CenterPoint Energy reports third quarter 2018 earnings of $0.35 per diluted share; $0.39 earnings per diluted share on a guidance basis, excluding impacts associated with the pending merger with Vectren

HOUSTON, Nov. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) today reported net income available to common shareholders of $153 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2018, compared with $169 million, or $0.39 per diluted share for the third quarter of 2017. On a guidance basis, and excluding impacts associated with the pending merger with Vectren, third quarter 2018 earnings were $0.39 per diluted share, consisting of $0.25 from utility operations and $0.14 from midstream investments. Third quarter 2017 earnings on a guidance basis were $0.38 per diluted share, consisting of $0.28 from utility operations and $0.10 from midstream investments.

Operating income for the third quarter of 2018 was $226 million, compared with $297 million in the third quarter of 2017. For the third quarter of 2017 operating income was increased and other income decreased by $18 million in accordance with the retrospective adoption earlier this year of the accounting standard for compensation-retirement benefits (ASU 2017-07). Equity income from midstream investments was $81 million for the third quarter of 2018, compared with $68 million for the third quarter of 2017.

"Our businesses performed well this quarter, in line with our expectations, and we remain on track to achieve the high end of our EPS guidance range," said Scott M. Prochazka, president and chief executive officer of CenterPoint Energy. "In addition, the remaining approvals required for our pending merger with Vectren are on schedule, and we expect the transaction to be completed in the first quarter of 2019."

Business Segments

Electric Transmission & Distribution

The electric transmission & distribution segment reported operating income of $227 million for the third quarter of 2018, consisting of $214 million from the regulated electric transmission & distribution utility operations (TDU) and $13 million related to securitization bonds. Operating income for the third quarter of 2017 was $254 million, consisting of $236 million from the TDU and $18 million related to securitization bonds.

Operating income for the TDU benefited primarily from rate relief, customer growth and higher equity return related to the annual true-up of transition charges. These benefits were more than offset by higher operation and maintenance expenses, lower revenues reflecting the lower federal income tax rate due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), and higher depreciation and amortization expense.

The retrospective adoption of ASU 2017-07 resulted in an increase to TDU operating income and a corresponding decrease to other income of $7 million for the third quarter of 2017.

Natural Gas Distribution

The natural gas distribution segment reported operating income of $3 million for the third quarter of 2018, compared with $25 million for the third quarter of 2017. Operating income benefited from rate relief and weather and usage, driven by the timing of a decoupling mechanism in Minnesota. These increases were more than offset by higher operation and maintenance expenses, higher depreciation and amortization expense and lower revenues reflecting the lower federal income tax rate due to the TCJA.

The retrospective adoption of ASU 2017-07 resulted in an increase to natural gas distribution operating income and a corresponding decrease to other income of $5 million for the third quarter of 2017.

Energy Services

The energy services segment reported an operating loss of $9 million for the third quarter of 2018, which included a mark-to-market gain of $1 million, compared with operating income of $7 million for the third quarter of 2017, which included a mark-to-market gain of $2 million. Excluding mark-to-market adjustments, the operating loss was $10 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared with operating income of $5 million for the third quarter of 2017. Operating income decreased due to lower margin, resulting from reduced opportunities to optimize natural gas supply costs and timing impacts related to natural gas storage activity, and higher operation and maintenance expense. Energy Services remain on track to achieve their core operating income target of $70 - $80 million for 2018.

Midstream Investments

The midstream investments segment reported $81 million of equity income for the third quarter of 2018, compared with $68 million in the third quarter of 2017.

Other Operations

The other operations segment reported operating income of $5 million for the third quarter of 2018, compared with operating income of $11 million in the third quarter of 2017. This decrease is primarily due to costs related to the pending merger with Vectren.

Earnings Outlook

CenterPoint Energy anticipates achieving the high end of the $1.50 - $1.60 EPS guidance range for 2018, excluding impacts associated with the pending merger with Vectren. These impacts include integration planning and transaction-related fees and expenses. In addition, the company has issued $5.2 billion of debt and equity securities to fund the pending merger with Vectren. Therefore, 2018 is expected to have higher net interest expense and a higher common stock share count, the effects of which are not included in the 2018 EPS guidance range set forth above. This guidance is inclusive of Enable's 2018 net income guidance. The guidance range assumes ownership of 54.0 percent of the common units representing limited partner interests in Enable Midstream and includes the amortization of CenterPoint Energy's basis differential in Enable Midstream and effective tax rates. CenterPoint Energy does not include other potential Enable Midstream impacts on guidance, such as any changes in accounting standards or unusual items.

