CenterPoint Energy suspending disconnections for Indiana customers
2022-03-15T05:00:00Z

Evansville – March 15, 2022 – In an effort to help customers needing payment assistance, CenterPoint Energy is voluntarily suspending disconnections for its Indiana residential customers through May 31, 2022. Customers will continue to receive disconnect bills during this temporary suspension period, but their service will not be disconnected.

"We recognize there are many factors contributing to increased natural gas bills this winter heating season, including higher natural gas prices and a new rate structure – the first base rate increase since 2007 – that makes the customer's bill more dependent on the amount of natural gas used when compared to the prior rate structure," said Ashley Babcock, Vice President, Indiana and Ohio Natural Gas. "CenterPoint Energy is committed to providing our customers with the safe, reliable service they expect in the most cost-effective manner possible."

CenterPoint Energy is working on additional measures to assist customers and enhance the overall customer experience. Call center staff have been working extra hours to address the increased volume of customer inquiries as the company continues the hiring and training of additional agents. Customers can utilize CenterPoint Energy's self-service options at www.centerpointenergy.com to handle common transactions quickly and efficiently.

Customers are also encouraged to contact the local Indiana Community Action Agency, which administers the Indiana Energy Assistance Program (EAP) for income-eligible customers and can provide intake information about the application process and program requirements. EAP is available to Indiana customers with CenterPoint Energy natural gas and/or electric service. For Indiana natural gas customers, the Universal Service Program (USP) provides a monthly discount on residential gas charges during the heating season. To qualify for EAP and USP, annual household income cannot exceed 60% of the State Median Income poverty guidelines.

If additional payment assistance is needed, customers should contact CenterPoint Energy at 1-800-227-1376 to discuss options.

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Electric Reliability Council of Texas calls for Power Conservation

​Houston – Sept. 7, 2023 – The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has issued a conservation appeal due to continued high temperatures, high demand, low wind and declining solar power generation this afternoon. As a result, ERCOT is asking consumers to conserve electricity use, if safe to do so, today from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. CT. Similar conditions are expected for tomorrow. CenterPoint Energy does not generate electricity itself, so any shortage of electric power capacity from the electric grid is not something that the company controls. ​

Today's conservation appeal does not indicate ERCOT is experiencing emergency conditions at this time. Current forecasts are showing a potential for low reserves today because of continued high temperatures, high demand, low wind and declining solar power generation into the afternoon and evening hours.

Consumers can help the ERCOT grid by conserving energy, especially during peak hours of 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Please conserve electricity by:  

  • Raising your thermostat by a degree or two, if safe to do so.  
  • Avoid using large appliances, such as washers/dryers and dishwashers.
  • Turn off and unplug non-essential lights and appliances. 
  • Set pool pumps to run early morning or overnight; shut off during peak hours.

​If conditions worsen, ERCOT may issue a directive to curtail power delivered to customers, which requires transmission and distribution utilities like CenterPoint Energy to implement controlled outages due to power generation shortfall. Controlled outages are planned emergency measures designed to avoid potentially longer and more widespread power outages for customers. There are three levels of Energy Emergency Alerts (EEA), and controlled outages are only implemented as a last resort to maintain reliability of the electric system, and they are done with the intent to rotate outages in the electric service territory based on system conditions.  

Houston-area customers should prepare now and have a back-up plan in place, especially those who rely on electricity for life-sustaining equipment.  

ERCOT is the independent system operator for the region and manages the flow of electric power to most of Texas and more than 26 million Texas customers. CenterPoint Energy is an investor-owned electric utility and a member of ERCOT. The company manages the transmission and distribution of electricity to its approximately 2.7 million customers across the greater Houston area and surrounding communities. 

As needed, CenterPoint Energy will continue to keep customers updated through the company's customer communication channels, including X, formerly Twitter, (@CNPalerts), Facebook, Power Alert Service, Outage Tracker (Estimated Restoration Times will not be available for these types of emergencies) and the web.


Electric Reliability Council of Texas calls for Power Conservation

​Houston – Sept. 6, 2023 – The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has issued a conservation appeal due to continued high temperatures, high demand, low wind and declining solar power generation this evening. As a result, ERCOT is asking consumers to conserve electricity use, if safe to do so, today from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. CT. CenterPoint Energy does not generate electricity itself, so any shortage of electric power capacity from the electric grid is not something that the company controls. ​

Today's conservation appeal does not indicate ERCOT is experiencing emergency conditions at this time. Current forecasts are showing a potential for low reserves this evening because of continued high temperatures, high demand, low wind and declining solar power generation into the evening hours.

