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

2023-08-28T05:00:00Z

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:

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.
System assessments: Technicians continuously checked the natural gas system to ensure customers can safely return to the Merryville area.
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.

Recent News

CenterPoint Energy acts on customer and community feedback and launches new Community Progress Tracker map providing local views of resiliency grid upgrades and improvements across Greater Houston

Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative improvements delivered since August 2024 are available and visible in one online location

New tool allows customers in 12-county area to view more than 56,000 new storm resilient poles, more than 8,000 miles of tree-trimming and more than 500 new automation and intelligence devices delivered since August 1, 2024

HOUSTON, Feb. 11, 2026 - As part of its ongoing commitment to transparency and keeping customers informed of the progress to strengthen the electric grid around Greater Houston, today CenterPoint Energy launched its new Community Progress Tracker. This new web-based, customer-focused map provides direct access to the public to track and measure progress on electric infrastructure upgrades on their street, in their neighborhood, or in their ZIP Code. All of the system upgrades that CenterPoint is making are critical to helping the company build and deliver the most resilient coastal grid in the nation.

The new Community Progress Tracker is part of CenterPoint's broader Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI) – a multi-year program to strengthen the electric grid and improve both reliability and resiliency in the face of increasingly severe weather events, while also improving customer communications. Through GHRI, CenterPoint is investing in a wide range of grid-hardening measures designed to reduce outage impacts and accelerate customer outage restoration.

"Our new Community Progress Tracker gives our customers a clear window into the work we're doing in their local neighborhoods to improve their service and build a stronger and more resilient electric system," said Tony Gardner, Chief Customer Officer at CenterPoint. "Whether they access it on their phones, tablets, laptops or desktops, our new tracker details all the different types of work we are doing and the critical upgrades we've made in their communities."

Community Progress Tracker details
The new tool provides location-specific details on work completed to date as part of GHRI. This includes new more storm-resilient poles and equipment, undergrounded power lines, enhanced vegetation management, and advanced grid technologies, including automation devices that reduce the impact of outages. All these different scopes of GHRI upgrades are noted on the new tracker using colorful and easy-to-identify icons.

While today the tracker visualizes all the upgrades and improvements that CenterPoint has delivered over the last 18 months, it will continue to evolve, and future features will soon allow customers to monitor projects underway and upcoming planned resiliency projects in their area. These future improvements will allow customers and the public to follow progress in given areas and better understand how these efforts contribute to a more reliable and resilient energy future.

Accessible via both desktop and mobile devices, the new Community Progress Tracker includes:

An interactive map of CenterPoint's 12-county Greater Houston service area
Colorful and easy-to-view icons for locations of new poles, tree-trimming miles, automation devices, undergrounding, and weather stations
Zoom in and out functions
Searchability by street address or ZIP Code
Community and neighborhood-level visualization of work completed since August 1, 2024, including pole and equipment upgrades, tree trimming, undergrounding power lines and the installation of automation devices

GHRI Progress update
"Resiliency is at the heart of everything we're doing," added Jesus Soto Jr., Chief Operating Officer at CenterPoint. "From stronger poles and new automation to undergrounding to tree trimming, we're taking a comprehensive and innovative approach to hardening our infrastructure and delivering Greater Houston's electric system. Our goal is to build the most resilient coastal grid in the nation, and this tool will help our customers follow that journey and see the progress we are making in their communities."

Since August 2024, as part of GHRI, CenterPoint has:

Installed or replaced more than 56,000 utility poles, including high-strength composite models engineered to better withstand extreme wind conditions;
Undergrounded more than 430 miles of power lines to reduce exposure to storm-related damage;
Trimmed or cleared vegetation along more than 8,000 miles of distribution lines in higher-risk areas;
Installed more than 500 automation and intelligence devices to help reduce outage impacts and improve service restoration times; and
Deployed 150 advanced weather stations since April 2025 to enhance situational awareness and storm preparedness.

How to access
To explore the Community Progress Tracker, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/Progress. A short "how-to" video is also available to help customers navigate the tool can be found here: LINK

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 September 30, 2025, the company had approximately $45 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.

