer's $1.2 billion seller note is a 364-day note, as described in the 10-K 2.

On 20 October the Indiana utility agreed to sell $130 million of first mortgage bonds at once, $80 million on 15 December 2026 and $50 million on 25 February 2027 5.