CenterPoint Energy announces appointment of Christopher Foster as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
CenterPoint Energy announces appointment of Christopher Foster as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
2023-03-15T05:00:00Z

HOUSTON, March 15, 2023 - CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) today announced the appointment of Christopher Foster as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective May 5. Foster will oversee the company's Finance organization, including Accounting, Financial Planning and Analysis, Treasury, Tax, Internal Audit, and Investor Relations. He will report to CenterPoint Energy's Chief Executive Officer Dave Lesar and serve on the company's Executive Committee.

"Chris is an outstanding leader and one of the most well-respected CFOs in the utility sector. He has a proven track record in managing financial and operational areas, delivering results in a regulated business environment, driving a utility-focused strategy, and optimizing value for stakeholders," said Lesar. "Chris will be an exceptional addition to CenterPoint Energy's already strong leadership team."

Lesar added, "Chris' experience and talent will be invaluable to our company as we continue to execute our long-term growth strategy and build on our strong momentum from 2022, which included achieving industry-leading organic growth, reaching 11 consecutive quarters of meeting or exceeding expectations, and establishing our position as a premium-valued utility."

Foster joins CenterPoint Energy from PG&E Corporation where he held roles of increasing responsibility over the past 11 years. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer overseeing PG&E's financial activities.

Foster's accomplishments included the execution of the company's financial plan to deliver top-decile earnings growth for investors, improved balance sheet health, and greater customer affordability. He also successfully completed more than $9.5 billion in securitizations, as well as cumulative transactions and financings of over $50 billion over three years. Prior to his EVP and CFO role, he held leadership positions in Integrated Grid Planning and Innovation, Investor Relations and Treasury. He began his professional career working as an advisor in the U.S. Congress and held several leadership roles over the course of 10 years.

"With a compelling strategy, a laser-focused plan to invest in the safety, reliability and resiliency of its electric and natural gas systems, a diversified, premium service territory, and substantial progress in advancing the transition to a cleaner energy future, I believe CenterPoint Energy has an incredibly bright future," said Foster. "I am honored to serve as CFO of this great company and look forward to building on our momentum as we strive to deliver a premium utility experience to our customers, shareholders, employees and communities."

Foster graduated with a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University with a focus on political theory and constitutional democracy. He is active in the community and serves on the Boards of Exploratorium, a San Francisco-based science and technology museum, and Xenophon, a nonprofit organization focused on therapeutic riding for disabled youth and veterans.

"I would like to thank Jason Wells for his continued leadership as our CFO following his promotion to CenterPoint Energy's President and COO in January," said Lesar. "While assuming responsibility for his critical new execution-focused role, Jason continues to be instrumental in providing financial leadership and direction."

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 "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "goal," "intend," "may," "objective," "plan," "potential," "predict," "projection," "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 potential growth, including the timing and scale of such growth, of CenterPoint Energy, CenterPoint Energy's long-term capital plan and its ability to execute on its long-term capital plan, CenterPoint Energy's ability to execute on its generation transition plan and to implement cleaner energy, future financial performance of CenterPoint Energy, 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 pandemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic; (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; (8) continued disruptions to the global supply chain and increases in commodity prices; (9) legislative decisions, including tax and developments related to the environment such as global climate change, air emissions, carbon and waste water discharges; (10) CenterPoint Energy's ability to execute on its initiatives, targets and goals and operations and maintenance goals and (11) other factors, risks and uncertainties discussed in CenterPoint Energy's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 and other reports CenterPoint Energy or its subsidiaries may file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About CenterPoint Energy
As the only investor-owned electric and natural 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, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio and Texas. As of December 31, 2022, the company owned approximately $38 billion in assets. With approximately 9,000 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years. For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com.