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

Correction: "1,500 advanced weather stations" has been updated to "150 advanced weather stations" in the last bulletpoint.

SOURCE CenterPoint Energy

CenterPoint Energy reminds customers to celebrate the love in the air, but keep balloons away from power lines this Valentine’s Day

HOUSTON — Feb. 13, 2026 — As Houstonians gear up to celebrate Valentine’s Day, CenterPoint Energy is reminding customers that while love may be in the air, metallic balloons should be safely weighed down and kept inside. The company is urging customers to properly secure and dispose of metallic helium balloons to help prevent power outages and other safety hazards, as metallic balloons have caused outages for over 75,000 customers across CenterPoint’s electric service territory since 2021.

Metallic balloons, which are coated with conductive materials, can cause sparks, equipment damage and even service interruptions if they are released outdoors and allowed to float into power lines or electric utility equipment. When combined with breezy weather or approaching storms, the risk can increase.

This year, Valentine’s Day falls ahead of possible thunderstorms on Saturday, and CenterPoint is preparing accordingly.

“We want our customers to celebrate and balloons can be a thoughtful way to show someone you care, but if they’re not weighed down or secured, they can quickly become a hazard for an entire neighborhood or community,” said Ed De Varona, senior vice president of CenterPoint's Electric business. “With possible storm forecasts this weekend, we’re reminding customers to keep balloons indoors, anchored and away from electric equipment. We’ll be fully staffed and prepared to respond to any potential weather impacts, but let’s all do our part to help prevent avoidable outages.”

Balloon safety tips from CenterPoint

Customers can follow these tips to stay safe on Valentine’s Day and any time they purchase balloons for a celebration:

Fly balloons indoors and keep them away from all entrances and exits to prevent them from escaping outside.

If the balloon comes with a weight, keep it on. If it doesn’t, consider tethering it with weight.

Dispose of balloons properly after use by puncturing and deflating them.

Never tie a helium balloon to a child or anyone else – they might inadvertently cause the balloon to contact a power line or electric utility equipment if they go outside.

Never attempt to retrieve balloons caught in a power line or electric utility equipment. Call CenterPoint at 713-207-2222 to report the issue, and the company will send a trained service crew to address it safely and as quickly as possible.

For more electric safety tips, customers can visit CenterPointEnergy.com/ElectricSafety.

Important ways to stay connected to CenterPoint  

Customers can enroll in the company’s Power Alert Service® to receive outage details, estimated restoration times and customer-specific restoration updates via phone call, email or text. Customers can also stay up to date with CenterPoint’s Outage Tracker, which allows customers to see outages by county, city and zip code. 

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 September 30, 2025, the company had approximately $45 billion in assets. With approximately 8,300 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been serving customers for more than 150 years.

CenterPoint Energy offers free energy efficiency resources to help Indiana customers manage winter costs

INDIANAPOLIS – Feb. 12, 2026 – As colder-than-normal temperatures continue to drive higher energy use across the region, CenterPoint Energy is offering free and discounted energy efficiency resources to help Indiana customers manage costs and reduce energy use in their homes and businesses.

Through the Online Energy Efficiency Store, customers can now claim up to four free window insulation kits per order. These kits provide an airtight seal that helps stop drafts, reduce heat loss and keep warm air inside, a simple step towards lowering energy use during winter heating months. Customers can also take advantage of limited-time discounts on smart thermostats and water-saving products through Feb. 24, with eligible rebates applied instantly at checkout.

Smart thermostats allow customers to control home heating and cooling remotely, adjust schedules based on daily routines and monitor energy use patterns, helping to lower heating and cooling costs during periods when energy use is highest.

“With colder-than-normal temperatures continuing to impact bills, we know managing energy costs is top of mind for many of our customers," said Mike Roeder, President of CenterPoint Energy Indiana. “Our online store gives customers access to tools that can help them take control and start reducing energy use right away."

Launched in November 2024, the Online Energy Efficiency Store offers a range of ENERGY STAR® certified products and energy-saving tools.

Customers looking for additional ways to save can visit CenterPoint's improved Customer Resource Hub at CenterPointEnergy.com/ResourceHub to explore bill management options, available assistance programs and no-cost Home Energy Assessments, which provide personalized recommendations to improve efficiency.

