[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 135 (Tuesday, October 15, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING CENTERPOINT ENERGY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN BENTSEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 15, 2002

  Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, the La Porte-Bayshore Chamber of Commerce 
will present CenterPoint Energy with the 2002 Industry of the Year 
Award at their Annual Salute to Industry. CenterPoint Energy and its 
employees have been faithfully serving the La Porte community for 
nearly 77 years, providing residents, businesses and industries with 
safe and reliable energy services.
  The Industry of the Year Award, the highest honor presented by the La 
Porte-Bayshore Chamber of Commerce, is awarded each year to an area 
business whose mission emphasizes a strong commitment to the community.
  CenterPoint Energy was first organized in 1882 as Houston Electric 
Lighting & Power. It was reorganized and renamed Houston Lighting and 
Power Company in 1905. In 1999, Reliant Energy HL&P/Entex, a division 
of Reliant Energy, was formed, and is the electricity and natural gas 
provider for the Houston metropolitan area. In 2001, Reliant Energy 
HL&P/Entex was renamed CenterPoint Energy in recognition of the vital 
role the company plays in the center of the energy chain between 
producers and the consumers. CenterPoint Energy is one of the largest 
electric utilities in the U.S. in terms of kilowatt-hour sales. It 
serves more than 1.6 million electricity customers over a 5,000 square 
mile area in and around Houston and more than 730,000 natural gas 
customers in the Houston area.
  A true connection exists between CenterPoint and the La Porte-
Bayshore community. Demonstrating their generosity and connection to 
community, the company's employees have logged more than 5,000 
volunteer hours on projects in the La Porte-Bayshore area, including 
the Trash Bash at the San Jacinto Monument, Boy Scout's Osprey Project, 
and the Bayport Container Port Expansion Project. CenterPoint Energy 
has been a major sponsor of the Bay Day Festival held at Sylvan Beach 
in La Porte. Every year employees assemble Reliant Energy Village, a 
wetland project, in an effort to provide participants with hands on 
learning about the importance of habitat restoration, and habitat 
education.
  CenterPoint employees' active involvement in the La Porte community 
can be traced through its participation in a wide variety of civic 
organizations, including the Citizen Advisory Group, La Porte Chamber 
of Commerce, and several community-based nonprofit organizations.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the employees of CenterPoint Energy on 
being named the La Porte-Bayshore Chamber of Commerce 2002 Industry of 
the Year. This honor is well-deserved for their work in expanding 
business and job opportunities, establishing safer conditions for 
workers, and initiatives to protect the environment. This award 
indicates that CenterPoint has demonstrated a commitment to 
strengthening community relations by supporting employees volunteer 
activities and making contributions to deserving sectors of the 
community.

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