CenterPoint Energy issues natural gas flooding safety tips
Company prepared to respond as Tropical Storm Nicholas might result in heavy rain and potential flooding in Louisiana
2021-09-13T05:00:00Z

​Houston – Sept. 13, 2021 – CenterPoint Energy continues to monitor Tropical Storm Nicholas, predicted to impact some parts of Louisiana over the next few days. Crews are prepared to respond to natural gas issues that may arise due to potential heavy rain and flooding. The company also reminds customers of important natural gas safety tips:

  • 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 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 promptly 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 conducting debris cleanup or digging on 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.

 Recent News

 

 
Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative Phase Two Update: CenterPoint Energy completes 100% of all critical resiliency actions early and ahead of 2025 hurricane season

Over last 10 months, during Phase One and Two, CenterPoint has installed more than 26,000 stronger, more storm-resilient poles; undergrounded 400 miles of power lines; added 5,150 automation devices; cleared more than 6,000 miles of higher-risk vegetation; and installed 100 weather monitoring stations around the Greater Houston area

Actions will improve reliability for customers and reduce outages by more than 125 million minutes annually

Company to announce the remainder of GHRI 2025 targets in early June

HOUSTON, May 22, 2025 - Today, as part of the second phase of the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI), CenterPoint Energy announced that it has completed 100% of all grid resiliency improvements early and ahead of the official start of the 2025 hurricane season. 

Ahead of the June 1 self-imposed deadline, CenterPoint has completed all of its key actions of GHRI Phase Two including installing more than 25,000 stronger, storm-resilient poles; undergrounding more than 400 miles of power lines; adding 4,850 more automated devices capable of self-healing; clearing an additional 4,000 miles of higher-risk vegetation; and, for the first time ever, installing 100+ advanced weather monitoring stations across the Greater Houston area. Overall, these resiliency actions are expected to reduce outages for customers by more than 125 million minutes annually. 

"The early completion of Phase Two of our Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative is a testament to the hard work, dedication and collaboration of our teams and partners. Finishing this vital work ahead of the 2025 hurricane season underscores our unwavering commitment to enhancing the resiliency and reliability of our energy infrastructure for the customers and communities we're privileged to serve. This is just one more step on our journey to build and operate the most resilient coastal grid in the nation," said CenterPoint Energy President and CEO Jason Wells.

"We are proud of all of the major milestones our teams diligently delivered over the last 10 months as part of GHRI Phase One and Phase Two," said Darin Carroll, Senior Vice President of CenterPoint Energy's Electric Business. "I want to underscore that we aren't stopping. There is more work to come throughout the summer and the rest of the year. We understand the critical role we play in powering lives and businesses every single day, and this proactive suite of actions strengthens our ability to deliver for Houston and the Gulf Coast when they need us most."

In early June, CenterPoint will announce an updated approach for GHRI for the remainder of 2025 and beyond.

Combined Statistics: CenterPoint GHRI Phase One and Phase Two resiliency actions 

Since launching GHRI in response to Hurricane Beryl last summer, CenterPoint has made progress on the historic series of critical resiliency improvements across both Phase One and Phase Two. When combined, the company has completed the following actions:

  • Installed or replaced more than 26,000 stronger, more storm-resilient poles built to withstand extreme winds;
  • Undergrounded more than 400 miles of power lines to improve overall resiliency;
  • Installed more than 5,150 more automated reliability devices and intelligent grid switching devices to reduce the impact of outages and improve restoration times;
  • Cleared more than 6,000 miles of higher-risk vegetation near power lines to reduce storm-related outages; and
  • Installed 100 weather monitoring stations to improve situational awareness and storm preparation.

For more information on CenterPoint's GHRI actions and improvements ahead of hurricane season, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/TakingAction.

About CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) is a multi-state electric and natural gas delivery company serving approximately 7 million metered customers across Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, and Texas. The company is headquartered in Houston and is the only Texas-domiciled investor-owned utility. As of March 31, 2025, the company had approximately $44 billion in assets. With approximately 8,300 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been serving customers for more than 150 years. For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com.

