CenterPoint Energy Announces Completion Of Critical Electric Transmission Line

60-mile Brazos Valley Connection project completed ahead of schedule

Houston, TX /PRNewswire/ - CenterPoint Energy, Inc.'s (NYSE: CNP) electric utility today announced that the Brazos Valley Connection project (BVC) was energized on March 29, 2018. The 60-mile, 345-kilovolt (kV) electric transmission line is the southern portion of the Houston Import Project. Completed ahead of schedule, the BVC transmission line runs from Grimes County through Waller County, ending in Harris County, Texas.

"We appreciate the collaboration among many individuals with whom we have worked on this project," said Kenny Mercado, senior vice president of Electric Operations, CenterPoint Energy. "Without the support of landowners, county officials, local and state agencies and environmental agencies, this project would not be the success that it is today."

CenterPoint Energy's total project capital cost is approximately $285 million, in line with the estimated range of approximately $270 to $310 million in the Public Utility Commission of Texas' original order regarding the project. The estimated impact to a residential customer within CenterPoint Energy's service territory using 1,000 kWh per month is less than $0.20 per month.

"I'm extremely proud of the hard work our team provided to get this much-needed project online," added Mercado. "Early completion of the Brazos Valley Connection represents CenterPoint Energy's leadership in safe and efficient project execution. The project will provide safe, efficient and reliable power and help address infrastructure needs to meet the growing demand in the Houston area."

In 2014, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas identified the Houston Import Project as critical to providing additional transmission capacity to import power into the Houston area by June 2018. The entire project consists of a 130-mile, 345-kV electric transmission line running from Limestone County to Harris County.

This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. 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 estimated impact to residential customers, future economic conditions and infrastructure needs in the Houston area 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.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission & distribution, natural gas distribution and energy services operations. The company serves more than five million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. The company also owns 54.1 percent of the common units representing limited partner interests in Enable Midstream Partners, a publicly traded master limited partnership it jointly controls with OGE Energy Corp., which owns, operates and develops natural gas and crude oil infrastructure assets. With nearly 8,000 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years. For more information, please visit www.CenterPointEnergy.com.