CenterPoint Energy receives approval for 400 megawatts of renewable energy serving southwestern Indiana
CenterPoint Energy receives approval for 400 megawatts of renewable energy serving southwestern Indiana
2021-10-27T05:00:00Z

EVANSVILLE, Ind., Oct. 27, 2021 - CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) today announced its Indiana-based electric and natural gas business, CenterPoint Energy Indiana South, received approval from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to acquire a 300-megawatt (MW) solar array, as well as enter into a power purchase agreement (PPA) for an additional 100 MWs of solar energy as part of the company's long-term electric generation transition plan.

CenterPoint Energy entered into an agreement with Arevon Energy Management, the company that will build the utility-owned project in Posey County, Ind. The agreement required approval by the Commission.  Arevon Energy Management and energy company Tenaska are co-developing the project. CenterPoint Energy will also purchase additional solar power from Clēnera, which is developing a solar project in Warrick County, Ind., under a 25-year contract.

Together, the approval of these renewable energy projects solidifies the next component of CenterPoint Energy's long-term electric generation transition plan, meeting stakeholder sustainability goals, and implementing the most economic path forward as outlined in the company's Integrated Resource Plan. The continued build out of renewable resources is reflective of CenterPoint Energy's commitment to renewable resources and its net-zero carbon by 2035 emissions goals. More information on the company's net-zero goals can be found at www.sustainability.centerpointenergy.com

"We're pleased to receive regulatory approval to move forward with these significant renewable resources, which will serve our local electric customers, providing a cost-effective, stable energy option," said Steve Greenley, Senior Vice President, Indiana Electric Operations for CenterPoint Energy. "We look forward to the continued work with these companies to bring the Posey County solar array to fruition and provide additional clean energy to our customers through the Warrick County PPA."  

Construction of the solar project with Arevon Energy Management is scheduled to be in service by 2023. The initial construction phase will require establishing a sub-station to interconnect with CenterPoint Energy's power grid. The solar array is anticipated to generate enough power to meet the needs of more than 50,000 households per year, while also helping large customers achieve their individual sustainability goals.

Clēnera projects its solar array will be in service by 2023. CenterPoint Energy's PPA entitles it to 100 MW of the array, which will generate enough power to meet the needs of more than 18,500 homes per year.

Programs and services are operated under the brand CenterPoint Energy by Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Company d/b/a CenterPoint Energy Indiana South. 

Forward Looking Statement
This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this news release, 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 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 regarding future events, such as CenterPoint Energy's long-term electric generation transition plan and expected timing, benefits and generation mix resulting therefrom, expected timing of completion and power to be generated from the solar projects related to the solar array and PPA, the ability to meet CenterPoint Energy's net zero goals on the timeline indicated, and any other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement contained in this news release speaks only as of the date of this release. 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) the impact of COVID-19; (2) financial market conditions; (3) general economic conditions; (4) the timing and impact of future regulatory and legislative decisions; (5) effects of competition; (6) weather variations; (7) changes in business plans; (8) growth in CenterPoint Energy's service territory and changes in market demand; (9) CenterPoint Energy's ability to execute on operations initiatives, targets and goals; and (10) other factors, risks and uncertainties discussed in CenterPoint Energy's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, CenterPoint Energy's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2021 and June 30, 2021 and other reports CenterPoint Energy or its subsidiaries may file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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 June 30, 2021, the company owned approximately $36 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.

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

 

SOURCE CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

 Recent News

 

 

CenterPoint Energy Hosts Community Open House at the Missouri City Landmark Community Center on Saturday, September 14

Houston – Sept. 13, 2024 – This Saturday, September 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., CenterPoint Energy will host a community open house event in Missouri City, Texas. The company's open house events, which are being held in every county across Greater Houston, are designed to elicit customer feedback concerning the company's response to Hurricane Beryl, as well as to provide a forum to communicate the specific actions CenterPoint is taking to improve future storm response as part of its Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative.

“We have heard the calls for change, and we are taking action now," said CenterPoint President and CEO Jason Wells. “As part of our commitment to improving, we are encouraging all of our customers to share their experiences during Hurricane Beryl, as well as their ideas for how we can do better." 

