CenterPoint Energy gears up for hurricane season
Company has an extensive Emergency Operations Plan, urges customers to be prepared
2020-06-01T05:00:00Z

​Houston – June 1, 2020 – Hurricane season begins June 1, and CenterPoint Energy encourages customers to have an emergency plan, particularly if they depend on electricity for life-sustaining equipment. As a part of CenterPoint Energy's commitment to restore services as quickly and safely as possible following a severe weather event, the company has an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). CenterPoint Energy's employees, across all areas, are called upon to support the company­­'s EOP.

"Hurricanes are unpredictable, which makes it hard to anticipate the impact to our electric system," said Randy Pryor, vice president of Distribution Operations for CenterPoint Energy. "Based on the severity of the event, customers should be prepared for outages and have resources to be without power for at least two weeks or possibly longer."

CenterPoint Energy recommends that customers be prepared to be without service according to the following guidelines:

HURRICANE WIND SPEED ESTIMATED OUTAGE*
CATEGORY 1 winds 74-95 mph 7 to 10 days
CATEGORY 2winds 96-110 mph 2 to 3 weeks
CATEGORY 3winds 111-130 mph 3 to 5 weeks
CATEGORY 4winds 131-155 mph 4 to 6 weeks
CATEGORY 5winds 156 mph and up 6 to 8 weeks

  *Individual restoration times will vary.

In response to COVID-19, CenterPoint Energy implemented its Pandemic Preparedness Plan to help ensure safe, reliable delivery of energy and services to homes and businesses. In the event of a hurricane, the company will continue to take the necessary steps to protect the safety and well-being of customers, employees, contractors and communities.

"We are dedicated to restoring our electrical transmission and distribution system safely and effectively, while also taking the necessary safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We are asking customers to respect social distancing guidelines and not approach working employees and contractors," added Pryor.

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

  • Equipping employees with hand sanitizer in their vehicles as well as latex gloves – in addition to standard protective equipment;
  • Directing field employees to attempt to resolve service issues without entering homes or businesses;
  • Following social distancing guidelines and wearing protective equipment if entering businesses 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;
  • Emphasizing good hygiene, including washing and sanitizing hands;
  • Requiring employees to stay home if they are feeling sick;
  • Suspending international air travel and non-essential domestic air travel; and
  • Minimizing contact with visitors and others at company facilities.

For the latest information on power outages:

No two storms are alike and, as was the case with Hurricane Harvey, flooding can have a significant impact on natural gas operations. For information on natural gas safety, electric safety and other resources, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/StormCenter.

 

 Recent News

 

 
CenterPoint Energy assessing damage caused by vehicle hitting its natural gas infrastructure near Carlos, Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS — DEC. 4, 2025 — CenterPoint Energy crews are responding to a vehicle hitting its above ground natural gas regulator station near Carlos, Minnesota. This vehicle strike by a third-party unrelated to the company is expected to cause an outage for approximately 525 customers in the Carlos and Alexandria area.

With below zero temperatures expected today and ongoing cold over the coming days, CenterPoint wants to assure customers that the company will work quickly to safely make repairs and restore service as soon as possible. The company encourages customers to use their personal emergency plan to stay safe and warm today and potentially overnight.

CenterPoint is assessing the damage to its system and is working with local officials and emergency first responders to make the area safe. The company is working to repair its infrastructure safely and as quickly as possible to minimize the number and duration of outages. Currently, the company expects that efforts to repair its system and restore affected customers could continue into tomorrow, Dec. 5, 2025.

Safety is CenterPoint's core value, and the company works to keep safety at the forefront during all repairs. If you smell natural gas, leave immediately on foot. Once safely away from the area, report the possible natural gas leak to 911 and to CenterPoint at 800-296-9815.

CenterPoint appreciates the community's patience as it works to repair its system. 
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CenterPoint Energy working with the City of Carlos to temporarily turn City Hall into a warming center

​​MINNEAPOLIS — DEC. 4, 2025 — CenterPoint Energy crews have been working diligently to repair damage to its above ground natural gas regulator station near Carlos, Minnesota caused by a vehicle strike by a third-party unrelated to the company. Approximately 525 customers are experiencing outages in the Carlos and Alexandria areas.

Starting at 1 p.m. today and continuing into tonight, Carlos City Hall, located at 109 First Street West, Carlos, will be available for area residents as a warming center, and CenterPoint staff will be on site to provide space heaters to affected customers. The company reminds customers to use their personal emergency plan and these resources at Carlos City Hall to stay safe and warm today and potentially overnight.

CenterPoint has secured the area and is repairing its infrastructure safely and as quickly as possible. As part of this process, the company will go to each affected location to turn off natural gas meters. The company expects efforts to restore affected customers could continue into tomorrow, Dec. 5, 2025.

Safety is CenterPoint's core value, and the company works to keep safety at the forefront during all repairs. If you smell natural gas, leave immediately on foot. Once safely away from the area, report the possible natural gas leak to 911 and to CenterPoint at 800-296-9815.

CenterPoint appreciates the community's patience as it works to repair its system. 

CenterPoint Energy crews continuing work to restore service to customers in Carlos and Alexandria currently following third-party vehicle collision

Carlos City Hall at 109 First Street West remains open as a warming center; CenterPoint team members are at City Hall providing space heaters to impacted customers. 

MINNEAPOLIS — DEC. 4, 2025 — CenterPoint Energy crews have completed repairs to the above-ground natural gas regulator station near Carlos, Minn., that was damaged by a vehicle strike by a third-party unrelated to CenterPoint. Crews are working safely and as quickly as possible to restore service to approximately 525 customers experiencing a natural gas outage in the Carlos and Alexandria areas and will begin the process to relight appliances at each impacted customer's location.

