Document:

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                                                                EXHIBIT 4(e)(20)

CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC
1111 Louisiana
Houston, TX 77002

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                    CENTERPOINT ENERGY HOUSTON ELECTRIC, LLC

                                       TO

                               JPMORGAN CHASE BANK
                                     Trustee

                                   ----------

                        FIFTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

                           Dated as of March 31, 2004

                                   ----------

                  Supplementing the General Mortgage Indenture
                          Dated as of October 10, 2002

         THIS INSTRUMENT GRANTS A SECURITY INTEREST BY A PUBLIC UTILITY

           THIS INSTRUMENT CONTAINS AFTER-ACQUIRED PROPERTY PROVISIONS

This instrument is being filed pursuant to Chapter 35 of the Texas Business and
Commerce Code

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FIFTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of March 31, 2004, between
CENTERPOINT ENERGY HOUSTON ELECTRIC, LLC, a limited liability company organized
and existing under the laws of the State of Texas (herein called the "Company"),
having its principal office at 1111 Louisiana, Houston, Texas 77002, and
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, a banking corporation duly organized and existing under the
laws of the State of New York, as Trustee (herein called the "Trustee"), the
office of the Trustee at which on the date hereof its corporate trust business
is administered being 600 Travis Street, Suite 1150, Houston, Texas 77002.

                             RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee a
General Mortgage Indenture dated as of October 10, 2002 (the "Indenture")
providing for the issuance by the Company from time to time of its bonds, notes
or other evidence of indebtedness to be issued in one or more series (in the
Indenture and herein called the "Securities") and to provide security for the
payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the
Securities; and

WHEREAS, the Company, in the exercise of the power and authority conferred upon
and reserved to it under the provisions of the Indenture and pursuant to
appropriate resolutions of the Manager, has duly determined to make, execute and
deliver to the Trustee this Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture to the Indenture as
permitted by Sections 201, 301, 403(2) and 1401 of the Indenture in order to
establish the form or terms of, and to provide for the creation and issuance of,
a sixteenth series of Securities under the Indenture in an aggregate principal
amount of $33,470,000 (such sixteenth series being hereinafter referred to as
the "Sixteenth Series"); and

WHEREAS, all things necessary to make the Securities of the Sixteenth Series,
when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or
any Authenticating Agent and issued upon the terms and subject to the conditions
hereinafter and in the Indenture set forth against payment therefor the valid,
binding and legal obligations of the Company and to make this Fifteenth
Supplemental Indenture a valid, binding and legal agreement of the Company, have
been done;

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS FIFTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH that, in order
to establish the terms of a series of Securities, and for and in consideration
of the premises and of the covenants contained in the Indenture and in this
Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture and for other good and valuable consideration
the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, it is mutually
covenanted and agreed as follows:

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                                   ARTICLE ONE

                        DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
                             OF GENERAL APPLICATION

     Section 101. Definitions. Each capitalized term that is used herein and is
defined in the Indenture shall have the meaning specified in the Indenture
unless such term is otherwise defined herein.

                                   ARTICLE TWO

                       TITLE, FORM AND TERMS OF THE BONDS

     Section 201. Title of the Bonds. This Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture
hereby creates a series of Securities designated as the "General Mortgage Bonds,
Series P, due April 1, 2012" of the Company (collectively referred to herein as
the "Bonds"). For purposes of the Indenture, the Bonds shall constitute a single
series of Securities and, subject to the provisions, including, but not limited
to Article Four of the Indenture, the Bonds shall be issued in an aggregate
principal amount of $33,470,000.

     Section 202. Form and Terms of the Bonds. The form and terms of the Bonds
will be set forth in an Officer's Certificate delivered by the Company to the
Trustee pursuant to the authority granted by this Fifteenth Supplemental
Indenture in accordance with Sections 201 and 301 of the Indenture.

