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Assistance still available to help pay winter heating bills

As Cold Weather Rule protection ends, CenterPoint Energy encourages eligible Minnesota customers to apply for energy assistance by May 31 deadline

2024-04-24T05:00:00Z

Minneapolis – April 24, 2024 – Temperatures are warming up as summer quickly approaches, signaling the end of the winter heating season. Also ending soon is Minnesota's Cold Weather Rule, which protects Minnesotans who experience difficulty paying their heating bill from having their natural gas service disconnected between Oct. 1 and April 30.

CenterPoint Energy is reminding its residential customers that assistance is still available to help pay their natural gas bills. Minnesota's Energy Assistance Program is a federally funded program that helps cover home heating costs for income-qualified households.

Both renters and homeowners can qualify, with eligibility based on income and household size. For example, a family of four could earn up to $70,552 annually and qualify to receive assistance. The deadline to apply is May 31.

Customers who have difficulty paying their winter heating bills should contact CenterPoint Energy to see if they are eligible for the Energy Assistance Program or to set up a payment plan to prevent disconnection of their service. A payment plan takes into consideration a customer's financial situation and any other special circumstances.

Customers can call CenterPoint Energy at 800-245-2377 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday-Friday, or visit CenterPointEnergy.com/Assistance.

CenterPoint Energy customers may also sign up for an Average Monthly Billing Plan, which spreads costs throughout the year to help manage winter payment peaks. A customer can sign up at CenterPointEnergy.com/MyAccount or by calling 800-245-2377.

Customers are encouraged to take advantage of energy efficiency offerings and resources to assist in managing natural gas bills during the heating season. More information on rebates and efficiency programs can be found at CenterPointEnergy.com/SaveEnergy.

CenterPoint Energy is Minnesota's largest natural gas utility, serving more than 920,000 residential and business customers in more than 260 local communities.

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 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.

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.

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.

CenterPoint Energy encourages Ohio customers to explore bill management options to benefit sooner

Current bills to reflect January’s extreme cold

Payment assistance, flexible billing options and energy-saving resources available

DAYTON, Ohio – Feb. 3, 2026 – As CenterPoint Energy customers continue receiving February bills reflecting January’s extreme weather, the company is encouraging those who may need help managing their energy costs to explore available resources now to manage potential bill assistance needs.

January 2026 brought record-breaking snowfall to the region during Winter Storm Fern. The National Weather Service reported the longest streak of consecutive days below freezing since 2017-18. It marks the sixth time since 1893 the region has experienced an extended freeze of this magnitude. When temperatures fall this dramatically, heating systems work harder to maintain indoor comfort, resulting in increased energy usage reflected in monthly bills.

Natural gas commodity prices also rose sharply during the storm as severe weather disrupted production in key supply regions nationwide. These costs, set by national markets, are passed through to customers dollar-for-dollar without markup. Every year, the company procures gas on behalf of customers using tools to mitigate most of the exposure to large, demand-based market swings. CenterPoint does not control or profit from the price of natural gas.

“We understand that colder weather drove more heating use which is generating challenging higher bills,” said Mike Wilson, CenterPoint’s VP, Ohio Gas. “We want customers to know that help is available. Our Resource Hub brings together assistance programs, payment options and energy-saving tools, all in one place.”

The company also offers Budget Billing, which spreads energy costs evenly across the year for more predictable monthly bills.

Customers can sign up for Budget Billing and explore other resources by visiting CenterPoint’s improved Resource Hub at CenterPointEnergy.com/ResourceHub or call 800-227-1376.

As cold weather continues, CenterPoint reminds customers to be aware of the warning signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. Early symptoms such as headache and fatigue are similar to the flu, but without a fever. Continued CO exposure can lead to more severe headaches, dizziness, nausea, difficulty thinking clearly and fainting. If everyone in a household is experiencing these symptoms, it could be CO poisoning. If CO poisoning is suspected, leave the area immediately, get fresh air and call 911.

CenterPoint Energy encourages Indiana customers to explore bill management options to benefit sooner

Current bills to reflect January’s extreme cold

Payment assistance, flexible billing options and energy-saving resources available

INDIANAPOLIS – Feb. 3, 2026 – As CenterPoint Energy customers continue receiving current bills reflecting January’s extreme weather, the company is encouraging those who may need help managing their energy costs to explore available resources now to manage potential bill assistance needs.

January 2026 brought the region’s heaviest snowfall in over a decade during Winter Storm Fern, with wind chills plunging 20 to 25 degrees below zero. The National Weather Service reported the longest streak of consecutive days below freezing since 2017-18. It marks only the sixth time since 1871 the region has experienced an extended freeze of this magnitude. When temperatures fall this dramatically, heating systems work harder to maintain indoor comfort, resulting in increased energy usage reflected in monthly bills.

“We understand the colder weather drove more heating use which is generating challenging higher bills,” said Mike Roeder, President of CenterPoint Energy Indiana. “We want customers to know that help is available. Our Resource Hub brings together assistance programs, payment options and energy-saving tools, all in one place.”

The company also offers Budget Billing, which spreads energy costs evenly across the year for more predictable monthly bills.

Customers can sign up for Budget Billing and explore other resources by visiting CenterPoint’s improved Resource Hub at CenterPointEnergy.com/ResourceHub or call 800-227-1376.

As cold weather continues, CenterPoint also reminds customers to be aware of the warning signs of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Early symptoms such as headache and fatigue are similar to the flu, but without a fever. Continued CO exposure can lead to more severe headaches, dizziness, nausea, difficulty thinking clearly and fainting. If everyone in a household is experiencing these symptoms, it could be CO poisoning. If CO poisoning is suspected, leave the area immediately, get fresh air and call 911.

CenterPoint Energy encourages southwestern Indiana customers to explore bill management options to benefit sooner

Current bills to reflect January’s extreme cold

Payment assistance, flexible billing options and energy-saving resources available

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Feb. 3, 2026 – As CenterPoint Energy customers continue receiving current bills reflecting January’s extreme weather, the company is encouraging those who may need help managing their energy costs to explore available resources now to manage potential bill assistance needs.

January 2026 brought significant snowfall and dangerously cold wind chills to the region during Winter Storm Fern, with temperatures dropping well below zero. The National Weather Service reported the longest streak of consecutive days below freezing since 2021. When temperatures fall this dramatically, heating systems work harder to maintain indoor comfort, resulting in increased energy usage reflected in monthly bills.

The company also offers Budget Billing, which spreads energy costs evenly across the year for more predictable monthly bills.

Customers can sign up for Budget Billing and explore other resources by visiting CenterPoint’s improved Resource Hub at CenterPointEnergy.com/ResourceHub or call 800-227-1376.

In October 2025, CenterPoint launched a 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, including the Home Repair & Care program—which provides major home repairs at no cost to qualifying households—and TimeWise, a voluntary pilot program offering residential electric customers a pricing option that may help them save by shifting energy use to lower-cost hours.