CenterPoint Energy recognizes National 811 Day as a reminder to everyone to contact 811 before digging
Utility reminds everyone to contact 811 before starting any digging project to keep our communities safe and avoid disrupting utility service
2024-08-09T05:00:00Z

Houston – Aug. 9, 2024 – CenterPoint Energy is proud to commemorate National 811 Day on Aug. 11 (8/11) and reminds everyone to contact 811 before digging to prioritize their community's safety by having underground utility lines located.

The company reminds customers that it is critical to contact 811 before starting any new and restoration projects whether done by themselves or their contractors. Customers and community members should contact 811 at least two days before their work starts to have underground utilities located at no cost. This includes new construction or repairing a fence or structures, planting trees, installing a deck, installing a mailbox or laying a patio.

“On 811 day and throughout the year, our customers and community members are taking an important step in helping keep everyone safe when they contact 811 prior to starting a project that involves digging," said Al Payton, Vice President, Safety and Technical Training at CenterPoint. “Contacting 811 is the only way to know if utilities are buried in your area so that you can dig safely while helping keep your fellow community members safe and avoid disrupting utility service for others."

Safe digging practices are required by state law and help prevent damage to underground natural gas, electric, communications, water and sewer lines. Digging without identifying the approximate location of underground utilities can result in service disruptions, fines, costly repairs, serious injuries and even death.

If a natural gas line is struck or ruptured outside of a home or business, CenterPoint customers are reminded to do the following:

  • Leave the area immediately on foot. Do not attempt to restart or move powered equipment or use your mobile device or any other item that could cause a spark.
  • Go directly to a safe location, where you cannot smell gas, and continue to maintain a safe distance. Once at a safe distance, call 911 and CenterPoint Energy.
  • Remain in a safe area until directed by emergency personnel to do otherwise.
  • Don't try to repair a natural gas leak. Leave all repairs to a trained technician.

Visit 811BeforeYouDig.com for more information about 811 and the process to have underground utility lines marked. For more information about natural gas safety, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/Safety.  

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 Recent News

 

 
CenterPoint Energy expands affordability efforts with no-cost smart thermostats to help southwestern Indiana customers

​​EVANSVILLE, Ind. – April 16, 2026 – As part of its continued focus on customer affordability, CenterPoint Energy customers can lower their energy usage by ordering a smart thermostat at no cost through the company's Online Energy Efficiency Store, with eligible rebates applied automatically at checkout.

How smart thermostats help customers save
Smart thermostats give customers more control over their cooling and heating by allowing them to:

  • Set schedules based on daily and weekly routines
  • Adjust temperatures remotely
  • Track cooling and heating activity to identify ways to save

“Our customers have told us managing energy costs is their top priority. That is why we are focused on helping them take control of their energy use and lower their bills," said Mike Roeder, President of CenterPoint Energy Indiana. “A smart thermostat is one of the most practical steps a customer can take to start saving, and it's one of the many ways we're working to help customers manage their energy costs."

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostats save an average of 8% on cooling and heating costs annually.

Customers can also monitor their overall energy use through CenterPoint's mobile app, available for free in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, to identify usage patterns and find additional ways to save.

Bill credits through Smart Cycle
CenterPoint Indiana Electric customers who have a smart thermostat can take an additional step to lower their bills by enrolling in Smart Cycle, a voluntary program that provides bill credits while helping support grid reliability during periods of high demand.

Enrolled customers can earn:

  • A one-time $75 credit after registering​
  • A $7.50 monthly bill credit across the nine-month season from March through November ($67.50 total)

That’s up to $142.50 in potential first-year savings per device, on top of the cooling and heating savings a smart thermostat provides.

Customers can check eligibility and enroll at CenterPointEnergy.com/SmartCycle.

Additional offerings through the Online Energy Efficiency Store
The Online Energy Efficiency Store offers customers multiple ways to reduce energy costs. The store also offers discounted LED lighting and water-saving fixtures. For a limited time, customers who purchase a qualifying dehumidifier will receive a free tabletop air purifier while supplies last.

Customers can browse all available products and seasonal deals at CenterPointEnergy.com/Shop.

Continued focus on customer affordability
CenterPoint's Online Energy Efficiency Store, launched in November 2024, is one of several resources available to help customers manage energy costs. Since announcing its initial Community Affordability Actions in October 2025, the company has continued to expand programs and bill management tools for southwestern Indiana customers.

Those additional resources are available through the Resource Hub at CenterPointEnergy.com/ResourceHub.

