CenterPoint Energy restores power to more than 630,000 customers impacted by severe storm
2024-05-19T05:00:00Z

​Houston – May 19, 2024 – CenterPoint Energy today announced that more than 630,000 impacted customers have been restored in the 72 hours since severe weather devastated parts of the company's Greater Houston service territory on Thursday, May 16.

  • Company continues to be on track for substantial completion of restoration by Wednesday evening
  • Company provides updated and more detailed restoration map
  • Approximately 280,000 customers restored in the past 24 hours; company plans to provide further updates on today's restoration efforts and current and planned percentages of completed restorations later this evening​

“While we have made solid restoration progress over the past 72 hours, it is important to remember that we have a lot of hard work ahead and the more difficult restorations are still to come. In fact, our crews encountered a lot of additional damage in the field today," said Lynnae Wilson, Senior Vice President, Electric Business. “We continue to move forward with our restorations as safely and quickly as possible, with a strong understanding that a lot of people who have been without power are counting on us to get the lights and air conditioning back on."

More than 7,000 workers, including lineworkers and vegetation management professionals participating through mutual assistance, are deployed across the company's service territory focusing on around-the-clock restoration efforts. With safety as a top priority, mutual assistance crews were onboarded and deployed to assist CenterPoint's employees and contractors.

CenterPoint is also utilizing seven temporary mobile generation units to serve some cooling centers, first responder locations, healthcare facilities, schools, and senior living facilities. To help get students back to school tomorrow morning, the company has already restored power in Klein, Crosby, Tomball and several other school districts.

The company has posted an updated and more detailed customer restoration map by area on its website. It can be accessed at CenterPointEnergy.com/StormCenter. CenterPoint is also utilizing its Power Alert Service tool to provide targeted restoration updates to customers. 

As crews continue their work, power restored to some customers may be temporarily interrupted as the company brings additional customers back on. In addition to damaging CenterPoint's electric infrastructure and equipment, severe weather may have caused damage to customer-owned equipment. Customers should check their weatherhead, the point where power enters the home through an electric service drop, which is often a pipe located on the side of the residence or building. If the weatherhead is damaged, customers will need to contact a qualified electrician to make repairs before the company can restore service to them.

CenterPoint urges customers to always stay at least 35 feet away from downed power lines and damaged electric utility equipment. Treat all down and damaged equipment as energized and report them to the company at 713-207-2222. In addition, CenterPoint reminds customers to only use a portable generator in a well-ventilated area and never run it inside, or in a garage, to avoid carbon monoxide fumes, which can be deadly. Never connect a portable electric generator directly to your home or building's electrical system during a power outage; electricity could backfeed into the power lines and potentially endanger CenterPoint Energy employees, fellow lineworkers or members of the public.

For the latest information on power outages:

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 Recent News

 

 
CenterPoint Energy monitoring and prepared for cold front with strong winds across Greater Houston area

​​​Wind gusts in 35 – 45+ mph range forecasted to impact Greater Houston area Sunday night into Monday morning

Enhanced frontline workforce prepared and ready to respond to potential impacts on system

HOUSTON – March 14, 2026  – CenterPoint Energy is monitoring and prepared for an incoming cold front forecasted to impact the Greater Houston area Sunday night and Monday morning, bringing with it strong winds with potential gusts in the range of 35 – 45+ mph. The company's enhanced workforce of more than 900 CenterPoint frontline workers is prepared to respond to any impacts on electric service. CenterPoint continues to communicate and coordinate with local government officials ahead of Sunday's forecast.

During this week's storms, approximately 97.5% of CenterPoint's 2.9 million customers across the Greater Houston area had uninterrupted service. Customers who experienced storm-related outages were restored on average within approximately 54 minutes. The vast majority of customers were restored within 3 hours or less.

“As a cold front is expected to move through the area, our CenterPoint team has been monitoring the potential for strong winds with gusts of at least 35 – 45+ mph or higher across our service territory," said Matt Lanza, CenterPoint's Manager of Meteorology. “Our crews are prepared for the possibility of another round of very strong winds starting Sunday evening, and our frontline workers stand ready to respond. We will continue to actively monitor for any severe weather and urge our customers to stay alert in anticipation of quickly changing weather conditions."