     Section 203. Treatment of Proceeds of Title Insurance Policy. Any moneys
received by the Trustee as proceeds of any title insurance policy on Mortgaged
Property of the Company shall be subject to and treated in accordance with the
provisions of Section 607(2) of the Indenture (other than the last paragraph
thereof).

                                  ARTICLE THREE

                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

The Trustee makes no undertaking or representations in respect of, and shall not
be responsible in any manner whatsoever for and in respect of, the validity or
sufficiency of this Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture or the proper authorization
or the due execution hereof by the Company or for or in respect of the recitals
and statements contained herein, all of which recitals and statements are made
solely by the Company.

Except as expressly amended and supplemented hereby, the Indenture shall
continue in full force and effect in accordance with the provisions thereof and
the Indenture is in all respects hereby ratified and confirmed. This Fifteenth
Supplemental Indenture and all of its provisions shall be deemed a part of the
Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided.

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This Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

This Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but
all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

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          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Fifteenth
Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above
written.

                                        CENTERPOINT ENERGY HOUSTON ELECTRIC, LLC

                                        By: /s/ Marc Kilbride
                                            ------------------------------------
                                        Name: Marc Kilbride
                                        Title: Vice President and Treasurer

                                        JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, as Trustee

                                        By: /s/ Carol Logan
                                            ------------------------------------
                                        Name: Carol Logan
                                        Title: Vice President

                                 ACKNOWLEDGMENT

STATE OF TEXAS     )
                   ) ss
COUNTY OF HARRIS   )

          On the 29th day of March, 2004, before me personally came Marc
Kilbride, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he
resides in Houston, Texas; that he is the Vice President and Treasurer of
CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, the
limited liability company described in and which executed the foregoing
instrument; and that he signed his name thereto by authority of the sole manager
of said limited liability company.

                                        /s/ Lena Arleen Williams
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Notary Public

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                                 ACKNOWLEDGMENT

STATE OF TEXAS     )
                   ) ss
COUNTY OF HARRIS   )

          On the 29th day of March, 2004, before me personally came Carol Logan,
to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that she resides in
Houston, Texas; that she is Vice President of JPMorgan Chase Bank, a banking
corporation organized under the State of New York, the corporation described in
and which executed the foregoing instrument; and that she signed her name
thereto by authority of the board of directors of said corporation.

                                        /s/ Jeanette C. Dunn
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Notary Public<PAGE>
                                                                EXHIBIT 4(e)(21)

                    CENTERPOINT ENERGY HOUSTON ELECTRIC, LLC

                              OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE

                                 March 31, 2004

I, the undersigned officer of CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC, a Texas
limited liability company (the "Company"), do hereby certify that I am an
Authorized Officer of the Company as such term is defined in the Indenture (as
defined herein). I am delivering this certificate pursuant to the authority
granted in the Resolutions adopted by written consent of the Manager of the
Company dated March 29, 2004, and Sections 105, 201, 301, 401(1), 401(5),
403(2)(A), 403(2)(B) and 1403 of the General Mortgage Indenture dated as of
October 10, 2002, as heretofore supplemented to the date hereof (as heretofore
supplemented, the "Indenture"), between the Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as
Trustee (the "Trustee"). Terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein
shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture unless the context
clearly requires otherwise. Based upon the foregoing, I hereby certify on behalf
of the Company as follows:

1. The terms and conditions of the Securities of the series described in this
Officer's Certificate are as follows (the numbered subdivisions set forth in
this Paragraph 1 corresponding to the numbered subdivisions of Section 301 of
the Indenture):

     (1) The Securities of the sixteenth series to be issued under the Indenture
     shall be designated "General Mortgage Bonds, Series P, due April 1, 2012"
     (the "Series P Bonds").

     (2) The Series P Bonds shall be authenticated and delivered in the
     aggregate principal amount of $33,470,000.

     (3) Not applicable.

