Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) Registration No. 333-114440 PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NO. 5 (TO PROSPECTUS DATED APRIL 30, 2004) (CENTERPOINT ENERGY LOGO) $255,000,000 2.875% Convertible Senior Notes due 2024 and Common Stock Issuable Upon Conversion of the Notes This document supplements our prospectus dated April 30, 2004, relating to $255,000,000 aggregate principal amount of our 2.875% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2024 and the common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes. You should read this prospectus supplement in conjunction with the accompanying prospectus, which is to be delivered by selling securityholders to prospective purchasers along with this prospectus supplement. The information in the following table supplements the information set forth under the caption "Selling Security Holders" in the prospectus. PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NUMBER OF SHARES NOTES BENEFICIALLY PERCENTAGE OF OF COMMON STOCK PERCENTAGE OF OWNED THAT MAY NOTES THAT COMMON STOCK NAME BE SOLD OUTSTANDING MAY BE SOLD OUTSTANDING (1) ---- ------------------- ------------- ---------------- --------------- Aviator Master Fund ........................... $5,000,000 * 390,320 * Credit Suisse First Boston LLC ................ $5,000,000 * 390,320 * Deephaven Domestic Convertible Trading Ltd .... $2,952,000 * 230,445 * Sphinx Convertible Arbitrage Fund SPC ......... $48,000 * 3,747 * ------------------------- * Less than 1% (1) Calculated using 307,072,860 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2004. In calculating this amount for each holder, we treated as outstanding the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of all of that holder's notes, but we did not assume conversion of any other holder's notes. INVESTING IN THE NOTES INVOLVES RISKS. SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 10 OF THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS. NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. The date of this prospectus supplement is August 3, 2004.