The guidance range considers utility operations performance to date and certain significant variables that may impact earnings, such as weather, throughput, commodity prices, effective tax rates, financing activities (other than those to fund the pending merger with Vectren), and regulatory and judicial proceedings to include regulatory action as a result of recent tax reform legislation.

Utility operations EPS includes all earnings except those related to Midstream Investments (utility operations EPS includes the Enable Series A Preferred Units).

In providing this guidance, CenterPoint Energy uses a non-GAAP measure of adjusted diluted earnings per share that does not consider other potential impacts, such as changes in accounting standards or unusual items, earnings or losses from the change in the value of the ZENS securities and the related stocks, or the timing effects of mark-to-market accounting in the company's energy services business. CenterPoint Energy's guidance does not currently reflect impacts associated with the pending merger with Vectren.

                                           
             Quarter Ended



                                     
          September 30, 2018     
       September 30, 2017



                                       
            Net Income           
        Diluted EPS        
            Net Income        
     Diluted EPS
                                         (in millions)                                         (in millions)





                Consolidated net
                 income and diluted
                 EPS as reported                            $153                       $0.35                       $169                  $0.39


     Midstream
      Investments                                           (60)                     (0.14)                      (42)                (0.10)


     Utility Operations
      (1)                                                    93                        0.21                        127                   0.29





                Timing effects
                 impacting CES(2):


     Mark-to-market
      gains (net of taxes
      of $0 and $1)(3)                                       (1)                                                  (1)




                ZENS-related mark-
                 to-market (gains)
                 losses:


     Marketable
      securities (net of
      taxes of $9 and
      $13) (3)(4)                                           (34)                     (0.08)                      (24)                (0.06)


     Indexed debt
      securities (net of
      taxes of $10 and
      $13) (3)                                                34                        0.08                         23                   0.05


                Utility operations
                 earnings on an
                 adjusted guidance
                 basis                                       $92                       $0.21                       $125                  $0.28





                Adjusted net income
                 and adjusted
                 diluted EPS used in
                 providing earnings
                 guidance:


     Utility Operations
      on a guidance basis                                    $92                       $0.21                       $125                  $0.28


     Midstream
      Investments                                             60                        0.14                         42                   0.10


                Consolidated on a
                 guidance basis                             $152                       $0.35                       $167                  $0.38





                Impacts associated
                 with the Vectren
                 merger (net of
                 taxes of $2) (3)                             18                        0.04




     Utility Operations
      on a guidance
      basis, excluding
      impacts associated
      with the Vectren
      merger                                                $110                       $0.25                       $125                  $0.28


     Midstream
      Investments                                             60                        0.14                         42                   0.10


                Consolidated on a
                 guidance basis,
                 excluding impacts
                 associated with the
                 Vectren merger                             $170                       $0.39                       $167                  $0.38





           
                (1)  CenterPoint earnings excluding Midstream Investments



           
                (2)  Energy Services segment



           
                (3)  Taxes are computed based on the impact removing such item would have on tax expense



           
                (4)  As of June 14, 2018, comprised of AT&T Inc. and Charter Communications, Inc. Prior to June 14, 2018,
      comprised of Time Warner Inc. and Charter Communications, Inc.



                Results prior to January 31, 2018 also included Time Inc.

Filing of Form 10-Q for CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

Today, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2018. A copy of that report is available on the company's website, under the Investors section. Other filings the company makes with the SEC and certain documents relating to its corporate governance can also be found under the Investors section.

Webcast of Earnings Conference Call

CenterPoint Energy's management will host an earnings conference call on Thursday, November 8, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. Central time/11:00 a.m. Eastern time. Interested parties may listen to a live audio broadcast of the conference call on the company's website under the Investors section. A replay of the call can be accessed approximately two hours after the completion of the call and will be archived on the website for at least one year.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission & distribution, natural gas distribution and energy services operations. The company serves more than five million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas. The company also owns 54.0 percent of the common units representing limited partner interests in Enable Midstream Partners, a publicly traded master limited partnership it jointly controls with OGE Energy Corp. Enable Midstream Partners owns, operates and develops natural gas and crude oil infrastructure assets. With more than 8,000 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years. For more information, go to www.CenterPointEnergy.com.