     (4) The Series P Bonds shall mature and the principal thereof shall be due
     and payable together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon on April
     1, 2012. Principal and premium, if any, are payable on the Series P Bonds
     on such date or dates (subject to the terms of subsection 8(b) hereof), and
     in such amounts, as principal and premium, if any, are payable (whether at
     maturity, redemption or otherwise) on the Series 2004A Brazos River Bonds
     (as defined below). The obligation of the Company to make any payment of
     principal on the Series P Bonds shall be fully or partially, as the case
     may be, deemed to have been paid or otherwise satisfied and discharged to
     the extent that the Company has paid or caused to be paid to the Brazos
     River Trustee (as defined below) the Installment Payment (as defined below)
     in respect of the principal then due and payable on the Collateralized
     Revenue Refunding Bonds (CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC Project)
     Series 2004A (the "Series 2004A Brazos River Bonds") issued under that
     certain Trust Indenture dated as of March 1, 2004 (as amended and
     supplemented, the "Brazos River Indenture") between the Brazos River
     Authority (the "Issuer") and JPMorgan Chase Bank, a New York banking
     organization, as trustee (the "Brazos River Trustee").

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     (5) The Series P Bonds shall bear interest from the date on which the
     Series 2004A Brazos River Bonds commence to bear interest at such rate or
     rates per annum as shall cause the amount of interest payable on each
     Interest Payment Date (as defined below) on the Series P Bonds to equal the
     amount of interest payable on such Interest Payment Date in respect of the
     Series 2004A Brazos River Bonds under the Brazos River Indenture. Such
     interest on the Series P Bonds shall be payable on the same dates as
     interest is payable from time to time in respect of the Series 2004A Brazos
     River Bonds pursuant to the Brazos River Indenture (each such date herein
     called an "Interest Payment Date"), until the maturity of the Series P
     Bonds, or, in the case of any default by the Company in the payment of the
     principal due on the Series P Bonds, until the Company's obligation with
     respect to the payment of such principal shall be discharged as provided in
     the Indenture. The amount of interest payable from time to time in respect
     of the Series 2004A Brazos River Bonds under the Brazos River Indenture,
     the basis on which such interest is computed and the dates on which such
     interest is payable are set forth in the Brazos River Indenture. The
     obligation of the Company to make any payment of interest on the Series P
     Bonds shall be fully or partially, as the case may be, deemed to have been
     paid or otherwise satisfied and discharged to the extent that the Company
     has paid or caused to be paid to the Brazos River Trustee the Installment
     Payment (as defined below) in respect of the interest then due and payable
     on the Series 2004A Brazos River Bonds. The Regular Record Date and Special
     Record Date provisions of the Indenture shall not apply to the Series P
     Bonds.

     (6) The Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee in Dallas, Texas shall be the
     place at which (i) the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, the
     Series P Bonds shall be payable, and (ii) registration of transfer of the
     Series P Bonds may be effected; and the Corporate Trust Office of the
     Trustee in Houston, Texas shall be the place at which notices and demands
     to or upon the Company in respect of the Series P Bonds and the Indenture
     may be served; and the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar for the
     Series P Bonds; provided, however, that the Company reserves the right to
     change, by one or more Officer's Certificates, any such place or the
     Security Registrar; and provided, further, that the Company reserves the
     right to designate, by one or more Officer's Certificates, its principal
     office in Houston, Texas as any such place or itself as the Security
     Registrar; provided, however, that there shall be only a single Security
     Registrar for the Series P Bonds.

     (7) Not applicable.

