CenterPoint Energy Hosts Community Open House at the West Side Complex Building on Thursday, September 5
2024-09-04T05:00:00Z

Houston — Sept. 4, 2024 – This Thursday, September 5, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., CenterPoint Energy will host a community open house event in Baytown, TX. The company's open house events, which are being held in every county across Greater Houston, are designed to elicit customer feedback concerning the company's response to Hurricane Beryl, as well as to provide a forum to communicate the specific actions CenterPoint is taking to improve future storm response as part of its Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative.

“We have heard the calls for change, and we are taking action now," said CenterPoint President and CEO Jason Wells. “As part of our commitment to improving, we are encouraging all of our customers to share their experiences during Hurricane Beryl, as well as their ideas for how we can do better." 

Open House Format & Structure

At the open house events, customers will be invited to share feedback and ask questions of CenterPoint team members and leaders, visit a number of informational stations, and learn about and discuss the over 40 actions the company is taking to improve public communications, as well as strengthen system resiliency and community and emergency partnerships.

Open house attendees will also have opportunities to demo CenterPoint's new Outage Tracker and sign up for the Power Alert Service to stay better informed about outages before, during and after a storm. Along with CenterPoint subject matter experts, local organizations will also be on hand to help customers to prepare for storms and create personalized emergency plans.
 
Schedule & Location
The location and schedule for the next open house is as follows: Thursday, September 5, 2024, at the West Side Complex Building, 8138 FM 3246, Baytown, Texas 77523. Customers can view the schedule for future open houses by visiting www.CenterPointEnergy.com/OpenHouses.

About the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative
Since launching on Aug. 5, frontline workers and contractors have together taken a series of targeted actions to strengthen the grid and reduce the risk of outages before the next major storm. These actions include:

  • Installing stronger and more storm-resilient poles: CenterPoint installed more than 1,000 stronger and storm-resilient fiberglass poles that can withstand winds up to 132 MPH.
  • Trimming or removing vegetation from our lines: CenterPoint doubled its vegetation management workforce in order to trim or remove hazardous vegetation from more than 2,000 miles of power lines.
  • Installing automated devices: CenterPoint installed more than 300 automated devices, known as trip savers. These devices mean that fewer customers experience outages, and quicker restoration times for those who do. The devices automatically re-energize the line in certain outages to help keep the power on for customers.

In addition to this immediate resiliency work, CenterPoint has completed 39 of the 42 critical actions previously identified as part of its broader GHRI plan. To learn more about this immediate phase of progress, please visit www.CenterPointEnergy.com/TakingAction.

​

 Recent News

 

 
CenterPoint Energy assessing damage caused by vehicle hitting its natural gas infrastructure near Carlos, Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS — DEC. 4, 2025 — CenterPoint Energy crews are responding to a vehicle hitting its above ground natural gas regulator station near Carlos, Minnesota. This vehicle strike by a third-party unrelated to the company is expected to cause an outage for approximately 525 customers in the Carlos and Alexandria area.

With below zero temperatures expected today and ongoing cold over the coming days, CenterPoint wants to assure customers that the company will work quickly to safely make repairs and restore service as soon as possible. The company encourages customers to use their personal emergency plan to stay safe and warm today and potentially overnight.

CenterPoint is assessing the damage to its system and is working with local officials and emergency first responders to make the area safe. The company is working to repair its infrastructure safely and as quickly as possible to minimize the number and duration of outages. Currently, the company expects that efforts to repair its system and restore affected customers could continue into tomorrow, Dec. 5, 2025.

Safety is CenterPoint's core value, and the company works to keep safety at the forefront during all repairs. If you smell natural gas, leave immediately on foot. Once safely away from the area, report the possible natural gas leak to 911 and to CenterPoint at 800-296-9815.

CenterPoint appreciates the community's patience as it works to repair its system. 
​

CenterPoint Energy working with the City of Carlos to temporarily turn City Hall into a warming center

​​MINNEAPOLIS — DEC. 4, 2025 — CenterPoint Energy crews have been working diligently to repair damage to its above ground natural gas regulator station near Carlos, Minnesota caused by a vehicle strike by a third-party unrelated to the company. Approximately 525 customers are experiencing outages in the Carlos and Alexandria areas.

Starting at 1 p.m. today and continuing into tonight, Carlos City Hall, located at 109 First Street West, Carlos, will be available for area residents as a warming center, and CenterPoint staff will be on site to provide space heaters to affected customers. The company reminds customers to use their personal emergency plan and these resources at Carlos City Hall to stay safe and warm today and potentially overnight.

CenterPoint has secured the area and is repairing its infrastructure safely and as quickly as possible. As part of this process, the company will go to each affected location to turn off natural gas meters. The company expects efforts to restore affected customers could continue into tomorrow, Dec. 5, 2025.

Safety is CenterPoint's core value, and the company works to keep safety at the forefront during all repairs. If you smell natural gas, leave immediately on foot. Once safely away from the area, report the possible natural gas leak to 911 and to CenterPoint at 800-296-9815.

CenterPoint appreciates the community's patience as it works to repair its system. 

CenterPoint Energy crews continuing work to restore service to customers in Carlos and Alexandria currently following third-party vehicle collision

Carlos City Hall at 109 First Street West remains open as a warming center; CenterPoint team members are at City Hall providing space heaters to impacted customers. 

MINNEAPOLIS — DEC. 4, 2025 — CenterPoint Energy crews have completed repairs to the above-ground natural gas regulator station near Carlos, Minn., that was damaged by a vehicle strike by a third-party unrelated to CenterPoint. Crews are working safely and as quickly as possible to restore service to approximately 525 customers experiencing a natural gas outage in the Carlos and Alexandria areas and will begin the process to relight appliances at each impacted customer's location.

