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Landmark new law will help advance Minnesota’s clean energy future

Natural Gas Innovation Act offers new energy and economic opportunities

2021-07-06T05:00:00Z

Minneapolis – July 6, 2021 – A landmark new state law will help Minnesota's natural gas utilities move forward with development of innovative clean energy resources and technologies, including made-in-Minnesota renewable natural gas and green hydrogen.

Passed with bipartisan support during the June special legislative session and signed into law by Gov. Tim Walz, the Natural Gas Innovation Act was proposed by CenterPoint Energy, Minnesota's largest natural gas utility serving more than 890,000 residential and business customers.

"Natural gas is indispensable to meeting Minnesota's energy needs," said Brad Tutunjian, CenterPoint Energy Vice President-Minnesota Region. "We're committed to delivering reliable, affordable energy while also pursuing innovative solutions to help our customers limit the climate impact of their natural gas use. This new law will help promote new Minnesota-produced, low-carbon or zero-carbon gas resources that can diversify the state's energy supply, improve waste management and support new economic development."

The law creates a state regulatory policy that offers new opportunities for a natural gas utility to provide customers access to renewable energy resources and innovative technologies that reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission must review and approve a utility's "innovation plan," with a limit on the cost impact for ratepayers.

CenterPoint Energy will likely submit its first innovation plan under the new law as soon as next year. Examples of innovation allowed by the new law include:

Renewable natural gas produced by recycling biogas from organic materials such as agricultural manure, wastewater, food waste and agricultural or forest waste;
Green hydrogen produced by using renewable electricity to split water to create a carbon-free gas that can be blended with conventional natural gas;
End-use carbon capture technology that converts emissions from natural gas space or water heating equipment into a powder which can be recycled into commercial products; and
Leading-edge energy efficiency technologies that would not be eligible for funding through the existing Conservation Improvement Program.

A broad-based coalition of groups supported the legislation, including the Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA), Minnesota Pipe Trades Association, Center for Energy and Environment (CEE), Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI), Partnership on Waste and Energy, and Conservation Minnesota.

The legislation was authored by Rep. Zack Stephenson (DFL-District 36A), of Coon Rapids, and Sen. Bill Weber (R-District 22), of Luverne.

"The Natural Gas Innovation Act is a major opportunity for Minnesota to build on the important clean energy success we have already achieved," said Rep. Stephenson, who is Chair of the House Commerce Committee and a member of the House Energy and Climate Finance and Policy Committee. "This new law creates a forward-looking framework that will help our natural gas utilities innovate and invest in renewable resources to address climate change and continue Minnesota's clean energy transition."

"The Natural Gas Innovation Act provides a responsible pathway for our state's energy future by prioritizing new technology and homegrown, made-in-Minnesota resources," said Sen. Weber, who serves as Assistant Senate Majority Leader. "In particular, renewable natural gas made from agricultural waste holds great economic potential for Minnesota's farmers and rural communities, while also protecting the environment and helping Minnesota meet its energy needs."

To learn more, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/CleanEnergyMN

About CenterPoint Energy

As the only investor-owned electric and gas utility based in Texas, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) is an energy delivery company with electric transmission and distribution, power generation and natural gas distribution operations that serve more than 7 million metered customers in Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas. As of March 31, 2021, the company owned approximately $36 billion in assets and also owned 53.7 percent of the common units representing limited partner interests in Enable Midstream Partners, LP, a publicly traded master limited partnership that owns, operates and develops strategically located natural gas and crude oil infrastructure assets. With approximately 9,500 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years. For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com.

Forward Looking Statement:
This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this news release, the words "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "should," "target," "will" or other similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. 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 events, such as the anticipated impact and benefits of the Natural Gas Innovation Act, including opportunities related to the development of energy resources and technologies as well as the expected benefits to customers, climate and the economy, the timing of the submission of an innovation plan under the new law and associated regulatory approval, 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. 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 impact of COVID-19; (2) financial market conditions; (3) general economic conditions; (4) the timing and impact of future regulatory and legislative decisions; (5) effects of competition; (6) weather variations; (7) changes in business plans; and (8) other factors, risks and uncertainties discussed in CenterPoint Energy's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, CenterPoint Energy's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 and other reports CenterPoint Energy or its subsidiaries may file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Recent News

CenterPoint Energy launches “10 Days of Special Energy Savings” offers for Hoosiers

As part of a commitment its affordability, CenterPoint offering customers free to low-cost energy efficiency products through its Online Energy Efficiency Store

From July 1^st-10^th, customers will be able to save on a range of products

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – July 1, 2026 – As part of its commitment to affordability, CenterPoint Energy is helping Hoosier customers and families save energy and money with “10 Days of Special Energy Savings" on a range of energy efficiency products through its Online Energy Efficiency Store. The sale on energy savings products, which are for CenterPoint Energy customers only, will run July 1^st through July 10^th and will continue while supplies last. The range of energy savings products offered include smart thermostats, water-saving fixtures and weatherization items.

