For more information contact:
Media: Alicia Dixon, 713.825.9107 cell

PHILADELPHIA, MS – September 15, 2007 – CenterPoint Energy is responding to an explosion which occurred around 11:50 a.m. today in Philadelphia, Mississippi.

The explosion occurred in a shopping center located at 910 Holland Ave. injuring nine people. CenterPoint Energy has crews on site and has discontinued natural gas service to the immediate area. The cause of the explosion is not known and the company will conduct an investigation to determine the cause.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission & distribution, natural gas distribution, competitive natural gas sales and services, and interstate pipeline and field services operations.  The company serves more than five million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. Assets total over $17 billion.  With about 8,600 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 130 years.  For more information, visit the Web site at www.CenterPointEnergy.com