For more information contact
Media:
Communications
Media.Relations@CenterPointEnergy.com
Investors:
Jackie Richert/Ben Vallejo
Phone    713.207.6500

SOURCE CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

 Recent News

 

 
CenterPoint Energy Launches “Hurricane Safety and Preparedness Week” to Highlight Importance of Emergency Preparedness

Week-long safety and preparedness effort will highlight increased training efforts, enhanced weather detection abilities, regular communication with government officials and resources available for customers 

 Join the over 90% of CenterPoint customers who are enrolled in Power Alert Service® to stay informed and learn of outages and other vital information during emergencies

HOUSTON — August 18, 2026 — Today, CenterPoint Energy launched its “Hurricane Safety and Preparedness Week" to emphasize the importance of staying prepared throughout the next two months when hurricanes and storms are more likely. As part of this safety campaign, CenterPoint will highlight its ongoing preparedness efforts, including the historic action it has taken to strengthen grid resiliency year-round and minimize outages for its customers. Just as CenterPoint prepares for peak hurricane season, customers are encouraged to prepare too.

“Preparing for hurricanes and severe weather is a year-round priority for all of us at CenterPoint, and with peak hurricane season underway, we are determined to remain ready to support our customers throughout the coming months. We remain laser focused on minimizing the impact of extreme weather on our customers and keeping them informed before, during and after any storms," said Ed De Varona, Senior Vice President of CenterPoint Energy's Electric Business.

Starting today, CenterPoint's “Hurricane Safety and Preparedness Week" campaign will include multiple communications, including social media posts and an email to customers and stakeholders to raise awareness of the actions CenterPoint is taking to stay ready to respond to storms, and how customers can stay safe and prepared at home.

CenterPoint Energy's Hurricane Preparedness Key Actions
CenterPoint Energy has taken extensive steps to prepare for hurricane season and best serve customers across the Greater Houston area, including:

  • Expansive Emergency Training: Completed 25,000+ hours of important FEMA preparedness and response trainings across 800+ employees to maintain readiness.
  • Increased Mutual Aid Resources: Increased the number of frontline workers available to support storm response efforts by up to 20 times the normal workforce, to help restore customers as quickly and safely as possible.
  • Better Damage Assessment Model: Improved the damage assessment process to help identify damage to the grid faster and accelerate power restoration efforts.
  • Stronger Weather Detection: Installed 150 weather stations to improve situational awareness and storm preparedness.
  • New Emergency Operations Center (EOC): Opened a state-of-the-art EOC in accordance with FEMA standards to ensure effective coordination and response with emergency partners and faster restorations for customers.
  • Coordinating with government officials: Providing regular updates to federal, state, county and city officials regarding preparedness activities.
  • Communicating proactively with customers: Providing safety and preparedness information to customers via email, phone and text, across social media platforms and other channels to keep customers informed and prepared.

Actions Customers Can Take to Prepare and Get Up-To-Date Information

  • Sign Up for Power Alert Service® to stay informed, learn of outages and other vital information during emergencies. Customers will receive important updates about gas and electric service via phone call, text or email, including outage details and estimated restoration times.
  • Create a Safety Plan: CenterPoint Energy urges customers to put their safety first and prepare in advance for hurricanes by having a safety plan ready, especially for those who require electricity for life-sustaining equipment or medical needs.
  • Stay Up to Date on Local Outages with CenterPoint Energy's cloud-based Outage Tracker, available in English and Spanish, which shows outages and restoration times by county, city and zip code.
  • Visit CenterPointEnergy.com/ActionCenter for additional preparedness and safety resources.

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 June 30, 2026, the company owned approximately $48.3 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 Foundation Donates $25,000 to Hamilton County Community Foundation to Aid Flood Recovery Efforts

Donation supports long-term recovery for Hoosier families in Hamilton County

INDIANAPOLIS – Aug. 18, 2026 – To help support families and individuals impacted by the recent flooding in central Indiana, the CenterPoint Energy Foundation announced a $25,000 donation to the Hamilton County Community Foundation's Flood Relief Fund.

“All of us at CenterPoint Energy are committed to supporting the Hoosier families and communities we're privileged to serve, and we are proud to help the Hamilton County Community Foundation in their recovery efforts," said Mike Roeder, President of CenterPoint Energy Indiana.