“We want to help our Hoosier families save energy and money. This sale makes it easier for our customers to find new ways to save with practical, energy-saving products for their homes, many at no cost, so they can lower their usage and take more control of their bills this summer and beyond," said Mike Roeder, President of CenterPoint Energy Indiana.

Helping Customers Save Energy and Money
During the 10 days of savings, and through the Online Energy Efficiency Store, eligible customers can order:

Air Purifiers: ENERGY STAR® certified air purifiers are more than 50% more energy-efficient than standard models while helping improve indoor air quality.
Smart Thermostats: ENERGY STAR® certified smart thermostats can save an average of 8% on heating and cooling costs each year. Eligible customers can order a no-cost smart thermostat, including select Google Nest and ecobee models, with rebates applied automatically at checkout;
Standby-Power Savers: Devices left in standby mode can account for 5% to 10% of a home's energy use and can cost the average U.S. household as much as $100 a year. Advanced power strips, smart sockets and outdoor smart plugs help cut that usage;
Water-Saving Fixtures: A WaterSense®-labeled low-flow showerhead can save the average family about 2,700 gallons of water and more than 330 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year. Qualifying showerheads, aerators and shower accessories are available, with several at no cost while supplies last;
Weatherization Essentials: Sealing air leaks and adding insulation can save up to 10% on annual energy bills. Pipe insulation, sealant and outlet gaskets help keep cooled air in and summer heat out.

CenterPoint Energy's Actions to Prioritize Affordability
The Online Energy Efficiency Store, launched in November 2024, is one of several ways CenterPoint is prioritizing affordability and energy savings for Indiana customers.

In October 2025, CenterPoint launched an initial series of Community Affordability Actions, including the CenterPoint Energy Foundation's $5 million Community Energy Improvement Fund. Since then, the company has introduced additional bill management tools and programs for southwestern Indiana customers and customer protections as part of the Indiana Electric rate case settlement, such as annual late fee waivers upon request, reduced reconnection fees and additional safeguards for medically vulnerable customers.

Customers can browse all available products year-round, and check eligibility, at CenterPointEnergy.com/Shop. Additional savings tips, tools and assistance resources are available through the Resource Hub at CenterPointEnergy.com/ResourceHub.

CenterPoint Energy Launches ‘Power Alert Service® Awareness Week’ to Encourage Customers to Sign Up for Free Emergency Communication Service

More than 2.4 million customers currently signed up to receive Power Alert Service notifications on extreme weather, outages and restoration efforts.

Multi-month public awareness campaign aimed at achieving 100% customer enrollment in free alert service that is especially critical during hurricane season.

HOUSTON – June 30, 2026 – As part of its commitment to provide vital communications for its customers during emergencies or storms, CenterPoint Energy today announced the launch of “Power Alert Service® (PAS) Awareness Week" to help achieve its goal of enrolling 100% of its customers in PAS. To date, CenterPoint has signed up more than 2.4 million customers for this critical, free tool that provides timely alerts on outages, restoration estimates and important updates. For PAS Awareness Week, CenterPoint is launching a multi-month social media and customer outreach campaign that will extend throughout hurricane season across Greater Houston to drive PAS enrollment and help customers stay informed and safe during storms, emergencies or periods of extreme weather.

“During hurricane season, we know how important it is to provide timely, accurate information to our CenterPoint customers and their loved ones. Power Alert Service® is one of the most valuable tools available to help every customer across Greater Houston get the updates they need, when they need them. We also encourage customers to add additional household members or loved ones to receive alerts, so everyone stays informed during severe weather. Our team is more determined than ever to raise awareness of this free service and help enroll every one of the customers we're privileged to serve," said Raja Subramanian, CenterPoint Energy Chief Customer Officer.

The Power of PAS: A Free Service, Keeping Customers & Loved Ones Informed
CenterPoint launched PAS, a free service to customers who sign up, in 2012, to provide customers with alerts by phone call, text or email about outages at their location, estimated restoration times, important updates on CenterPoint storm preparedness and response efforts, and much more. An invaluable benefit is that customers can also sign up to 15 family members and/or friends to receive alerts. In late May and early June alone, CenterPoint sent nearly 3.9 million PAS notifications to keep its customers informed before, during and after the storms.