CenterPoint has more than 50 technicians on the scene actively supporting restoration efforts for customers experiencing a natural gas outage, and it currently expects to restore all customers who can safely receive service by the end of day tomorrow, Dec. 5, 2025.


Important Information for Customers

To restore service, technicians go door-to-door to perform a necessary safety check prior to conducting relights on each natural gas appliance in a customer's home or business. An adult 18 or older must be at the location when a technician arrives. All technicians and contractors wear ID badges and show them on request.

CenterPoint is encouraging impacted customers to activate their emergency plans and leverage available resources to stay safe and warm today and potentially overnight. Carlos City Hall, located at 109 First Street West, Carlos, remains open for area residents until 9 p.m. as a warming center, and CenterPoint staff will remain on site to provide space heaters to affected customers.

Safety is CenterPoint's core value, and all CenterPoint personnel work to keep safety at the forefront during the repair and restoration process. If you smell natural gas, leave immediately on foot. Once safely away from the area, report the possible natural gas leak to 911 and to CenterPoint at 800-296-9815.

CenterPoint appreciates the continued patience and support of its customers and communities as it works to safely restore service as quickly as possible.

CenterPoint Energy continues restoration efforts in Carlos and Alexandria; warming center to remain open through the night
Approximately 250 space heaters have been distributed to the community.

MINNEAPOLIS — Dec. 4, 2025 — CenterPoint Energy crews continue working safely and as quickly as possible to restore natural gas service to approximately 525 customers impacted by today’s outage in the Carlos and Alexandria areas following a third-party vehicle strike to an above-ground natural gas regulator station near Carlos. Repairs to the regulator station were completed earlier today and technicians are in the process of relighting appliances at each impacted customer location.

As of 9 p.m., service has been restored to more than 200 customers, and CenterPoint expects to restore service to all customers who can safely receive it by the end of day tomorrow, Dec. 5. More than 60 technicians remain on site actively supporting restoration efforts.

Important Information for Customers
To restore service, technicians go door-to-door to perform a necessary safety check prior to conducting relights on each natural gas appliance in a customer’s home or business. An adult 18 or older must be at the location when a technician arrives. All technicians and contractors wear ID badges and show them on request.

CenterPoint Energy team members will remain at the warming center at Carlos City Hall (109 First Street West) until all impacted customers have been safely relit and will continue providing space heaters to affected customers as needed. Approximately 250 space heaters have been
distributed to the community.

CenterPoint Energy extends its sincere thanks to Douglas County, the City of Carlos, the Carlos Fire Department, and the many community members who have stepped up to provide food, supplies, and support throughout the day. Their generosity has been invaluable in helping impacted customers stay safe and warm.

Safety remains CenterPoint Energy’s core value, and all personnel are working to keep safety at the forefront during the repair and restoration process. If you smell natural gas, leave immediately on foot. Once safely away from the area, report the possible natural gas leak to 911 and to CenterPoint Energy at 800-296-9815.

CenterPoint Energy appreciates the continued patience and support of its customers and communities as it works to safely restore service to all impacted customers as quickly as possible.
CenterPoint Energy expands customer support tools for southwestern Indiana
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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Dec. 2, 2025 – CenterPoint Energy today announced an expanded set of online customer resources designed to give southwestern Indiana customers clearer information, easier access to billing support and more ways to stay informed about their service.

The improved online Customer Resource Hub brings billing tools, energy efficiency programs and financial assistance resources together in one place for its southwestern Indiana customers.
The hub, available at CenterPointEnergy.com/ResourceHub, supports CenterPoint's ongoing Affordability Actions and the feedback gathered during the company's initial round of Community Connect events.

“Our customers have told us they value clear information and easy access to tools, programs and support," said Mike Roeder, President of CenterPoint Energy Indiana. “The Customer Resource Hub makes it simpler to understand service, explore available programs and find resources that fit their individual needs."

Making it easier to find help in one place
Through the Customer Resource Hub, customers can access billing tools, payment options, energy efficiency programs and support resources in one location, including:

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  • Find ways to save energy. Schedule a free home energy assessment, review near real-time energy usage in MyAccount, earn annual bill credits through the Smart Cycle program and explore rebates, discounts and year-round energy efficiency tips.
  • Explore assistance programs and resources. Level out monthly payments with Budget Bill, check eligibility for the federal Energy Assistance Program, learn about the Customer Assistance Fund and review options for payment extensions and payment plans through My Account Online.
  • Manage and pay bills. Sign in to My Account Online to view and pay bills, set payment reminders, download the CenterPoint Energy app and pay through Apple Pay or Google Pay and find mailing addresses and in-person locations.
  • Understand customer bills. Use the online bill guide to see how monthly charges are calculated and review electric tariffs for more detailed information about how rates are structured and approved.

More ways for customers to stay informed
As part of the Resource Hub launch, CenterPoint is highlighting recent improvements that give customers more timely updates about their service.

In early November, the company began a limited rollout of remote reconnection and disconnection capabilities for most Indiana Electric customers, paired with additional alerts and reminders designed to provide more notice before potential service interruption. These notifications – including a 24-hour text and email alert and a same-day reminder – provide clear information and more opportunities for customers to review options or take action.

In this initial period, more than two-thirds of the customers at risk of disconnection who received these notifications took steps to stay connected by setting up a payment plan, enrolling in assistance or making a payment.

As the program is fully implemented, CenterPoint encourages customers to review and update contact information by signing in to My Account Online, selecting Profile and adding or editing their mobile number and email address. Customers without internet access, or those who prefer to speak with a representative, can call 800-227-1376 for help reviewing options or updating contact information.​