CenterPoint Energy publishes initial restoration status tracker and provides customer restoration update
2024-07-09T05:00:00Z

​Houston — July 9, 2024 – In the approximately 30 hours since Hurricane Beryl exited CenterPoint Energy's service area yesterday afternoon, the company has continued its progress restoring power to the 2.26 million impacted customers. As of 8 p.m. CT, CenterPoint has restored electricity to more than 850,000 customers, representing more than one-third of customers impacted by Hurricane Beryl.

  • Restored more than one-third of outages within first 30 hours of restoration process
  • Damage assessment well underway; CenterPoint remains confident in restoring 1 million customers within 48 hours of storm's exit from area
  • Company providing initial restoration status tracker for customers​

With damage assessment well underway, CenterPoint remains confident it will restore 1 million impacted customers within 48 hours of the restoration process. Following the hurricane's exit from its system, as part of its damage assessment process, the company walked approximately 4,500 miles of its circuits on foot and supplemented its damage assessment by using helicopter and drone surveillance to inspect damage across its service territory, and in particular, some of the hardest-hit areas in its service territory, including Baytown, Bellaire, Brazoria, Galveston and South Houston.

Although the “dirty side" of Hurricane Beryl directly impacted a majority of the company's 5,000-square-mile system, resulting in downed trees, branches and other debris affecting its distribution poles and wires, CenterPoint's overall system largely operated as intended. In fact, the backbone of CenterPoint's grid, including its transmission towers, high-voltage lines and substations, did not experience significant damage. The outages the company has addressed to this point were largely related to its distribution system, which is designed to lock out in order to prevent further damage from debris and protect public safety. Because of this design feature, CenterPoint was able to safely and quickly restore these outages. As damage assessment progresses, it will continue to address these debris-related outages. To the extent there is structural damage, outages may be prolonged.

“We have made solid progress and exceeded the number of customer restorations following Hurricane Ike, but we have a lot of important work ahead, especially in the hardest-hit areas where the work will be more complex and time-consuming," said Lynnae Wilson, Senior Vice President, Electric Business. “We know we have a lot of customers counting us to do our jobs as safely and quickly as possible, and that will continue to be our highest priority."

CenterPoint recognizes that its customers need information about the status of their service. The company has published a new tracker that will provide initial restoration status for customers. As CenterPoint completes its damage assessment in the coming days, it will provide more detailed information about expected restoration timing.

CenterPoint's electric customers are encouraged to enroll in Power Alert Service® to receive outage details and community-specific restoration updates as they become available. For information and updates, follow @CenterPoint for updates during inclement weather events. 

 Recent News

 

 
To better serve customers and local communities in 2025, CenterPoint Energy launches state-specific social media accounts to provide tailored experience across its multi-state service territory

New options available on X for Texas, Indiana, Ohio and Minnesota

Follow @CenterPoint_TX to receive the most up-to-date information on the company's operations in the Greater Houston area and across Texas for both electric and gas updates

HOUSTON, Jan. 14, 2025 - As part of CenterPoint Energy's commitment to continuously improving locally focused, relevant customer and public communications, the company is launching state-specific accounts in Texas, Indiana, Ohio and Minnesota on the social media platform X (previously known as Twitter). Alongside the company's main enterprise account, @CenterPoint, these accounts will provide more tailored local content and share valuable information on relevant company news, energy industry issues, weather updates, energy efficiency tips, emergency response and preparedness topics, as well as outage and restoration updates all tailored to the needs and interests of customers in each service territory.

"We are always working to listen to our customers, incorporate their feedback into our operations and communications and improve the methods and content we deliver across the states and communities we have the privilege to serve," said Keith Stephens, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer. "CenterPoint is proud to deliver electric and gas service to a diverse footprint across the country, and it is critical our customers have an equally diverse set of options in how they receive CenterPoint news. By following these new accounts, customers will continue to receive relevant and timely information impacting their communities at a more targeted, regional level."

Find each of the new accounts on X at:

Across its other social media platforms like Facebook and Nextdoor, CenterPoint will continue to use geotargeting to deliver more precise messages and content in each state where it has customers. LinkedIn and Instagram will remain enterprise-level channels.

Customers can continue to follow @CenterPoint for company-wide updates and highlights from each area.

Customers in Louisiana and Mississippi will continue to be served by the main CenterPoint account until the previously announced sale of those natural gas assets is complete, expected in the first quarter of 2025.

