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 OF SECURITIES 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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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * Colvin Kristie   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) SVP and CAO (Last) (First) (Middle) 1111 LOUISIANA 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 02/26/2016 (Street) HOUSTON, TX 77002 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 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 (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 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 02/26/2016   A   1,755 (1) A $ 0 34,122 D   Common Stock 02/26/2016   F   574 (2) D $ 18.53 33,548 (3) D   Common Stock               40 I By Savings Plan (4) Common Stock               145 I By son

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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 (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

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 (Month/Day/Year)

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
Colvin Kristie 1111 LOUISIANA HOUSTON, TX 77002			SVP and CAO

Signatures

Vincent A. Mercaldi, Attorney-in-Fact		03/01/2016
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	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).
(1)	Vesting of performance shares awarded in 2013 under the Issuer's Long-term Incentive Plan.
(2)	Shares withheld for taxes upon vesting of performance shares.
(3)	Total includes (i) 1,200 time-based restricted stock units previously awarded under the Issuer's Long-term Incentive Plan and vesting in February 2017, (ii) 2,480 time-based restricted stock units previously awarded under the Issuer's Long-term Incentive Plan and vesting in February 2018, and (iii) 3,307 time-based restricted stock units previously awarded under the Issuer's Long-term Incentive Plan and vesting in February 2019. Each award shall vest if the Reporting Person continues to be an employee of Issuer from the grant date through the vesting date and on a pro-rata basis in the event of her earlier retirement, disability or death.
(4)	Equivalent shares held in CenterPoint Energy, Inc. Savings Plan as of January 31, 2016.

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