CenterPoint Energy assessing damage, restoring power following Hurricane Harvey
2017-08-26T05:00:00Z

​Crews have restored power to more than 175,000 customers in the last 24 hours; Keep phone lines open for electric and gas emergency calls only; Estimated electric restoration times will be provided once assessments are completed; Natural gas system in Houston area is functioning normally; Not yet safe for crews to assess natural gas system in Victoria, Texas area

Houston – Aug. 26, 2017 – CenterPoint Energy has restored power to more than 175,000 customers throughout its service territory over the last 24 hours. Of the 2.4 million CenterPoint Energy customers, more than 98 percent currently have power, and approximately 22,000 are without power as of 12 p.m.

“While our electric system is performing well, patience will be key as some areas will be difficult for our crews to safely access due to flooding, tornado warnings and other safety-related issues,” said Kenny Mercado, senior vice president of Electric Operations for CenterPoint Energy. “We’ve also called in additional external contract resources to support our restoration efforts and have established a staging site in Fort Bend County. Additional sites are being evaluated at this time.”

“Customers do not need to call us to report outages,” he added. “Our smart meters tell us which customers are out. We ask that everyone please keep phone lines open for electric or gas emergency calls only.”

Scott Doyle, senior vice president of Natural Gas Distribution, said, “Our natural gas distribution system in the greater Houston area is functioning normally; however, crews are responding to gas leak calls in Sinton, Texas, near Corpus Christi, primarily due to toppled trees which have uprooted gas lines.

“Customers need to call us if they smell natural gas or see a damaged line,” he added. “It is not yet safe for crews to assess our gas system in Victoria, Texas; we will begin our assessments as soon as it is safe to do so.”

For latest information on power outages*:

*Please note that some outage notifications may be delayed. Due to the unpredictable nature of Hurricane Harvey, estimated restoration times on Outage Tracker and Power Alert Service are not being provided at this time.

The company urges the public to follow these important electric and natural gas safety tips:

Electric

  • Stay away from downed power lines. Be especially mindful of downed lines that could be hidden in flood waters and treat all downed lines as if they are energized.
  • If you experience flooding and water has risen above the electrical outlets in your home, contact a licensed electrician before turning on the main circuit breaker or trying to restore power.
  • All electrical appliances and electronic equipment that have been submerged in water need to dry thoroughly for at least one week. Then, have them checked by a qualified repair person before turning them on. Attempting to repair a flood-damaged appliance could result in electrical shock or death. Attempting to restart it could result in further damage and costly repairs.
  • If the outside unit of an air conditioning system has been under water, mud and water may have accumulated in the controls. Have the unit checked by a qualified air conditioning technician.

Natural Gas

  • Do not turn off your natural gas service at the meter; doing so could allow water to enter the natural gas lines.
  • Be alert for the smell of natural gas. If you smell gas, leave the area immediately on foot and tell others to leave, too.
  • If you smell gas, 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 was flooded, call a licensed plumber or gas appliance technician to inspect your appliances and gas piping to make sure they are in good operating condition before calling CenterPoint Energy to reconnect service. This includes outdoor gas appliances including pool heaters, gas grills and gas lights.
  • Before cleaning debris, digging on your property or to locate underground natural gas lines and other underground utility lines, call 811, the nationwide Call Before You Dig number.
  • 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.
some_text CenterPoint Energy

View More Tweets ›

 Recent News

 

 
CenterPoint Energy Mobile Energy Solutions® provides temporary uninterrupted natural gas service to Panama City, Florida customers

​

Houston – July 12, 2018 – CenterPoint Energy Mobile Energy Solutions® (MES), recently provided natural gas service to Panama City, Florida during a planned transmission pipeline outage due to pipeline integrity testing. MES is part of CenterPoint Energy Services, Inc., a wholly-owned commercial subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP).

Using natural gas-fired and ambient liquid natural gas (LNG) vaporizers, MES was able to deliver high-pressure natural gas at flow rates up to 500 Mcf/hr (thousand cubic feet per hour) to the local distribution system.

"We worked closely with the pipeline customer to understand their needs and were able to configure the equipment to achieve the high flow rates necessary to sustain service," said Ryan Bigelow, MES operations manager for CenterPoint Energy Services.

During the seven-day service, MES' vaporizers provided the primary natural gas feed to more than 35,000 residents and businesses in Panama City. The LNG was sourced from a natural gas liquefaction plant, 270 miles away. More than 20 semi-truck loads of LNG were delivered to the site and injected to the system. MES technicians were onsite 24-hours-a-day operating the vaporizers to ensure safe and reliable delivery of natural gas.