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

SOURCE CenterPoint Energy

CenterPoint Energy Foundation accepting applications for its first grant cycle of 2025

​Houston – Jan. 13, 2025 – The CenterPoint Energy Foundation is currently accepting applications for its first 2025 grant cycle through Feb. 14.

Funded separately and financially independent from the utility, the CenterPoint Energy Foundation strives to be a catalyst for good in the communities it serves by leveraging everyday opportunities and resources to increase the vibrancy of these communities.

Grants are awarded to eligible nonprofit organizations whose primary business address is in CenterPoint's service area in Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio and Texas and has programs that support the Foundation's giving priorities of community vitality and education. Community vitality includes projects promoting affordable housing, environment and quality of place initiatives. Education grants focus on literacy, STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) and workforce development programs.  

Priority consideration for grant funding is given to programs that serve low-to-moderate income families and under-resourced communities and provide increased access to nonprofit programs and services.
“We are proud of the impact the CenterPoint Energy Foundation continues to have in helping create positive, meaningful change in the communities we're privileged to serve," said June Deadrick, Vice President, Community Relations at CenterPoint Energy. “We remain committed to investing in initiatives enriching the lives of those living and working in communities we currently serve, while building a strong foundation for a brighter tomorrow. We encourage qualified nonprofit organizations who focus on community vitality and education to apply for a grant through Feb. 14."

In 2024, the CenterPoint Energy Foundation awarded more than $20 million in grants, and CenterPoint employees volunteered more than 55,000 hours. Highlights of the efforts funded in 2024 include:
 
Evansville Goodwill Excel Center (Indiana): The newly opened Goodwill Excel Center is a free adult charter school providing access to high school classes, postsecondary credentials and additional supportive services to help individuals earn their high school diploma and gain meaningful employment. The Foundation provided an $85,000 grant to support tools and certifications for the participating students to remove barriers to their educational goals. Through the work of the Goodwill Excel Center, the support from the CenterPoint Energy Foundation will remove barriers to career pathways for adult learners.
 
Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota (Minnesota): The Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota features exhibits and activities to engage all ages within a safe, inviting and comfortable space. Through a $225,000 grant from the Foundation awarded over three years, the Museum's pollinator programs and Butterfly House will create engaging opportunities for nature-based play and hands-on learning for children, their grownups and loved ones. The CenterPoint Energy Foundation is proud to highlight the vital role of butterflies and pollinators in our ecosystem.
 
Rebuilding Together Dayton (Ohio): Rebuilding Together Dayton envisions safe homes and communities for everyone by repairing homes, revitalizing communities and helping rebuild lives. The Foundation provided a $75,000 grant to The NeighborCare Program which completes home modification installations and urgent home repairs for senior homeowners in Montgomery County to keep them safe, warm and dry in their homes. The Foundation is proud to support efforts that help community members age in place in safe, comfortable homes.
 
Boys and Girl Club of Laredo (Texas): The Boys & Girls Club of Laredo hopes to provide a safe place for children to learn and grow as well as hope and opportunity for children within the community. The Foundation awarded $50,000 to support the 2024 Boys & Girls Club of Laredo STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Program which provides interactive learning designed to foster interest in STEM careers through hands-on learning and real-world experiences. The CenterPoint Energy Foundation is a proud supporter of efforts that inspire the next generation of leaders and problem-solvers in our communities.  

For more details on how the CenterPoint Energy Foundation is making a difference in the communities it serves and for information on how to apply for a grant, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/Foundation.
 
About the CenterPoint Energy Foundation

The CenterPoint Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where CenterPoint Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by shareholders and has no impact on customer rates. More information about the Foundation can be found at CenterPointEnergy.com/Foundation.

CenterPoint Energy completes power restoration for all customers impacted by Winter Storm Blair and who can safely receive service

Evansville, Ind. – Jan. 11, 2025 – CenterPoint Energy announced this afternoon that power has been restored to all customers who were impacted by Winter Storm Blair and can safely receive service. An expanded workforce of CenterPoint, contractors and mutual aid personnel worked around the clock since early Monday morning to repair damage and restore more than 61,000 customer outages caused by heavy ice accumulation, falling trees and limbs and broken poles and equipment. 

While more than 99.9% of all customers who were impacted by Winter Storm Blair, and who could receive service, were restored by 10 p.m. Friday night, a handful of complex outages remained. That small number of customers have now been restored and 100% of customers impacted by Sunday's ice storm now have their power back on.   

