China

China is a major producer of solar panels and other solar products. Certain solar cells, modules, laminates and panels from China are subject to various antidumping and countervailing duty rates, depending on the exporter supplying the product, imposed by the U.S. government as a result of determinations the United States was materially injured as a result of such imports being sold at less than fair value and subsidized by the Chinese government. Additionally, in March 2022, the DOC announced it would initiate an investigation into whether imports of solar cells and panels produced in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam are circumventing U.S. rules and laws, such as antidumping and countervailing duty rates, which impose a tariff on imports of solar cells and panels manufactured in China. On August 18, 2023, the DOC announced its final determination that five of the eight companies investigated were attempting to bypass U.S. duties by doing minor processing in Southeast Asian countries before shipment to the United States. On May 15, 2024, based on a petition filed by the American Alliance for Solar Manufacturing Trade Committee, the DOC announced the initiation of antidumping and countervailing duty investigations of silicon photovoltaic cells from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. On October 1, 2024, the DOC’s preliminary countervailing duty determination affirmed the petition and established preliminary duty rates. A final

determination is expected in the first quarter of 2025. On November 29, 2024, the DOC announced its preliminary affirmative determination in the antidumping investigation and established preliminary dumping rates. A final determination is expected in the second quarter of 2025. In addition, in December 2021, the United States enacted the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which bans goods from China’s Xinjiang region due to the use of forced labor. Continuing tensions between the United States and China may lead to restrictions in trade between the two countries or new legislation, tariffs or bans. Furthermore, President Trump has expressed a desire to impose substantial new or increased tariffs on foreign imports into the United States, and in February 2025, President Trump imposed tariffs on several countries (the effectiveness of tariffs imposed on certain countries was subsequently delayed until March 2025) and certain imports into the United States. These tariffs, as well as new legislation, tariffs, bans, potential retaliatory trade measures taken against the United States or related governmental action, could further negatively impact the supply of solar panels. In addition to supply reductions, these or similar duties, legislation and other measures have and may in the future also put upward pressure on prices of these solar energy products, which may reduce our ability to acquire these items in a timely and cost-efficient manner. If we or the developers we are working with are unable to secure such solar energy products in a timely and cost-efficient manner, we may be required to seek additional regulatory review and approvals and/or be forced to delay, downsize and/or cancel solar projects, in which case we may not be able to fully execute on our ten-year capital plan or achieve our net zero and GHG emissions reduction goals. We have experienced project delays due to developers of our projects being unable to acquire solar panels due to supply chain constraints. Additionally, delays or cancellations by developers of third-party solar power facilities expected to interconnect with CenterPoint Energy’s and Houston Electric’s system may have adverse impacts, such as delayed or reduced potential future revenues. We cannot predict what additional actions the U.S. government may adopt with respect to tariffs, trade agreements or other trade regulations in the future or what actions may be taken by other countries in retaliation for such measures. If the DOC imposes tariffs on solar panels as a result of its findings or other additional measures are imposed, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.