     (8) The Series P bonds will not be redeemable at the option of the Company
     or otherwise pursuant to the requirements of the Indenture, provided
     however that (a) in the event that the redemption of Series 2004A Brazos
     River Bonds is required under the Brazos River Indenture due to the
     occurrence of a Determination of Taxability, as such term is defined in
     subsection (d) of Section 8 of the Form of Series 2004A Brazos River Bonds
     set forth in Exhibit A to the Brazos River Indenture, the Company will
     redeem Series P Bonds equal in principal amount to the Series 2004A Brazos
     River Bonds to be redeemed at a redemption price equal to 100% of the
     principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest to such date fixed for
     redemption, and (b) upon receipt by the Trustee of a written demand from
     the Brazos River Trustee stating that the principal amount of all

                                        2

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     Series 2004A Brazos River Bonds then outstanding under the Brazos River
     Indenture has been declared immediately due and payable, the Company,
     subject to the terms and provisions of the Series P Bonds, will redeem the
     Series P Bonds not more than 180 days after receipt by the Trustee of such
     written demand, the notice provisions of Article Five of the Indenture not
     being applicable under the foregoing circumstances.

     (9) The Series P Bonds are issuable only in denominations of $33,470,000.

     (10) Not applicable.

     (11) Not applicable.

     (12) Not applicable.

     (13) Not applicable.

     (14) Not applicable.

     (15) Not applicable.

     (16) Not applicable.

     (17) The Series P Bonds shall be evidenced by a single registered Series P
     Bond in the principal amount and denomination of $33,470,000. The Series P
     Bonds shall be executed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee for
     authentication and delivery.

     The single Series P Bond shall be identified by the number P-1 and shall
     upon issuance be delivered by the Company to, and registered in the name
     of, the Trustee, and shall be transferable only as required to effect an
     assignment thereof to a successor or an assign of the Trustee under the
     Indenture. The Series P Bonds are to be issued by the Company to the Brazos
     River Trustee in order that the Brazos River Trustee shall have the benefit
     as a holder of the Series P Bonds of the lien of the Indenture in the event
     of the non-payment by the Company of the Installment Payments (the
     "Installment Payments"), as defined in, and pursuant to the Installment
     Payment and Bond Amortization Agreement (the "Installment Payment
     Agreement"), dated as of March 1, 2004, by and between the Issuer and the
     Company entered into with respect to the Series 2004A Brazos River Bonds.

     Series P Bonds issued upon transfer shall be numbered consecutively from
     P-2 upwards and issued in the authorized denominations set forth in
     subsection (9) above. See also subsection (19) below.

     (18) Not applicable.

     (19) The holder of the Series P Bonds by acceptance of the Series P Bonds
     agrees to restrictions on transfer and to waivers of certain rights of
     exchange as set forth herein. The Series P Bonds have not been registered
     under the Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered, sold or otherwise
     transferred in the absence of such registration or an

                                        3

<PAGE>

     applicable exemption therefrom. No service charge shall be made for the
     registration of transfer or exchange of the Series P Bonds.

     (20) For purposes of the Series P Bonds, "Business Day" means any day other
     than (i) a Saturday or Sunday, (ii) a day on which commercial banks in New
     York, New York, Houston, Texas, or the city in which the principal
     corporate trust office of the Indenture Trustee is located, are authorized
     by law to close or (iii) a day on which the New York Stock Exchange is
     closed.

     (21) Not applicable.

     (22) The Trustee may conclusively presume that the obligation of the
     Company to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the
     Series P Bonds shall have been fully satisfied and discharged unless and
     until it shall have received a written notice from the Brazos River
     Trustee, signed by an authorized officer of the Brazos River Trustee and
     attested by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Brazos River
     Trustee, stating that the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or
     interest on the Series P Bonds has not been fully paid when due and
     specifying the amount of funds required to make such payment.

     The obligation of the Company to make any payment of the principal of,
     premium, if any, or interest on the Series P Bonds, whether at maturity,
     upon redemption (including any redemption due to the occurrence of a
     Determination of Taxability, as such term is defined in subsection (d) of
     Section 8 of the Form of the Series 2004A Brazos River Bonds set forth in
     Exhibit A of the Brazos River Indenture) or otherwise, shall be fully or
     partially, as the case may be, deemed to have been paid or otherwise
     satisfied and discharged to the extent that at the time any such payment
     shall be due, the then due principal of, premium, if any, or interest on
     the Series 2004A Brazos River Bonds which corresponds to such amounts under
     the Series P Bonds shall have been fully or partially paid, deemed to have
     been paid or otherwise satisfied and discharged. In addition, such
     obligation to make any payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or
     interest on the Series P Bonds at any time shall be deemed to have been
     satisfied and discharged to the extent that the amount of the Company's
     obligation to make any payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or
     interest on the Series P Bonds exceeds the obligation of the Company at
     that time to make any Installment Payment.

