This report and the website pages related to it contain statements concerning our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, initiatives, future operations, events, financial position, earnings, growth, costs, prospects, capital investments or performance or underlying assumptions and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements and the oral statements made in connection therewith are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. You can generally identify our forward-looking statements by the words “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “commit,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “focus,” “forecast,” “goal,” “increase,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” or other similar words. The absence of these words, however, does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking.
We have based our forward-looking statements on our management’s beliefs, expectations and assumptions, which are based on information available to our management at the time the statements are made. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, changes in circumstances and assumptions that are difficult to predict and are often beyond our control and inherently uncertain. Actual events and results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, and the actual conduct of our activities, including the development, implementation, progress towards, continuation of, measurement and reporting of any goals, commitments, strategies, and initiatives discussed or forecasted in this report and the website pages related to it, may differ materially in the future. Moreover, certain forward-looking statements included in this report and the website pages related to it are based on assumptions, standards, metrics, methodologies and frameworks for measurement, reporting and analysis that continue to evolve and vary across jurisdictions and regulatory bodies, which may impact our future measurement and reporting, as well as the results of the efforts set forth in this report and the website pages related to it, and we therefore cannot guarantee that the data set forth in this report and the website pages related to it will be consistent year-to-year.
Any statement in this report and the website pages related to it regarding future events, such as CenterPoint Energy’s GHG emission reduction goals, including its Net Zero and Scope 3 GHG emission goals, and its ability to achieve such goals and related timing thereof, the advancement of and use of new technologies for alternative energy sources, CenterPoint Energy’s ability to achieve its generation transition, including its energy transition goals, and the timing thereof, CenterPoint Energy’s ability to continue to modernize its distribution grid, executive management continuity and succession planning, future board composition, corporate governance commitments, enterprise risk management, cybersecurity and data privacy, safety, human capital management, supply chain, social impact commitments, environmental stewardship, strategic plans and value creation, capital investments (including with respect to renewables projects and temporary generation spend), business opportunities, future financial performance and results of operations, renewable energy growth objectives and any other statement that is not historical fact are forward-looking statements. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements and that assumptions, beliefs, expectations, intentions and projections about future events may and often do vary materially from actual results.
There can be no assurance that our sustainability-related policies, procedures, initiatives and goals (including climate-related initiatives and goals) as described in this report and the website pages related to it will continue. CenterPoint Energy is permitted to determine in its discretion that it is not feasible or practical to implement or complete certain of its sustainability-related policies, procedures, initiatives and goals based on cost, timing or other considerations.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the provided forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to: (1) CenterPoint Energy’s business strategies and strategic initiatives, restructurings, joint ventures and acquisitions or dispositions of assets or businesses, including the announced sale of its Louisiana and Mississippi natural gas local distribution company (LDC) businesses and the completed sale of Energy Systems Group, LLC, which we cannot assure will have the anticipated benefits to CenterPoint Energy; (2) industrial, commercial and residential growth in our service territories and changes in market demand, including the effects of energy efficiency measures and demographic patterns; (3) CenterPoint Energy’s ability to fund and invest planned capital and the timely recovery of CenterPoint Energy’s investments, including the timing of and amounts sought for those related to Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Company’s electric transmission and distribution service’s generation transition plan as part of its Integrated Resource Plan and the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI) and longer-term resiliency plans of CenterPoint Electric and Houston Electric, LLC (Houston Electric); (4) CenterPoint Energy’s ability to successfully construct, operate, repair and maintain electric generating facilities, natural gas facilities, temporary emergency electric energy facilities (TEEEF) and electric transmission facilities, including complying with applicable environmental standards and the implementation of a well-balanced energy and resource mix, as appropriate; (5) timely and appropriate rate actions that allow and authorize timely recovery of costs and a reasonable return on investment, including the timing of and amounts sought for recovery of Houston Electric’s TEEEF leases and restoration costs relating to the May 2024 storm events and Hurricane Beryl, and requested or favorable adjustments to rates and approval of other requested items as part of base rate proceedings; (6) economic conditions in regional and national markets, including changes to inflation and interest rates, and their effect on sales, prices and costs; (7) weather variations and other natural phenomena, including the impact of severe weather events on operations, capital, legislation and/or regulations, such as seen in connection with the February 2021 winter storm event, the May 2024 storm events and Hurricane Beryl; (8) increases in commodity prices; (9) volatility in the markets for natural gas as a result of, among other factors, armed conflicts, including the conflict in the Middle East and any broader related conflict, and the conflict in Ukraine and the related sanctions on certain Russian entities; (10) disruptions to the global supply chain, including volatility in commodity prices, and tariffs and other legislation impacting the supply chain, that could prevent CenterPoint Energy from securing the resources needed to, among other things, fully execute on its 10-year capital plan or achieve its Net Zero (Scope 1 and certain Scope 2) GHG and carbon emissions reduction goals; (11) non-payment for our services due to financial distress of our customers and the ability of our customers, including retail electric providers (REPs), to satisfy their obligations to