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CenterPoint Energy activates Emergency Operations Center as it prepares to respond to Winter Storm Enzo across the Greater Houston area

2025-01-21T06:00:00Z

Company activated its Emergency Operations Center to coordinate response and restoration efforts

Winter precipitation and freezing temperatures expected to begin overnight; snow/ice accumulation on Tuesday and Wednesday could impact road accessibility and outage restoration in some places

Approximately 3,000 CenterPoint and mutual aid personnel pre-positioned and ready to respond to weather impacts across Greater Houston area

CenterPoint deploys four small generators to support warming centers across the region

CenterPoint urges customers to avoid unnecessary travel, stay away from downed powerlines and have a plan to ensure their safety

HOUSTON, Jan. 20, 2025 - CenterPoint Energy activated its Emergency Operations Center this afternoon in advance of Winter Storm Enzo's arrival to be prepared to manage its response and restoration efforts. The company is coordinating with state and local emergency partners as it prepares to respond to the potential winter impacts on the Greater Houston area.

To aid in restoration efforts, CenterPoint Energy is mobilizing an expanded workforce of approximately 3,000 personnel, including 1,200 mutual aid resources, to help address potential outages across its service area. CenterPoint is also sharing proactive safety and preparedness information with customers via direct email, text and auto-dial voice messages as all as social media, and it will continue to provide regular updates on response and restoration efforts.

"Winter Storm Enzo is poised to hit the Greater Houston area this evening and our teams and mutual aid partners are ready to respond. Our CenterPoint teams have been working for more than a week to prepare and are coordinating with government and industry partners to be ready to respond. We've mobilized 1,200 mutual aid workers, in addition to our own approximately 1,800 plus workers, set up three staging sites across our service area to quickly deploy crews and equipment, and prepared for freezing temperatures and precipitation. Even with this preparation, we know that storms like these can be unpredictable. Extreme weather, road inaccessibility and icy conditions may impact our ability to respond quickly. Our top priority is to ensure the safety of our customers, our workers and partners throughout this impactful winter storm," said Darin Carroll, Senior Vice President of CenterPoint's Electric Business.

Preparedness actions ahead of Winter Storm Enzo
As of 5 p.m. Monday, CenterPoint is taking the following actions to respond to the impacts of Winter Storm Enzo including:

Deployed its winter weather readiness plan last week: The company has been tracking the storm since early last week and started completing critical cold weather actions for both electric and gas systems.
Deploying additional mutual aid frontline electric workers: Mobilizing 1,200 mutual aid personnel and our local frontline workers to three staging sites across Greater Houston to support winter storm response and address potential equipment damage and outages.
Providing temporary generation to heating centers: Working closely with local government and community partners to identify locations to deploy four small temporary generation units to provide power to local warming centers amid freezing temperatures. More units are staged and ready to deploy if needs arise.
Keeping customers informed: Sharing safety and preparedness information and resources with CenterPoint customers through direct outreach, social media and other platforms.
Conducting outreach to critical care customers: Reaching out to identified Critical Care Residential and Chronic Condition Residential electric customers by email, phone and/or text.
Coordinating with government officials: Providing regular updates to government officials on preparation and response activities and to coordinate on customer support.
Holding public briefings on operational updates: Conducting a press briefing on Monday afternoon to provide important updates related to CenterPoint's pre-storm activities; additional briefings may be held to provide operational updates on response and restoration efforts following the storm.
Keeping up to date with ERCOT forecasts: An Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) Weather Watch is in effect through Wednesday due to extreme cold weather across the ERCOT region, higher electrical demands and the potential for lower reserves. At this time, according to ERCOT, grid conditions are expected to be normal, but CenterPoint teams remain ready to respond if that should change.

Critical winter readiness actions completed
CenterPoint's emergency preparations for Winter Storm Enzo build upon the annual winter readiness activities that it conducted over the past several months, including annual weatherization requirements from ERCOT and the Railroad Commission of Texas to prepare for winter storms. These actions 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 by 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.

Important information for electric customers
CenterPoint electric customers are 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. Customers can also stay up to date with CenterPoint's new and improved, cloud-based Outage Tracker, available in English and Spanish, which allows customers to see outages by county, city and zip code.

In addition, customers can get the latest information on CenterPoint's preparedness and response efforts, view important safety tips and access the company's 2025 Winter Energy Guide by visiting CenterPointEnergy.com/StormCenter. Customers can also 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 the latest weather information for the Greater Houston area, see updates from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Houston/Galveston at weather.gov/hgx.

