SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, DC 20549 SCHEDULE 13G Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. 17) Centerpoint Energy Inc. (Name of Issuer) Common Stock, No Par (Title of Class of Securities) 15189T 10 7 (CUSIP Number) Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this statement [ ]. CUSIP No. 15189T 10 7 13G Page 2 of 6 Pages 1 Name of Reporting Person S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of above person Northern Trust Corporation 36-2723087 The Northern Trust Company 36-1561860 Northern Trust Investments, N.A. 36-3608252 Northern Trust Global Investments Ltd 6807764922343A00 2 Check the appropriate box if a member of a group Not Applicable (a) [ ] (b) [ ] 3 S.E.C. use only 4 Citizenship or place of organization Northern Trust Corporation--a Delaware corporation with principal offices in Chicago, Illinois Number of shares beneficially owned by each reporting person with 5 Sole Voting Power 1,276,771 6 Shared Voting Power 23,456,488 7 Sole Dispositive Power 3,776,743 8 Shared Dispositive Power 1,049,159 9 Aggregate amount beneficially owned by each reporting person 24,789,537 10 Check box if the aggregate amount in Row (9) excludes certain shares. Not Applicable 11 Percent of class represented by amount in Row 9 5.82 12 Type of reporting person Northern Trust Corporation HC SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, DC 20549 SCHEDULE 13G UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Check the following box if a fee is being paid with statement [ ]. 1. (a) Centerpoint Energy Inc (Name of Issuer) (b) 1111 Louisiana St., Houston, Texas 77002 (Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Office) 2. (a) Northern Trust Corporation (Name of Person Filing) (b) 50 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603 (Address of Person Filing) (c) U.S. (Delaware Corporation) (Citizenship) (d) Common Stock, No Par (Title of Class of Securities) (e) 15189T 10 7 (CUSIP Number) 3. This statement is being filed by Northern Trust Corporation as a Parent Holding Company in accordance with S240.13d-1(b) (1) (ii) (G). 4. (a) 24,789,537 (Amount Beneficially Owned) (b) 5.82 (Percent of Class) (c) Number of shares as to which such person has: (i) 1,276,771 (Sole Power to Vote or to Direct the Vote) (ii) 23,456,488 (Shared Power to Vote or to Direct the Vote) (iii) 3,776,743 (Sole Power to Dispose or Direct Disposition) (iv) 1,049,159 (Shared Power to Dispose or Direct Disposition) 5. If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than 5 percent of the class of securities, check the following: [ ] 6. Statement regarding ownership of 5 percent or more on behalf of another person: 7. Parent Holding Company reporting on behalf of the following subsidiaries, all of which are banks as defined in Section 3(a) (6) of the Act: The Northern Trust Company 50 South LaSalle Street Chicago, IL 60603 Northern Trust Investments, N.A. 50 South LaSalle Street Chicago, IL 60603 Northern Trust Global Investments Ltd 50 Bank Street, Canary Wharf, London E14 5NT, UK 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group. Not Applicable. 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group. Not Applicable. 10. By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired for the purpose of and do not have the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of such securities and were not acquired in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purpose or effect. After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. NORTHERN TRUST CORPORATION _________________________________ By: Robert P Browne DATED: 02-07-2012 Title: Executive Vice President EXHIBIT TO SCHEDULE 13G FILED BY NORTHERN TRUST CORPORATION Securities and Exchange Commission 450 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20549-1004 Attention: Filing Desk, Stop 1-4 RE: Centerpoint Energy, Inc. Pursuant to the requirement of 240.13d-1(k) (1) (iii), this exhibit shall constitute our written agreement that the Schedule 13G to which this exhibit is attached is filed on behalf of Northern Trust Corporation and of its subsidiary(ies), as stated below, regarding our respective beneficial ownership in the above-captioned equity security. NORTHERN TRUST CORPORATION _________________________________ By: Robert P Browne DATED: 02-07-2012 Title:Executive Vice President The NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY NORTHERN TRUST INVESTMENTS, N.A. NORTHERN TRUST GLOBAL INVESTMENTS LTD ________________________________________ By: Robert P Browne Title: Executive Vice President