As part of its outreach campaign, CenterPoint will be utilizing its social media tools and will also be encouraging customers to sign up for PAS at Community Connect events scheduled across Greater Houston. A full schedule of upcoming Community Connect events is available at CenterPointEnergy.com/HoustonCommunityConnects.

For more information, follow CenterPoint Energy on social media or visit CenterPointEnergy.com/ActionCenter.

About CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
As the only investor owned electric and gas utility based in Texas, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) is an energy delivery company with electric transmission and distribution, power generation and natural gas distribution operations that serve more than 7 million metered customers in Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio and Texas. As of March 31, 2026, the company owned approximately $47.8 billion in assets. With approximately 8,800 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years. For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com

CenterPoint Energy taking action to prepare for possible thunderstorms impacting southwestern Indiana customers

Readiness actions include: preparing crews and equipment, 24/7 weather monitoring, coordinating with local government officials and keeping customers informed

Customers urged to sign up for Power Alert Service® to get latest updates about their service

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – June 26, 2026 – CenterPoint Energy continues to closely monitor National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts following several rounds of storms across southwestern Indiana this week. To support its customers, CenterPoint is taking a series of actions to prepare for potential hazardous weather, including possible thunderstorms, damaging wind gusts, heavy rain, flooding and isolated tornadoes, in southwestern Indiana this evening into tomorrow. Key actions include preparing crews and equipment, monitoring weather forecasts 24/7, coordinating with local officials and communicating critical safety and preparedness information to its southwestern Indiana customers including how to sign up for Power Alert Service® to get the latest updates about their service.

“Our CenterPoint team is taking action and is prepared to respond to potential impacts from this week's storms across southwestern Indiana. We are ready to respond and restore power safely and as quickly as possible for any customers who may experience outages. We will continue closely monitoring conditions and we urge all of our customers to stay alert and take steps now to prepare and stay safe throughout this period of heavy storms and high winds," said Mike Roeder, President of CenterPoint Energy Indiana.

Preparing for Hazardous Weather: Key Actions
The most recent National Weather Service forecast includes damaging winds, scattered thunderstorms and isolated tornadoes that may be strong enough to result in downed power lines and outages. A Flood Watch is in effect through Saturday morning. To prepare, CenterPoint is taking a series of safety and readiness actions, including:

Preparing Crews and Equipment: Preparing workers and equipment across southwestern Indiana to support restoration efforts for impacted customers.
24/7 Weather Monitoring: Closely monitoring weather forecasts and evolving weather conditions that could impact our customers.
Coordinating with Local Officials: Providing consistent updates on preparedness actions to federal, state, county and city officials.
Keeping Customers Informed: Providing updates directly to customers via email, phone, text or other channels to keep customers informed and prepared.
Promoting Power Alert Service®: CenterPoint is urging customers to sign up for Power Alert Service® to receive important updates about their gas and electric service via phone call, text or email, including outage details and estimated restoration times.

Emergency Communications: Sign Up for Power Alert Service®
To help prepare for the impact of hazardous weather, CenterPoint is encouraging its customers to enroll in Power Alert Service® to receive outage details, estimated restoration times and customer-specific restoration updates via phone call, text or email. As part of CenterPoint's overall emergency communications efforts, customers can stay up to date on local outages with CenterPoint's cloud-based Outage Tracker, available in English and Spanish, which allows customers to see outages and restoration times by county, city and zip code.

Emergency Preparations: What Customers Can Do to Stay Safe
As part of its preparedness efforts, CenterPoint will continue using its communications channels to share a series of critical safety reminders, including:

Stay at least 35 ft. away from any downed power lines and always assume they are still energized and dangerous.
Keep roads clear for emergency vehicles.
Do not touch anything in contact with a downed wire, such as fences, branches or standing water.
Before a flood: Natural gas should not be turned off at the meter. Keeping the meter on helps maintain proper pressure in gas piping and prevents water from entering the lines. If discontinuing service is necessary, gas should be turned off at each appliance.
After a flood:

If a natural gas meter was underwater, CenterPoint should be contacted to schedule an inspection. The meter may require replacement.
Flooded natural gas appliances—such as furnaces, gas grills and gaslights—should be inspected by a qualified technician before operation.

If the smell of natural gas (rotten egg odor) is present, leave the area immediately and call 911 and CenterPoint from a safe location.
Before digging or clearing debris, please call 811, the nationwide Call Before You Dig number, to locate underground natural gas lines and other underground utility lines.

For additional safety tips, customer resources and important updates, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/ActionCenter and follow CenterPoint on social media.