For more information, contact Communications Media.Relations@CenterPointEnergy.com

SOURCE CenterPoint Energy

Recent News

As spring begins, CenterPoint Energy continues progress toward strengthening the grid across the Greater Houston area and shares tips to help customers stay safe while saving energy and money

Houston – March 20, 2025 – With today marking the start of spring, CenterPoint Energy is continuing to strengthen the resiliency of the grid in key areas ahead of the 2025 hurricane season. To date, the company has completed more than 50 percent of several near-term critical resiliency actions and grid improvements outlined in the second phase of its Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI), including installing stronger poles, adding more automation devices, undergrounding power lines and trimming hazardous vegetation.

As the company works to complete these steps before the start of hurricane season on June 1, CenterPoint is also helping customers prepare for the warmer weather ahead by sharing tools, easy-to-implement tips and resources to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, and staying safe as they complete projects around their homes.

“Our team remains fully focused on executing our historic effort to strengthen the grid and improve resiliency and reliability. As CenterPoint prepares for hurricane season, we want to remind customers of ways they can prepare, too. The first day of spring serves as a great reminder that warmer temperatures are coming. We encourage our customers to take steps to increase the energy efficiency of their homes so that they can continue to stay comfortable inside year-round while also reducing their energy use," said Tony Gardner, Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer at CenterPoint, "We also want to remind customers to keep safety top of mind by taking the time to contact 811 prior to starting any digging projects near their home. By taking this easy step, our customers and community members are taking a critical first step in helping keep themselves, their loved ones and neighbors safe."

Tips, tools and resources for customers to spring into energy and cost savings

Customers can do the following to help spring into energy and cost savings:

Do a spring cleaning by changing or cleaning the filters in HVAC systems: Air conditioning can represent approximately 50 percent of a home's energy use as outside temperatures increase. Regular maintenance is one of the best ways to extend the life of a home's system, so swap out or clean filters to minimize costly repairs and to keep the system running efficiently.
Maintain a comfortable temperature indoors year-round: To save energy and reduce cooling costs, use weatherstripping or caulk areas in and around a home where cooled air may escape such as around windows and doors or where warm air could enter.
Block the sun's rays during warmer days: When temperatures increase outside, keep window coverings closed when the sun is shining brightest to maintain a more comfortable indoor temperature.
Save hot water while maintaining comfort: Showering accounts for 40 percent of a home's hot water use, so energy-saving showerheads and faucet aerators can help lower energy costs and reduce hot water use without sacrificing comfort.

Upgrade to more energy efficient appliances and equipment: When replacing appliances and equipment, look for ENERGY STAR®-certified products for increased energy efficiency and cost savings over time. Energy efficiency rebates may be available for qualifying appliances.

Customers can learn more about energy savings tips and tools that help them prepare for the longer and warmer days in addition to ways to manage their monthly energy bills at CenterPointEnergy.com/SavingsTips.

GHRI Progress Milestone: More than 50% complete on several key metrics
On Sept. 30, CenterPoint announced the launch of Phase Two of the GHRI, which will strengthen the grid in advance of hurricane season, included a series of actions to strengthen resiliency, enable a self-healing power system and reduce the duration and impact of power outages. In February alone, the company made progress in key areas including:

Installed approximately 2,900 stronger, more storm-resilient poles built to withstand extreme winds;
Cleared another 417 miles of high-risk vegetation near power lines to reduce storm-related outages; and
Installed an additional 1,334 automated reliability devices to reduce the impact of outages and improve restoration times; and
Undergrounded 47 more miles of power lines to reduce the impact of extreme weather.

The resiliency actions outlined in GHRI Phase Two are expected to lead to more than 125 million fewer outage minutes annually for customers. Through early March, the company has made significant advances across its Greater Houston service area and is on track to complete its work before the start of hurricane season.

CenterPoint will continue to provide updates on its progress toward completing its critical resiliency actions and other GHRI commitments. More information and real-time updates are available at CenterPointEnergy.com/TakingAction.

Electric customers encouraged to enroll in Power Alert Service ®

In addition to reducing energy use and improving efficiency, customers are encouraged to enroll in CenterPoint Energy's Power Alert Service® to receive outage details, estimated restoration times (as available or determined) and customer-specific restoration updates in the event of a power outage. With the option to receive updates via phone call, text or email, Power Alert Service® keeps customers informed of restoration progress during an outage.

