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CenterPoint Energy Completes All 42 of Its Initial Post-Beryl Commitments to Improve Resiliency and Strengthen Emergency Operations

2024-11-14T06:00:00Z

Announcement follows completion of 350 more miles of newly hardened powerlines, on top of additional resiliency and hardening actions completed during Phase One of the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative.

HOUSTON, Nov. 14, 2024 - CenterPoint Energy today announced the completion of the last of its 42 critical initial actions and commitments it made to state leaders and customers in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl to immediately strengthen the electric system and improve its storm response. All 42 actions and commitments have been achieved ahead of schedule.

CenterPoint is now fully focused on delivering Phase Two of the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI), which includes an additional suite of new hardening actions to help strengthen system resiliency, improve customer and public communications and develop stronger emergency response and community partnerships.

"After Hurricane Beryl, we heard the calls for action from our customers, the greater community and elected leaders, and we made a series of 42 sweeping commitments to do better. We've now accomplished all 42 actions and commitments ahead of schedule. And we aren't stopping there, we're making significant progress toward our goal of becoming the most resilient coastal grid in the country. Across every corner of our Texas-based team, we are fully focused on Phase Two of the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative, and executing a suite of resiliency and hardening actions that will further prepare us for the 2025 storm season and beyond," said Jason Wells, CenterPoint Energy's CEO and President.

Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative: Phase One Achieved Ahead of Schedule
With the completion of 350 miles (equivalent to driving from Houston to Brownsville) of newly hardened power lines across the Greater Houston area, CenterPoint has now completed all of its immediate post-Beryl commitments, bringing real-world resiliency improvements for its customers. This initial phase included:

Trimming or removing higher-risk vegetation from more than 2,000 power line miles
Installing more than 1,100 stronger, more storm-resilient poles
Installing more than 300 automated devices to reduce sustained outages
Launching its new, cloud-based outage tracker
Improving its Power Alert Service to provide better customer information
Hosting listening sessions across the service area, with feedback being used to inform the company's storm response plans

GHRI Phase Two: New Actions to Continue Strengthening Greater Houston Resiliency
Announced on September 30, Phase Two of GHRI will help enable a self-healing system, reduce the length and frequency of outages and are expected to lead to more than 125 million fewer outage minutes annually for customers in the Greater Houston area. This work will be completed ahead of the 2025 hurricane season, or June 1, 2025, and will include:

Installing new or replacing 25,000 poles that meet extreme wind standards
Trimming or removing higher-risk vegetation across 4,000 miles of power lines
Installing 4,500 automation devices, known as trip savers, and 350 Intelligent Grid Switching Devices to build a self-healing system that utilizes automation to respond to outages faster
Undergrounding more than 400 miles of power lines
Launching a year-round public emergency preparedness and safety communications campaign
Strengthening its local partnerships with agencies and partners critical to its emergency response efforts

The actions CenterPoint has taken, and will continue to take, are designed to address its customers' major concerns following Hurricane Beryl by lessening the impact and duration of storm-related outages, improving its restoration efforts and communications, while also advancing the day-to-day reliability of its system.

CenterPoint is tracking its progress towards completing all of its GHRI commitments at CenterPointEnergy.com/TakingAction.

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.

Forward-looking Statements
This news release, as well as the website pages related to the GHRI, includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this news release or the website pages related to the GHRI, the words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "goal," "intend," "may," "objective," "plan," "potential," "predict," "projection," "should," "target," "will" or other similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, which include statements regarding our resiliency investments, and the GHRI, including effectiveness, timing and related matters, are based upon assumptions of management which are believed to be reasonable at the time made and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual events and results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Any statements in this news release or the website pages related to the GHRI regarding future events that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement contained in this news release or the website pages related to the GHRI speaks only as of the date of this release. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the provided forward-looking information include risks and uncertainties relating to: (1) the impact of pandemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) financial market conditions; (3) general economic conditions; (4) the timing and impact of future regulatory and legislative decisions; and (5) other factors, risks and uncertainties discussed in CenterPoint Energy's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and CenterPoint's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2024 and June 30, 2024 and other reports CenterPoint Energy or its subsidiaries may file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONTACT:
Communications
Media.Relations@CenterPointEnergy.com

SOURCE CenterPoint Energy

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 reminds customers to celebrate the love in the air, but keep balloons away from power lines this Valentine’s Day

HOUSTON — Feb. 13, 2026 — As Houstonians gear up to celebrate Valentine’s Day, CenterPoint Energy is reminding customers that while love may be in the air, metallic balloons should be safely weighed down and kept inside. The company is urging customers to properly secure and dispose of metallic helium balloons to help prevent power outages and other safety hazards, as metallic balloons have caused outages for over 75,000 customers across CenterPoint’s electric service territory since 2021.