Open House Format & Structure

At the open house events, customers will be invited to share feedback and ask questions of CenterPoint team members and leaders, visit a number of informational stations, and learn about and discuss the over 40 actions the company is taking to improve public communications, as well as strengthen system resiliency and community and emergency partnerships.

Open house attendees will also have opportunities to demo CenterPoint's new Outage Tracker and sign up for the Power Alert Service to stay better informed about outages before, during and after a storm. Along with CenterPoint subject matter experts, local organizations will also be on hand to help customers to prepare for storms and create personalized emergency plans.
 
Schedule & Location
The location and schedule for the next open house is as follows: Saturday, September 14, 2024, at the Missouri City Landmark Community Center, 100 Louisiana St., Missouri City, Texas 77489. Customers can view the schedule for future open houses by visiting www.CenterPointEnergy.com/OpenHouses.

About the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative
Since launching on Aug. 5, frontline workers and contractors have together taken a series of targeted actions to strengthen the grid and reduce the risk of outages before the next major storm. These actions include:

  • Installing stronger and more storm-resilient poles: CenterPoint installed more than 1,000 stronger and storm-resilient fiberglass poles that can withstand winds up to 132 MPH.
  • Trimming or removing vegetation from our lines: CenterPoint doubled its vegetation management workforce in order to trim or remove hazardous vegetation from more than 2,000 miles of power lines.
  • Installing automated devices: CenterPoint installed more than 300 automated devices, known as trip savers. These devices mean that fewer customers experience outages, and quicker restoration times for those who do. The devices automatically re-energize the line in certain outages to help keep the power on for customers.

In addition to this immediate resiliency work, CenterPoint has completed 39 of the 42 critical actions previously identified as part of its broader GHRI plan. To learn more about this immediate phase of progress, please visit www.CenterPointEnergy.com/TakingAction

CenterPoint Energy organiza evento para la comunidad en Missouri City en el Centro Comunitario Landmark el sábado 14 de septiembre

Houston – 13 de septiembre de 2024 – Este sábado 14 de septiembre de las 10 a.m. a las 1 p.m., CenterPoint Energy organizará un evento comunitario en Missouri City, Texas. Los eventos, que se están llevando a cabo en todos los condados del área metropolitana de Houston, están diseñados para obtener retroalimentación de los clientes acerca de la respuesta de la compañía tras el paso del Huracán Beryl, así como para proporcionar un foro para comunicar las acciones específicas que CenterPoint está tomando para mejorar la respuesta en caso de una futura tormenta como parte de su Iniciativa de Resiliencia del área metropolitana de Houston. 

“Hemos escuchado las peticiones para hacer un cambio, y estamos tomando medidas inmediatas,” dijo el presidente y CEO de CenterPoint, Jason Wells. “Como parte de nuestro compromiso para mejorar, le pedimos a todos nuestros clientes que compartan sus experiencias durante el Huracán Beryl, así como sus ideas sobre cómo podemos realizar mejor nuestro trabajo.”

Formato y estructura de los eventos comunitarios  

En los eventos comunitarios, se invitará a los clientes a compartir sus opiniones y a hacer preguntas a los miembros del equipo y a los líderes de CenterPoint, a visitar una serie de estaciones informativas y a conocer y conversar acerca de las más de 40 acciones que la empresa está llevando a cabo para mejorar la comunicación con el público, así como para reforzar la resiliencia del sistema y la colaboración con organizaciones comunitarias y de emergencia. 

Los asistentes también tendrán la oportunidad de ver una demostración del nuevo rastreador de apagones de CenterPoint, Outage Tracker, e inscribirse en Power Alert Service para estar mejor informados sobre los cortes de energía antes, durante y después de una tormenta. Aparte de los expertos de CenterPoint, organizaciones locales también estarán presentes para ayudar a los clientes a prepararse para las tormentas y crear planes de emergencia personalizados. 

Horario y ubicación

La ubicación y horario del siguiente evento comunitario es: Sábado 14 de septiembre de 2024, en el Centro Comunitario de Landmark, 100 Louisiana St., Missouri City, Texas 77489. Los clientes pueden ver el calendario de eventos comunitarios visitando la página web www.CenterPointEnergy.com/EventosComunitarios.   