     In the event the Company is required under Section 6.05 of the Installment
     Payment Agreement to, and does, issue First Mortgage Securities to secure
     its obligations under the Installment Payment Agreement, as provided in
     Section 6.05 of the Installment Payment Agreement, the Company shall no
     longer be required to maintain outstanding, and the Brazos River Trustee
     shall surrender to the Trustee, the Series P Bonds in accordance with
     Section 5.03 of the Brazos River Indenture.

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     The Series P Bonds shall have such other terms and provisions as are
     provided in the form thereof attached hereto as Exhibit A, and shall be
     issued in substantially such form.

2. The undersigned has read all of the covenants and conditions contained in the
Indenture, and the definitions in the Indenture relating thereto, relating to
the issuance of the Series P Bonds and the execution of the Fifteenth
Supplemental Indenture to the Indenture in respect of compliance with which this
certificate is made.

3. The statements contained in this certificate are based upon the familiarity
of the undersigned with the Indenture, the documents accompanying this
certificate, and upon discussions by the undersigned with officers and employees
of the Company familiar with the matters set forth herein.

4. In the opinion of the undersigned, he has made such examination or
investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to
whether or not such covenants and conditions have been complied with.

     In the opinion of the undersigned, such conditions and covenants have been
complied with.

5. To the knowledge of the undersigned, no Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing.

6. The execution of the Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of the date
hereof, between the Company and the Trustee is authorized or permitted by the
Indenture.

7. First Mortgage Bonds, Pollution Control 6.70% Series due March 1, 2017,
having an aggregate principal amount of $33,470,000 (collectively, the "First
Mortgage Bonds"), have heretofore been authenticated and delivered. The First
Mortgage Bonds have been returned to and cancelled by the trustee under the
First Mortgage prior to the date hereof, constitute Retired Securities and are
the basis for the authentication and delivery of the Series P Bonds. The maximum
Stated Interest Rate on the First Mortgage Bonds at the time of their
authentication and delivery was not less than the maximum Stated Interest Rate
on the Series P Bonds to be in effect upon the initial authentication and
delivery thereof.

                                        5

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          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Officer's
Certificate as of the date first above written.

                                        By: /s/ Marc Kilbride
                                            ------------------------------------
                                        Name: Marc Kilbride
                                        Title: Vice President and Treasurer

Acknowledged and Received on
March 31, 2004

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK,
as Trustee

By: /s/ Carol Logan
    ---------------------------------
Name: Carol Logan
Title: Vice President

                                        6

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                                    EXHIBIT A

                              FORM OF SERIES P BOND

<PAGE>

NOTE: THE HOLDER OF THIS BOND BY ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO RESTRICTIONS ON
TRANSFER AND TO INDEMNIFICATION PROVISIONS AS SET FORTH BELOW. IN ADDITION, THE
BOND REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND SUCH BOND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED WITHOUT COMPLIANCE
WITH APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS.

THIS BOND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE EXCEPT, AS FURTHER PROVIDED HEREIN, TO A SUCCESSOR
OR ASSIGN OF THE TRUSTEE UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE REFERRED TO HEREIN BETWEEN
THE ISSUER AND SUCH TRUSTEE.

                    CENTERPOINT ENERGY HOUSTON ELECTRIC, LLC
               General Mortgage Bonds, Series P, due April 1, 2012

Original Interest Accrual Date:   March 31, 2004
Stated Maturity:                  April 1, 2012
Interest Rate:                    See below
Interest Payment Dates:           See below
Regular Record Dates:             N/A
Redeemable by Company:            Yes  X  No
                                      ---    ---
Redemption Date:                  See below
Redemption Price:                 See below

               This Security is not an Original Discount Security
              within the meaning of the within-mentioned Indenture.

