UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
                                   before the
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


                 ----------------------------------------------


         In the Matter of:
                                                        CERTIFICATE
         CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.                       OF
         1111 Louisiana                                 NOTIFICATION
         Houston, Texas  77002

               (70-9895)

                   PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING COMPANY ACT OF 1935


                      ----------------------------------


     THIS IS TO CERTIFY that, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
application-declaration, as amended, of Reliant Energy, Incorporated and
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. in the above-captioned file and the order of the
Securities and Exchange Commission with respect thereto (HCAR No. 27548 (July 5,
2002)), CenterPoint Energy, Inc. is reporting certain rating agency action as
set forth in more detail in the attached press release from Standard and Poor's
Ratings Services, incorporated herein by reference.


                            CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.

                            By: /s/ Rufus S. Scott
                                ----------------------
                                Rufus S. Scott
                                Vice President and Assistant Corporate Secretary


Dated:  October 15, 2002






CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC.'S SUBS' RATINGS LOWERED TO 'BBB'; PLACED ON WATCH NEG
Credit Analyst: Cheryl E. Richer, New York (1) 212-438-2084
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                   NEW YORK (Standard & Poor's) Oct. 11, 2002-Standard & Poor's
                   Ratings Services said today that it lowered the corporate
                   credit ratings of energy transmission company CenterPoint
                   Energy, Inc., (formerly Reliant Energy, Inc.) and its
                   subsidiaries CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric LLC and
                   CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp to triple-'B' from
                   triple-'B'-plus and placed the ratings on CreditWatch with
                   negative implications.

                   Houston, Texas-based CenterPoint Energy has total
                   debt outstanding of about $12 billion.

                   In addition to the high financing cost and fees which
                   will pressure already weak financial ratios, there is
                   a schedule of significant mandatory prepayments
                   beginning on Nov. 15, 2002 and extending through June
                   2003, which if not accomplished, would result in the
                   acceleration of the debt facilities at CenterPoint
                   Energy ($3.85 billion) and CenterPoint Energy Houston
                   Electric ($850 million).

                   "Despite the successful renegotiation of CenterPoint
                   Energy's bank facilities, this action reflects
                   Standard & Poor's concern with the terms of the new
                   arrangements," said credit analyst Cheryl Richer.

                   CenterPoint Energy has a low business risk profile,
                   supported by a very supportive regulatory
                   environment, lack of an electricity supply
                   function/commodity risk, and moderate to strong
                   growth in its service territory, mitigated by volume
                   volatility due to weather. CenterPoint Energy's main
                   risks in the near term are financial. Higher than
                   expected financing costs, and mandatory prepayments
                   with the possibility of acceleration translate into
                   ongoing refinancing risk until mid 2003. In addition,
                   debt will remain high until 2004/2005 when the Texas
                   generation assets are sold, and proceeds are received
                   from the securitization of stranded costs associated
                   with the generation assets.

                   Standard & Poor's expects that CenterPoint Energy
                   will recover its investment in plant costs as allowed
                   by Texas law, but debt leverage will be very high
                   until securitization of the regulatory assets is
                   completed. Thereafter, Standard & Poor's expects
                   CenterPoint Energy's financial profile to meet the
                   targets for the current ratings. However, refinancing
                   risk in the near term remains high; ratings will
                   remain on CreditWatch negative until the company can
                   reduce its reliance on banks and demonstrate access
                   to the capital markets.

                   A complete list of the ratings is available to the
                   RatingsDirect subscribers at www.ratingsdirect.com,
                   as well as on Standard & Poor's public Web site at
                   www.standardandpoors.com under Ratings Actions/Newly
                   Released Ratings.