 

Acerca de la Iniciativa de Resiliencia del área metropolitana de Houston (GHRI, por sus siglas en inglés)

Desde su lanzamiento el 5 de agosto, trabajadores y contratistas de CenterPoint han emprendido juntos una serie de acciones específicas para reforzar la red y reducir el riesgo de apagones antes de la próxima gran tormenta. Estas acciones incluyen:

 

·       Instalación de postes más fuertes y resistentes a las tormentas: CenterPoint instaló más de 1,000 postes de fibra de vidrio más resistentes a las tormentas que pueden soportar vientos de hasta 132 mph.

·       Podar o retirar la vegetación de nuestras líneas: CenterPoint duplicó su mano de obra para el mantenimiento de la vegetación de mayor riesgo de más de 2,000 millas de líneas eléctricas.

·       Instalación de dispositivos automatizados: CenterPoint instaló más de 300 dispositivos automatizados, conocidos como "trip savers." Estos dispositivos reducen el número de clientes que sufren apagones y agilizan el restablecimiento del suministro de energía. Los dispositivos reactivan automáticamente la línea durante ciertos apagones para ayudar a los clientes a mantener el suministro eléctrico. 

 

Además de este trabajo de resiliencia inmediato, CenterPoint ha completado 39 de las 42 acciones críticas identificadas previamente como parte de su plan GHRI. Para obtener más información sobre el progreso de esta fase, visite www.CenterPointEnergy.com/TakingAction.

CenterPoint Energy Hosts Community Open House at the Dow Academic Center at Brazosport College on Saturday, September 14

Houston – Sept. 13, 2024 – This Saturday, September 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., CenterPoint Energy will host a community open house event in Lake Jackson, Texas. The company's open house events, which are being held in every county across Greater Houston, are designed to elicit customer feedback concerning the company's response to Hurricane Beryl, as well as to provide a forum to communicate the specific actions CenterPoint is taking to improve future storm response as part of its Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative.​

“We have heard the calls for change, and we are taking action now," said CenterPoint President and CEO Jason Wells. “As part of our commitment to improving, we are encouraging all of our customers to share their experiences during Hurricane Beryl, as well as their ideas for how we can do better." 

Open House Format & Structure

At the open house events, customers will be invited to share feedback and ask questions of CenterPoint team members and leaders, visit a number of informational stations, and learn about and discuss the over 40 actions the company is taking to improve public communications, as well as strengthen system resiliency and community and emergency partnerships.

Open house attendees will also have opportunities to demo CenterPoint's new Outage Tracker and sign up for the Power Alert Service to stay better informed about outages before, during and after a storm. Along with CenterPoint subject matter experts, local organizations will also be on hand to help customers to prepare for storms and create personalized emergency plans.
 
Schedule & Location
The location and schedule for the next open house is as follows: Saturday, September 14, 2024, at the Eagle Lake Community Center, 500 College Dr., Lake Jackson, Texas 77566. Customers can view the schedule for future open houses by visiting www.CenterPointEnergy.com/OpenHouses.

About the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative
Since launching on Aug. 5, frontline workers and contractors have together taken a series of targeted actions to strengthen the grid and reduce the risk of outages before the next major storm. These actions include:

  • Installing stronger and more storm-resilient poles: CenterPoint installed more than 1,000 stronger and storm-resilient fiberglass poles that can withstand winds up to 132 MPH.
  • Trimming or removing vegetation from our lines: CenterPoint doubled its vegetation management workforce in order to trim or remove hazardous vegetation from more than 2,000 miles of power lines.
  • Installing automated devices: CenterPoint installed more than 300 automated devices, known as trip savers. These devices mean that fewer customers experience outages, and quicker restoration times for those who do. The devices automatically re-energize the line in certain outages to help keep the power on for customers.