"We were pleased to safely provide portable natural gas supply to ensure residents were not impacted during the planned pipeline outage," added Bigelow. "The customer was impressed with MES' skilled personnel and the use of specialized equipment."

MES performs more than 100 projects a year and has more than 20 years of broad project experience delivering CNG and LNG across the United States. Businesses that have benefitted from MES' expertise include commercial, industrial and manufacturing companies, utilities, municipalities, transmission pipelines, and institutions like medical centers, correctional centers and universities. The company's team and equipment are certified to meet the strict requirements of the U.S. Department of Transportation and can serve customers throughout the U.S.

To learn more about the benefits of temporary natural gas please contact the company at MES@CenterPointEnergy.com, 844-MOBILE-4 or visit CenterPointEnergy.com/MES.

 

This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions of management which are believed to be reasonable at the time made and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual events and results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Any statements in this news release regarding future events, such as MES' certifications, service offerings and geographic capabilities, and any other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement contained in this news release speaks only as of the date of this release. 

CenterPoint Energy, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission and distribution, natural gas distribution and energy services operations. The company serves more than five million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas. The company also owns 54.0 percent of the common units representing limited partner interests in Enable Midstream Partners, a publicly traded master limited partnership it jointly controls with OGE Energy Corp. Enable Midstream Partners owns, operates and develops natural gas and crude oil infrastructure assets. With nearly 8,000 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years. For more information, please visit www.CenterPointEnergy.com.

###

CenterPoint Energy recognized as one of the 50 most community-minded companies in the United States

​Houston – June 28, 2018 – CenterPoint Energy has been named to The Civic 50 as one of the most community-minded companies in the United States. An initiative of Points of Light, the world's largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, The Civic 50 provides a national standard for superior corporate citizenship and showcases how companies can use their time, skills and other resources to improve the communities in which they do business. CenterPoint Energy was also named to The Civic 50 in 2014.

"We are extremely proud to once again receive this recognition," said Diane Englet, senior director of Community Relations for CenterPoint Energy. "Volunteerism is embedded in our company culture and our employees have a passion for the causes on which CenterPoint Energy focuses: education, community development and health and human services."

Points of Light President and CEO Natalye Paquin said, "The Civic 50 highlights the commitment of community and civic engagement of America's leading brands. Points of Light believes that people drive change in addressing society's growing and most profound challenges. The business community plays an important role in creating and delivering innovative solutions that drive social good in the communities where they live and work."

The Civic 50 honorees are public and private companies with U.S. operations and revenues of $1 billion or more, and are selected based on four dimensions of their U.S. community engagement program including investment, integration, institutionalization and impact. To learn more about The Civic 50, to see a full list of the winners and to access the highlights, trends, benchmarking data and best practices from the 2018 Civic 50, please visit www.Civic50.org. 

About CenterPoint Energy

CenterPoint Energy, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission & distribution, natural gas distribution and energy services operations. The company serves more than five million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas. The company also owns 54 percent of the common units representing limited partner interests in Enable Midstream Partners, a publicly traded master limited partnership it jointly controls with OGE Energy Corp. Enable Midstream Partners owns, operates and develops natural gas and crude oil infrastructure assets. With nearly 8,000 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years. For more information, go to www.CenterPointEnergy.com. 

About Points of Light

Points of Light, the world's largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, mobilizes millions of people to take action that is changing the world. Through affiliates in more than 200 cities and partnerships with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages four million volunteers in 20 million hours of service each year. We bring the power of people where it's needed most. For more information, visit www.pointsoflight.org.

CenterPoint Energy to Pay Additional Interest on its 2.0 percent Zero-Premium Exchangeable Subordinated Notes due 2029

Houston – June 22, 2018 – CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) has established July 2, 2018, as an Additional Interest Regular Record Date under the terms of its 2.0 percent Zero-Premium Exchangeable Subordinated Notes due 2029 (ZENS). Additional Interest of $26.875 per ZENS note will be paid on July 17, 2018, to holders of record of ZENS as of the close of business on the Additional Interest Regular Record Date.   

The payment of Additional Interest reflects cash distributed in respect of the Reference Shares attributable to one ZENS note in connection with the AT&T Inc. and Time Warner Inc. merger, which closed on June 14, 2018. The Additional Interest of $26.875 per ZENS note was calculated as the product of 0.50 share of Time Warner Inc. common stock per ZENS note and the $53.75 per share cash merger consideration paid to holders of Time Warner Inc. common stock.