CenterPoint has more than 50 technicians on the scene actively supporting restoration efforts for customers experiencing a natural gas outage, and it currently expects to restore all customers who can safely receive service by the end of day tomorrow, Dec. 5, 2025.


Important Information for Customers

To restore service, technicians go door-to-door to perform a necessary safety check prior to conducting relights on each natural gas appliance in a customer's home or business. An adult 18 or older must be at the location when a technician arrives. All technicians and contractors wear ID badges and show them on request.

CenterPoint is encouraging impacted customers to activate their emergency plans and leverage available resources to stay safe and warm today and potentially overnight. Carlos City Hall, located at 109 First Street West, Carlos, remains open for area residents until 9 p.m. as a warming center, and CenterPoint staff will remain on site to provide space heaters to affected customers.

Safety is CenterPoint's core value, and all CenterPoint personnel work to keep safety at the forefront during the repair and restoration process. If you smell natural gas, leave immediately on foot. Once safely away from the area, report the possible natural gas leak to 911 and to CenterPoint at 800-296-9815.

CenterPoint appreciates the continued patience and support of its customers and communities as it works to safely restore service as quickly as possible.

CenterPoint Energy continues restoration efforts in Carlos and Alexandria; warming center to remain open through the night
Approximately 250 space heaters have been distributed to the community.

MINNEAPOLIS — Dec. 4, 2025 — CenterPoint Energy crews continue working safely and as quickly as possible to restore natural gas service to approximately 525 customers impacted by today’s outage in the Carlos and Alexandria areas following a third-party vehicle strike to an above-ground natural gas regulator station near Carlos. Repairs to the regulator station were completed earlier today and technicians are in the process of relighting appliances at each impacted customer location.

As of 9 p.m., service has been restored to more than 200 customers, and CenterPoint expects to restore service to all customers who can safely receive it by the end of day tomorrow, Dec. 5. More than 60 technicians remain on site actively supporting restoration efforts.

Important Information for Customers
To restore service, technicians go door-to-door to perform a necessary safety check prior to conducting relights on each natural gas appliance in a customer’s home or business. An adult 18 or older must be at the location when a technician arrives. All technicians and contractors wear ID badges and show them on request.

CenterPoint Energy team members will remain at the warming center at Carlos City Hall (109 First Street West) until all impacted customers have been safely relit and will continue providing space heaters to affected customers as needed. Approximately 250 space heaters have been
distributed to the community.

CenterPoint Energy extends its sincere thanks to Douglas County, the City of Carlos, the Carlos Fire Department, and the many community members who have stepped up to provide food, supplies, and support throughout the day. Their generosity has been invaluable in helping impacted customers stay safe and warm.

Safety remains CenterPoint Energy’s core value, and all personnel are working to keep safety at the forefront during the repair and restoration process. If you smell natural gas, leave immediately on foot. Once safely away from the area, report the possible natural gas leak to 911 and to CenterPoint Energy at 800-296-9815.

CenterPoint Energy appreciates the continued patience and support of its customers and communities as it works to safely restore service to all impacted customers as quickly as possible.
CenterPoint Energy expands customer support tools for southwestern Indiana
​​

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Dec. 2, 2025 – CenterPoint Energy today announced an expanded set of online customer resources designed to give southwestern Indiana customers clearer information, easier access to billing support and more ways to stay informed about their service.

The improved online Customer Resource Hub brings billing tools, energy efficiency programs and financial assistance resources together in one place for its southwestern Indiana customers.
The hub, available at CenterPointEnergy.com/ResourceHub, supports CenterPoint's ongoing Affordability Actions and the feedback gathered during the company's initial round of Community Connect events.

“Our customers have told us they value clear information and easy access to tools, programs and support," said Mike Roeder, President of CenterPoint Energy Indiana. “The Customer Resource Hub makes it simpler to understand service, explore available programs and find resources that fit their individual needs."

Making it easier to find help in one place
Through the Customer Resource Hub, customers can access billing tools, payment options, energy efficiency programs and support resources in one location, including:

​
  • Find ways to save energy. Schedule a free home energy assessment, review near real-time energy usage in MyAccount, earn annual bill credits through the Smart Cycle program and explore rebates, discounts and year-round energy efficiency tips.
  • Explore assistance programs and resources. Level out monthly payments with Budget Bill, check eligibility for the federal Energy Assistance Program, learn about the Customer Assistance Fund and review options for payment extensions and payment plans through My Account Online.
  • Manage and pay bills. Sign in to My Account Online to view and pay bills, set payment reminders, download the CenterPoint Energy app and pay through Apple Pay or Google Pay and find mailing addresses and in-person locations.
  • Understand customer bills. Use the online bill guide to see how monthly charges are calculated and review electric tariffs for more detailed information about how rates are structured and approved.

More ways for customers to stay informed
As part of the Resource Hub launch, CenterPoint is highlighting recent improvements that give customers more timely updates about their service.

In early November, the company began a limited rollout of remote reconnection and disconnection capabilities for most Indiana Electric customers, paired with additional alerts and reminders designed to provide more notice before potential service interruption. These notifications – including a 24-hour text and email alert and a same-day reminder – provide clear information and more opportunities for customers to review options or take action.

In this initial period, more than two-thirds of the customers at risk of disconnection who received these notifications took steps to stay connected by setting up a payment plan, enrolling in assistance or making a payment.

As the program is fully implemented, CenterPoint encourages customers to review and update contact information by signing in to My Account Online, selecting Profile and adding or editing their mobile number and email address. Customers without internet access, or those who prefer to speak with a representative, can call 800-227-1376 for help reviewing options or updating contact information.​