Principal Amount
$33,470,000                                                              No. P-1

CENTERPOINT ENERGY HOUSTON ELECTRIC, LLC, a corporation duly organized and
existing under the laws of the State of Texas (herein called the "Company,"
which term includes any successor under the Indenture referred to below), for
value received, hereby promises to pay to JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, a New York
banking organization, as Trustee under the Brazos River Indenture (as herein
defined) or its registered assigns (the "Brazos River Trustee"), the principal
sum of THIRTY-THREE MILLION FOUR HUNDRED SEVENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS, in whole or
in installments on such date or dates (subject to the tenth paragraph hereof)
and in such amounts, and to pay to the Brazos River Trustee premium, if any, in
whole or in installments on such date or dates and in such amounts, as the
Issuer (as defined herein) has any obligations under the Trust Indenture (as
amended and supplemented, the "Brazos River Indenture"), dated as of March 1,
2004, between the Brazos River Authority (the "Issuer") and the Brazos River
Trustee to repay any principal or to pay premium, if any, in respect of the
Collateralized Revenue Refunding Bonds (CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC
Project) Series 2004A issued under the Brazos River Indenture (hereinafter
referred to as the "Series 2004A Brazos River Bonds"), but not later than the
Stated Maturity specified above. The obligation of the Company to make any
payment of principal or premium, if any, on this Bond, whether at maturity or
otherwise, shall be fully or partially, as the case may be, deemed to have been
paid or otherwise satisfied and discharged to the extent that the

<PAGE>

Company has paid or caused to be paid to the Brazos River Trustee the
Installment Payment (as defined below) in respect of the principal or premium,
if any, then due and payable on the Series 2004A Brazos River Bonds.

Interest shall be payable on this Bond on the same dates as interest is payable
from time to time in respect of the Series 2004A Brazos River Bonds pursuant to
the Brazos River Indenture (each such date herein called an "Interest Payment
Date"), at such rate or rates per annum as shall cause the amount of interest
payable on such Interest Payment Date on this Bond to equal the amount of
interest payable on such Interest Payment Date in respect of the Series 2004A
Brazos River Bonds under the Brazos River Indenture. Such interest shall be
payable until the maturity of this Bond, or, if the Company shall default in the
payment of the principal due on this Bond, until the Company's obligation with
respect to the payment of such principal shall be discharged as provided in the
Indenture. The amount of interest payable from time to time in respect of the
Series 2004A Brazos River Bonds under the Brazos River Indenture, the basis on
which such interest is computed and the dates on which such interest is payable
are set forth in the Brazos River Indenture. This Bond shall bear interest from
the Original Interest Accrual Date listed on the first page of this Bond. The
obligation of the Company to make any payment of interest on this Bond shall be
fully or partially, as the case may be, deemed to have been paid or otherwise
satisfied and discharged to the extent that the Company has paid or caused to be
paid to the Brazos River Trustee the Installment Payment (as defined below) in
respect of the interest then due and payable on the Series 2004A Brazos River
Bonds.

This Bond is issued to the Brazos River Trustee in order that the Brazos River
Trustee shall have the benefit as a holder of this Bond of the lien of the
Indenture (as defined below) in the event of the non-payment by the Company of
the Installment Payments (the "Installment Payments"), as defined in and
pursuant to the Installment Payment and Bond Amortization Agreement (as amended
and supplemented, the "Installment Payment Agreement"), dated as of March 1,
2004, between the Issuer and the Company entered into with respect to the Series
2004A Brazos River Bonds. Any capitalized terms used herein and not defined
herein shall have the meanings specified in the Indenture (as defined below),
unless otherwise noted.