“We want to thank the entire community for their patience and support as we worked this winter storm. We understand how challenging it is to not have power at the coldest time of the year," said Shane Bradford, CenterPoint's Vice President, Indiana Electric. “The tireless work of our employees, contractors and mutual assistance crews has been remarkable. Their commitment to our customers and communities, paired with the support of local agencies and officials, allowed us to restore service safely and quickly. We are deeply grateful for everyone's efforts and support." 

Restoring power to more than 61,000 customers 

Winter Storm Blair caused the most significant damage to CenterPoint's southwestern Indiana service area in more than 15 years. Heavy ice and snow led to widespread outages impacting more than 61,000 customers. Starting Sunday, January 5, crews began addressing outages that rapidly escalated due to ice accumulation on power lines and falling tree limbs. Over the course of the week, teams worked to repair hundreds of downed lines, replace damaged poles and remove trees and debris. 

By Tuesday evening, more than 50% of impacted customers had been restored, and by Wednesday night, more than 90% of customers were back online. Restoration efforts were bolstered by the arrival of additional resources, with over 1,000 personnel—including mutual aid and contractor crews—mobilized to assist in the effort. This significant response allowed the company to substantially complete restoration efforts 24 hours ahead of its initial projections. 

Community support through collaboration 

CenterPoint coordinated with local agencies to establish warming centers and shelters for residents impacted by the storm. Organizations including the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation, the Catholic Diocese of Evansville and the Southwest Chapter of the American Red Cross Indiana Region helped facilitate key locations offering shelter, snacks and bottled water to those in need. 

The company also extends its gratitude to local elected officials, emergency management teams and first responders for their critical support during restoration efforts. 

“Our ability to stage more than 1,000 personnel in Evansville relied heavily on traffic support from the Evansville Police Department and Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office," added Bradford. “Their coordination made it possible for crews to mobilize quickly and restore power." 

​

CenterPoint Energy delivers on its commitment to restore essentially all customers by end of day Thursday: More than 60,000 customers now have power again following Sunday’s winter storm, roughly 700 customers remain out on Thursday evening

​Evansville, Ind. – Jan. 9, 2025 – As of 10 p.m., CenterPoint Energy has restored nearly 99% of customers impacted by Winter Storm Blair that moved into southeastern Indiana this past Sunday. Teams have worked tirelessly over the past several days to address outages from a peak of 61,000 to this final stage, addressing widespread damage caused by downed trees, limbs and thick ice. Roughly 700 customers remain without power.

“We recognize the hardship these outages have caused our friends and neighbors in the southwestern Indiana community, and we appreciate the patience and resilience of our customers," said Shane Bradford, Vice President of Indiana Electric. “We've made incredible progress the last few days, but we know our work is not yet done, and our crews remain focused on working safely and quickly for the remaining customers still waiting to be restored."

While CenterPoint has substantially completed restoration across southwestern Indiana, a small number of isolated and complex outages are anticipated to extend into Friday. More than 1,000 personnel, including CenterPoint crews, contractors and mutual assistance crews, will remain mobilized into tomorrow until power is fully restored to all customers who can safely receive service.

For those customers who remain without power, estimated restoration information for individual customer addresses is available via CenterPoint's outage map, which can be found at CenterPointEnergy.com/Outage.

CenterPoint will continue to provide daily updates until all customers who were impacted by Winter Storm Blair have been fully restored.


Tracking next round of winter weather
The current weather forecast indicates that extremely cold conditions will persist throughout the rest of the week, with little to no thawing expected. While not anticipated to create serious impacts, the company is monitoring forecasted snow accumulation for the end of the week.

Some customers may still experience delays in power restoration, particularly if there has been damage to a weatherhead – the point of entry from the service drop to the home. If the weatherhead is damaged, the customer will need to have a licensed electrician make necessary repairs before power can be restored. After repairs are completed, customers can call 800-227-1376 to request reconnection of service. 

