Sec Form 4 Filing - CARROLL MILTON @ CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC - 2012-05-15

Insider filing report for Changes in Beneficial Ownership
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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
CARROLL MILTON
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC [ CNP]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
X __ Director _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
(Last) (First) (Middle)
1111 LOUISIANA
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY)
05/15/2012
(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 05/15/2012 S 25,000 D $ 20.0326 ( 1 ) 90,333 ( 2 ) ( 3 ) 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
CARROLL MILTON
1111 LOUISIANA
HOUSTON, TX77002
X
Signatures
Richard B. DauphinAttorney in Fact 05/16/2012
Signature of Reporting Person Date
Explanation of Responses:
( 1 )The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $20.03 to $20.0425, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to CenterPoint Energy, Inc., any security holder of CenterPoint Energy, Inc., or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range set forth in this footnote.
( 2 )Total includes 5,000 shares of time-based restricted stock awarded under the Stock Plan for Outside Directors, as amended, to outside directors then in office as of May 1, 2012. Shares will vest on the first anniversary of the Annual Award Date if the reporting person is a director of the Company through such date; provided however, the shares become fully vested in the event of a change of control of issuer.
( 3 )Total also includes 25,000 shares of common stock that may be issued on June 1, 2012 at the election of the reporting person in lieu of a cash award equal to the product of (i) 25,000 and (ii) the closing price per share of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.'s common stock on the consolidated reporting system for the New York Stock Exchange on the award date in connection with his compensation arrangement as non-executive chairman of the board of directors of the company.

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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