Forward-looking statements
This news release, as well as the website pages related to the GHRI, includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this news release or the website pages related to the GHRI, the words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "goal," "intend," "may," "objective," "plan," "potential," "predict," "projection," "should," "target," "will" or other similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, which include statements regarding the GHRI and longer-term resiliency plans, including effectiveness, timing and related matters, 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 or the website pages related to the GHRI regarding future events that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement contained in this news release or the website pages related to the GHRI speaks only as of the date of this release or the date that such statement is made, as applicable. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the provided forward-looking information include risks and uncertainties relating to: (1) business strategies and strategic initiatives, restructurings, joint ventures, acquisitions or dispositions of assets or businesses involving CenterPoint Energy or its industry; (2) CenterPoint Energy's ability to fund and invest planned capital, and the timely recovery of its investments; (3) financial market and general economic conditions; (4) the timing and impact of future regulatory, legislative and political actions or developments; and (5) other factors, risks and uncertainties discussed in CenterPoint Energy's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 and CenterPoint's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 and other reports CenterPoint Energy or its subsidiaries may file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For more information, contact:
Communications
Media.Relations@CenterPointEnergy.com

SOURCE CenterPoint Energy, Inc

2025 Hurricane Season Preparations: CenterPoint Energy holds emergency response exercise with Houston-area partners

Pre-hurricane season simulation includes state and local officials, emergency management offices, third-party evaluators and industry-leading technology providers 

Series of emergency preparedness activities and key resiliency improvements designed to strengthen local response and reduce impact of outages from major storms

HOUSTON, May 22, 2025 - Today, as part of its ongoing efforts to prepare for the 2025 hurricane season, CenterPoint Energy is executing a major hurricane response exercise at its Emergency Operations Center alongside third-party evaluators with state and local public officials and community partners observing. The emergency exercise is designed to test and improve CenterPoint's emergency preparations and response plans in an extreme weather scenario, as well as strengthen local cooperation and coordination with key response partners from across the Greater Houston area. The full-scale exercise is part of a series of trainings and exercises CenterPoint has conducted to help plan, prepare and be ready for the 2025 hurricane season.

"As we all get ready for the 2025 hurricane season, our CenterPoint team is bringing together an array of emergency managers, technology providers and community leaders to practice and improve our coordinated response to extreme weather that may impact the system. Our critical hurricane response exercise builds on the actions we've been taking every day since last summer to improve how we prepare for and respond to emergencies, so that we can be there for the Greater Houston area when our communities need us most," said Don Daigler, CenterPoint Senior Vice President for Emergency Preparedness and Response.

The emergency simulation is designed to assess every aspect of CenterPoint's response to a major hurricane, including electric and gas operations, customer communications and support, coordination with government and emergency response partners, weather forecasting, planning and logistics. More than 200 CenterPoint employees and response partners are engaged in the all-day exercise at the company's Emergency Operations Center. This exercise is in addition to a series of system-wide improvements CenterPoint is making as part of the multi-phase Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI) launched last year.

Strengthening the Greater Houston energy system
Over the past 10 months, CenterPoint has been completing a series of resiliency actions and improvements to strengthen the system and reduce the risk and impact of outages to prepare for the 2025 hurricane season. Among the resiliency actions taken as part of the multi-phase initiative are:

  • Leveraging AI and emerging technologies: Collaborating with industry-leading technology providers, including Neara and Technosylva, to better predict and prepare for extreme weather impacts.
  • Donating and installing emergency generators to key locations: Working with local communities to provide backup generators to critical facilities and community centers that provide essential services in emergencies.
  • Working with emergency partners to get ready: Coordinating with local officials, emergency management offices and community partners to prepare for extreme weather events, including through joint emergency response exercises.

For more information on CenterPoint's GHRI actions and improvements ahead of hurricane season, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/TakingAction.

About CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) is a multi-state electric and natural gas delivery company serving approximately 7 million metered customers across Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, and Texas. The company is headquartered in Houston and is the only Texas-domiciled investor-owned utility. As of March 31, 2025, the company had approximately $44 billion in assets. With approximately 8,300 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been serving customers for more than 150 years. For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com.

Forward-looking statements
This news release, as well as the website pages related to the GHRI, includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this news release or the website pages related to the GHRI, the words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "goal," "intend," "may," "objective," "plan," "potential," "predict," "projection," "should," "target," "will" or other similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, which include statements regarding the GHRI and longer-term resiliency plans, including effectiveness, timing and related matters, 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 or the website pages related to the GHRI regarding future events that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement contained in this news release or the website pages related to the GHRI speaks only as of the date of this release or the date that such statement is made, as applicable. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the provided forward-looking information include risks and uncertainties relating to: (1) business strategies and strategic initiatives, restructurings, joint ventures, acquisitions or dispositions of assets or businesses involving CenterPoint Energy or its industry; (2) CenterPoint Energy's ability to fund and invest planned capital, and the timely recovery of its investments; (3) financial market and general economic conditions; (4) the timing and impact of future regulatory, legislative and political actions or developments; and (5) other factors, risks and uncertainties discussed in CenterPoint Energy's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 and other reports CenterPoint Energy or its subsidiaries may file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For more information, contact:
Communications
Media.Relations@CenterPointEnergy.com

SOURCE CenterPoint Energy, Inc

CenterPoint Energy encourages customers to take advantage of a powerful new tool available to help manage their accounts

​​​​​​​​HOUSTON – May 20, 2025 – CenterPoint Energy encourages customers to use company-offered tools that can help make it easier for customers to manage their accounts, view energy usage and receive information on bill management resources, including the newly launched CenterPoint Energy mobile app.

