Minneapolis, Minn. – December 6, 2007 -- CenterPoint Energy ranked second in the Midwest Region of the J.D. Power and Associates (J.D. Power) 2007 Gas Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study. The company has placed among the top two Midwest Region utilities five of the last six years.

“Our ranking in the Midwest Region is a reflection of our commitment to serving customers in a consistently excellent manner,” said Tracy Bridge, division vice president for CenterPoint Energy’s Minnesota operation.  “I am grateful to our customers for this ranking, and I appreciate the efforts our employees make every day to achieve it.  Communicating important information regularly to customers, offering valuable programs and services, being committed to solving customers’ problems, and maintaining highly skilled, trained and dedicated employees are the main reasons why we consistently receive high rankings from our customers,” added Bridge.

The J.D. Power study is a comprehensive evaluation of customers’ attitudes in six different dimensions: company image, billing and payment, price and value, communications, customer service and field service.  CenterPoint Energy ranked in the top quartile in all six dimensions.