This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions of management which are believed to be reasonable at the time made and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual events and results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Any statements in this news release regarding future earnings, and future financial performance and results of operations, including, but not limited to earnings guidance, targeted dividend growth rate and any other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement contained in this news release speaks only as of the date of this release.

Risks Related to CenterPoint Energy
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the provided forward-looking information include risks and uncertainties relating to: (1) the performance of Enable Midstream Partners, LP (Enable), the amount of cash distributions CenterPoint Energy receives from Enable, Enable's ability to redeem the Series A Preferred Units in certain circumstances and the value of CenterPoint Energy's interest in Enable, and factors that may have a material impact on such performance, cash distributions and value, including factors such as: (A) competitive conditions in the midstream industry, and actions taken by Enable's customers and competitors, including the extent and timing of the entry of additional competition in the markets served by Enable; (B) the timing and extent of changes in the supply of natural gas and associated commodity prices, particularly prices of natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs), the competitive effects of the available pipeline capacity in the regions served by Enable, and the effects of geographic and seasonal commodity price differentials, including the effects of these circumstances on re-contracting available capacity on Enable's interstate pipelines; (C) the demand for crude oil, natural gas, NGLs and transportation and storage services; (D) environmental and other governmental regulations, including the availability of drilling permits and the regulation of hydraulic fracturing; (E) recording of non-cash goodwill, long-lived asset or other than temporary impairment charges by or related to Enable; (F) changes in tax status; (G) access to debt and equity capital; and (H) the availability and prices of raw materials and services for current and future construction projects; (2) industrial, commercial and residential growth in CenterPoint Energy's service territories and changes in market demand, including the demand for CenterPoint Energy's non-rate regulated products and services and effects of energy efficiency measures and demographic patterns; (3) timely and appropriate rate actions that allow recovery of costs and a reasonable return on investment; (4) future economic conditions in regional and national markets and their effect on sales, prices and costs; (5) weather variations and other natural phenomena, including the impact of severe weather events on operations and capital; (6) state and federal legislative and regulatory actions or developments affecting various aspects of CenterPoint Energy's and Enable's businesses, including, among others, 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; (7) CenterPoint Energy's expected timing, likelihood and benefits of completion of CenterPoint Energy's pending merger with Vectren Corporation (Vectren), including the timing, receipt and terms and conditions of any required approvals by regulatory agencies that could reduce anticipated benefits or cause the parties to delay or abandon the pending transactions, as well as the ability to successfully integrate the businesses and realize anticipated benefits and the risk that the credit ratings of the combined company or its subsidiaries may be different from what CenterPoint Energy expects; (8) tax legislation, including the effects of the comprehensive tax reform legislation informally referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (which includes any potential changes to interest deductibility) 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; (9) CenterPoint Energy's ability to mitigate weather impacts through normalization or rate mechanisms, and the effectiveness of such mechanisms; (10) the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices, particularly natural gas, and the effects of geographic and seasonal commodity price differentials; (11) actions by credit rating agencies, including any potential downgrades to credit ratings; (12) changes in interest rates and their impact on CenterPoint Energy's costs of borrowing and the valuation of its pension benefit obligation; (13) problems with regulatory approval, construction, implementation of necessary technology or other issues with respect to major capital projects that result in delays or in cost overruns that cannot be recouped in rates; (14) local, state and federal legislative and regulatory actions or developments relating to the environment, including those related to global climate change; (15) the impact of unplanned facility outages; (16) any direct or indirect effects on CenterPoint Energy's or Enable's facilities, operations and financial condition resulting from terrorism, cyber-attacks, data security breaches or other attempts to disrupt CenterPoint Energy's businesses or the businesses of third parties, or other catastrophic events such as fires, earthquakes, explosions, leaks, floods, droughts, hurricanes, pandemic health events or