Exhibit
12





CENTERPOINT
ENERGY HOUSTON ELECTRIC, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES


(AN
INDIRECT WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.)





COMPUTATION
OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES


(Millions
of Dollars)





Year
      Ended December 31,2004
                                      
                                      
                                      2005
                                      
                                      
                                      2006
                                      
                                      
                                      2007 (1)
                                      
                                      
                                      2008 (1)Income
      from continuing operations
                                      
                                      $
                                      282
                                      
                                      
                                      $
                                      223
                                      
                                      
                                      $
                                      271
                                      
                                      
                                      $
                                      273
                                      
                                      
                                      $
                                      222Income
      taxes for continuing operations
                                      
                                      
                                      137
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      108
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      132
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      126
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      121Capitalized
      interest
                                      
                                      
                                      (2
                                      )
                                      
                                      
                                      (3
                                      )
                                      
                                      
                                      (4
                                      )
                                      
                                      
                                      (10
                                      )
                                      
                                      
                                      (7
                                      )417
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      328
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      399
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      389
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      336Fixed
      charges, as defined:Interest
                                      
                                      
                                      345
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      328
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      240
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      230
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      245Capitalized
    interest
                                      
                                      
                                      2
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      3
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      4
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      10
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      7Interest component of rentals
      charged to
                                        operating expense
                                      
                                      
                                      1
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      1
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      2
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      1
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      2Total fixed
charges
                                      
                                      
                                      348
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      332
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      246
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      241
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      254Earnings,
      as defined
                                      
                                      $
                                      765
                                      
                                      
                                      $
                                      660
                                      
                                      
                                      $
                                      645
                                      
                                      
                                      $
                                      630
                                      
                                      
                                      $
                                      590Ratio
      of earnings to fixed charges
                                      
                                      
                                      2.20
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      1.99
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      2.62
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      2.61
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      2.33


________


(1)
            Excluded
      from the computation of fixed charges for the years ended December 31,
      2007 and 2008 is interest expense of $4 million and $7 million,
      respectively, which is included in income tax
  expense.