Hamilton County Community Foundation established the Flood Relief Fund to support long-term recovery for residents in Hamilton County, where CenterPoint delivers natural gas service to Hoosier customers. According to the organization, 100% of every gift to the fund will be used to aid local residents and families with long-term recovery. The CenterPoint Energy Foundation's contribution is  funded by CenterPoint Energy shareholders and its giving has no impact on customer rates.

How to help, and how to find help
Donations can be made at hamiltoncountycf.org/donate/.

Hoosiers who need assistance can call 211, a statewide resource that helps connect individuals and families with essential community services, including housing, food, utility assistance and health care.

CenterPoint Energy Foundation donates $10,000 to Heart of Indiana United Way to aid flood recovery efforts

​Donation supports long-term recovery for Hoosier families across Delaware, Fayette, Henry, Madison and Randolph counties

INDIANAPOLIS – Aug. 14, 2026 – To help support families and individuals impacted by the recent flooding that brought more than 11 inches of rain to east central Indiana, the CenterPoint Energy Foundation announced a $10,000 donation to the Heart of Indiana United Way's Flood Recovery Fund. CenterPoint has maintained a strong on-going relationship with Heart of Indiana United Way for more than 15 years.

“All of us at CenterPoint Energy are committed to supporting our Hoosier families and communities we serve, and we are proud to help the Heart of Indiana United Way in their recovery efforts," said Mike Roeder, President of CenterPoint Energy Indiana.

Heart of Indiana United Way established the Flood Recovery Fund to support long-term recovery for residents of Delaware, Fayette, Henry, Madison and Randolph counties, communities where CenterPoint delivers natural gas service to Hoosier customers. According to the organization, 100% of every gift to the fund will be used to aid local residents and families with long-term recovery. The assistance is also funded by CenterPoint Energy shareholders and its giving has no impact on customer rates.

How to help, and how to find help
Donations can be made at fundraise.givesmart.com/f/4p2t/n. Heart of Indiana United Way serves Delaware, Fayette, Henry, Madison and Randolph counties.

Hoosiers who need assistance can call 211, a statewide resource that helps connect individuals and families with essential community services, including housing, food, utility assistance and health care.

National 811 Day: CenterPoint Energy Reminds Nearly Two Million Texas Customers to Always Contact 811 Before Any Digging Projects

​​The free 811 national service is an essential safety step to help keep customers, workers, businesses safe and prevent damage to underground natural gas and electric lines 

HOUSTON – Aug. 11, 2026 – Today, on National 811 Day, CenterPoint Energy is reminding its approximately two million customers in Texas to always contact 811 a few business days before starting any outdoor digging project, big or small. Contacting the 811 national service is free, and is an essential safety step customers, businesses and contractors can – and must - take to prevent service interruptions and avoid potentially life-threatening damage to underground utility lines. In 2026 so far, approximately 3,500 damages have been caused to CenterPoint natural gas lines because digging occurred without underground utility lines being located and marked.

“Contacting 811 is about your safety, and the safety of the community. Whether you're planting a tree, building a fence or taking on another outdoor project, starting with 811 is one of the simplest steps you can take to keep your family, home, and neighbors safe. It is a free service and takes just a few minutes to request that underground utility lines are located and marked. Please always remember, before every digging project, know what's below and contact 811," said Vince Gaeto, Senior Vice President, Natural Gas Business at CenterPoint.

National 811 Day: Simple safety steps

Safe digging practices are essential and help prevent damage to underground natural gas, electric, communications, water and sewer lines and are required by state law. Digging without knowing the approximate location of underground utilities can result in serious injury, as well as service disruptions, fines and costly repairs. 

To prevent damage and stay safe, CenterPoint urges everyone to:

  • Plan ahead and call 811 or visit Texas811.org a few business days before starting work.
  • Confirm all utility lines are marked before beginning work.
  • Adjust project locations, as needed, to maintain a safe distance from utility lines.
  • Confirm hired contractors have contacted 811 before their work.
  • Complete digging within the timeframe required by state law. If work cannot be completed in that time, contact 811 again before continuing.  