After the closing of the AT&T Inc. and Time Warner Inc. merger, the Reference Shares for each ZENS note consisted of 0.7185 share of AT&T Inc. common stock and 0.061382 share of Charter Communications, Inc. common stock.

Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this news release have the meanings given to such terms in the indenture governing the ZENS.          

CenterPoint Energy, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission & distribution, natural gas distribution and energy services operations. The company serves more than five million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas. The company also owns 54 percent of the common units representing limited partner interests in Enable Midstream Partners, a publicly traded master limited partnership it jointly controls with OGE Energy Corp. Enable Midstream Partners owns, operates and develops natural gas and crude oil infrastructure assets. With nearly 8,000 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years. For more information, go to www.CenterPointEnergy.com.  

This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions of management which are believed to be reasonable at the time made and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual events and results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Any statements in this news release regarding future events, including record and payment dates, and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including market conditions and other factors discussed in CenterPoint Energy's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2017, CenterPoint Energy's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, and CenterPoint Energy's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Each forward-looking statement contained in this news release speaks only as of the date of the release.   

 

###

CenterPoint Energy awards grants to communities for safety initiatives

​Minneapolis– June 14, 2018 – CenterPoint Energy's Community Partnership Grant Program awards grants to local communities to fund safety-related equipment and projects. This year, the company recently awarded 70 grants to community organizations in Minnesota totaling $125,000. Recipients will use these grants to serve their local communities.

"Safety is one of CenterPoint Energy's values. Over the past 15 years, we have contributed more than $1.5 million to safety initiatives in our communities," said Dean Headlee, pipeline safety and compliance manager of CenterPoint Energy. "Our Community Partnership Grant program not only helps us stay connected to the communities we serve, but also gives us an opportunity to impact lives by helping them stay safe."

Rachel Shields, community relations program manager of CenterPoint Energy, said, "CenterPoint Energy has funded nearly 900 safety projects since 2003. This year, our Community Partnership Grant program will provide portable defibrillators for first responders, safety equipment for local fire departments and traffic safety equipment."

Winners were determined based on the content of their applications. Participants were required to outline a problem, issue or need in the community and how a Community Partnership Grant would help create a sustainable solution.

To see what CenterPoint Energy is doing in the community, please visit our 2017 Corporate Responsibility Report. Please see the following list of communities that received Community Partnership Grants.

​North Metro​South Metro
  • Andover
  • Anoka
  • Big Lake
  • Brooklyn Center
  • Carlos
  • Cold Spring
  • Columbia Heights
  • Columbus
  • Coon Rapids
  • Corcoran
  • Dassel
  • Freeport
  • Garrison
  • Genola
  • Glencoe
  • Glenwood
  • Golden Valley
  • Grove City
  • Hector
  • Independence
  • Lexington
  • Little Falls
  • Mayer
  • Medina
  • Melrose
  • Milaca
  • Minnetonka Beach
  • New Germany
  • Osakis
  • Pennock
  • Pierz
  • Plato
  • Plymouth
  • Ramsey
  • Richmond
  • Rockville
  • Rogers
  • Sauk Centre
  • South Haven
  • St. Bonifacius
  • St. Michael
  • Willmar
  • Wayzata
​
  • Apple Valley
  • Belle Plaine
  • Chaska
  • Cologne
  • Eagle Lake
  • Hampton
  • Hopkins
  • Janesville
  • Lake Crystal
  • Lake Elmo
  • LeCenter
  • Lonsdale
  • Medford
  • Miesville
  • Minnetrista
  • Morristown
  • North Mankato
  • Norwood Young America
  • Prior Lake
  • Randolph
  • Rosemount
  • Savage
  • Sleepy Eye
  • St. Peter
  • Tonka Bay
  • Victoria
  • Waseca

 

CenterPoint Energy, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission & distribution, natural gas distribution and energy services operations. The company serves more than five million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. The company also owns 54.1 percent of the common and subordinated units representing limited partner interests in Enable Midstream Partners, a publicly traded master limited partnership it jointly controls with OGE Energy Corp., which owns, operates and develops natural gas and crude oil infrastructure assets. With nearly 8,000 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years. The utility also operates a non-regulated business in Minnesota called Home Service Plus®.  For more information, please visit CenterPointEnergy.com.