Preparing for Severe Weather: Key Actions
As part of its storm preparedness efforts, CenterPoint is taking the following actions:

  • Readying t​he company's workforce and resources:More than 900 personnel remain ready to support potential restoration efforts throughout the week.
  • Monitoring severe weather 24/7: The Meteorology team continues to track weather forecast developments, and the company is updating response efforts as conditions evolve.
  • Coordinating with local officials: CenterPoint is providing updates to local officials and emergency management partners.

What customers should do:

About CenterPoint Energy, Inc.  
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) is a multi-state electric and natural gas delivery company serving more than 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 December 31, 2025, the company had approximately $46.5 billion in assets. With approximately 8,800 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been serving customers for more than 150 years. For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com.

CenterPoint Energy continues monitoring severe weather and remains prepared as additional storms forecast for southwestern Indiana

​​​CenterPoint's electric infrastructure performed well and had minimal customer impacts during this week's storms and stands ready for another round of severe weather expected Sunday 

Customers encouraged to stay safe and maintain emergency plans

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – March 13, 2026 – CenterPoint Energy is monitoring another round of potentially severe thunderstorms forecast to move through southwestern Indiana on Sunday. According to the National Weather Service, damaging winds, heavy rain and isolated tornadoes are possible Sunday afternoon through the evening hours.

The company has remained in a heightened posture since storms moved through the region on Tuesday and Wednesday. CenterPoint is preparing crews and coordinating with local government officials ahead of Sunday's forecast.

During this week's storms, the company's electric system performed well with minimal outages that peaked at approximately 900 customers out of the approximately 154,000 electric customers CenterPoint serves in the region.

“More than 99% of our customers had uninterrupted service during this week's storms, and we remain fully prepared as another system moves into our area," said Mike Roeder, President of CenterPoint Energy Indiana. “Our teams stand ready to respond."

CenterPoint encourages customers to prepare for severe weather: 

  • Track outages: Bookmark Outage Tracker (available in English and Spanish and mobile-friendly) to see the latest outage information.
  • Stay safe: Visit Ready.gov for storm safety tips. 
  • ​Follow us: Real-time updates will be available on X and at CenterPointEnergy.com/ActionCenter. ​

CenterPoint Energy offers expanded support for southwestern Indiana customers as state’s winter disconnection moratorium ends

​EVANSVILLE, Ind. – March 12, 2026 – As part of its commitment to affordability and supporting our local communities, CenterPoint Energy is encouraging customers to take advantage of available payment options, assistance programs and one-on-one support ahead of Indiana's winter disconnection moratorium ending on March 15.

Under Indiana law, customers who receive Energy Assistance Program (EAP) assistance or who are eligible and have applied for the program are protected from service disconnection between December 1 and March 15. As that protection period ends, CenterPoint wants customers to know that help is available and that reaching out is the first step. The company has taken a series of steps over the past year to expand resources and support available to customers managing energy costs.

“We know that affordability is the top issue for many of our customers and we want you to know that there are resources available to help you manage your energy use and bills. Please reach out to us," said Mike Roeder, President of CenterPoint Energy Indiana. “Our teams are here to help and work with you. We can connect you with assistance programs, set up a payment plan or help you find ways to reduce your energy costs. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can help you find a path forward."

Steps customers can take now

Financial assistance programs are available to help customers manage energy costs:

  • ​Payment arrangements: Allow customers who are having difficulty paying their bill in full to set up a plan to pay in smaller increments over time
  • Energy Assistance Program: Provides financial help to income-eligible households and is accepting applications through April 20, 2026
  • Universal Service Fund: Helps natural gas customers who have received EAP save between 15% and 32% on their bills through May 31.
  • Township trustee assistance: Available year-round, with eligibility and support levels determined by local trustee offices

Customers can also sign up for Budget Bill to level out monthly payments, schedule a no-cost Home Energy Assessment or visit the Online Energy Efficiency Store to access discounted energy-saving products.

More ways to connect and get help

As part of its ongoing commitment to affordability, CenterPoint has made it easier for customers to connect and find support. Guided by direct feedback from customers and stakeholders, the company has expanded resources across southwestern Indiana, including:

  • One-on-one support through Community Connect events happening throughout the region
  • A redesigned Customer Resource Hub, making it simpler to find billing support, assistance programs and energy-saving resources in one place

The next Community Connect event is scheduled for March 18 at CenterPoint Energy Plaza, 211 NW Riverside Drive in Evansville, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., where customers can meet with CenterPoint team members and get help with any of the programs and resources listed above.

For more information or to explore available resources, customers can visit CenterPointEnergy.com/ResourceHub or call 1-800-227-1376.

