One of Three Standby Diesel Generators at STP Unit 2 Fails During Routine Test

One of Three Standby Diesel Generators at STP Unit 2 Fails During Routine Test
Unit Continues to Operate at Full Power 


HOUSTON, Dec. 11  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Texas Genco Holdings, Inc. , a
majority-owned subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy, Inc. , announced that on
December 9, 2003, one of three standby diesel generators at Unit 2 of the South
Texas Project (STP) nuclear facility experienced a failure during a routine
monthly surveillance test.  Texas Genco owns a 30.8 percent interest in STP.

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020930/CNPLOGO )

STP Nuclear Operating Company personnel have informed the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission and are completing the analysis to determine the cause of the failure
and are developing a repair plan.  The unit continues to operate at full power
and has two operational standby diesel generators.

At this time, the company cannot predict the cost of repairs or if this event
would require an outage.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a domestic energy
delivery company that includes electric transmission and distribution, natural
gas distribution and sales, interstate pipeline and gathering operations, and
more than 14,000 megawatts of power generation in Texas.  The company serves
nearly five million customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota,
Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas.  Assets total approximately $20
billion.  CenterPoint Energy became the new holding company for the regulated
operations of the former Reliant Energy, Incorporated in August 2002.  With more
than 11,000 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have
been in business for more than 130 years.  For more information, visit the Web
site at http://www.centerpointenergy.com/ . 

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020930/CNPLOGO

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DATASOURCE: CenterPoint Energy, Inc.



CONTACT:  media, Leticia Lowe, [phone], or investors, Marianne

Paulsen, [phone], both of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.



Web site:  http://www.centerpointenergy.com/

http://www.txgenco.com/ 

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