Electric Safety Tips

• When completing indoor repairs to plumbing, be aware of the proximity to electrical circuits within the home and de-energize any circuits that may be contacted prior to beginning repair work.
• Contact a licensed electrician to inspect any electrical equipment or appliances prior to re-energizing.
• Your electrician will assess the damage and will then need to ensure that your home's electrical system is safe to receive power.
  
• Your electrician may need to either call CenterPoint Energy or direct you to call us at 713-207-2222 to ensure that it is safe to perform electrical work.
• Even if you or your electrician call and ask us to remotely disconnect service, there still could be voltage present. Therefore, we will ask the electrician and/you to confirm this before going forward and will remind you to take precautions around your breakers.
• CenterPoint Energy is responsible for and will make repairs to the electric delivery system up to where it connects to your home or business. However, you are responsible for repairs if there is damage to the meter box or weather head  (where the line enters your home through a pipe).
• If the meter box or weather head is damaged, our crews will not be able to re-establish service. If in doubt, contact a licensed electrician now to inspect and any necessary repairs.
• If you are going to perform any work on your gutters, roof or chimney due to storm damage, remember to be aware of overhead power lines. You must stay at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines to ensure you or any object such as a ladder does not come into contact with it which may result in serious injury.

Natural Gas Safety Tips

• Be alert for the smell of natural gas. If you smell gas, leave the area immediately on foot and tell others to leave, too. Do not turn the lights on or off, smoke, strike a match, use a cell phone or operate anything that might cause a spark, including a flashlight or a generator.
• Do not attempt to turn natural gas valves on or off. Once safely away from the area, call 888-876-5786 and CenterPoint Energy will send a trained service technician.
• If your home sustained water damage, call a licensed plumber to make repairs. This is a good time to inspect water heaters for proper installation and safety.
• For any repairs required to be completed outdoors and underground, call 811, the nationwide Call Before You Dig number, to have all underground utilities located prior to excavation.
• Be aware of where your natural gas meter is located. As debris is put out for heavy trash pickup, make sure it is placed away from the meter. In many areas the meter may be located near the curb. If debris is near a gas meter, the mechanized equipment used by trash collectors could pull up the meter, damaging it and causing a potentially hazardous situation. If this happens, leave the area immediately and call CenterPoint Energy at 888-876-5786.