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CenterPoint Energy provides updates to Louisiana customers concerning service during the Coronavirus situation

2020-03-25T05:00:00Z

Houston – March 25, 2020 – CenterPoint Energy continues to be committed to providing its customers throughout its service territory with safe and reliable service during the current Coronavirus situation. During this challenging time, CenterPoint Energy is committed to serving its customers and keeping them informed as the situation continues to evolve.

CenterPoint Energy's natural gas crews will continue to provide service by responding to calls and completing work orders. If you see CenterPoint Energy crews performing work, please avoid approaching them and continue to practice social distancing.

CenterPoint Energy will continue to support those customers who may need payment assistance, arrangements or extensions during the Coronavirus situation. In addition, the company has temporarily suspended natural gas service disconnections for nonpayment. There have been reports of scams following the COVID-19 outbreak, so customers are reminded that CenterPoint Energy would never call and demand payment over the phone or by prepaid debit card to avoid disconnection. Customers who would like to discuss payment options should call 866-275-5252 (North Louisiana) or 800-477-0177 (South Louisiana), or visit the company's website.

"We are committed to the safety and well-being of our customers, employees, contractors and communities as the Coronavirus situation continues to evolve," said Christe Singleton, CenterPoint Energy's vice president of Regional Operations in Louisiana. "CenterPoint Energy has activated its Pandemic Preparedness Plan and we continue to monitor updates and follow protocols from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO) and state and local officials. We are also working closely with all regulatory agencies, government entities and emergency management organizations across our service territory."

CenterPoint Energy has implemented additional measures to protect the safety and health of its customers, employees and contractors, as well as to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. These safety measures include:

Equipping employees with additional personal protective equipment (PPE);
Directing field employees to attempt to resolve service issues without entering homes or businesses;
Following social distancing guidelines and wearing PPE if entering customers' homes, businesses and property to provide service;
Implementing a telework approach for employees who can perform their job responsibilities from home or a remote location;
Increasing cleaning and disinfecting frequency of facilities and vehicles;
Leveraging technology to minimize face-to-face contact and meetings; and
Emphasizing good hygiene, including washing and sanitizing hands.

Recent News

CenterPoint Energy encourages safety awareness and education during National Safe Digging Month

Evansville, Ind. – April 11, 2024 – CenterPoint Energy is collaborating with the Common Ground Alliance to observe April as National Safe Digging Month and encourage customers to follow safe digging practices.

Anyone planning a project that requires digging should contact 811 at least two days prior to their work starting to have underground utilities located for free. CenterPoint Energy reminds customers this includes projects done by themselves or their contractors, including building a fence, planting trees, installing a deck, placing a mailbox or laying a patio.

“By taking the time to call 811 prior to starting their digging project, our customers and communities are taking a critical first step in helping keep everyone safe," said Chasta Martin, Vice President, Field Services at CenterPoint Energy. “No matter how shallow the digging project, everyone can help prevent safety incidents and potential loss of service for their fellow community members by having underground utility lines located."

According to a recent national survey*, approximately 51% of U.S. homeowners plan to dig on their properties this year. Of those surveyed, 56% are planning to dig without contacting 811 first. CenterPoint Energy and the Common Ground Alliance also encourage homeowners to verify that their contractors contact 811 prior to performing work.

Safe digging practices are required by state law and help prevent damaging underground natural gas, electric, communications, water and sewer lines. Digging without knowing the approximate location of underground utilities can result in serious injury, service disruptions, fines and costly repairs.

If a natural gas line is struck or ruptured outside of a home or business, customers are reminded to do the following:

Leave the area immediately on foot. Do not attempt to restart or move powered equipment or use your mobile device or any other item that could cause a spark.
Go directly to a safe location. Once a safe distance, call 911 and CenterPoint Energy.
Remain in a safe area until emergency personnel direct them to do otherwise.
Don't try to repair a natural gas leak. Leave all repairs to a trained technician.

Visit 811BeforeYouDig.com for more information about 811 and the process to have underground utility lines marked. For more information about natural gas safety, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/Safety.

About CenterPoint Energy
As the only investor owned electric and 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 December 31, 2023, the company owned approximately $40 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.

*About the study
Online survey among 1,000 US Homeowners, aged 21+ fielded between March 5-7, 2024. The survey was conducted by Censuswide, a global insight-driven research center on behalf of the Common Ground Alliance. The margin of error based on a 95% confidence level is +/- 3%.

CenterPoint Energy encourages safety awareness and education during National Safe Digging Month

Dayton, Ohio – April 11, 2024 – CenterPoint Energy is collaborating with the Common Ground Alliance to observe April as National Safe Digging Month and encourage customers to follow safe digging practices.

If a natural gas line is struck or ruptured outside of a home or business, customers are reminded to do the following:

Leave the area immediately on foot. Do not attempt to restart or move powered equipment or use your mobile device or any other item that could cause a spark.
Go directly to a safe location. Once a safe distance, call 911 and CenterPoint Energy.
Remain in a safe area until emergency personnel direct them to do otherwise.
Don't try to repair a natural gas leak. Leave all repairs to a trained technician.

Visit 811BeforeYouDig.com for more information about 811 and the process to have underground utility lines marked. For more information about natural gas safety, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/Safety.

Online survey among 1,000 US Homeowners, aged 21+ fielded between March 5-7, 2024. The survey was conducted by Censuswide, a global insight-driven research center on behalf of the Common Ground Alliance. The margin of error based on a 95% confidence level is +/- 3%.