THIS BOND SHALL NOT BE TRANSFERABLE EXCEPT AS REQUIRED TO EFFECT AN ASSIGNMENT
HEREOF TO A SUCCESSOR OR AN ASSIGN OF THE BRAZOS RIVER TRUSTEE UNDER THE BRAZOS
RIVER INDENTURE.

The Brazos River Trustee shall surrender this Bond to the Trustee (as defined
below) in accordance with Section 5.07(d) of the Installment Payment Agreement.

Payments of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on this Bond shall
be made at the Corporate Trust Administration of JPMorgan Chase Bank, as
Trustee, located at 2001 Bryan Street, 9th Floor, Dallas, Texas 75201, or at
such other office or agency as may be designated for such purpose by the Company
from time to time. Payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on
this Bond, as aforesaid, shall be made in such coin or currency of the United
States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the
payment of public and private debts.

This Bond is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein
called the "Securities"), issued and issuable in one or more series under and
equally secured by a General Mortgage Indenture, dated as of October 10, 2002
(such Indenture as originally executed and delivered and as supplemented or
amended from time to time thereafter, together with any constituent instruments
establishing the terms of particular Securities, being herein called the
"Indenture"), between the Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as trustee (herein
called the "Trustee," which term includes any successor trustee under the
Indenture), to which Indenture reference is hereby made for a description of the
property mortgaged, pledged and held in trust, the nature and extent of the
security and the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities
of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities thereunder and of
the terms and conditions upon which the Securities are, and are to be,
authenticated and delivered and secured. The acceptance of this Bond shall be
deemed to constitute the consent and agreement by the Holder hereof to all of
the terms and provisions of the Indenture. This Bond is one of the series
designated above.

The Bonds of this series will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund
or voluntary redemption provisions.

<PAGE>

If an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, shall occur and be
continuing, the principal of this Bond may be declared due and payable in the
manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

This Bond will not be redeemable at the option of the Company or otherwise
pursuant to the requirements of the Indenture, provided however that (a) in the
event of the required redemption of Series 2004A Brazos River Bonds due to the
occurrence of a Determination of Taxability, as such term is defined in
subsection (d) of Section 8 of the Form of Series 2004A Brazos River Bonds set
forth in Exhibit A to the Brazos River Indenture, the Company will redeem Bonds
equal in principal amount to the Series 2004A Brazos River Bonds to be redeemed
at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus
accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption, and (b) upon receipt by the
Trustee of a written demand from the Brazos River Trustee stating that the
principal amount of

<PAGE>

all Series 2004A Brazos River Bonds then outstanding under the Brazos River
Indenture has been declared immediately due and payable, the Company, subject to
the terms and provisions of the Bonds, will redeem the Bonds not more than 180
days after receipt by the Trustee of such written demand.

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the Trustee
to enter into one or more supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any
provisions to, or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions
of, the Indenture with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all series then Outstanding
under the Indenture, considered as one class; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if there
shall be Securities of more than one series Outstanding under the Indenture and
if a proposed supplemental indenture shall directly affect the rights of the
Holders of Securities of one or more, but less than all, of such series, then
the consent only of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Outstanding Securities of all series so directly affected, considered as one
class, shall be required; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that if the Securities of any
series shall have been issued in more than one Tranche and if the proposed
supplemental indenture shall directly affect the rights of the Holders of
Securities of one or more, but less than all, of such Tranches, then the consent
only of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of all Tranches so directly affected, considered as one
class, shall be required; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that the Indenture permits the
Trustee to enter into one or more supplemental indentures for limited purposes
without the consent of any Holders of Securities. The Indenture also contains
provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Securities then Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities, to
waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and
certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such
consent or waiver by the Holder of this Bond shall be conclusive and binding
upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Bond and of any Security
issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange therefor or in
lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this
Bond.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein and
herein set forth, the transfer of this Bond is registrable in the Security
Register, upon surrender of this Bond for registration of transfer at the
Corporate Trust Office of JPMorgan Chase Bank in Houston, Texas or such other
office or agency as may be designated by the Company from time to time, duly
endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form
satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the
Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or
more new Bonds of this series of authorized denominations and of like tenor and
aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or
transferees.

