CenterPoint Energy Minnegasco Announces First-Ever Community Partnership Grant Program Recipients

September 3, 2003

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — On August 27, CenterPoint Energy Minnegasco announced the cities that were awarded grants under the company’s newly created Community Partnership Grant Program. In the first round of grant making, 24 cities will receive a combined $57,670 for community improvements.

In July 2003, CenterPoint Energy Minnegasco launched a new pilot grant program for cities served by the company. Through the Community Partnership Grant Program, the company offers grants to cities for significant and planned special projects that have broad community support and meet specific program criteria. Program grants are targeted at public space beautification and public safety equipment. In 2003, the company plans to make individual grants of up to $2,500 to 50 communities in its service territory. Grants are reviewed and awards are made on a monthly basis.

“Serving communities involves more than just the products and services we provide. For CenterPoint Energy Minnegasco, it involves a commitment to the people and communities we serve through community, volunteer and charitable programs,” said Tracy Bridge, Director of Government and Public Relations. “We strongly believe it’s important to support the efforts of communities to keep their cities beautiful and their citizens safe. We’re very pleased that so many cities responded positively to the Program.”

The following cities received grants for community improvements:

Public Safety Equipment

Apple Valley

Blue Earth

Cleveland

Lakeville

Luverne

Madelia

Mayer

Minnetonka

Because this is an ongoing program and with as many as 26 more grants available for 2003, cities served by CenterPoint Energy Minnegasco are encouraged to apply for future grants. Proposed projects must be initiated or sanctioned by a city. They must already be in the planning stages and must be for significant and planned special projects that have broad community support, with grant program funds used to leverage local funds. Cities are eligible to apply every year; however, priority status is given to those that have not received previous funding. Eligible projects include:

Public Space Beautification – Public park enhancements including playground equipment, park benches and trees; main street beautification, tree planting and landscaping projects in public places; trail enhancements; etc.
Public Safety Equipment – Multi-gas atmosphere monitors, thermal imaging cameras, extraction tools, self-contained breathing apparatus, nozzles, specialized emergency response and rescue equipment, etc.

Cities interested in applying for grants should contact CenterPoint Energy Minnegasco at (612) 321-4828. The Web Site address is http://www.minnegasco.CenterPointEnergy.com.

Headquartered in Minneapolis, CenterPoint Energy Minnegasco is Minnesota’s largest natural gas distribution company, serving more than 728,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in over 240 communities. The company also provides non-regulated services through its Home Service Plus(R) business, offering a broad range of home services including: heating, cooling and appliance repair and maintenance service plans; locally monitored home security systems; sales of heating and air conditioning equipment; and other home comfort products. The company web site is http://www.minnegasco.CenterPointEnergy.com. CenterPoint Energy Minnegasco is a division of CenterPoint Energy, Inc., a domestic energy delivery company headquartered in Houston Texas that includes electricity transmission and distribution, natural gas distribution and sales, interstate pipeline and gathering operations, and more than 14,000 megawatts of power generation in Texas.