other occurrences; (17) CenterPoint Energy's ability to invest planned capital and the timely recovery of CenterPoint Energy's investments; (18) CenterPoint Energy's ability to control operation and maintenance costs; (19) the sufficiency of CenterPoint Energy's insurance coverage, including availability, cost, coverage and terms and ability to recover claims; (20) the investment performance of CenterPoint Energy's pension and postretirement benefit plans; (21) commercial bank and financial market conditions, CenterPoint Energy's access to capital, the cost of such capital, and the results of CenterPoint Energy's financing and refinancing efforts, including availability of funds in the debt capital markets; (22) changes in rates of inflation; (23) inability of various counterparties to meet their obligations to CenterPoint Energy; (24) non-payment for CenterPoint Energy's services due to financial distress of its customers; (25) the extent and effectiveness of CenterPoint Energy's risk management and hedging activities, including but not limited to, its financial and weather hedges and commodity risk management activities; (26) timely and appropriate regulatory actions, which include actions allowing securitization, for any future hurricanes or natural disasters or other recovery of costs, including costs associated with Hurricane Harvey; (27) CenterPoint Energy's or Enable's potential business strategies and strategic initiatives, including restructurings, joint ventures and acquisitions or dispositions of assets or businesses (including a reduction of interests in Enable, if any, whether through CenterPoint Energy's decision to sell all or a portion of the Enable common units it owns in the public equity markets or otherwise, subject to certain limitations), which CenterPoint Energy cannot assure will be completed or will have the anticipated benefits to CenterPoint Energy or Enable; (28) acquisition and merger activities involving CenterPoint Energy or its competitors, including the ability to successfully complete merger, acquisition or divestiture plans; (29) CenterPoint Energy's or Enable's ability to recruit, effectively transition and retain management and key employees and maintain good labor relations; (30) the outcome of litigation; (31) the ability of retail electric providers (REPs), including REP affiliates of NRG and Vistra Energy Corp., formerly known as TCEH Corp., to satisfy their obligations to CenterPoint Energy and its subsidiaries; (32) the ability of GenOn Energy, Inc. (formerly known as RRI Energy, Inc., Reliant Energy and RRI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG), and its subsidiaries, currently the subject of bankruptcy proceedings, to satisfy their obligations to CenterPoint Energy, including indemnity obligations, which may be contested by GenOn; (33) changes in technology, particularly with respect to efficient battery storage or the emergence or growth of new, developing or alternative sources of generation; (34) the timing and outcome of any audits, disputes and other proceedings related to taxes; (35) the effective tax rates; (36) the effect of changes in and application of accounting standards and pronouncements; and (37) other factors discussed in CenterPoint Energy's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, CenterPoint Energy's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2018, June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2018 and other reports CenterPoint Energy or its subsidiaries may file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Risks Related to the Merger
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the provided forward-looking information include risks and uncertainties relating to: (1) the risk that CenterPoint Energy or Vectren may be unable to obtain regulatory approvals required for the proposed transactions, or that required regulatory approvals or agreements with other parties interested therein may delay the proposed transactions or may be subject to or impose adverse conditions or costs, (2) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the proposed transactions or could otherwise cause the failure of the proposed transactions to close, (3) the risk that a condition to the closing of the proposed transactions may not be satisfied, (4) the outcome of any legal proceedings, regulatory proceedings or enforcement matters that may be instituted relating to the proposed transactions, (5) the receipt of an unsolicited offer from another party to acquire assets or capital stock of Vectren that could interfere with the proposed transactions, (6) the timing to consummate the proposed transactions, (7) the costs incurred to consummate the proposed transactions, (8) the possibility that the expected cost savings, synergies or other value creation from the proposed transactions will not be realized, or will not be realized within the expected time period, (9) the risk that the companies may not realize fair values from properties that may be required to be sold in connection with the merger, (10) the credit ratings of the companies following the proposed transactions, (11) disruption from the proposed transactions making it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers, employees, regulators or suppliers, and (12) the diversion of management time and attention on the proposed transactions.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures by CenterPoint Energy in Providing Guidance