CenterPoint Energy, Houston Electric and CERC, and the negative impact on such ability related to adverse economic conditions and severe weather events; (12) public health threats and their effect on CenterPoint Energy’s operations, business and financial condition, its industries and the communities it serves, U.S. and world financial markets and supply chains, potential regulatory actions and changes in customer and stakeholder behavior relating thereto; (13) state and federal legislative and regulatory actions or developments affecting various aspects of CenterPoint Energy’s businesses, including, among others, any actions resulting from the May 2024 storm events and/or Hurricane Beryl, energy deregulation or re-regulation, pipeline integrity and safety and changes in regulation and legislation pertaining to trade, health care, finance and actions regarding the rates charged by our regulated businesses; (16) our ability to execute Houston Electric’s GHRI and longer-term resiliency plans; (17) direct or indirect effects on CenterPoint Energy’s facilities, resources, operations and financial condition resulting from terrorism, cyberattacks or intrusions, data security breaches or other attempts to disrupt their businesses or the businesses of third parties, or other catastrophic events such as fires, ice, earthquakes, explosions, leaks, floods, droughts, hurricanes, tornadoes and other severe weather events, pandemic health events or other occurrences; (18) risks relating to potential wildfires, including costs of potential regulatory penalties and damages in excess of insurance liability coverage; (19) tax legislation, including the effects of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) (which includes but is not limited to any potential changes to tax rates, Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax imposed, tax credits and/or interest deductibility), as well as any changes in tax laws under the current or future administrations, and uncertainties involving state commissions’ and local municipalities’ regulatory requirements and determinations regarding the treatment of excess deferred income taxes and CenterPoint Energy’s rates; (20) CenterPoint Energy’s ability to mitigate weather impacts through normalization or rate mechanisms, and the effectiveness of such mechanisms; (21) actions by credit rating agencies, including any potential downgrades to credit ratings; (22) matters affecting regulatory approval, legislative actions, construction, implementation of necessary technology or other issues with respect to major capital projects that result in delays or cancellation or in costs that cannot be recouped in rates; (23) local, state and federal legislative and regulatory actions or developments relating to the environment, including, among others, those related to global climate change, air emissions, carbon, waste water discharges and the handling and disposal of coal combustion residuals that could impact operations, cost recovery of generation plant costs and related assets, and CenterPoint Energy’s Net Zero (Scope 1 and certain Scope 2) GHG and carbon emissions reduction goals; (24) the impact of unplanned facility outages or other closures; (25) the sufficiency of CenterPoint Energy’s insurance coverage, including availability, cost, coverage and terms and ability to recover claims; (26) the availability and prices of raw materials and services and changes in labor for current and future construction projects and operations and maintenance costs, including our ability to control such costs; (27) impacts from CenterPoint Energy’s pension and postretirement benefit plans, such as the investment performance and increases to net periodic costs as a result of plan settlements and changes in assumptions, including discount rates; (28) changes in interest rates and their impact on costs of borrowing and the valuation of CenterPoint Energy’s pension benefit obligation; (29) commercial bank and financial market conditions, including disruptions in the banking industry, CenterPoint Energy’s access to capital, the cost of such capital, impacts on CenterPoint Energy’s vendors, customers, and suppliers, and the results of CenterPoint Energy’s financing and refinancing efforts, including availability of funds in the debt capital markets; (30) inability of various counterparties to meet their obligations to CenterPoint Energy; (31) the extent and effectiveness of CenterPoint Energy’s risk management activities; (32) timely and appropriate regulatory actions, which include actions allowing requested securitization, for any hurricanes or other severe weather events, or natural disasters or other amounts sought for recovery of costs, including stranded coal-fired generation asset costs; (33) acquisition and merger or divestiture activities involving CenterPoint Energy or its industry, including the ability to successfully complete merger, acquisition and divestiture plans on the timelines we expect or at all, such as the proposed sale of our Louisiana and Mississippi natural gas LDC businesses; (34) CenterPoint Energy’s ability to recruit, effectively transition, motivate and retain management and key employees and maintain good labor relations; (35) changes in technology, particularly with respect to efficient battery storage or the emergence or growth of new, developing or alternative sources of generation, and their adoption by consumers; (36) the impact of climate change and alternate energy sources on the demand for natural gas and electricity generated or transmitted by us; (37) the timing and outcome of any audits, disputes and other proceedings related to taxes; (38) the recording of impairment charges; (39) political and economic developments, including energy and environmental policies under the current administration; (40) CenterPoint Energy’s ability to execute on its strategy, initiatives, targets and goals, including its Net Zero and carbon emissions reduction goals and its operations and maintenance expenditure goals; (41) the outcome of litigation, including litigation related to the February 2021 winter storm event and Hurricane Beryl; (42) obligations related to warranties, guarantees and other contractual and legal obligations; (43) the effect of changes in and application of accounting standards and pronouncements; (44) physical and transition risks associated with climate change; (45) risks related to CenterPoint Energy’s public statements with respect to such matters that may be subject to heightened scrutiny from public and governmental authorities related to the risk of potential “greenwashing,” i.e., misleading information or false claims overstating potential sustainability-related benefits; (46) risks that CenterPoint Energy may face regarding potentially conflicting anti-sustainability initiatives from certain U.S. state, other governments or other actors; and (47) other factors discussed in CenterPoint Energy’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2024, June 30, 2024, and September 30, 2024, and other reports CenterPoint Energy or its subsidiaries may file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed in this report and the website pages related to it could also have material adverse effects on CenterPoint Energy, its operations, performance or the outcomes described in the forward-looking statements in this report and the website pages related to it.
