NTSB Pipeline Accident Brief on Minnehaha Academy
2019-12-03T06:00:00Z

Minneapolis – Dec. 3, 2019 – The following statement is issued by CenterPoint Energy regarding the National Transportation Safety Board's pipeline accident brief on the explosion that occurred on August 2, 2017, at Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis.

CenterPoint Energy supported the NTSB's investigation to determine the cause of the explosion at Minnehaha Academy and identify safety recommendations. The overriding goal shared by everyone is the desire to prevent something similar from happening again, anywhere.

CenterPoint Energy and its employees recognize and are committed to fulfilling their primary responsibility to operate and maintain a safe and reliable gas distribution system.  Shortly after the accident, CenterPoint Energy, without waiting for the NTSB investigation to conclude, implemented improvements to its procedures with the goal of preventing an accident like this from ever happening again:

  • We reviewed our existing procedures, especially related to company-initiated relocation of indoor meters to the outside of buildings;
  • We made enhancements to work procedures involving project oversight, documentation, and internal and external project communications;
  • We engaged in comprehensive training of operations, engineering and field personnel to ensure these procedures were implemented effectively;
  • We now send a letter each year to licensed mechanical contractors in Minnesota to remind them of the dividing line between our equipment and the customer's equipment and to emphasize that contractors are not authorized to work on or operate our equipment; and
  • CenterPoint Energy's website also includes safety information for residential customers about the dividing line between our equipment and the customer's equipment.

CenterPoint Energy continues to be fully committed to the safety of our employees, contractors, systems and the public.

We were saddened by the tragedy that occurred at Minnehaha Academy, and our deepest sympathy continues to be with everyone who was affected. We also want to express our appreciation to the Minneapolis Fire Department, Minneapolis Police Department and all emergency personnel who assisted victims and helped protect public safety.

The Pipeline Accident Brief concludes the NTSB's investigation. We have reached confidential settlement agreements with the families of the two school employees who died and with the person most seriously injured in the incident, but other litigation arising out of the incident is pending.

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Call CenterPoint Energy for Cold Weather Rule protection

​Minneapolis – Sept. 28, 2023 – CenterPoint Energy is reminding residential customers about Minnesota's Cold Weather Rule, which protects Minnesotans who experience difficulty paying their heating bill by preventing disconnection of their natural gas service from Oct. 1, 2023, through April 30, 2024.  

Under the Cold Weather Rule, customers are required to set up a payment plan with their utility to prevent disconnection of their service. To arrange a payment plan, CenterPoint Energy customers can call 800-245-2377 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday-Friday, or visit CenterPointEnergy.com/Assistance

“For any CenterPoint Energy customer who may be facing financial hardships, the most important thing to do is call us now to establish a payment plan and also see if you're eligible for energy assistance to help with your heating bills," said Christe Singleton, CenterPoint Energy's Vice President of Minnesota Gas. “As long as you follow a payment plan, the Cold Weather Rule will prevent disconnection of natural gas service and help you and your family stay safe and warm this winter." 

A payment plan takes into consideration a customer's financial situation and any other special circumstances. The payment plan must be agreeable to both the customer and CenterPoint Energy. If an agreed-upon payment plan cannot be reached, customers have a right to appeal under the Cold Weather Rule. 

CenterPoint Energy representatives can also help refer customers to programs and services that provide financial assistance for heating costs, including Minnesota's Energy Assistance Program. This federally funded program helps pay for home heating costs and furnace repairs for income-qualified households. Applications are accepted beginning Oct. 1. 

CenterPoint Energy customers may also sign up for an Average Monthly Billing Plan, which spreads natural gas costs throughout the year to help manage winter payment peaks. Customers can sign up at CenterPointEnergy.com/MyAccount or by calling 800-245-2377. 