In addition to this immediate resiliency work, CenterPoint has completed 39 of the 42 critical actions previously identified as part of its broader GHRI plan. To learn more about this immediate phase of progress, please visit www.CenterPointEnergy.com/TakingAction.​

CenterPoint Energy organiza evento para la comunidad en el Centro Academico Dow en Brazosport College el sábado 14 de septiembre

Houston — 13 de septiembre de 2024 – Este sábado 14 de septiembre de las 10 a.m. a las 1 p.m., CenterPoint Energy organizará un evento comunitario en Eagle Lake, Texas. Los eventos, que se están llevando a cabo en todos los condados del área metropolitana de Houston, están diseñados para obtener retroalimentación de los clientes acerca de la respuesta de la compañía tras el paso del Huracán Beryl, así como para proporcionar un foro para comunicar las acciones específicas que CenterPoint está tomando para mejorar la respuesta en caso de una futura tormenta como parte de su Iniciativa de Resiliencia del área metropolitana de Houston. 

“Hemos escuchado las peticiones para hacer un cambio, y estamos tomando medidas inmediatas,” dijo el presidente y CEO de CenterPoint, Jason Wells. “Como parte de nuestro compromiso para mejorar, le pedimos a todos nuestros clientes que compartan sus experiencias durante el Huracán Beryl, así como sus ideas sobre cómo podemos realizar mejor nuestro trabajo.”

Formato y estructura de los eventos comunitarios  

En los eventos comunitarios, se invitará a los clientes a compartir sus opiniones y a hacer preguntas a los miembros del equipo y a los líderes de CenterPoint, a visitar una serie de estaciones informativas y a conocer y conversar acerca de las más de 40 acciones que la empresa está llevando a cabo para mejorar la comunicación con el público, así como para reforzar la resiliencia del sistema y la colaboración con organizaciones comunitarias y de emergencia. 

Los asistentes también tendrán la oportunidad de ver una demostración del nuevo rastreador de apagones de CenterPoint, Outage Tracker, e inscribirse en Power Alert Service para estar mejor informados sobre los cortes de energía antes, durante y después de una tormenta. Aparte de los expertos de CenterPoint, organizaciones locales también estarán presentes para ayudar a los clientes a prepararse para las tormentas y crear planes de emergencia personalizados. 

Horario y ubicación

La ubicación y horario del siguiente evento comunitario es: Sábado 14 de septiembre de 2024, en el Centro Academico Dow en Brazosport College, 500 College Dr., Lake Jackson, Texas 77566. Los clientes pueden ver el calendario de eventos comunitarios visitando la página web www.CenterPointEnergy.com/EventosComunitarios.   

 

Acerca de la Iniciativa de Resiliencia del área metropolitana de Houston (GHRI, por sus siglas en inglés)

Desde su lanzamiento el 5 de agosto, trabajadores y contratistas de CenterPoint han emprendido juntos una serie de acciones específicas para reforzar la red y reducir el riesgo de apagones antes de la próxima gran tormenta. Estas acciones incluyen:

 

·       Instalación de postes más fuertes y resistentes a las tormentas: CenterPoint instaló más de 1,000 postes de fibra de vidrio más resistentes a las tormentas que pueden soportar vientos de hasta 132 mph.

·       Podar o retirar la vegetación de nuestras líneas: CenterPoint duplicó su mano de obra para el mantenimiento de la vegetación de mayor riesgo de más de 2,000 millas de líneas eléctricas.

·       Instalación de dispositivos automatizados: CenterPoint instaló más de 300 dispositivos automatizados, conocidos como "trip savers." Estos dispositivos reducen el número de clientes que sufren apagones y agilizan el restablecimiento del suministro de energía. Los dispositivos reactivan automáticamente la línea durante ciertos apagones para ayudar a los clientes a mantener el suministro eléctrico. 

 

Además de este trabajo de resiliencia inmediato, CenterPoint ha completado 39 de las 42 acciones críticas identificadas previamente como parte de su plan GHRI. Para obtener más información sobre el progreso de esta fase, visite www.CenterPointEnergy.com/TakingAction

CenterPoint Energy Completing Safety Inspections for Natural Gas Customers Impacted by Hurricane Francine in Louisiana and Mississippi

​Company makes internal and contractor frontline electrical workers available to 
other impacted utilities in Gulf Coast states

  • CenterPoint's nearly 480-member natural gas workforce in Louisiana and its nearly 200-member workforce in Mississippi are responding to customer requests and odor calls.
  • Crews are expected to complete all safety inspections by the end of the day today, with portions of Louisiana already reported as completed.
  • CenterPoint did not experience significant impacts from Hurricane Francine on its electric or natural gas networks across Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.
  • CenterPoint has released 1,500 distribution frontline and 700 vegetation management mutual aid workers to support other utilities in areas more impacted by the storm.

