SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): OCTOBER 29, 2002
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CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
TEXAS 1-31447 74-0694415
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
of incorporation) Identification No.)
1111 LOUISIANA
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (713) 207-3000
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
(c) Exhibits.
The following exhibit is filed herewith:
99.1 CenterPoint Energy, Inc. Slide
ITEM 9. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.
A copy of a slide presenting the external debt balances of CenterPoint
Energy, Inc. that CenterPoint Energy expects will be presented to various
members of the financial and investment community from time to time is attached
to this report as Exhibit 99.1. A copy of the slide will also be available on
CenterPoint Energy's website, www.centerpointenergy.com. The slide is being
furnished, not filed, pursuant to Regulation FD. Accordingly, the slide will not
be incorporated by reference into any registration statement filed by
CenterPoint Energy under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless
specifically identified therein as being incorporated therein by reference. The
furnishing of the slide is not intended to, and does not, constitute a
determination or admission by CenterPoint Energy that the information in the
slide is material or complete, or that investors should consider this
information before making an investment decision with respect to any security of
CenterPoint Energy or any of its affiliates.
Some of the statements in the slide may be "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these
statements. CenterPoint Energy has based its forward-looking statements on its
management's beliefs and assumptions based on information available at the time
the statements are made. CenterPoint Energy cautions you that assumptions,
beliefs, expectations, intentions and projections about future events may and
often do vary materially from actual results. Therefore, actual results may
differ materially from those expressed or implied by CenterPoint Energy's
forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the
date of the particular statement, and CenterPoint Energy undertakes no
obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements.
In addition to the matters described in the slide, the following list
identifies some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ from
those expressed or implied by CenterPoint Energy's forward-looking statements:
o state, federal and international legislative and regulatory actions or
developments, including deregulation, re-regulation and restructuring of
the electric utility industry, constraints placed on CenterPoint Energy's
activities by the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, changes in
or application of laws or regulations applicable to other aspects of
CenterPoint Energy's business and actions with respect to, among other
things:
-- approval of stranded costs;
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-- allowed rates of return;
-- rate structures;
-- recovery of investments; and
-- operation and construction of facilities;
o non-payment for CenterPoint Energy's services due to financial distress of
its customers;
o the successful and timely completion of CenterPoint Energy's capital
projects;
o industrial, commercial and residential growth in CenterPoint Energy's
service territory and changes in market demand and demographic patterns;
o changes in business strategy or development plans;
o unanticipated changes in interest rates or rates of inflation;
o unanticipated changes in operating expenses and capital expenditures;
o weather variations and other natural phenomena;
o commercial bank and financial market conditions, CenterPoint Energy's
access to capital, the cost of such capital, receipt of certain approvals
under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, and the results of
CenterPoint Energy's financing and refinancing efforts, including
availability of funds in the debt capital markets;
o actions by rating agencies;
o legal and administrative proceedings and settlements;
o changes in tax laws;
o significant changes in CenterPoint Energy's relationship with its
employees, including the availability of qualified personnel and the
potential adverse effects if labor disputes or grievances were to occur;
o significant changes in critical accounting policies material to
CenterPoint Energy;
o acts of terrorism or war, including any direct or indirect effect on
CenterPoint Energy's business resulting from terrorist attacks such as
occurred on September 11, 2001 or any similar incidents or responses to
those incidents;
o the availability and price of insurance;
o the outcome of the pending securities lawsuits against Reliant Energy,
Incorporated and Reliant Resources, Inc.;
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o the outcome of the SEC investigation relating to the treatment in
CenterPoint Energy's consolidated financial statements of certain
activities of Reliant Resources, Inc.;
o the reliability of the systems, procedures and other infrastructure
necessary to operate the retail electric business in CenterPoint Energy's
service territory, including the systems owned and operated by the
independent system operator in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas,
Inc.;
o political, legal, regulatory and economic conditions and developments in
the United States; and
o other factors discussed in CenterPoint Energy's filings with the SEC.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.
Date: October 29, 2002 By: /s/ Rufus S. Scott
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Rufus S. Scott
Vice President, Deputy General
Counsel and Assistant Secretary
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number Exhibit Description
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99.1 CenterPoint Energy, Inc. Slide
1