While this report and the website pages related to it describe potential future events and matters that may be significant, and with respect to which we may even use the word “material” or “materiality,” the potential significance of these events and matters should not be read as equating to “materiality” as the concept is used in connection with our required disclosures made in response to applicable rules and regulations, including the rules and regulations of the SEC.
This report and the website pages related to it contains time-sensitive information that is accurate as of January 28, 2025. Some of the information in this report and the website pages related to it has not been audited or subject to any third-party assurance processes and may be subject to change. Additionally, some of the data provided in this report and the website pages related to it may be estimated or reliant on estimated information, which is inherently imprecise, and we cannot guarantee that estimates are identified as such in every instance. We undertake no obligation to update the information presented herein, except as required by law. CenterPoint Energy makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, with respect to the accuracy, fairness, reasonableness or completeness of any of the information contained in this report and the website pages related to it, and expressly disclaims responsibility or liability therefore.
Net Zero Disclaimer: CenterPoint Energy’s Scope 1 GHG emissions estimates are calculated from GHG emissions that directly come from its operations. CenterPoint Energy’s Scope 2 GHG emissions estimates are calculated from GHG emissions that indirectly come from its energy usage, but because Texas is in an unregulated market, its Scope 2 GHG estimates do not take into account Texas electric transmission and distribution assets in the line loss calculation and exclude GHG emissions related to purchased power between 2024E-2026E. CenterPoint Energy’s Scope 3 GHG emissions estimates are based on the total natural gas supply delivered to residential and commercial customers as reported in the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Form EIA-176 reports and do not take into account the GHG emissions of transport customers and GHG emissions related to upstream extraction. While CenterPoint Energy believes that it has a clear path towards achieving its Net Zero GHG emissions (Scope 1 and certain Scope 2) by 2035 goals, its analysis and path forward required it to make a number of assumptions. These goals and underlying assumptions involve risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees. Should one or more of our underlying assumptions require updating, CenterPoint Energy’s actual results and ability to achieve Net Zero Scope 1 and certain Scope 2 GHG emissions by 2035 and the timing thereof could differ materially from its expectations. Certain of the assumptions that could impact our ability to meet its Net Zero Scope 1 and certain Scope 2 GHG emissions goals include, but are not limited to: GHG emission levels, service territory size and capacity needs remaining in line with company expectations (including with respect to demand for our services and in relation to the announced sale of CenterPoint Energy’s Louisiana and Mississippi natural gas LDC businesses); regulatory approvals related to Indiana Electric’s generation transition plan and our ability to obtain such approvals; impacts on affordability of customer rates; customer demand for GHG emission free or lower GHG emissions energy; impacts of future environmental regulations or legislation; impacts of future carbon pricing regulation or legislation, including a future carbon tax; price, availability and regulation of carbon offsets; price of fuel, such as natural gas; cost of energy generation technologies, such as wind and solar, natural gas and storage solutions; adoption of alternative energy by the public, including adoption of electric vehicles; rate of technology innovation with regards to alternative energy resources; CenterPoint Energy’s ability to implement its modernization plans for its pipelines and facilities; the ability to complete and timely implement generation alternatives, such as solar and wind generation, to Indiana Electric’s coal generation and retirement or fuel conversion dates of Indiana Electric’s coal facilities by 2035; the ability to construct and/or permit new natural gas pipelines; the ability to procure resources needed to build at a reasonable cost, the lack of or scarcity of resources and labor, project cancellations, construction delays or overruns and the ability to appropriately estimate costs of new generation; impact of any supply chain disruptions; changes in applicable standards, metrics, methodologies or frameworks; and enhancement of energy efficiencies. Please also review the section entitled “CenterPoint Energy Cautionary Statement” included in this report.