Ongoing commitment to affordability

In October 2025, CenterPoint launched its 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, expanded customer support programs and implemented additional protections as part of the Indiana Electric rate case settlement – such as annual late-fee waivers upon request, reduced reconnection fees and safeguards for medically vulnerable customers. Additional customer resources are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

CenterPoint Energy offers support for Indiana customers as state’s winter disconnection moratorium ends

INDIANAPOLIS – March 12, 2026 – CenterPoint Energy is encouraging customers to take advantage of available payment options, assistance programs and one-on-one support ahead of Indiana's winter disconnection moratorium ending on March 15.

Under Indiana law, customers who receive Energy Assistance Program (EAP) assistance or who are eligible and have applied for the program are protected from service disconnection between December 1 and March 15. As that protection period ends, CenterPoint wants customers to know that help is available and that reaching out is the first step.

“We know that affordability is the top issue for many of our customers and we want you to know that there are resources available to help you manage your energy use and bills. Please reach out to us," said Mike Roeder, President of CenterPoint Energy Indiana. “Our teams are here to work with you. We can connect you with assistance programs, set up a payment plan or help you find ways to reduce your energy costs. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can help you find a path forward."

Steps customers can take now

Financial assistance programs are available to help customers manage energy costs:

  • Payment arrangements: Allow customers who are having difficulty paying their bill in full to set up a plan to pay in smaller increments over time
  • Energy Assistance Program: Provides financial help to income-eligible households and is accepting applications through April 20, 2026
  • Universal Service Fund: Helps natural gas customers who have received EAP save between 15% and 32% on their bills through May 31
  • Township trustee assistance: Available year-round, with eligibility and support levels determined by local trustee offices

Customers can also sign up for Budget Billing to level out monthly payments or visit the Online Energy Efficiency Store to access discounted energy-saving products.

For more information or to explore available resources, customers can visit CenterPointEnergy.com/ResourceHub or call 1-800-227-1376.​​

Less than 2.5% of CenterPoint Energy customers impacted during midweek storms

Average restoration for a customer was about 54 minutes, with the vast majority of customers restored in 3 hours or less 

 

Essentially all customers impacted by Wednesday afternoon’s storms have now been restored, with crews working diligently to restore remaining 700 customers 

 

 Frontline workers and contractors supported ongoing restoration and continue responding to localized outages 

  

HOUSTON – March 11, 2026 – After Wednesday afternoon’s storms traveled across CenterPoint Energy’s electric service territory, approximately 2.5% of its 2.9 million customers across the Greater Houston area experienced impacts to electric service during the weather event. With more than 70,000 customers impacted since storms started to move through the area around noon, approximately 69,000 customers have been restored since the storms arrived this afternoon. As of 9:45 p.m., approximately 700 customers are currently without power. 

 

The company's Emergency Operation Center was activated ahead of the storms, and more than 1,400 frontline workers and contractor crews were available to respond to isolated outages throughout the company's 12-county service area. The average time to restore customers who experienced storm-related outages was approximately 54 minutes, and the vast majority of customers were restored in 3 hours or less. 

 

The company is expected to return to normal operations tomorrow morning. 

 

“Severe weather and storms are something we prepare for year‑round, and our crews train continuously so we’re ready ahead of the storms reaching our communities,” said Jason Fabre, CenterPoint’s Vice President, Special Response Team and Incident Commander. “We understand how disruptive any outages can be, and our crews work safely and as quickly as possible until every customer is restored. We will monitor the weather the rest of the night and be prepared to respond immediately to any additional outages.” 

 

CenterPoint took the following actions for today’s event: 

 

  • Deployed the company's resources: Had 1,400 personnel ready to respond to outages and support preparedness actions ahead of restoration efforts. 
  • Activated Emergency Operations Center: To coordinate storm response efforts throughout the day, the company proactively activated its Emergency Operations Center on Tuesday and remained ready to respond. 
  • Monitored weather 24/7: The Meteorology team continues to track forecast developments, and the company is updating response plans as conditions evolve. 
  • Pre-positioned resources: Response teams were pre-positioned in areas where storms were forecasted to impact and remain ready to respond to any electric or natural gas service interruptions safely and as quickly as possible. 
  • Coordinated with local officials: The company provided updates to local officials and emergency management partners. 

 

About CenterPoint Energy, Inc.   
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) is a multi-state electric and natural gas delivery company serving more than 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 December 31, 2025, the company had approximately $46.5 billion in assets. With approximately 8,800 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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