 

CenterPoint Energy and HomeServe USA partner to provide home protection services to customers

Houston – June 13, 2018 – CenterPoint Energy (NYSE: CNP) and HomeServe USA Corp. (HomeServe), a provider of emergency home repair programs to homeowners nationwide, today announced a new partnership through which CenterPoint Energy's natural gas customers in Texas will be able to purchase service plans for several household systems.

CenterPoint Energy and HomeServe's new program will offer a suite of service plans covering repairs to several energy-consuming and other home systems, including customer-owned natural gas lines, heating and cooling systems, interior electric wiring, water heaters, and exterior water and sewer lines. The service plans are designed to protect homeowners from the inconvenience and unexpected expenses associated with repairs to these critical household systems. The initial rollout will include protection for customer-owned natural gas lines and cooling systems, and will be available later this summer.

"CenterPoint Energy prides itself on being a trusted energy advisor, so we are pleased to work with HomeServe to provide our customers access to these new valuable services," said Gregg Knight, senior vice president and Chief Customer Officer of CenterPoint Energy. "CenterPoint Energy provides high-quality, highly rated energy delivery to our customers. These new service plans are a natural extension and will provide homeowners with a low-cost, peace-of mind option for unexpected repairs to covered systems."

The Gas Line service plan, for example, will offer homeowners protection against the expense and inconvenience of repairs to the customer-owned natural gas line from the CenterPoint Energy meter up to and including the connectors to each natural gas appliance inside the home. The plan would also cover repairs to the piping leading to connectors to natural gas appliances outside around the property, such as a natural gas grill or natural gas pool heater. Future offerings will include service plans to help repair or maintain energy-consuming appliances, which will help them use energy more efficiently. 

"HomeServe shares the same level of commitment to quality customer service as CenterPoint Energy," said John Kitzie, CEO of HomeServe. "Our cost-effective service plans provide a better way for customers to secure and pay for repairs through our reliable network of qualified local contractors."  

This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions of management which are believed to be reasonable at the time made and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual events and results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Any statements in this news release regarding future events, such as future offerings under CenterPoint's new program, and any other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement contained in this news release speaks only as of the date of this release.  Factors that could affect actual results include (1) factors related to our business and the economy, including commodity prices, (2) the performance of the companies, (3) competitive conditions in the industry, (4) state and federal legislative and regulatory actions or developments affecting various aspects of the businesses and (5) other factors discussed in CenterPoint Energy's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, as well as in CenterPoint Energy's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2018, and other reports on Form 8-K CenterPoint Energy or its subsidiaries may file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About CenterPoint Energy:

CenterPoint Energy, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission & distribution, natural gas distribution and energy services operations. The company serves more than five million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas. The company also owns 54.0 percent of the common units representing limited partner interests in Enable Midstream Partners, a publicly traded master limited partnership it jointly controls with OGE Energy Corp. Enable Midstream Partners owns, operates and develops natural gas and crude oil infrastructure assets. With nearly 8,000 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years. For more information, please visit www.CenterPointEnergy.com. 

About HomeServe USA Corp.:

HomeServe USA Corp. (HomeServe) is a leading provider of home repair solutions serving 3.6 million customers across the US and Canada under the HomeServe, Home Emergency Insurance Solutions, Service Line Warranties of America (SLWA) and Service Line Warranties of Canada (SLWC) names. Since 2003, HomeServe has been protecting homeowners against the expense and inconvenience of water, sewer, electrical, HVAC and other home repair emergencies by providing affordable repair coverage, installations and quality local service. As an A+ rated Better Business Bureau Accredited Business, HomeServe is dedicated to being a customer-focused company supplying best-in-class repair plans and other services to consumers directly and through over 550 leading municipal, utility and association partners. For more information about HomeServe, a 2017 Connecticut Top Workplace winner and recipient of eighteen 2018 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, or to learn more about HomeServe's affordable repair plans, please go to www.homeserveusa.com. To connect with HomeServe on Facebook and Twitter, please visit www.facebook.com/homeserveusa and www.twitter.com/homeserveusa.

 

For more information:

 

CenterPoint Energy

Media:  Leticia Lowe   

Phone: 713-207-7702

Investors:  David Mordy

Phone: 713-207-6500

 

HomeServe USA

Myles Meehan                                                

Phone: 203-356-4259                                       

             

Hill+Knowlton Strategies for HomeServe USA

Merrie Leininger

Phone: 775-846-0664

###