April 30 (Reuters) - CenterPoint Energy ( CNP ) beat

Wall Street estimates for first-quarter profit on Tuesday,

helped by base rate hikes for its Minnesota gas business and

favorable weather which helped the performance of its

electricity transmission unit.

CenterPoint's service territories experienced a cold snap at

the start of the year, which helped boost customer demand for

electricity.

In its electric unit, the company saw higher usage with

metered customers rising 2% from last year, while total

throughput supplied increased 6%.

Additionally, Minnesota regulators approved the company's

rate increase request in December, which resulted in rise in

customers bills starting January.

CenterPoint delivers natural gas to about 4 million homes

and businesses in six states - Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota,

Mississippi, Ohio and Texas.

Houston Electric, CenterPoint's subsidiary, also filed for

its Texas System Resiliency Plan which could provide up to $500

million in incremental capital investment.

"I am excited about the opportunity to further collaborate

with various stakeholders on the first of its kind System

Resiliency Plan in Texas for a range of investments of $2.2

billion to $2.7 billion over the next three years," CEO Jason

Wells said.

The Houston, Texas-based firm posted an adjusted profit of

55 cents per share for the three-month period ended March 31,

above the analysts' average estimate of 53 cents per share,

according to LSEG data.

CenterPoint reaffirmed its full-year adjusted profit outlook

of between $1.61 and $1.63 per share and maintained its adjusted

profit growth target through 2030 of 6%-8% annually.