“At CenterPoint, we continue to explore various ways to connect with our customers and provide additional mobile-friendly tools to enhance their user experience. Through the CenterPoint Energy app, customers can conveniently manage their accounts and receive important alerts directly to their smart devices," said Tony Gardner, CenterPoint's Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer. “We look forward to continuing to provide tools that help us better serve our customers in managing their bills and energy use."

Through the new CenterPoint Energy mobile app, customers have access to the following features:

  • Account management: Customers can use the app to view billing information, pay their bill through a variety of ways including Apple Pay, save multiple payment methods and request a payment extension.
  • Electric outage updates: Customers within CenterPoint's Houston electric service area can view the Outage Tracker and report an outage in-app.  
  • Secure login: Customers who would like to quickly access their account can enable facial or fingerprint authorization in their device's app settings.
  • Energy usage data: Customers can view their historical energy usage to better understand their normal usage and self-identify opportunities to adjust their usage to save energy and lower costs on a monthly basis.
  • Bill reminders: With push notifications, customers can receive alerts notifying them their bill is due.​

The CenterPoint Energy app is available for free download in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store by searching, “CenterPoint Energy My Account." Learn more by watching the demonstration video and visiting CenterPointEnergy.com/App.​​

Additional tools to help keep customers connected
CenterPoint wants to remind customers of Outage Tracker, an online outage map tool that customers can use to help stay informed about outages impacting their area and view important restoration information. To learn more about Outage Tracker's features and functionality, watch the demonstration video. For an in-depth, step-by-step guide to using the Outage Tracker, click here.   
 
Customers are also encouraged to enroll in Power Alert Service® to receive alerts via text, phone or email about outages impacting their home or area and estimated time of restoration. Power Alert Service® helps keep customers informed of restoration progress during an outage event. 

About CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) is a multi-state electric and natural gas delivery company serving approximately 7 million metered customers across Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, and Texas. The company is headquartered in Houston and is the only Texas-domiciled investor-owned utility. As of March 31, 2025, the company had approximately $44 billion in assets. With approximately 8,300 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been serving customers for more than 150 years. For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com.

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CenterPoint Energy continues its resiliency efforts across the 12-county region through its Foundation’s Community Generator Donation Program; Donates backup generator to the Freeport Recreation Center

​HOUSTON — May 20, 2025 — Today, at an announcement in Freeport, Texas with elected officials and community leaders, CenterPoint Energy leaders announced the donation of a backup generator to the Freeport Recreation Center as part of its Community Generator Donation Program to support local community resiliency. Through this program, the CenterPoint Energy Foundation is donating funds for more than 20 backup generators at key locations throughout its 12-county Greater Houston region. It is expected that there will be at least one generator or other support for each county.  

The company is working in close collaboration with local Offices of Emergency Management (OEMs) and other county and city leaders to identify the appropriate locations for the donated generators to be able to have the greatest impact and local benefit. 

The Community Generator Donation Program is part of CenterPoint's Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI). The backup generators will help provide support for critical community partners during major weather events or other emergencies and will be funded through a $5 million grant from the CenterPoint Energy Foundation at no cost to customers. The CenterPoint Energy Foundation is a charitable giving organization focused on strengthening the quality of life in the communities served by the company. The foundation is funded by shareholders and has no impact on customer rates. For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/Foundation. 

“We are committed to improving resiliency in our local communities and working closely with our community partners to achieve this important goal. Today, we are donating backup generation to support our partners in Freeport, and we look forward to sharing other locations for our Community Generator Donation Program with other counties and cities in the weeks ahead. These generators are each capable of powering an entire large building and will help make the communities we are proud to serve even more resilient during major storms and other emergency events," said June Deadrick, CenterPoint's Vice President of Community Relations. 

These backup generators will provide an additional power supply during major storms and other emergency events that cause outages. Facilities that receive the donated backup generators will be able to better serve their communities during outages, acting as hubs for essential services like medical care, cooling stations, water and food distribution, charging stations for critical devices and other services.  

Working with Community Partners on Locations 
To support local community needs, CenterPoint worked closely with county and city officials and OEMs to identify and select the ideal locations for the donated generators, with local officials ultimately deciding which critical facilities will receive the donations. 

“The City of Freeport would like to thank CenterPoint for allowing us to participate in their proactive program. We are very grateful for the donation of the backup generator. This will be a tremendous help in times of catastrophic events with power outages, allowing the City to provide at least the basic functions during these times in need. This partnership is essential for the resiliency of our community," said Jerry Cain, Mayor of Freeport.

