Sec Form 4 Filing - Soto Jesus Jr. @ CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC - 2025-08-11

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 Soto Jesus Jr. 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) EVP and COO (Last) (First) (Middle) 1111 LOUISIANA 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 08/11/2025 (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 08/11/2025 A 14,662 ( 1 ) A $ 0 14,662 D Common Stock 08/11/2025 A 155,561 ( 2 ) A $ 0 170,223 D

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 Soto Jesus Jr. 1111 LOUISIANA HOUSTON, TX77002 EVP and COO Signatures Vincent A. Mercaldi, Attorney-in-Fact 08/13/2025 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Time-based restricted stock units ("RSUs") awarded under the Issuer's Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "Plan") and vesting (i) in three equal installments in August 2026, 2027, and 2028 if the Reporting Person ("R.P.") continues to be an employee of Issuer from the grant date through the respective vesting date; (ii) in the event of his earlier disability or death; or (iii) if he satisfies various conditions, upon his earlier retirement, except that such retirement vesting will be on a pro rata basis if his retirement occurs in the year of grant. All vesting is conditioned upon achievement of positive operating income for the year preceding the applicable vesting date except in the case of death or disability. ( 2 )Time-based RSUs awarded under the Plan with 38,891 RSUs vesting on the first anniversary of the R.P.'s employment start date, August 11, 2025 (the "start date") and 38,890 RSUs vesting on each of the second, third, and fourth anniversaries of the start date if the R.P. continues to be an employee of Issuer from the start date through the respective vesting date. The award will also vest in the event of R.P.'s earlier disability, death or involuntary termination of employment by Issuer without cause.

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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