Customers are encouraged to take advantage of energy efficiency offerings and resources to assist in managing natural gas bills this heating season. More information on rebates, energy-saving products and the Home Energy Squad® program can be found at CenterPointEnergy.com/SaveEnergy

CenterPoint Energy is Minnesota's largest natural gas utility, serving 900,000 residential and business customers in more than 260 communities.  ​


CenterPoint Energy declares regular Common Stock dividend of $0.2000

HOUSTON, Sept. 28, 2023 - CenterPoint Energy, Inc.'s (NYSE: CNP) Board of Directors today declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.2000 per share on the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock payable on December 14, 2023 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 16, 2023.

This quarterly dividend represents a $0.01 increase over the prior quarter. The increase aligns with an annual dividend of $0.77 for 2023, which represents a $0.07 increase when compared to dividends paid in 2022.

About CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
As the only investor-owned electric and natural gas utility based in Texas, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) is an energy delivery company with electric transmission and distribution, power generation and natural gas distribution operations that serve more than 7 million metered customers in Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio and Texas. As of June 30, 2023, the company owned approximately $38 billion in assets. With approximately 9,000 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years. For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com.

For more information contact
Media:
Communications
Media.Relations@CenterPointEnergy.com 
Investors:
Jackie Richert/Ben Vallejo
Phone  713.207.6500

SOURCE CenterPoint Energy, Inc

Electric Reliability Council of Texas calls for Power Conservation

Houston – Sept. 7, 2023 – The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has issued a conservation appeal due to continued high temperatures, high demand, low wind and declining solar power generation this afternoon. As a result, ERCOT is asking consumers to conserve electricity use, if safe to do so, today from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. CT. Similar conditions are expected for tomorrow. CenterPoint Energy does not generate electricity itself, so any shortage of electric power capacity from the electric grid is not something that the company controls. ​

Today's conservation appeal does not indicate ERCOT is experiencing emergency conditions at this time. Current forecasts are showing a potential for low reserves today because of continued high temperatures, high demand, low wind and declining solar power generation into the afternoon and evening hours.

Consumers can help the ERCOT grid by conserving energy, especially during peak hours of 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Please conserve electricity by:  

  • Raising your thermostat by a degree or two, if safe to do so.  
  • Avoid using large appliances, such as washers/dryers and dishwashers.
  • Turn off and unplug non-essential lights and appliances. 
  • Set pool pumps to run early morning or overnight; shut off during peak hours.

​If conditions worsen, ERCOT may issue a directive to curtail power delivered to customers, which requires transmission and distribution utilities like CenterPoint Energy to implement controlled outages due to power generation shortfall. Controlled outages are planned emergency measures designed to avoid potentially longer and more widespread power outages for customers. There are three levels of Energy Emergency Alerts (EEA), and controlled outages are only implemented as a last resort to maintain reliability of the electric system, and they are done with the intent to rotate outages in the electric service territory based on system conditions.  

Houston-area customers should prepare now and have a back-up plan in place, especially those who rely on electricity for life-sustaining equipment.  

ERCOT is the independent system operator for the region and manages the flow of electric power to most of Texas and more than 26 million Texas customers. CenterPoint Energy is an investor-owned electric utility and a member of ERCOT. The company manages the transmission and distribution of electricity to its approximately 2.7 million customers across the greater Houston area and surrounding communities. 

As needed, CenterPoint Energy will continue to keep customers updated through the company's customer communication channels, including X, formerly Twitter, (@CNPalerts), Facebook, Power Alert Service, Outage Tracker (Estimated Restoration Times will not be available for these types of emergencies) and the web.


Electric Reliability Council of Texas calls for Power Conservation

Houston – Sept. 6, 2023 – The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has issued a conservation appeal due to continued high temperatures, high demand, low wind and declining solar power generation this evening. As a result, ERCOT is asking consumers to conserve electricity use, if safe to do so, today from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. CT. CenterPoint Energy does not generate electricity itself, so any shortage of electric power capacity from the electric grid is not something that the company controls. ​

Today's conservation appeal does not indicate ERCOT is experiencing emergency conditions at this time. Current forecasts are showing a potential for low reserves this evening because of continued high temperatures, high demand, low wind and declining solar power generation into the evening hours.