CenterPoint Energy Foundation awards grants to support veteran resilience in celebration of the United States of America’s 250th anniversary

Grants awarded to 17 Indiana and Ohio nonprofit organizations to connect veterans to programs for mental health, housing and everyday needs

CenterPoint employs more than 700 veterans across the company, who continue to serve communities by providing safe, reliable electric and natural gas service

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — JUNE 25, 2026 — In recognition of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States of America, the CenterPoint Energy Foundation has awarded $250,000 in grants for 17 veteran serving nonprofit organizations in Indiana and Ohio. Grants are funding programs and initiatives that connect veterans with mental health services, housing stability and everyday needs.

Through this special grant opportunity, the Foundation is providing grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 to strengthen programs and initiatives helping veterans and individuals connected to the military across the communities CenterPoint serves.

“As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, this grant opportunity reflects our deep respect for the men and women who serve and have served, and our privilege to support them with mental health services, housing stability and everyday needs to help them thrive," said Jason Ryan, Executive Vice President, Regulatory Services and Government Affairs at CenterPoint and United States Navy veteran.
“Through the CenterPoint Energy Foundation, we are honored to contribute to enhancing veteran resilience and strengthening the communities we are privileged to serve."

The following Indiana and Ohio nonprofit organizations have been awarded grants from the Foundation:

Indiana

Anchor House
Family Service Association of Howard County, Inc.
Heading Home of South Central Indiana
Honor Flight of Greater Lafayette Indiana, Inc.
Honor Flight of Southern Indiana
HVAF of Indiana, Inc.

Niks Place for Vets, Inc.
Outreach Advocacy Center, Inc.
Reach Services, Inc.
Fort Wayne 22 (FW22)
Irreverent Warriors - Indiana Communities

Ohio

Blessings Fund
Community Garden and Hot Meals
PTSD Training for the Unseen Wounds of Service

Vets Moving Forward: Reintegration Support and Basic Needs Initiative
Veterans of Foreign Wars for Clinton County
Warriors in Step With Horses

Funded separately and financially independent from the utility, the CenterPoint Energy Foundation strives to be a catalyst for good by leveraging everyday opportunities and resources to strengthen communities. This grant opportunity for veteran-serving organizations expands on the Foundation's two main strategic giving areas of community vitality and education to help address critical challenges facing veterans and their families.

CenterPoint employs more than 700 veterans across its four-state service area, who continue their commitment to service by strengthening the communities where they live and work by helping provide vital electric and natural gas service.

To learn more about CenterPoint's commitment to the communities it serves, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/Community.

CenterPoint Energy Foundation awards grants to support veteran resilience in celebration of the United States of America’s 250th anniversary

Grants awarded to 17 Indiana and Ohio nonprofit organizations to connect veterans to programs for mental health, housing and everyday needs

CenterPoint employs more than 700 veterans across the company, who continue to serve communities by providing safe, reliable electric and natural gas service

DAYTON, Ohio — JUNE 25, 2026 — In recognition of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States of America, the CenterPoint Energy Foundation has awarded $250,000 in grants for 17 veteran serving nonprofit organizations in Indiana and Ohio. Grants are funding programs and initiatives that connect veterans with mental health services, housing stability and everyday needs.

The following Indiana and Ohio nonprofit organizations have been awarded grants from the Foundation:

Indiana

Anchor House
Family Service Association of Howard County, Inc.
Heading Home of South Central Indiana
Honor Flight of Greater Lafayette Indiana, Inc.
Honor Flight of Southern Indiana
HVAF of Indiana, Inc.

Niks Place for Vets, Inc.
Outreach Advocacy Center, Inc.
Reach Services, Inc.
Fort Wayne 22 (FW22)
Irreverent Warriors - Indiana Communities

Ohio

Blessings Fund
Community Garden and Hot Meals
PTSD Training for the Unseen Wounds of Service

Vets Moving Forward: Reintegration Support and Basic Needs Initiative
Veterans of Foreign Wars for Clinton County
Warriors in Step With Horses

To learn more about CenterPoint's commitment to the communities it serves, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/Community.

About the CenterPoint Energy Foundation
The CenterPoint Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where CenterPoint Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by shareholders and has no impact on customer rates. More information about the Foundation can be found at CenterPointEnergy.com/Foundation.
About CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
As the only investor owned electric and gas utility based in Texas, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) is an energy delivery company with electric transmission and distribution, power generation and natural gas distribution operations that serve more than 7 million metered customers in Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio and Texas. As of March 31, 2026, the company owned approximately $47.8 billion in assets. With approximately 8,800 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years. For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com.