The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may deem
and treat the person in whose name this Bond shall be registered upon the
Security Register for the Bonds of this series as the absolute owner of such
Bond for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of
and interest on this Bond and for all other purposes, whether or not this Bond
be overdue, and neither the Company nor the Trustee shall be affected by any
notice to the contrary; and all such payments so made to such registered owner
or upon his order shall be valid and effectual to satisfy and discharge the
liability upon this Bond to the extent of the sum or sums paid.

The Trustee may conclusively presume that the obligation of the Company to pay
the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on this Bond shall have been
fully satisfied and discharged unless and until it shall have received a written
notice from the Brazos River Trustee, signed by an authorized officer of the
Brazos River Trustee and attested by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of
the Brazos River Trustee, stating that the payment of principal of, premium, if
any, or interest on this Bond has not been fully paid when due and specifying
the amount of funds required to make such payment.

The obligation of the Company to make any payment of the principal of, premium,
if any, or interest on this Bond, whether at maturity, upon redemption
(including any redemption due to the occurrence of a Determination of
Taxability, as such term is defined in subsection (d) of Section 8 of the Form
of the Series 2004A Brazos River Bonds set forth in Exhibit A of the Brazos
River Indenture) or otherwise, shall be fully or partially, as the case may be,
deemed to have been paid or otherwise satisfied and discharged to the extent
that at the time any such payment shall be due, the then due principal, premium,
if any, or interest on the Series 2004A Brazos River Bonds which corresponds to
such amounts under this Bond shall have been fully or partially paid, deemed to
have been paid or otherwise satisfied and discharged. In addition, such
obligation to make any payment of the principal of, premium,

<PAGE>

if any, or interest on this Bond at any time shall be deemed to have been
satisfied and discharged to the extent that the amount of the Company's
obligation to make any payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest
on this Bond exceeds the obligation of the Company at that time to make any
Installment Payment.

No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in the
Indenture or in any indenture supplemental thereto, or in any Bond or coupon
thereby secured, or because of any indebtedness thereby secured, shall be had
against any incorporator, member, manager, stockholder, officer, director or
employee, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or any predecessor or
successor corporation or company, either directly or through the Company or any
predecessor or successor corporation or company, whether by virtue of any
constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or
penalty or otherwise; it being expressly agreed and understood that the
Indenture, any indenture supplemental thereto and the obligations thereby
secured, are solely corporate obligations of the Company, and that no personal
liability whatsoever shall attach to, or be incurred by, such incorporators,
members, managers, stockholders, officers, directors or employees, as such, of
the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation or company, or any of
them, because of the creation of the indebtedness thereby authorized, or under
or by reason of any of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the
Indenture or in any indenture supplemental thereto or in any of the Bonds or
coupons thereby secured, or implied therefrom.

The holder of this Bond by acceptance of this Bond agrees to restrictions on
transfer and to waivers of certain rights of exchange as set forth herein. THIS
BOND HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND MAY NOT BE
OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN
APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. No service charge shall be made for the
registration of transfer or exchange of this Bond.

This Bond shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the
State of New York except as provided in the Indenture.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee
or an Authenticating Agent by manual signature, this Bond shall not be entitled
to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

            [The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.]

<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed.

                                        CENTERPOINT ENERGY HOUSTON ELECTRIC, LLC

                                        By:
                                            ------------------------------------
                                        Name:
                                              ----------------------------------
                                        Title:
                                               ---------------------------------

Attest:

-------------------------------------
Name:
      -------------------------------
Title:
       ------------------------------

                          CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

     This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to
in the within-mentioned Indenture.

Date of Authentication: March 31, 2004

                                        JPMORGAN CHASE BANK,
                                        Trustee

                                        By:
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Authorized Signatory

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