Important Safety Reminder: Planting the right tree in the right place
In addition to urging customers to contact 811 before digging, CenterPoint Energy also requests that residents look up before planting a tree to ensure they are planted a safe distance from power lines. Residents can use this guide to learn more about safe planting distances based on the estimated mature height of the tree. Finally, CenterPoint Energy reminds residents to never attempt to trim trees near power lines and to call its forestry team at 800-332-7143 to request an inspection.

What to do if a natural gas line is struck
If a natural gas line is struck outside of a home or business, customers should:

  • Leave the area immediately on foot. Do not attempt to restart or move powered equipment or use your mobile device or any other item that could cause a spark.
  • Go to a safe location, then call 911 and CenterPoint.
  • Remain in a safe area until directed by emergency personnel to do otherwise.
  • Leave all repairs to a trained technician. 

Visit 811BeforeYouDig.com for more information about 811. To learn more about natural gas safety, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/Safety.   

Soundbites on the importance of 811 Day, along with b-roll footage and photos of CenterPoint employees marking underground utilities, can be found here: CNP Digital Asset Mgmt

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 June 30, 2026, the company owned approximately $48.3 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

National 811 Day: CenterPoint Energy Reminds Nearly 950,000 Minnesota Natural Gas Customers to Always Contact 811 Before Any Digging Projects

​The free 811 national service is an essential safety step to help keep customers, workers, businesses safe and prevent damage to underground natural gas and electric lines 

MINNEAPOLIS – Aug. 11, 2026 – Today, on National 811 Day, CenterPoint Energy is reminding its approximately 950,000 natural gas customers in Minnesota to always contact 811 a few business days before starting any outdoor digging project, big or small. Contacting the 811 national service is free, and is an essential safety step customers, businesses and contractors can – and must - take to prevent service interruptions and avoid potentially life-threatening damage to underground utility lines. In 2026 so far, approximately 3,500 damages have been caused to CenterPoint natural gas lines because digging occurred without underground utility lines being located and marked.

“Contacting 811 is about your safety, and the safety of the community. Whether you're planting a tree, building a fence or taking on another outdoor project, starting with 811 is one of the simplest steps you can take to keep your family, home, and neighbors safe. It is a free service and takes just a few minutes to request that underground utility lines are located and marked. Please always remember, before every digging project, know what's below and contact 811," said Vince Gaeto, Senior Vice President, Natural Gas Business at CenterPoint.

National 811 Day: Simple safety steps

Safe digging practices are essential and help prevent damage to underground natural gas, electric, communications, water and sewer lines and are required by state law. Digging without knowing the approximate location of underground utilities can result in serious injury, as well as service disruptions, fines and costly repairs.

To prevent damage and stay safe, CenterPoint urges everyone to:

  • Plan ahead and call 811 or visit GopherStateOneCall.org a few business days before starting work.
  • Confirm all utility lines are marked before beginning work.
  • Adjust project locations, as needed, to maintain a safe distance from utility lines.
  • Confirm hired contractors have contacted 811 before their work.
  • Complete digging within the timeframe required by state law. If work cannot be completed in that time, contact 811 again before continuing.  

What to do if a natural gas line is struck
If a natural gas line is struck outside of a home or business, customers should:

  • Leave the area immediately on foot. Do not attempt to restart or move powered equipment or use your mobile device or any other item that could cause a spark.
  • Go to a safe location, then call 911 and CenterPoint.
  • Remain in a safe area until directed by emergency personnel to do otherwise.
  • Leave all repairs to a trained technician. ​

Visit 811BeforeYouDig.com for more information about 811. To learn more about natural gas safety, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/Safety.   

Soundbites on the importance of 811 Day, along with b-roll footage and photos of CenterPoint employees marking underground utilities, can be found here: CNP Digital Asset Mgmt

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 June 30, 2026, the company owned approximately $48.3 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​