Local governmental agencies and first responder organizations within CenterPoint Energy’s footprint encouraged to apply for a Community Safety Grant

​EVANSVILLE, Ind. – April 9, 2026 – Local governmental agencies across CenterPoint Energy's service areas in Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio and Texas are invited to apply for the company's annual Community Safety Grant Program. Grants support local safety equipment and safety‑related projects that aim to make a meaningful difference within the communities the company serves. Applications are now open online through April 30, 2026.

CenterPoint awards grants of up to $2,500 to eligible local governmental agencies to support community safety needs within its service areas. Since launching the program in 2003, CenterPoint has awarded approximately $3.5 million in grants to help fund nearly 1,700 safety projects, supporting communities in enhancing public safety and wellbeing.

“At CenterPoint, safety is our top core value, and this drives every effort we take for the customers and communities we are privileged to serve. We know that safer communities are stronger communities, and that's why we appreciate being able to give back to enhance the safety of the locations where we live and work," said Jesus Soto, CenterPoint's Chief Operating Officer. “Through our Community Safety Grant Program, we're proud to support our local governmental agencies, emergency responders and local officials who work every day to improve the health and safety of our neighbors across the communities we serve."

Community Safety Grants have enabled a wide range of projects to enhance public safety, including installing public automated external defibrillators (AEDs), upgrading emergency communication equipment, purchasing personal protective equipment for first responders, enhancing a community's disaster preparedness efforts and purchasing utility locating devices.

Each community CenterPoint serves that is interested in this program should submit a grant application with information outlining a community safety project and how grant funding would help address that need.

To learn more about CenterPoint's commitment to the communities it serves and to apply for a Community Safety Grant, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/Community.  

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, Minnesota, Ohio and Texas. As of December 31, 2025, the company owned approximately $46.5 billion in assets. With approximately 8,800 employees, CenterPoint and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years.​

Local governmental agencies and first responder organizations within CenterPoint Energy’s footprint encouraged to apply for a Community Safety Grant

Approximately $3.5 million has been awarded to support nearly 1,700 safety projects since grant program launched

DAYTON, Ohio – April 8, 2026 – Local governmental agencies across CenterPoint Energy's service areas in Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio and Texas are invited to apply for the company's annual Community Safety Grant Program. Grants support local safety equipment and safety‑related projects that aim to make a meaningful difference within the communities the company serves. Applications are now open online through April 30, 2026.

CenterPoint awards grants of up to $2,500 to eligible local governmental agencies to support community safety needs within its service areas. Since launching the program in 2003, CenterPoint has awarded approximately $3.5 million in grants to help fund nearly 1,700 safety projects, supporting communities in enhancing public safety and wellbeing.

“At CenterPoint, safety is our top core value, and this drives every effort we take for the customers and communities we are privileged to serve. We know that safer communities are stronger communities, and that's why we appreciate being able to give back to enhance the safety of the locations where we live and work," said Jesus Soto, CenterPoint's Chief Operating Officer. “Through our Community Safety Grant Program, we're proud to support our local governmental agencies, emergency responders and local officials who work every day to improve the health and safety of our neighbors across the communities we serve."

Community Safety Grants have enabled a wide range of projects to enhance public safety, including installing public automated external defibrillators (AEDs), upgrading emergency communication equipment, purchasing personal protective equipment for first responders, enhancing a community's disaster preparedness efforts and purchasing utility locating devices.

Each community CenterPoint serves that is interested in this program should submit a grant application with information outlining a community safety project and how grant funding would help address that need.

To learn more about CenterPoint's commitment to the communities it serves and to apply for a Community Safety Grant, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/Community.  

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, Minnesota, Ohio and Texas. As of December 31, 2025, the company owned approximately $46.5 billion in assets. With approximately 8,800 employees, CenterPoint and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years.​​

Local governmental agencies and first responder organizations within CenterPoint Energy’s footprint encouraged to apply for a Community Safety Grant

Approximately $3.5 million has been awarded to support nearly 1,700 safety projects since grant program launched​

MINNEAPOLIS – April 8, 2026 – Local governmental agencies across CenterPoint Energy's service areas in Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio and Texas are invited to apply for the company's annual Community Safety Grant Program. Grants support local safety equipment and safety‑related projects that aim to make a meaningful difference within the communities the company serves. Applications are now open online through April 30, 2026.

CenterPoint awards grants of up to $2,500 to eligible local governmental agencies to support community safety needs within its service areas. Since launching the program in 2003, CenterPoint has awarded approximately $3.5 million in grants to help fund nearly 1,700 safety projects, supporting communities in enhancing public safety and wellbeing.

