CenterPoint Energy 2015 Annual Report Download - page 20

believesitmayhaveresponsibilitywas$5millionto$29millionbasedonremediationcontinuingfor30to50years.Thecostestimatesarebasedonstudiesofa
site or industry average costs for remediation of sites of similar size. The actual remediation costs will depend on the number of sites to be remediated, the
participationofotherpotentiallyresponsibleparties(PRPs),ifany,andtheremediationmethodsused.
InadditiontotheMinnesotasites,theEPAandotherregulatorshaveinvestigatedMGPsitesthatwereownedoroperatedbyCERCormayhavebeenowned
by one of its former affiliates. We do notexpect the ultimate outcome of these matters to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of
operationsorcashflowsofeitherusorCERC.
Asbestos. Somefacilitiesownedbyuscontainorhavecontainedasbestosinsulationandotherasbestos-containingmaterials.Weoroursubsidiarieshavebeen
named, along with numerous others, as defendants in lawsuits filed by a number of individuals who claim injury due to exposure to asbestos. Some of the
claimantshaveworkedatlocationsownedbyus,butmostexistingclaimsrelatetofacilitiespreviouslyownedbyoursubsidiaries.In2004,wesoldourgenerating
business,towhichmostoftheseclaimsrelate,toacompanywhichisnowanaffiliateofNRG.Underthetermsofthearrangementsregardingseparationofthe
generatingbusinessfromusandoursaleofthatbusiness,ultimatefinancialresponsibilityforuninsuredlossesfromclaimsrelatingtothegeneratingbusinesshas
beenassumedbytheNRGaffiliate,butwehaveagreedtocontinuetodefendsuchclaimstotheextenttheyarecoveredbyinsurancemaintainedbyus,subjectto
reimbursementofthecostsofsuchdefensebytheNRGaffiliate.Weanticipatethatadditionalclaimslikethosereceivedmaybeassertedinthefuture.Although
theirultimateoutcomecannotbepredictedatthistime,weintendtocontinuevigorouslycontestingclaimsthatwedonotconsidertohavemeritanddonotexpect,
based on our experience to date, these matters, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of
operationsorcashflows.
Other Environmental. From time to time we identify the presence of environmental contaminants on property where we conduct or have conducted
operations.Other such sites involving contaminants maybeidentifiedin the future.  Wehaveremediatedandexpect to continue to remediate identified sites
consistentwithourlegalobligations.FromtimetotimewehavereceivednoticesfromregulatoryauthoritiesorothersregardingourstatusasaPRPinconnection
withsitesfoundtorequireremediationduetothepresenceofenvironmentalcontaminants.Inaddition,wehavebeennamedfromtimetotimeasadefendantin
litigationrelatedtosuchsites.Althoughtheultimateoutcomeofsuchmatterscannotbepredictedatthistime,wedonotexpect,basedonourexperiencetodate,
thesematters,eitherindividuallyorintheaggregate,tohaveamaterialadverseeffectonourfinancialcondition,resultsofoperationsorcashflows.
EMPLOYEES
As of December 31, 2015 , we had 7,505full-time employees.  The following table sets forth the number of our employees by business segment as of
December31,2015:
Business Segment

Number

Number
Represented
by Collective
Bargaining Groups
ElectricTransmission&Distribution

2,665

1,349
NaturalGasDistribution

3,286

1,173
EnergyServices

135

—
OtherOperations

1,419

110
Total

7,505

2,632
AsofDecember31,2015,approximately35%ofouremployeeswerecoveredbycollectivebargainingagreements.Thecollectivebargainingagreementwith
theInternationalBrotherhoodofElectricalWorkersLocal66andthetwocollectivebargainingagreementswithProfessionalEmployeesInternationalUnionLocal
12,whichcollectivelycoverapproximately21%ofouremployees,arescheduledtoexpireinMarchandMayof2016.Webelievewehavegoodrelationships
withthesebargainingunitsandexpecttonegotiatenewagreementsin2016.
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