In addition to presenting its financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), including presentation of net income and diluted earnings per share, CenterPoint Energy also provides guidance based on adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share, which are non-GAAP financial measures. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company's historical or future financial performance that excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. CenterPoint Energy's adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share calculation excludes from net income and diluted earnings per share, respectively, the impact of ZENS and related securities and mark-to-market gains or losses resulting from the company's Energy Services business. CenterPoint Energy's guidance does not currently reflect impacts associated with the pending merger with Vectren. CenterPoint Energy is unable to present a quantitative reconciliation of forward looking adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share because changes in the value of ZENS and related securities and mark-to-market gains or losses resulting from the company's Energy Services business are not estimable.

Management evaluates the company's financial performance in part based on adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share. We believe that presenting these non-GAAP financial measures enhances an investor's understanding of CenterPoint Energy's overall financial performance by providing them with an additional meaningful and relevant comparison of current and anticipated future results across periods. The adjustments made in these non-GAAP financial measures exclude items that Management believes does not most accurately reflect the company's fundamental business performance. These excluded items are reflected in the reconciliation tables of this news release, where applicable. CenterPoint Energy's adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share non-GAAP financial measures should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, net income and diluted earnings per share, which respectively are the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures also may be different than non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.

                                                                                  
              CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries


                                                                                      
              Statements of Consolidated Income


                                                                                            
              (Millions of Dollars)


                                                                                                 
              (Unaudited)






                                                                                    
              Quarter Ended                    
              Nine Months Ended


                                                                                    
              September 30,                      
              September 30,



                                                                                                            2018                            
              2017 (1)   2018  
     2017 (1)








     Revenues:



     Utility revenues                                                                                    $1,299                                         $1,233  $4,534      $4,001



     Non-utility revenues                                                                                   913                                            865   3,019       2,975



     Total                                                                                                2,212                                          2,098   7,553       6,976






     Expenses:



     Utility natural gas                                                                                    134                                            106     959         706



     Non-utility natural gas                                                                                864                                            832   2,927       2,843



     Operation and maintenance                                                                              567                                            501   1,714       1,562



     Depreciation and amortization                                                                          326                                            269     982         749



     Taxes other than income taxes                                                                           95                                             93     307         288



     Total                                                                                                1,986                                          1,801   6,889       6,148




     Operating Income                                                                                       226                                            297     664         828






     Other Income (Expense):



     Gain on marketable securities                                                                           43                                             37      66         104



     Loss on indexed debt securities                                                                       (44)                                          (36)  (316)       (59)



     Interest and other finance charges                                                                    (90)                                          (80)  (259)      (235)



     Interest on securitization bonds                                                                      (16)                                          (18)   (46)       (58)



     Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates                                                         81                                             68     208         199



     Other - net                                                                                              9                                            (1)     16         (2)




     Total                                                                                                 (17)                                          (30)  (331)       (51)






     Income Before Income Taxes                                                                             209                                            267     333         777





     Income Tax Expense                                                                                      51                                             98      85         281






     Net Income                                                                                             158                                            169     248         496






     Series A Preferred Dividend Requirement                                                                  5                                                     5






     Income Available to Common Shareholders                                                               $153                                           $169    $243        $496






     (1) Restated to reflect the adoption of ASU 2017-07.






                                                           
     Reference is made to the Combined Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements


                                                             
              contained in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

                                                                                                    
              CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries


                                                                                               
              Selected Data From Statements of Consolidated Income


                                                                                            
              (Millions of Dollars, Except Share and Per Share Amounts)


                                                                                                                   
              (Unaudited)






                                                                        
              Quarter Ended                            
              Nine Months Ended


                                                                        
              September 30,                              
              September 30,



                                                                                                    2018                                    
              2017 (1)                      2018  
     2017 (1)








       Basic Earnings Per Common Share                                                            $0.35                                                  $0.39                      $0.56       $1.15





        Diluted Earnings Per Common Share                                                          $0.35                                                  $0.39                      $0.56       $1.14





        Dividends Declared per Common Share                                                      $0.2775                                                $0.2675                    $0.5550     $0.8025





       Dividends Paid per Common Share                                                          $0.2775                                                $0.2675                    $0.8325     $0.8025




             Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding
              (000):



       - Basic                                                                                  431,554                                                431,026                    431,437     430,939



       - Diluted                                                                                434,891                                                434,086                    434,774     433,999






                     Operating Income (Loss) by Segment (1)

    ---



        Electric Transmission & Distribution:



       TDU                                                                                         $214                                                   $236                       $480        $453



       Bond Companies                                                                                13                                                     18                         43          58


        Total Electric Transmission & Distribution                                                   227                                                    254                        523         511



       Natural Gas Distribution                                                                       3                                                     25                        166         235



       Energy Services                                                                              (9)                                                     7                       (20)         58



       Other Operations                                                                               5                                                     11                        (5)         24





       Total                                                                                       $226                                                   $297                       $664        $828








       (1) Operating income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 has been restated to reflect the adoption of ASU 2017-07.




