Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership (3)

FORM 3	UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES	OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0104 Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5
	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 ^*

Mercado Kenneth M

2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (MM/DD/YYYY) 2/25/2020

3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol

CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC [CNP]

(Last) (First) (Middle)

1111 LOUISIANA

4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)

_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
___X___ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
SVP /

(Street)

HOUSTON, TX 77002

(City) (State) (Zip)

5. 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 Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security (Instr. 4)	2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4)	3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Common Stock	66125 ⁽¹⁾	D
Common Stock	7043	I	By Savings Plan ⁽²⁾

*Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)*
1. Title of Derivate Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YYYY)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
1. Title of Derivate Security (Instr. 4)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security		6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)

Explanation of Responses:
(1)	Total includes (i) 2,794 time-based restricted stock units ("RSUs") previously awarded under the Issuer's Long-term Incentive Plan (the "Plan") and vesting in February 2021, (ii) 2,819 RSUs previously awarded under the Plan and vesting in February 2022, and (iii) 7,151 RSUs previously awarded under the Plan and vesting in February 2023. The above awards shall vest (i) if the Reporting Person continues to be an employee of Issuer from grant date through vesting date and (ii) in the event of his disability or death. Also, the above awards shall vest on a pro-rata basis in the event of his retirement unless he satisfies various conditions for full vesting.
(2)	Equivalent shares held in CenterPoint Energy, Inc. Savings Plan.

Reporting Owners
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Mercado Kenneth M 1111 LOUISIANA HOUSTON, TX 77002			SVP