Sec Form 4 Filing - Wells Jason P. @ CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC - 2023-09-28

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person Wells Jason P. 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC [ CNP] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) President & COO (Last) (First) (Middle) 1111 LOUISIANA 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 09/28/2023 (Street) HOUSTON, TX77002 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 09/28/2023 F 10,086 ( 1 ) D $ 26.7 162,195 ( 2 ) D Common Stock 45,560 I Wells/Koehler Family Trust

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Wells Jason P. 1111 LOUISIANA HOUSTON, TX77002 President & COO Signatures Vincent A. Mercaldi,Attorney-in-Fact 09/29/2023 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Shares withheld for taxes upon payment of time-based restricted stock units. ( 2 )Total includes (i) 19,209 time-based restricted stock units ("RSUs") previously awarded under the Plan and vesting in February 2024, (ii) 16,154 RSUs previously awarded under the Plan and vesting in February 2025 and (iii) 33,642 RSUs previously awarded under the Plan and vesting in February 2026. The above awards shall vest (a) if the Reporting Person continues to be an employee of Issuer from grant date through vesting date or (b) in the event of his disability or death. Provided any such vesting is conditioned upon positive operating income in the last full calendar year of the restricted period except in the case of death or disability. With respect to the RSUs vesting in February 2026, such RSUs shall vest if the Reporting Person is not promoted to Chief Executive Officer by January 1, 2025, such RSUs shall vest upon his termination without cause or resignation after such date conditioned upon positive operating income in the last full calendar year of the restricted period.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

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