Continued updates
Customers are encouraged to follow the company on social media platforms such as Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) for the latest information.​

Responding to Texas Governor's State of Emergency Declaration for Approaching Winter Storm, CenterPoint Energy Continues to Vigilantly Monitor Forecasts, Deploy Cold Weather Mitigations and Remains Ready to Respond to Potential Severe Weather Impacts

CenterPoint has already completed its winter preparedness checklist and shared it with regulators and stakeholders and continues coordinating with emergency responders across Texas to prepare for expected winter storms this week

Company urges customers to stay alert ahead of changing weather conditions and have a personal emergency plan in place

HOUSTON, Jan. 8, 2025 - With severe winter weather conditions forecasted to impact much of West and East Texas later this week and into the weekend, Texas Governor Greg Abbott's office has activated the state's emergency response resources. CenterPoint Energy is continually monitoring the changing weather, deploying cold weather mitigations across its electric and gas infrastructure, mobilizing emergency response resources and coordinating with relevant local emergency responders and government officials in preparation for the approaching winter weather system. The company has a cold weather action plan in place and is proactively making preparations to respond to potential electric and natural gas service issues as safely and as quickly as possible.

At this time, CenterPoint does not foresee major winter impacts to its infrastructure.

CenterPoint's enhanced Emergency Response and Preparedness team continues to lead the company's preparedness efforts and coordination with public agencies and community leaders. The team is providing regular updates to relevant agencies and government officials to communicate the company's pre-storm activities and readiness posture and provide critical updates.

"We know how important it is for homes and businesses to have the electric and natural gas service they expect and deserve, especially when severe weather is forecasted to head our way. That's why we remain prepared to respond to any potential impacts to our system from the forecasted colder temperatures across the state, so we can safely and quickly restore service to any impacted customers. Our teams will remain alert and continue to coordinate with local officials as our communities take steps to prepare, and we urge our customers to stay weather alert and have an emergency plan in place," said Richard Leger, CenterPoint's Senior Vice President of Gas Operations.

CenterPoint has taken a series of proactive pre-winter preparedness actions to strengthen and winterize its electric and natural gas infrastructure across Texas, as well as inspect and test cold-weather critical equipment ahead of potential severe cold weather.

Critical winter electric actions taken in the Greater Houston area
CenterPoint Texas has submitted its annual declarations of winter readiness to both the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and the Railroad Commission of Texas. These declarations demonstrate that CenterPoint has completed the regulatory requirements that were adopted in 2021 to prepare electric and natural gas infrastructure for winter storms and extreme cold weather.

The pre-winter safety and readiness actions taken by CenterPoint include:

  • Inspecting and testing critical equipment, including all 270 substations, to prepare for high demand and cold temperatures;
  • Hardening electric and natural gas infrastructure across the Greater Houston area, including installing heaters and devices to prevent ice damage or buildup;
  • Maintaining freeze protection equipment and enclosures for cold-weather critical components;
  • Repairing damaged or degraded thermal insulation and water-proofing materials; and
  • Conducting emergency training for hundreds of operational personnel and contractors to prepare for, mitigate and respond to the impacts of severe winter weather.

Natural gas system preparedness in Texas
Historically, CenterPoint's natural gas system has performed very well during cold weather events, with customers experiencing minimal impact. The company strives to provide natural gas service safely and reliably to its customers and initiates winter preparedness strategies to help protect its natural gas system. These include:

  • Positioning Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks to be deployed to supplement the natural gas system, if needed.
  • Reinforcing reliability by validating that all station set points are aligned with their cold weather settings and have technicians on standby coordinating closely with engineering and natural gas control.
  • Coordinating and communicating with the Railroad Commission of Texas to identify and ensure operations of critical gas infrastructure for natural gas reliability.

2025 Winter Energy Guide 
CenterPoint recently launched its Winter Energy Guide, a comprehensive online resource hub that helps customers throughout the winter heating season. The guide features practical and important safety, energy savings and bill management tips to help customers stay safe and warm throughout the winter season. CenterPoint has a cold weather plan in place to respond quickly to potential impacts this winter, and the company encourages customers to use this helpful resource to create their own cold weather plans so that they're prepared for the colder weather ahead. To learn more about the Winter Energy Guide and to receive more important tips, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/ReadyforWinter.

Outage Tracker and Power Alert Service®
CenterPoint electric customers can stay up-to-date on outages with CenterPoint's new and improved, cloud-based Outage Tracker, which allows customers to see outages by county, city and zip code. The new tracker is capable of handling increased traffic during storms, is scalable during periods of high demand, and is ADA- and mobile-friendly. The data in Outage Tracker is updated every five minutes to provide the most up-to-date details on outages. Additionally, CenterPoint recently released a Spanish-language version of the tool.

Electric customers are also encouraged to enroll in the company's Power Alert Service® to receive outage details, estimated restoration times and customer-specific restoration updates via phone call, text or email.

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 

SOURCE CenterPoint Energy