CenterPoint will continue coordinating with local community partners to ensure the backup generators are suitable to meet the specific needs of the critical facilities they have identified. The goal is to have all generators installed by June 1, 2025, to further resiliency ahead of the 2025 hurricane season.  

CenterPoint is working with other county OEMs, and county and city leaders across the Greater Houston region to make similar announcements in the coming weeks. ​

 


PHOTO: From L to R: Christopher Motley, City of Freeport Fire Chief and Emergency Management Coordinator; June Deadrick, CenterPoint Vice President of Community Relations; Lance Petty, Freeport City Manager
 
More photos: CNP Digital Asset Mgmt 
 
About CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) is a multi-state electric and natural gas delivery company serving approximately 7 million metered customers across Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, and Texas. The company is headquartered in Houston and is the only Texas-domiciled investor-owned utility. As of March 31, 2025, the company had approximately $44 billion in assets. With approximately 8,300 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been serving customers for more than 150 years. For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com.

Forward-looking statements
This news release, as well as the website pages related to the GHRI, includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this news release or the website pages related to the GHRI, the words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "goal," "intend," "may," "objective," "plan," "potential," "predict," "projection," "should," "target," "will" or other similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, which include statements regarding the GHRI and longer-term resiliency plans, including effectiveness, timing and related matters, 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 or the website pages related to the GHRI regarding future events that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement contained in this news release or the website pages related to the GHRI speaks only as of the date of this release or the date that such statement is made, as applicable. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the provided forward-looking information include risks and uncertainties relating to: (1) business strategies and strategic initiatives, restructurings, joint ventures, acquisitions or dispositions of assets or businesses involving CenterPoint Energy or its industry; (2) CenterPoint Energy's ability to fund and invest planned capital, and the timely recovery of its investments; (3) financial market and general economic conditions; (4) the timing and impact of future regulatory, legislative and political actions or developments; and (5) other factors, risks and uncertainties discussed in CenterPoint Energy's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 and other reports CenterPoint Energy or its subsidiaries may file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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CenterPoint Energy is monitoring forecasted severe weather and preparing for potential system impacts in southwestern Indiana

​EVANSVILLE, Ind. – May 16, 2025 – CenterPoint Energy is actively monitoring severe weather forecasts and preparing for any potential impacts of strong storms expected to move through southwestern Indiana on Friday, May 16. The company is coordinating with emergency and agency partners and mobilizing resources across its service area to be prepared to respond to impacts and outages.

“We are closely monitoring the forecast and have taken steps to position crews, equipment and support teams across our service territory. We have a plan and we are executing our plan," said Shane Bradford, CenterPoint's Vice President, Indiana Electric. “Our teams are prepared to respond, if needed, and will work safely and efficiently to restore service once conditions allow."

Actions CenterPoint is Taking to Prepare
The actions CenterPoint is taking to prepare and respond include:  

  • Pre-staging crews and equipment: CenterPoint crews and equipment are positioned across our service area to quickly respond to potential storm impacts once conditions have cleared.
  • Coordinating with government officials: Providing regular updates to state, county and city officials about our pre-storm activities and readiness posture.
  • Sharing information and updates: Providing safety and preparedness information directly with customers via email, phone or text, across social media platforms and other channels to keep customers informed and prepared.
  • Organizing additional call center staffing: Securing additional call center staff to handle a higher volume of calls during the storm and limit wait times. 

 
Responding to Potential Impacts Across Service Territory 
Across its Indiana Electric service area, CenterPoint is carefully monitoring severe weather and preparing to deploy frontline crews to efficiently clear storm debris, repair the grid and restore service to impacted customers as quickly and safely as possible.

Important Information for Electric Customers 
CenterPoint electric customers are encouraged to enroll in the company's Power Alert Service® to receive outage details, estimated restoration times and customer-specific restoration updates via phone call, text or email. Customers can also stay up-to-date on outages with CenterPoint's new and improved, cloud-based Outage Tracker, now available in English and Spanish, which allows customers to see outages by county and zip code. The new tracker is capable of handling increased traffic during storms and is ADA- and mobile-friendly.  

CenterPoint Encourages All Customers to Have a Plan to Stay Safe 
CenterPoint is encouraging all customers to prepare and have a plan to stay safe during severe weather. Customers can get storm-related safety tips at CenterPointEnergy.com/ActionCenter. Additional preparations and best practices are available at Ready.gov. 

For the latest updates, follow CenterPoint's Indiana account on X (formerly Twitter) for real-time updates. For more information and other resources, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/ActionCenter. 

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