​COVID-19 Information  


COVID-19 Resources

We appreciate your patience as we strive to continue our values of safety. For any questions, please reference our CenterPoint Energy memo, our corporate COVID-19 update below, and/or contact one of the following resources:

  • Communications Specialist at 612-321-5546



Special Notice as of 6/3/2021


What is CenterPoint Energy’s COVID-19 protocol?

The construction crews and personnel will continue to use the Covid-19 Customer Permission Flyer, which requests customer permission prior to entering homes. Personnel, contractors and CenterPoint Energy employees will continue to practice CDC guidelines regarding social distancing, sanitary practices and wearing face masks when entering customer homes.

What if I have an inside gas meter?

The customer will receive a CenterPoint Energy postcard in the mail typically within one or two weeks prior to the day when the Michels Corporation crews will perform the work. The crews will have CenterPoint Energy-authorized photo IDs stating that they are employees of Michels Corporation.

After the customer receives the postcard, the foreman will arrive at the customer’s house to schedule an appointment that typically meets with the customer’s schedule. If the customer isn’t home when he arrives, he will leave a door tag with his contact information to schedule an appointment with him.

Customers are advised to set aside a two- to four-hour time frame for the inside-to-outside gas meter move. They are also advised to mark their privately-installed utilities such as dog fences or sprinklers. Marking can be accomplished with tools such as spray paint or utility flags. The foreman will access the natural gas meter inside the house, move the meter outside, and relight the natural gas appliance pilot lights after the new meter has been relocated.

Customers with outside meters will be notified prior to the replacement or connection of the service lines to the new mains. Areas affected by our work will be restored to their original condition. 


Special Notice as of 4/20/20

 
As social distancing practices and proper use of PPE, face masks and gloves have become normalized and as customers are willing to allow properly protected personnel into their homes to complete required work to modernize gas facilities, which is essential work, CenterPoint Energy authorized contractors will enter customer homes to complete work only with customer permission.

 
Installing replacement gas mains: According to the Governor of Minnesota’s order, gas main replacement is an essential work function. This allows for the modernization of related gas facilities. The gas main work requires excavations in various locations in the right-of-way (front yard) to facilitate the installation work.
 
Connecting service lines to the new mains: The purpose of our flyer is to advise that with customer permission, crews will now enter homes to complete necessary gas meter work. If you choose not to allow crews to enter your home, gas service will not be interrupted, and we will reschedule for a time better suited to concerns you may have. Crews will continue to replace service lines. Crews may have to dig in the ground on your property in the utility easement and next to your home to complete the task of service line replacement.



Special Notice as of 3/25/20

CenterPoint Energy will implement social distancing for approx. the next month

CNP will postpone utility work that otherwise requires working inside customer homes

If you smell natural gas inside or outside your home, please call CenterPoint Energy’s Emergency line at 612-372-5050. 

Due to concerns over COVID-19, also called coronavirus, CenterPoint Energy will be postponing work activity, such as meter replacement or moving of meters, that requires entry into our customers’ homes or buildings. Here are some of the following aspects you can expect from the crews:

  • Projects that involve the replacement of gas mains and service lines will continue. CenterPoint Energy will not interrupt gas service and will not perform work that is normally done inside customers’ homes (i.e. connecting new meters to customers’ gas pipes).
  • Work that would normally take place inside a home or building will be suspended at this time.
  • Work involving natural gas mains and service lines will continue to take place in their respective areas such as the street, sidewalk and soft surfaces.