Consumers can help the ERCOT grid by conserving energy, especially during peak hours of 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Please conserve electricity by:  

  • Raising your thermostat by a degree or two, if safe to do so.  
  • Avoid using large appliances, such as washers/dryers and dishwashers.
  • Turn off and unplug non-essential lights and appliances. 
  • Set pool pumps to run early morning or overnight; shut off during peak hours.

If conditions worsen, ERCOT may issue a directive to curtail power delivered to customers, which requires transmission and distribution utilities like CenterPoint Energy to implement controlled outages due to power generation shortfall. Controlled outages are planned emergency measures designed to avoid potentially longer and more widespread power outages for customers. There are three levels of Energy Emergency Alerts (EEA), and controlled outages are only implemented as a last resort to maintain reliability of the electric system, and they are done with the intent to rotate outages in the electric service territory based on system conditions.  

Houston-area customers should prepare now and have a back-up plan in place, especially those who rely on electricity for life-sustaining equipment.   

ERCOT is the independent system operator for the region and manages the flow of electric power to most of Texas and more than 26 million Texas customers. CenterPoint Energy is an investor-owned electric utility and a member of ERCOT. The company manages the transmission and distribution of electricity to its approximately 2.7 million customers across the greater Houston area and surrounding communities. 


As needed, CenterPoint Energy will continue to keep customers updated through the company's customer communication channels, including X, formerly Twitter, (@CNPalerts), Facebook, Power Alert Service, Outage Tracker (Estimated Restoration Times will not be available for these types of emergencies) and the web.

​

Electric Reliability Council of Texas calls for Power Conservation
​Houston – Aug. 29, 2023 – The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has issued a conservation appeal due to a high level of unexpected thermal generation outages and forecasted low wind generation. As a result, ERCOT is asking consumers to conserve electricity use, if safe to do so, today, Aug. 29, from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. CT. CenterPoint Energy does not generate electricity itself, so any shortage of electric power capacity from the electric grid is not something that the company controls. 

Today's conservation appeal does not indicate ERCOT is experiencing emergency conditions at this time. Current forecasts are showing a potential to enter emergency operations this evening because of a high level of unexpected thermal generation outages and forecasted low wind generation.

Consumers can help the ERCOT grid by conserving energy, especially during peak hours of 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Please conserve electricity by:  

  • Raising your thermostat by a degree or two, if safe to do so.  
  • Avoid using large appliances, such as washers/dryers and dishwashers.
  • Turn off and unplug non-essential lights and appliances. 
  • Set pool pumps to run early morning or overnight; shut off during peak hours.

​If conditions worsen, ERCOT may issue a directive to curtail power delivered to customers, which requires transmission and distribution utilities like CenterPoint Energy to implement controlled outages due to power generation shortfall. Controlled outages are planned emergency measures designed to avoid potentially longer and more widespread power outages for customers. There are three levels of Energy Emergency Alerts (EEA), and controlled outages are only implemented as a last resort to maintain reliability of the electric system, and they are done with the intent to rotate outages in the electric service territory based on system conditions.  

Houston-area customers should prepare now and have a back-up plan in place, especially those who rely on electricity for life-sustaining equipment.  

ERCOT is the independent system operator for the region and manages the flow of electric power to most of Texas and more than 26 million Texas customers. CenterPoint Energy is an investor-owned electric utility and a member of ERCOT. The company manages the transmission and distribution of electricity to its approximately 2.7 million customers across the greater Houston area and surrounding communities. 

As needed, CenterPoint Energy will continue to keep customers updated through the company's customer communication channels, including X, formerly Twitter, (@CNPalerts), Facebook, Power Alert Service, Outage Tracker (Estimated Restoration Times will not be available for these types of emergencies) and the web.​

​

CenterPoint Energy urges Merryville customers to be safe when returning home following devastating wildfire

​Houston – Aug. 28, 2023 – In the wake of the recent wildfire in Tiger Island, near the town of Merryville, Louisiana, CenterPoint Energy – in collaboration with emergency responders and local authorities – has been working tirelessly to help keep the community safe and respond effectively to the situation.

CenterPoint Energy's technicians have begun visiting customers' residences to restore service. Crews will need access to customer homes to relight pilot lights on any natural gas appliances. If technicians visit a home and no one over the age of 18 is present, a door hanger with details on how to contact the company to schedule a relight will be left on the door. Our crews and contractors wear identification badges and will show them to you upon request.

“Our thoughts are with impacted community members as they bravely battled the Tiger Island Fire in Beauregard Parish," said Bo Murphy, Vice President, Louisiana and Mississippi Gas at CenterPoint Energy. “The devastating impact of this wildfire reaches far beyond the natural gas system, and we will continue to support Merryville in its recovery during this difficult time." 