CenterPoint Energy provides final restoration update following Tuesday’s record-breaking weather event

Evansville, Ind. – April 5, 2024 – In the aftermath of at least four tornadoes, confirmed by the National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky., that struck CenterPoint Energy's Indiana Electric service territory, crews are in the final stages of efforts to restore power to the remaining impacted customers.

Damage from severe weather resulted in electric service interruptions peaking at nearly 24,000 CenterPoint Energy customers. At this time, 99% of customers in the region have power and crews have been able to safely restore power to nearly all impacted customers, with fewer than 300 customers without power as of 5 p.m. CT.

All remaining restorations for customers who are able to receive service are expected to be completed by tomorrow morning.

“We appreciate our customers' patience and understanding as this has been a difficult week for many," said Richard Leger, Senior Vice President, Indiana Electric at CenterPoint Energy. “These storms caused significant damage throughout our region and provided challenges for our crews throughout the restoration process. I want to extend a special thank you to these crews and contractors. Their expertise and dedication under challenging conditions have been instrumental to our efforts in restoring power. I am equally grateful for our restoration support teams, who have played an essential role in making sure our crews were taken care of, as well as executing other essential functions of our operations."

Leger added, “I also want to recognize the many emergency responders, elected officials, community members and volunteers who helped those in need after the devasting storms. When Mother Nature hits us with her worst, our communities always come together to show our very best."

Over the course of the company's response, CenterPoint Energy replaced approximately 200 poles, approximately 100 transformers, patrolled miles of lines, replaced and strung hundreds of spans of wire, and removed and trimmed vegetation.

Following the severe weather, CenterPoint Energy initiated an immediate and comprehensive response to assess and repair the widespread damage to its electric system. The damage from the severe weather events was significant, with severe vegetation damage, extensive debris, downed poles and lines. Restoration efforts throughout the week were further complicated by periodic high wind gusts that resulted in additional damage. Despite these challenges, crews worked tirelessly to make necessary repairs and restore power.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Paducah, KY, storms on April 2 produced peak winds of 115 miles an hour. Normally, the NWS can complete damage surveys in a single day. However, surveyors encountered so much widespread damage that it is taking longer than normal to complete the necessary surveying to determine the cause of the damage. NWS surveyors continued their assessment of southwestern Indiana Friday.

Some customers may still experience delays in power restoration, particularly if there has been damage to the weatherhead – the point of entry from the service drop to the home. If damaged, the customer will need to have a licensed electrician make necessary repairs before power can be restored. After repairs are completed, customers can call 800-227-1376 to request reconnection of service.

CenterPoint Energy provides storm restoration update

Evansville, Ind. – April 4, 2024 – CenterPoint Energy has issued the following update including information provided with permission from the National Weather Service in Paducah, KY as electric restoration efforts continue in southwestern Indiana:

As of 3:30 p.m., there are approximately 2,300 electric customers without power. Additionally, CenterPoint Energy has been in direct communication with the National Weather Service (NWS) in Paducah, Ky., as it continues its investigation into the damages from Tuesday's storms.

Normally, the NWS can complete damage surveys in a single day. However, surveyors are encountering so much widespread damage that it will take much longer than normal to complete the necessary surveying to determine the cause of the damage.

According to the NWS, the storms on April 2 produced widespread strong and damaging winds along with multiple tornadoes. The storms covered a large part of southwest Indiana and impacted a significant amount of infrastructure.

The NWS indicated that much of the damage it encountered was debris which included trees or tree branches that have fallen on power lines and snapped a significant number of power poles.

The NWS also noted that the amount and scope of the damage it has encountered is among the worst it has seen in years across southwest Indiana.

As CenterPoint Energy crews continue to uncover damage and encounter new challenges while making repairs, restoration may continue to take more time than customers typically experience following a routine storm event. We appreciate our customer's patience and are committed to working around the clock until our last customer is restored.

CenterPoint Energy encourages safety awareness and education during National Safe Digging Month

Minneapolis – April 3, 2024 – CenterPoint Energy is collaborating with the Common Ground Alliance to observe April as National Safe Digging Month and encourage customers to follow safe digging practices.

Anyone planning a project that requires digging should contact 811 at least two days prior to their work starting to have underground utilities located at no cost. CenterPoint Energy reminds customers this includes projects done by themselves or their contractors, including building a fence, planting trees, installing a deck, placing a mailbox or laying a patio.

According to a recent national survey*, approximately 51% of U.S. homeowners plan to dig on their properties this year. Of those surveyed, 56% are planning to dig without contacting 811 first. CenterPoint Energy and the Common Ground Alliance encourage homeowners to contact 811 prior to performing work and also encourage homeowners to verify that their contractors contact 811 prior to performing work.

Safe digging practices are required by state law and help prevent damage to underground natural gas, electric, communications, water and sewer lines. Digging without knowing the approximate location of underground utilities can result in serious injury, service disruptions, fines and costly repairs.

If a natural gas line is struck or ruptured outside of a home or business, customers are reminded to do the following:

Leave the area immediately on foot. Do not attempt to restart or move powered equipment or use your mobile device or any other item that could cause a spark.
Go directly to a safe location, where you cannot smell gas, and continue to maintain a safe distance. Once at a safe distance, call 911 and CenterPoint Energy.
Remain in a safe area until directed by emergency personnel to do otherwise.
Don't try to repair a natural gas leak. Leave all repairs to a trained technician.

Visit 811BeforeYouDig.com for more information about 811 and the process to have underground utility lines marked. For more information about natural gas safety, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/Safety.

About CenterPoint Energy

As the only investor owned electric and 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 December 31, 2023, the company owned approximately $40 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.

*About the study