Metallic balloons, which are coated with conductive materials, can cause sparks, equipment damage and even service interruptions if they are released outdoors and allowed to float into power lines or electric utility equipment. When combined with breezy weather or approaching storms, the risk can increase.

This year, Valentine’s Day falls ahead of possible thunderstorms on Saturday, and CenterPoint is preparing accordingly.

“We want our customers to celebrate and balloons can be a thoughtful way to show someone you care, but if they’re not weighed down or secured, they can quickly become a hazard for an entire neighborhood or community,” said Ed De Varona, senior vice president of CenterPoint's Electric business. “With possible storm forecasts this weekend, we’re reminding customers to keep balloons indoors, anchored and away from electric equipment. We’ll be fully staffed and prepared to respond to any potential weather impacts, but let’s all do our part to help prevent avoidable outages.”

Balloon safety tips from CenterPoint

Customers can follow these tips to stay safe on Valentine’s Day and any time they purchase balloons for a celebration:

Fly balloons indoors and keep them away from all entrances and exits to prevent them from escaping outside.

If the balloon comes with a weight, keep it on. If it doesn’t, consider tethering it with weight.

Dispose of balloons properly after use by puncturing and deflating them.

Never tie a helium balloon to a child or anyone else – they might inadvertently cause the balloon to contact a power line or electric utility equipment if they go outside.

Never attempt to retrieve balloons caught in a power line or electric utility equipment. Call CenterPoint at 713-207-2222 to report the issue, and the company will send a trained service crew to address it safely and as quickly as possible.

For more electric safety tips, customers can visit CenterPointEnergy.com/ElectricSafety.

Important ways to stay connected to CenterPoint  

Customers can enroll in the company’s Power Alert Service® to receive outage details, estimated restoration times and customer-specific restoration updates via phone call, email or text. Customers can also stay up to date with CenterPoint’s Outage Tracker, which allows customers to see outages by county, city and zip code. 

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.

CenterPoint Energy offers free energy efficiency resources to help Indiana customers manage winter costs

INDIANAPOLIS – Feb. 12, 2026 – As colder-than-normal temperatures continue to drive higher energy use across the region, CenterPoint Energy is offering free and discounted energy efficiency resources to help Indiana customers manage costs and reduce energy use in their homes and businesses.

Through the Online Energy Efficiency Store, customers can now claim up to four free window insulation kits per order. These kits provide an airtight seal that helps stop drafts, reduce heat loss and keep warm air inside, a simple step towards lowering energy use during winter heating months. Customers can also take advantage of limited-time discounts on smart thermostats and water-saving products through Feb. 24, with eligible rebates applied instantly at checkout.

Smart thermostats allow customers to control home heating and cooling remotely, adjust schedules based on daily routines and monitor energy use patterns, helping to lower heating and cooling costs during periods when energy use is highest.

“With colder-than-normal temperatures continuing to impact bills, we know managing energy costs is top of mind for many of our customers," said Mike Roeder, President of CenterPoint Energy Indiana. “Our online store gives customers access to tools that can help them take control and start reducing energy use right away."

Launched in November 2024, the Online Energy Efficiency Store offers a range of ENERGY STAR® certified products and energy-saving tools.

Customers looking for additional ways to save can visit CenterPoint's improved Customer Resource Hub at CenterPointEnergy.com/ResourceHub to explore bill management options, available assistance programs and no-cost Home Energy Assessments, which provide personalized recommendations to improve efficiency.

CenterPoint Energy offers free energy efficiency resources to help southwestern Indiana customers manage winter costs

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Feb. 12, 2026 – As colder-than-normal temperatures continue to drive higher energy use across the region, CenterPoint Energy is offering free and discounted energy efficiency resources to help southwestern Indiana customers manage costs and reduce energy use in their homes and businesses.

Through the Online Energy Efficiency Store, customers can now claim up to four free window insulation kits per order. These kits provide an airtight seal that helps stop drafts, reduces heat loss and keeps warm air inside, a simple step towards lowering energy use during winter heating months. Customers can also take advantage of limited-time discounts on smart thermostats and water-saving products through Feb. 24, with eligible rebates applied instantly at checkout.

Online store continues to expand product offerings
Launched in November 2024, the Online Energy Efficiency Store features a range of ENERGY STAR® certified products and energy-saving tools, including smart thermostats, air purifiers, energy-efficient lighting and home weatherization products.

Customers looking for additional ways to save can visit CenterPoint's improved Customer Resource Hub at CenterPointEnergy.com/ResourceHub to explore bill management options and no-cost Home Energy Assessments, which provide personalized recommendations to improve efficiency.

Ongoing commitment to affordability
In October 2025, CenterPoint launched an 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 and programs for southwestern Indiana customers and customer protections as part of the Indiana Electric rate case settlement, such as annual late fee waivers upon request, reduced reconnection fees and additional safeguards for medically vulnerable customers. The company expects to announce additional customer resources in the coming weeks.

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.

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.