                                                                       
              Reference is made to the Combined Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements


                                                                                  
              contained in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

                                                                                                                                      
              CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries


                                                                                                                                          
              Results of Operations by Segment


                                                                                                                                                
              (Millions of Dollars)


                                                                                                                                                     
              (Unaudited)






                                                                                  
              
             Electric Transmission & Distribution

                                                                                                                                                          ---

                                                                       
              Quarter Ended                                                                        
              Nine Months Ended


                                                                       
              September 30,                             
              % Diff                            
              September 30,                   
     % Diff



                                                                                                  2018                              
              2017 (1)                    
              Fav/(Unfav)                                 2018  
      2017 (1)  
     Fav/(Unfav)



                   Results of Operations:



     Revenues:



     TDU                                                                                         $735                                             $729                                             1%                           $2,009       $1,944                  3%



     Bond Companies                                                                               162                                              114                                            42%                              493          290                 70%




     Total                                                                                        897                                              843                                             6%                            2,502        2,234                 12%






     Expenses:


      Operation and maintenance, excluding Bond
       Companies                                                                                   367                                              337                                           (9%)                            1,056        1,018                (4%)


      Depreciation and amortization, excluding
       Bond Companies                                                                               95                                               97                                             2%                              293          296                  1%



     Taxes other than income taxes                                                                 59                                               59                                                                             180          177                (2%)



     Bond Companies                                                                               149                                               96                                          (55%)                              450          232               (94%)




     Total                                                                                        670                                              589                                          (14%)                            1,979        1,723               (15%)




     Operating Income                                                                            $227                                             $254                                          (11%)                             $523         $511                  2%






     Operating Income:



     TDU                                                                                         $214                                             $236                                           (9%)                             $480         $453                  6%



     Bond Companies                                                                                13                                               18                                          (28%)                               43           58               (26%)




     Total Segment Operating Income                                                              $227                                             $254                                          (11%)                             $523         $511                  2%





                   Electric Transmission & Distribution
                    Operating Data:


                   Actual MWH Delivered



     Residential                                                                           10,554,656                                       10,419,309                                             1%                       24,486,317   23,511,716                  4%



     Total                                                                                 27,014,925                                       26,452,650                                             2%                       70,346,601   67,956,180                  4%




                   Weather (average for service area):



     Percentage of 10-year average:



     Cooling degree days                                                                         101%                                            101%                                            0%                             104%        106%               (2%)



     Heating degree days                                                                           0%                                              0%                                            0%                              95%         42%                53%




                   Number of metered customers -end of
                    period:



     Residential                                                                            2,188,211                                        2,156,624                                             1%                        2,188,211    2,156,624                  1%



     Total                                                                                  2,475,018                                        2,435,558                                             2%                        2,475,018    2,435,558                  2%






                                                                                        
              
             Natural Gas Distribution

                                                                                                                                                          ---

                                                                       
              Quarter Ended                                                                        
              Nine Months Ended


                                                                       
              September 30,                             
              % Diff                            
              September 30,                   
     % Diff



                                                                                                  2018                              
              2017 (1)                    
              Fav/(Unfav)                                 2018  
      2017 (1)  
     Fav/(Unfav)



                   Results of Operations:



     Revenues                                                                                    $410                                             $398                                             3%                           $2,058       $1,791                 15%



     Natural gas                                                                                  120                                              117                                           (3%)                              972          742               (31%)




        Gross Margin                                                                              290                                              281                                             3%                            1,086        1,049                  4%




     Expenses:



     Operation and maintenance                                                                    183                                              157                                          (17%)                              592          516               (15%)



     Depreciation and amortization                                                                 73                                               66                                          (11%)                              210          194                (8%)



     Taxes other than income taxes                                                                 31                                               33                                             6%                              118          104               (13%)



     Total                                                                                        287                                              256                                          (12%)                              920          814               (13%)



     Operating Income                                                                              $3                                              $25                                          (88%)                             $166         $235               (29%)





                   Natural Gas Distribution Operating Data:


                   Throughput data in BCF



     Residential                                                                                   13                                               13                                                                             123           94                 31%



     Commercial and Industrial                                                                     53                                               50                                             6%                              208          189                 10%



     Total Throughput                                                                              66                                               63                                             5%                              331          283                 17%





                   Weather (average for service area)



     Percentage of 10-year average:



     Heating degree days                                                                         119%                                             60%                                           59%                             103%         73%                30%




                   Number of customers -end of period:



     Residential                                                                            3,205,916                                        3,179,284                                             1%                        3,205,916    3,179,284                  1%



     Commercial and Industrial                                                                255,244                                          253,041                                             1%                          255,244      253,041                  1%



     Total                                                                                  3,461,160                                        3,432,325                                             1%                        3,461,160    3,432,325                  1%






     (1) Results of operations have been restated to reflect the adoption of ASU 2017-07.