“At CenterPoint, safety is our top core value, and this drives every effort we take for the customers and communities we are privileged to serve. We know that safer communities are stronger communities, and that's why we appreciate being able to give back to enhance the safety of the locations where we live and work," said Jesus Soto, CenterPoint's Chief Operating Officer. “Through our Community Safety Grant Program, we're proud to support our local governmental agencies, emergency responders and local officials who work every day to improve the health and safety of our neighbors across the communities we serve."

Community Safety Grants have enabled a wide range of projects to enhance public safety, including installing public automated external defibrillators (AEDs), upgrading emergency communication equipment, purchasing personal protective equipment for first responders, enhancing a community's disaster preparedness efforts and purchasing utility locating devices.

Each community CenterPoint serves that is interested in this program should submit a grant application with information outlining a community safety project and how grant funding would help address that need.

To learn more about CenterPoint's commitment to the communities it serves and to apply for a Community Safety Grant, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/Community.  

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, Minnesota, Ohio and Texas. As of December 31, 2025, the company owned approximately $46.5 billion in assets. With approximately 8,800 employees, CenterPoint and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years.​​

CenterPoint Energy delivering on Affordability Actions for southwestern Indiana customers six months after initial commitments

​EVANSVILLE, Ind. – April 6, 2026 – CenterPoint Energy made a public commitment to prioritize affordability for its southwestern Indiana customers in October 2025. Six months later, the company has delivered a series of actions to reduce bill impacts, launch new customer programs, improve billing transparency and bring support directly into the community.

“Our customers and stakeholders have made one thing clear: affordability continues to be the top priority for many households and businesses. We've been laser-focused on delivering on that pledge to help lessen bill impacts, and we're not finished," said Mike Roeder, President of CenterPoint Energy Indiana. “Every program we launch, every event we hold and every tool we build is part of the same commitment we made last fall. We'll continue working alongside our customers and stakeholders to prioritize affordability while delivering the reliable energy southwestern Indiana depends on."

Community Affordability Actions
In October 2025, CenterPoint announced an initial series of Community Affordability Actions designed to prioritize customer affordability while balancing the future energy needs of southwestern Indiana, including:

  • Keeping electric base rates stable by targeting any rate change below or near the rate of inflation through 2027.
  • Cancelling nearly $1 billion in previously approved projects that had become non-economical, an action that equates to savings for residential customers of approximately $18 per month of avoided costs through 2027.
  • Continuing to support regional growth that benefits customers, including jobs, tax base and economic development for southwestern Indiana.

Community Energy Improvement Fund
In October 2025, the CenterPoint Energy Foundation announced the Community Energy Improvement Fund, a $5 million commitment to support weatherization, energy efficiency and cost-saving programs and local economic development efforts across the Evansville region:

Community Connect
CenterPoint hosted five initial Community Connect events across southwestern Indiana in November 2025 as part of its commitment to listen to customer feedback, highlight local energy improvements and address customer priorities:

  • In 2026, the company expanded the program, hosting five events so far this year and connecting more than 150 customers and community members with one-on-one account assistance, information on available programs and direct access to local CenterPoint teams.
  • For the first time in years, CenterPoint welcomed customers back into CenterPoint Energy Plaza in Downtown Evansville for in-person support.
  • CenterPoint is on track to host more than 30 Community Connect events throughout 2026, meeting customers in their neighborhoods, workplaces and community gathering spaces.

The next Community Connect event will be held at the CenterPoint Energy Plaza, 211 NW Riverside Dr., Evansville, on Wednesday, April 8.
 
Tools and resources
CenterPoint has introduced and expanded tools and resources to help customers better understand and manage their energy use and bills:

  • A redesigned electric bill format that breaks monthly charges into four clear categories, with definitions printed directly on each bill
  • An expanded Customer Resource Hub bringing billing tools, payment options, energy efficiency programs and financial assistance resources together in one place
  • The TimeWise pilot, a new voluntary time-of-use pricing program approved by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission that allows participating customers to save by shifting energy use to lower-cost hours
  • New customer protections through the Indiana Electric rate case settlement, including annual late-fee waivers upon request, reduced reconnection fees and safeguards for medically vulnerable customers

What's ahead
CenterPoint is pursuing additional steps to further reduce bill impacts for customers:

  • Working with stakeholders to attract large load customers to southwest Indiana to help lower bills
  • Developing new tools such as weekly personalized energy use updates to help customers manage consumption
  • Initiating a proceeding later this year to combine the rates of its two Indiana natural gas service territories to benefit southwestern Indiana customers

Customers looking for help managing energy costs can visit CenterPointEnergy.com/ResourceHub or call 1-800-227-1376. Upcoming Community Connect dates and locations are available at CenterPointEnergy.com/CommunityConnect.​