Sec Form 4 Filing - BRIAN JAMES S @ CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC - 2007-12-01

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person BRIAN JAMES S 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC [ CNP] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Senior VP & CAO (Last) (First) (Middle) 1111 LOUISIANA 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 12/01/2007 (Street) HOUSTON, TX77002 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 12/01/2007 A 25,900 ( 1 ) A 76,956 D Common Stock 12/01/2007 D 8,873 ( 3 ) D 68,083 D Common Stock 12/01/2007 A 11,100 ( 4 ) A 79,173 D Common Stock 12/01/2007 D 4,303 ( 5 ) D 74,880 D Common Stock 20,260 I By Savings Plan ( 6 )

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other BRIAN JAMES S 1111 LOUISIANA HOUSTON, TX77002 Senior VP & CAO Signatures Richard B. Dauphin, Attorney in Fact 12/04/2007 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Includes a total of 25,900 shares (8,800, 9,800 and 7,300 performance based shares awarded for the 2005-2007, 2006-2008 and 2007-2009 performance cycles respectively) under the Company's Long Term Incentive Plan. Distribution of awarded shares will be delayed at least six months after separation from service pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 409A. ( 2 )Price is not applicable. ( 3 )Forfeiture of a total of 8,873 shares (249, 3,459 and 5,075 canceled shares respectively under the 2005-2007, 2006-2008 and 2007-2009 Long Term Incentive Plan performance cycle awards) due to the retirement of Mr. Brian. ( 4 )Includes a total of 11,100 shares (stock awards (with performance goal) of 3,800, 4,200 and 3,100 shares for 2005, 2006 and 2007 respectively) under the Company's Long Term Incentive Plan. Distribution of awarded shares will be delayed at least six months after separation from service pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 409A. ( 5 )Forfeiture of a total of 4,303 shares (284, 1,720 and 2,299 canceled shares respectively from 2005, 2006 and 2007 Long Term Incentive Plan awards) due to the retirement of Mr. Brian. ( 6 )Equivalent Shares held in CenterPoint Energy, Inc. Savings Plan as of 12/01/2007.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

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