Consumers can help the ERCOT grid by conserving energy, especially during peak hours of 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Please conserve electricity by:  

  • Raising your thermostat by a degree or two, if safe to do so.  
  • Avoid using large appliances, such as washers/dryers and dishwashers.
  • Turn off and unplug non-essential lights and appliances. 
  • Set pool pumps to run early morning or overnight; shut off during peak hours.

If conditions worsen, ERCOT may issue a directive to curtail power delivered to customers, which requires transmission and distribution utilities like CenterPoint Energy to implement controlled outages due to power generation shortfall. Controlled outages are planned emergency measures designed to avoid potentially longer and more widespread power outages for customers. There are three levels of Energy Emergency Alerts (EEA), and controlled outages are only implemented as a last resort to maintain reliability of the electric system, and they are done with the intent to rotate outages in the electric service territory based on system conditions.  

Houston-area customers should prepare now and have a back-up plan in place, especially those who rely on electricity for life-sustaining equipment.   

ERCOT is the independent system operator for the region and manages the flow of electric power to most of Texas and more than 26 million Texas customers. CenterPoint Energy is an investor-owned electric utility and a member of ERCOT. The company manages the transmission and distribution of electricity to its approximately 2.7 million customers across the greater Houston area and surrounding communities. 


As needed, CenterPoint Energy will continue to keep customers updated through the company's customer communication channels, including X, formerly Twitter, (@CNPalerts), Facebook, Power Alert Service, Outage Tracker (Estimated Restoration Times will not be available for these types of emergencies) and the web.

Electric Reliability Council of Texas calls for Power Conservation
​Houston – Aug. 29, 2023 – The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has issued a conservation appeal due to a high level of unexpected thermal generation outages and forecasted low wind generation. As a result, ERCOT is asking consumers to conserve electricity use, if safe to do so, today, Aug. 29, from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. CT. CenterPoint Energy does not generate electricity itself, so any shortage of electric power capacity from the electric grid is not something that the company controls. 

Today's conservation appeal does not indicate ERCOT is experiencing emergency conditions at this time. Current forecasts are showing a potential to enter emergency operations this evening because of a high level of unexpected thermal generation outages and forecasted low wind generation.

Consumers can help the ERCOT grid by conserving energy, especially during peak hours of 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Please conserve electricity by:  

  • Raising your thermostat by a degree or two, if safe to do so.  
  • Avoid using large appliances, such as washers/dryers and dishwashers.
  • Turn off and unplug non-essential lights and appliances. 
  • Set pool pumps to run early morning or overnight; shut off during peak hours.

​If conditions worsen, ERCOT may issue a directive to curtail power delivered to customers, which requires transmission and distribution utilities like CenterPoint Energy to implement controlled outages due to power generation shortfall. Controlled outages are planned emergency measures designed to avoid potentially longer and more widespread power outages for customers. There are three levels of Energy Emergency Alerts (EEA), and controlled outages are only implemented as a last resort to maintain reliability of the electric system, and they are done with the intent to rotate outages in the electric service territory based on system conditions.  

Houston-area customers should prepare now and have a back-up plan in place, especially those who rely on electricity for life-sustaining equipment.  

ERCOT is the independent system operator for the region and manages the flow of electric power to most of Texas and more than 26 million Texas customers. CenterPoint Energy is an investor-owned electric utility and a member of ERCOT. The company manages the transmission and distribution of electricity to its approximately 2.7 million customers across the greater Houston area and surrounding communities. 

As needed, CenterPoint Energy will continue to keep customers updated through the company's customer communication channels, including X, formerly Twitter, (@CNPalerts), Facebook, Power Alert Service, Outage Tracker (Estimated Restoration Times will not be available for these types of emergencies) and the web.​