Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership (4)

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 OF SECURITIES

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Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * SOMERHALDER JOHN W II	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 __X__ Officer (give title below)    _____ Other (specify below) Interim President and CEO
(Last)          (First)          (Middle) 1111 LOUISIANA	3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YYYY) 3/13/2020
(Street) HOUSTON, TX 77002 (City)        (State)        (Zip)	4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YYYY)	6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) _X _ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Trans. Date	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	3. Trans. 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	3/13/2020		A		57725 (1)	A	$23.82 (2)	72300	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivate Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Trans. Date	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	4. Trans. 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		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (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

Explanation of Responses:
(1)	Fully-vested restricted stock units, with 1/3 of the underlying shares paid in March 2021, 1/3 paid in March 2022 and 1/3 paid in March 2023; provided, however, if the Reporting Person earlier separates from the Company such that he is neither an employee nor director, any remaining unpaid shares under the award will be payable upon his separation.
(2)	The price reported in Column 4 is based on the price as of March 4, 2020 in accordance with the terms of the Reporting Person's compensation arrangements.

Reporting Owners
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
SOMERHALDER JOHN W II 1111 LOUISIANA HOUSTON, TX 77002	X		Interim President and CEO

Signatures
Vincent A. Mercaldi, Attorney-in-Fact		3/17/2020
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date