                                                                                                        
              Reference is made to the Combined Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements


                                                                                                                   
              contained in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

                                                                                                                              
              CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries


                                                                                                                                  
              Results of Operations by Segment


                                                                                                                                        
              (Millions of Dollars)


                                                                                                                                             
              (Unaudited)






                                                                                    
            
        Energy Services

                                                                                                                                       ---

                                                              
              Quarter Ended                                                              
              Nine Months Ended


                                                         
              September 30,                         
              % Diff                           
              September 30,                            
     % Diff



                                                                                       2018                      
              2017 (1)                    
              Fav/(Unfav)                                      2018  
     2017 (1)  
     Fav/(Unfav)



                   Results of Operations:



     Revenues                                                                         $920                                     $871                                             6%                                $3,065      $2,998                  2%



     Natural gas                                                                       897                                      839                                           (7%)                                 2,998       2,865                (5%)




        Gross Margin                                                                    23                                       32                                          (28%)                                    67         133               (50%)




     Expenses:



     Operation and maintenance                                                          28                                       22                                          (27%)                                    74          65               (14%)


      Depreciation and amortization                                                       4                                        3                                          (33%)                                    12           9               (33%)


      Taxes other than income taxes                                                                                                                                                                                   1           1



     Total                                                                              32                                       25                                          (28%)                                    87          75               (16%)



     Operating Income (Loss)                                                          $(9)                                      $7                                         (229%)                                 $(20)        $58              (134%)





      Timing impacts of mark-to-market
       gain (loss)                                                                       $1                                       $2                                          (50%)                                 $(71)        $23              (409%)





                   Energy Services Operating Data:


                   Throughput data in BCF                                               307                                      272                                            13%                                   993         864                 15%





                   Number of customers -end of period                                30,000                                   31,000                                           (3%)                                30,000      31,000                (3%)







                                                                                   
            
        Other Operations

                                                                                                                                       ---

                                                              
              Quarter Ended                                                              
              Nine Months Ended


                                                              
              September 30,                    
              % Diff                           
              September 30,                            
     % Diff



                                                                                       2018                      
              2017 (1)                    
              Fav/(Unfav)                                      2018  
     2017 (1)  
     Fav/(Unfav)



                   Results of Operations:



     Revenues                                                                           $3                                       $4                                          (25%)                                   $11         $11



     Expenses                                                                          (2)                                     (7)                                         (71%)                                    16        (13)             (223%)



     Operating Income (Loss)                                                            $5                                      $11                                          (55%)                                  $(5)        $24              (121%)





                                                                                                                         
              
                 Capital Expenditures by Segment


                                                                                                                                     
              (Millions of Dollars)


                                                                                                                                          
              (Unaudited)




                                                              
              Quarter Ended                                                              
              Nine Months Ended


                                                              
              September 30,                                                                
              September 30,



                                                                                       2018                                     2017                                                                                 2018        2017



                   Capital Expenditures by Segment


      Electric Transmission & Distribution                                             $252                                     $192                                                                                 $669        $616



     Natural Gas Distribution                                                          170                                      158                                                                                  409         386



     Energy Services                                                                     5                                        1                                                                                   13           5



     Other Operations                                                                    7                                        7                                                                                   35          19



     Total                                                                            $434                                     $358                                                                               $1,126      $1,026





                                                                                                                             
              
                Interest Expense Detail


                                                                                                                                     
              (Millions of Dollars)


                                                                                                                                          
              (Unaudited)




                                                              
              Quarter Ended                                                              
              Nine Months Ended


                                                              
              September 30,                                                                
              September 30,



                                                                                       2018                                     2017                                                                                 2018        2017



                   Interest Expense Detail


      Amortization of Deferred Financing
       Cost                                                                             $16                                       $6                                                                                  $34         $17


      Capitalization of Interest Cost                                                   (2)                                     (2)                                                                                 (6)        (6)


      Transition and System Restoration
       Bond Interest Expense                                                             16                                       18                                                                                   46          58



     Other Interest Expense                                                             76                                       76                                                                                  231         224



     Total Interest Expense                                                           $106                                      $98                                                                                 $305        $293






     (1) Results of operations have been restated to reflect the adoption of ASU 2017-07.