Important actions taken by the company include:

  1. Monitoring and shut-off: Technicians actively monitored the wildfire's progression and were ready to initiate emergency shut-offs of natural gas supply lines where necessary. This proactive approach was aimed at minimizing the risk of natural gas-related incidents as a result of the wildfire. In coordination with local authorities, the company temporarily suspended natural gas service to prevent potential natural gas leaks or hazards.
  2. System assessments: Technicians continuously checked the natural gas system to ensure customers can safely return to the Merryville area.
  3. Expedited service restoration: Following the evacuation mandate, CenterPoint Energy technicians have returned to the area to restore service.

Safety tips for Merryville residents returning home

As Merryville residents begin to return to their homes in the aftermath of the wildfire, CenterPoint Energy urges everyone to follow these crucial safety guidelines:

Be alert for natural gas leaks. If you smell natural gas – which has a distinctive, strong odor, often compared to rotten eggs or sulfur – leave the area immediately on foot and tell others to leave, too. Do not turn the lights on or off, smoke, strike a match, use a phone or operate anything that might cause a spark, including a flashlight or a generator. Once safely away from the area, call 911 and CenterPoint Energy, and the company will send a trained service technician immediately.

  • Do not attempt to turn natural gas valves on or off. For your safety, do not turn any valves or tamper with the natural gas meter. If the smell of gas is present, leave the area immediately and tell others to leave, too. Call 911 then call CenterPoint Energy at 888-876-5786.
  • Identify the location of the natural gas meter. As you are putting out debris for heavy trash pick-up, please make sure it is placed away from the meter. In some areas the meter may be located near the curb. Trash collectors are using mechanized equipment to pick up heavy debris, and if the debris is near a natural gas meter, the equipment could pull up the meter damaging it, and causing a potentially hazardous situation. If this does happen, please leave the area immediately and call CenterPoint Energy.
  • Call a licensed plumber or a natural gas appliance technician to inspect your appliances. If you believe natural gas lines may have been damaged in the fire, call a professional to inspect your appliances prior to requesting a service reconnection. Don't forget to check outdoor appliances, such as pool heaters and gas grills.
  • While conducting clean-up, call 811 to locate utility lines prior to digging on your property.

We appreciate your patience as we work as safely and as quickly as possible to resume gas service to homes and businesses.​

Electric Reliability Council of Texas calls for Power Conservation
Houston – Aug. 27, 2023 – The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has issued a Conservation Appeal due to low wind and potential low solar generation and high demand. The grid operator is asking consumers and businesses to conserve electricity use, if safe to do so, today from 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. CenterPoint Energy does not generate electricity itself, so any shortage of electric power capacity from the electric grid is not something that the company controls. ​

Similar to yesterday, today's conservation appeal does not indicate ERCOT is experiencing emergency conditions at this time. Current forecasts are showing a potential to enter emergency operations this evening because of expected low wind and potential low solar generation and high demand.

Consumers can help the ERCOT grid by conserving energy, especially during peak hours of 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Please conserve electricity by:  

  • Raising your thermostat by a degree or two, if safe to do so.  
  • Avoid using large appliances, such as washers/dryers and dishwashers.
  • Turn off and unplug non-essential lights and appliances. 
  • Set pool pumps to run early morning or overnight; shut off during peak hours.

If conditions worsen, ERCOT may issue a directive to curtail power delivered to customers, which requires transmission and distribution utilities like CenterPoint Energy to implement controlled outages due to power generation shortfall. Controlled outages are planned emergency measures designed to avoid potentially longer and more widespread power outages for customers. There are three levels of Energy Emergency Alerts (EEA), and controlled outages are only implemented as a last resort to maintain reliability of the electric system, and they are done with the intent to rotate outages in the electric service territory based on system conditions.  

Houston-area customers should prepare now and have a back-up plan in place, especially those who rely on electricity for life-sustaining equipment.  

ERCOT is the independent system operator for the region and manages the flow of electric power to most of Texas and more than 26 million Texas customers. CenterPoint Energy is an investor-owned electric utility and a member of ERCOT. The company manages the transmission and distribution of electricity to its approximately 2.7 million customers across the greater Houston area and surrounding communities. 

As needed, CenterPoint Energy will continue to keep customers updated through the company's customer communication channels, including X, formerly Twitter, (@CNPalerts), Facebook, Power Alert Service, Outage Tracker (Estimated Restoration Times will not be available for these types of emergencies) and the web.​