HOUSTON, Sept. 12, 2024 - Following Hurricane Francine's landfall, CenterPoint Energy is focusing its response efforts on its natural gas infrastructure and customers in Louisiana and Mississippi. As of 4 p.m. CT, Thursday, September 12, the effects of Francine have not resulted in any significant damage to its electric or gas networks across the Gulf Coast region. CenterPoint's nearly 480-member natural gas workforce in Louisiana and nearly 200-member workforce in Mississippi are expected to complete all safety inspections today, with portions of Louisiana already being reported as completed. Crews will also be responding to customer requests and odor calls.

CenterPoint Energy Gulf Coast Service Territory  

 

"While the worst of the storm has passed, we continue to urge our customers to take precautions and follow the necessary safety steps when it comes to their natural gas service, including staying alert for the smell of natural gas and refraining from turning gas valves on or off," said Bo Murphy, CenterPoint's Vice President of Louisiana and Mississippi Natural Gas.

Given no significant impact on the electric system in Greater Houston from Francine, CenterPoint has made 1,500 distribution frontline and 700 vegetation management mutual aid workers available to other utilities more impacted by the storm. As part of its commitment to provide assistance to other utilities impacted by Francine, CenterPoint will also be making some of its Greater Houston area internal and contractor frontline electric workers available to the mutual aid system.

"The mutual aid system is an essential part of a utility's operations before, during and after a major storm. We are prepared to answer the call if utilities in impacted states need additional support to repair damage to their electric system and restore power to their customers," said Darin Carroll, Senior Vice President of Electric Business.

Support Actions in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas
The current response by CenterPoint to Hurricane Francine includes:

  • Conducting natural gas inspection process in LA and MS: The company's nearly 480-member natural gas workforce in Louisiana and its nearly 200-member workforce in Mississippi are conducting safety inspections and will be responding to customer requests and odor calls.
  • Readied frontline electric crews for mutual aid. CenterPoint will be making some of its internal and contractor frontline electric workers in the Greater Houston area available to other more-impacted utilities in the east.
  • Released all 1,500 frontline mutual aid workers: Made available all additional distribution frontline, mutual aid workers secured for the Greater Houston area to other more-impacted utilities to the east.
  • Released all 700 vegetation management mutual aid workers: The 1,300 internal and mutual aid vegetation management personnel finished the pre-storm high-risk vegetation work in the Greater Houston area and the 700 mutual aid vegetation management personnel have been made available to the mutual aid system.
  • Coordinating with government officials: Providing regular updates to federal, state, county and city officials to communicate company's pre-storm activities and readiness posture and provide critical updates.
  • Sharing customer communications: Shared safety and preparedness actions with CenterPoint customers across social media and other platforms to help keep customers informed and prepared.

Safety Tips for Natural Gas Customers 
CenterPoint is continuing to remind its customers to stay safe after Hurricane Francine by following these 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 should flooding occur. If you wish to discontinue gas service, turn off the natural gas at each appliance.
  • Always be alert for the smell of natural gas. If you smell natural gas, leave the area immediately on foot and tell others to leave, too.
  • If you smell natural 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 1-888-876-5786 and CenterPoint will send a trained service technician.
  • If your home is flooded, call a licensed plumber or natural gas appliance technician to inspect your appliances and gas piping to make sure they are in good operating condition before calling CenterPoint to reconnect service. This includes outdoor natural gas appliances including pool heaters, gas grills and gas lights.
  • If you are planning any digging or clearing as part of your post-hurricane activities, please call 811, the nationwide Call Before You Dig number, to locate underground natural gas lines and other underground utility lines.
  • 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 natural 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 at 1-888-876-5786.

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

About CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
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. 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:
Communications
Media.Relations@CenterPointEnergy.com

CenterPoint Energy logo. (PRNewsFoto)  

 

SOURCE CenterPoint Energy