CenterPoint Energy urges Arkansas customers with unpaid balances to call now to set up payment plan arrangements
Moratorium on utility disconnections ends May 3
2021-04-26T05:00:00Z

​Little Rock, Ark. – April 26, 2021 – CenterPoint Energy is urging its Arkansas customers with unpaid balances to contact the utility now to set up payment plan arrangements, with the moratorium on service disconnections for nonpayment scheduled to end on May 3.

CenterPoint Energy recognizes that some customers have accumulated unpaid balances on their utility bill due to financial hardships from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March last year, the utility has suspended disconnections for nonpayment. However, the Arkansas Public Service Commission is removing the moratorium on disconnections effective May 3.

When the moratorium ends, customers with unpaid balances who have not made payment arrangements with the utility will be subject to disconnection.

To help customers avoid interruption of their service, CenterPoint Energy offers several flexible payment options, including an 18-month delayed payment arrangement that is available for a limited time. Under this option, a customer can pay their overdue balance in equal installments for a period of up to 18 months. As long as the customer pays their current bill amount and the monthly installment by the due date each month, service will not be disconnected.

CenterPoint Energy can also help direct customers to energy payment assistance resources such as the federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

Customers who need bill payment assistance or who have already received a disconnection notice should contact CenterPoint Energy as soon as possible – either online at CenterPointEnergy.com/PaymentAssistance or by calling customer service at 800-992-7552.

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 Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas. As of December 31, 2020, the company owned approximately $33 billion in assets and also owned 53.7 percent of the common units representing limited partner interests in Enable Midstream Partners, LP, a publicly traded master limited partnership that owns, operates and develops strategically located natural gas and crude oil infrastructure assets. With approximately 9,500 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years. For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com.

 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.​