                                                                                               
              Reference is made to the Combined Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements


                                                                                                          
              contained in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.



                                                         
              CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries


                                                           
              Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets


                                                                   
              (Millions of Dollars)


                                                                        
              (Unaudited)






                                                                                          
              September 30,                        
     December 31,


                                                                                                                    2018                                    2017







                                                                   ASSETS



     
                Current Assets:



       Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                   $293                                    $260



       Other current assets                                                                                       2,433                                   3,135



           Total current assets                                                                                   2,726                                   3,395





                   Property, Plant and Equipment, net                                                             13,653                                  13,057






     
                Other Assets:



       Goodwill                                                                                                     867                                     867



       Regulatory assets                                                                                          1,934                                   2,347


        Investment in unconsolidated affiliate                                                                     2,457                                   2,472


        Preferred units -unconsolidated affiliate                                                                    363                                     363



       Other non-current assets                                                                                     228                                     235



           Total other assets                                                                                     5,849                                   6,284



     
                        Total Assets                                                                          $22,228                                 $22,736





                                            LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY





     
                Current Liabilities:



       Short-term borrowings                                                           
              $                   -                                    $39


        Current portion of securitization bonds long-
         term debt                                                                                                   456                                     434



       Indexed debt                                                                                                  25                                     122


        Current portion of other long-term debt                                                                       50                                      50



       Other current liabilities                                                                                  2,050                                   2,424



           Total current liabilities                                                                              2,581                                   3,069






     
                Other Liabilities:


        Accumulated deferred income taxes, net                                                                     3,220                                   3,174



       Regulatory liabilities                                                                                     2,506                                   2,464



       Other non-current liabilities                                                                              1,161                                   1,146



           Total other liabilities                                                                                6,887                                   6,784






     
                Long-term Debt:



       Securitization bonds                                                                                       1,045                                   1,434



       Other                                                                                                      6,207                                   6,761



           Total long-term debt                                                                                   7,252                                   8,195






     
                Shareholders' Equity                                                                            5,508                                   4,688


                         Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity                                              $22,228                                 $22,736









                              
              Reference is made to the Combined Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements


                                         
              contained in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

                   
              CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries


                
              Condensed Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows


                             
              (Millions of Dollars)


                                  
              (Unaudited)








                                                                                    Nine Months Ended September 30,



                                                                                   2018                             
     2017 (1)

                                                                                                                          ---




       
                Cash Flows from Operating Activities:



         Net income                                                               $248                                   $496


          Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
           operating activities:


        Depreciation and amortization                                             1,016                                    767


        Deferred income taxes                                                        33                                    185


        Write-down of natural gas
         inventory                                                                    2


        Equity in earnings of
         unconsolidated affiliate,
         net of distributions                                                      (15)                                 (199)


        Changes in net regulatory
         assets                                                                      44                                  (135)


        Changes in other assets and
         liabilities                                                                341                                  (102)



       Other, net                                                                   10                                     16


                     Net Cash Provided by
                      Operating Activities                                        1,679                                  1,028




                     Net Cash Used in Investing
                      Activities                                                  (674)                                 (897)




                     Net Cash Used in Financing
                      Activities                                                  (970)                                 (279)

                                                                                                                          ---



                     Net Increase (Decrease) in
                      Cash, Cash Equivalents and
                      Restricted Cash                                                35                                  (148)




                     Cash, Cash Equivalents and
                      Restricted Cash at Beginning
                      of Period                                                     296                                    381




                     Cash, Cash Equivalents and
                      Restricted Cash at End of
                      Period                                                       $331                                   $233








       (1) Restated to reflect the adoption of ASU 2016-15 and 2016-18.







       Reference is made to the Combined Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements


      
          contained in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

For more information contact
Media:
Leticia Lowe

Phone 713.207.7702
Investors:
David Mordy

Phone 713.207.6500

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SOURCE CenterPoint Energy, Inc.