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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): JANUARY 18, 2007
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CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
TEXAS 1-31447 74-0694415
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
of incorporation) Identification No.)
1111 LOUISIANA
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (713) 207-1111
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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities
Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
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ITEM 8.01. OTHER EVENTS.
In July 2006 CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (the "Company") announced that it had
reached agreement with the Appeals Division of the Internal Revenue Service
("IRS") regarding the tax treatment of the Company's two percent Zero Premium
Exchangeable Subordinated Notes ("ZENS") and its former seven percent Automatic
Common Exchange Securities ("ACES") and that it would reduce its accrued tax and
related interest reserves by $119 million, or 38 cents per diluted share, in the
second quarter of 2006. The agreement was subject to approval by the Joint
Committee on Taxation of the U.S. Congress ("JCT").
In January 2007, following JCT approval of certain revised terms of the
agreement, the Company and the IRS executed a closing agreement on the tax
treatment of the ZENS for the tax years 1999 through 2029. The items in dispute
with respect to the ZENS and ACES have now been resolved.
In the fourth quarter of 2006 the Company will record an after-tax charge
of approximately $12 million, or 4 cents per diluted share, to reflect the
January 2007 closing agreement described above.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.
Date: January 24, 2007 By: /s/ James S. Brian
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James S. Brian
Senior Vice President and
Chief Accounting Officer