CenterPoint Energy offers free energy efficiency resources to help southwestern Indiana customers manage winter costs

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Feb. 12, 2026 – As colder-than-normal temperatures continue to drive higher energy use across the region, CenterPoint Energy is offering free and discounted energy efficiency resources to help southwestern Indiana customers manage costs and reduce energy use in their homes and businesses.

Through the Online Energy Efficiency Store, customers can now claim up to four free window insulation kits per order. These kits provide an airtight seal that helps stop drafts, reduces heat loss and keeps warm air inside, a simple step towards lowering energy use during winter heating months. Customers can also take advantage of limited-time discounts on smart thermostats and water-saving products through Feb. 24, with eligible rebates applied instantly at checkout.

Online store continues to expand product offerings
Launched in November 2024, the Online Energy Efficiency Store features a range of ENERGY STAR® certified products and energy-saving tools, including smart thermostats, air purifiers, energy-efficient lighting and home weatherization products.

Customers looking for additional ways to save can visit CenterPoint's improved Customer Resource Hub at CenterPointEnergy.com/ResourceHub to explore bill management options and no-cost Home Energy Assessments, which provide personalized recommendations to improve efficiency.

Ongoing commitment to affordability
In October 2025, CenterPoint launched an initial series of Community Affordability Actions, including the CenterPoint Energy Foundation's $5 million Community Energy Improvement Fund. Since then, the company has introduced additional bill management tools and programs for southwestern Indiana customers and customer protections as part of the Indiana Electric rate case settlement, such as annual late fee waivers upon request, reduced reconnection fees and additional safeguards for medically vulnerable customers. The company expects to announce additional customer resources in the coming weeks.

CenterPoint Energy expands strategic relationship with Resilient Structures to accelerate grid hardening and support local economic development

HOUSTON — Feb. 9, 2026 — CenterPoint Energy (NYSE: CNP), today announced a long-term supply agreement with Resilient Structures (RS), a premier manufacturer of high-performance composite utility poles. This strategic relationship strengthens CenterPoint’s Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI), a multi-year effort to harden the region’s electric infrastructure against increasingly severe weather events.

Under the agreement, Resilient Structures will significantly expand its Humble, Texas operations to meet CenterPoint’s growing infrastructure needs. The expansion is expected to create more than 200 new jobs in the Houston area, reinforcing both companies’ commitment to local investment and economic development.

“Building the most resilient coastal grid in the nation starts with strong relationships,” said Jesus Soto Jr. Chief Operating Officer at CenterPoint Energy. “Resilient Structures shares our commitment to enhance the reliability, resiliency and innovation of our Greater Houston region. This agreement provides a vital U.S.-based and Texas supported option for our supply chain. It will help make sure that CenterPoint has the critical resources to accelerate grid hardening across southeast Texas. By sourcing materials locally, we’re not only strengthening our electric infrastructure against extreme weather but also supporting economic growth and job creation in the communities we serve.”

The agreement will provide CenterPoint with a secure, U.S.-based supply of advanced composite poles designed to withstand extreme weather conditions. By sourcing materials locally, CenterPoint and RS will shorten the supply chain and speed up deployment of storm-hardened structures across CenterPoint’s 12-county service territory.

"We are incredibly proud to deepen our strategic relationship with CenterPoint Energy at such a pivotal moment for our region’s infrastructure," said John Higgins, Chief Executive Officer of RS. "This agreement is about more than just supply; it is a shared commitment to the safety and stability of our community. By expanding our operations right here in Houston, we are not only bringing over 200 high-quality, long-term jobs to the local economy but also ensuring that the materials strengthening our grid are made by the people who rely on it."

About CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

About Resilient Structures

Resilient Structures (RS) is a premier North American manufacturer of high-performance composite utility structures designed to harden the electrical grid against extreme weather and environmental threats. In business for over 30 years, RS is backed by Energy Impact Partners, a global investment firm with a strategic focus on the energy sector and Werklund Growth Fund, an investment firm backed by the Werklund family. RS operates three strategic manufacturing facilities in St. George, Utah; Tilbury, Ontario; and Humble, Texas.