CenterPoint Energy names Community Partnership Grant recipient - Cottage Grove

Cities receive financial support for community safety equipment

MINNEAPOLIS . - CenterPoint Energy recently awarded the city of Cottage Grove a Community Partnership Grant totaling $1400 for a carbon monoxide pulse oximeter for serving the community.

“Congratulations to the cities awarded this year’s Community Partnership Grants. We are pleased that these grants will help the cities we serve obtain the tools necessary to enhance response in the event of an emergency,” said David Baker, division vice president of regional operations for CenterPoint Energy. “We believe that our Community Partnership Grant Program builds strong communities; supporting a shared commitment to public health and safety.”

The 2009 CenterPoint Energy Community Partnership Grant program leverages local funds through grant allowance up to $2500 to communities served by the company. Priority is given to franchised communities that have not previously received a grant. The cities that receive the grants must use the grant dollars for emergency response equipment or special projects in the community. Due to an overwhelming response to the program, CenterPoint Energy issued grants to 68 communities totaling $124,700, this year.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission and distribution, natural gas distribution, competitive natural gas sales and services, interstate pipelines and field services operations. The company serves more than five million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas. Assets total over $17 billion. With about 8,800 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 130 years. In Minnesota, CenterPoint Energy is the state’s largest natural gas distribution utility, serving nearly 790,000 customers in 260 communities. The utility also operates a non-regulated business in Minnesota called Home Service Plus®. For more information, visit the Web site at www.CenterPointEnergy.com.