Call before you dig

Spring is a great time to begin outdoor home improvement projects. Anyone planning a project that requires digging should contact 811 at least two days prior to starting work to have underground utilities located and marked at no cost. This includes projects done by customers or their contractors, including building a fence, planting trees, installing a deck, placing a mailbox or laying a patio.

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

With the start of spring, CenterPoint Energy reminds customers of tips and available resources to save energy, manage bills and stay safe

Dayton – March 20, 2025 – With today marking the start of spring, CenterPoint Energy encourages customers to leverage tools, tips and resources as part of their spring cleaning and preparation. Customers can unlock energy savings through a combination of easy-to-implement tips, remain connected to company programs and stay safe as they complete projects around their homes.

“At CenterPoint, we have tips, tools and programs to help customers save energy and manage their bills. The first day of spring serves as a great reminder that warmer temperatures are approaching, and we encourage our customers to take steps to increase the energy efficiency of their homes so that they can continue to stay comfortable inside year-round while also reducing their energy use. By taking small and easy actions, customers can make a big difference in reducing their monthly energy bills," said Tony Gardner, Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer at CenterPoint. “We also want to remind customers to keep safety top of mind by taking the time to contact 811 prior to starting any digging projects near their home. By taking this easy step, our customers and community members are taking a critical first step in helping keep themselves, their loved ones and neighbors safe."

Tips, tools and resources for customers to spring into energy and cost savings

Customers can do the following to help spring into energy and cost savings:

Perform a spring cleaning by changing or cleaning the filters in HVAC systems: Air conditioning can represent approximately 50 percent of a home's energy use as outside temperatures increase. Regular maintenance is one of the best ways to extend the life of a home's system, so swap out or clean filters to minimize costly repairs and keep the system running efficiently.
Maintain a comfortable temperature indoors year-round: To save energy and reduce cooling costs, use weatherstripping or caulk areas in and around a home where cooled air may escape, such as around windows and doors or where warm air could enter.
Block the sun's rays during warmer days: When temperatures increase outside, keep window coverings closed when the sun is shining brightest to maintain a more comfortable indoor temperature.
Save hot water while maintaining comfort: Showering accounts for 40 percent of a home's hot water use. Energy-saving showerheads and faucet aerators can help lower energy costs and reduce hot water use without sacrificing comfort.

Call before you dig

Spring is a great time to begin outdoor home improvement projects. Anyone planning a project that requires digging should contact 811 at least two days prior to starting work to have underground utilities located and marked at no cost. This includes projects done by customers or their contractors, including building a fence, planting trees, installing a deck, placing a mailbox or laying a patio.

With the start of spring, CenterPoint Energy reminds customers of tips and available resources to save energy, manage bills and stay safe

Minneapolis – March 20, 2025 – With today marking the start of spring, CenterPoint Energy encourages customers to leverage tools, tips and resources as part of their spring cleaning and preparation. Customers can unlock energy savings through a combination of easy-to-implement tips, remain connected to company programs and stay safe as they complete projects around their homes.

Tips, tools and resources for customers to spring into energy and cost savings

Customers can do the following to help spring into energy and cost savings:

Perform a spring cleaning by changing or cleaning the filters in HVAC systems: Air conditioning can represent approximately 50 percent of a home's energy use as outside temperatures increase. Regular maintenance is one of the best ways to extend the life of a home's system, so swap out or clean filters to minimize costly repairs and keep the system running efficiently.
Maintain a comfortable temperature indoors year-round: To save energy and reduce cooling costs, use weatherstripping or caulk areas in and around a home where cooled air may escape, such as around windows and doors or where warm air could enter.
Block the sun's rays during warmer days: When temperatures increase outside, keep window coverings closed when the sun is shining brightest to maintain a more comfortable indoor temperature.
Save hot water while maintaining comfort: Showering accounts for 40 percent of a home's hot water use. Energy-saving showerheads and faucet aerators can help lower energy costs and reduce hot water use without sacrificing comfort.
Upgrade to more energy efficient appliances and equipment: When replacing appliances and equipment, look for ENERGY STAR®-certified products for increased energy efficiency and cost savings over time. Energy efficiency rebates may be available for qualifying appliances.

Call before you dig

With the start of spring, CenterPoint Energy reminds customers of tips and available resources to save energy, manage bills and stay safe

Evansville, Ind. – March 20, 2025 – With today marking the start of spring, CenterPoint Energy encourages customers to leverage tools, tips and resources as part of their spring cleaning and preparation. Customers can unlock energy savings through a combination of easy-to-implement tips, remain connected to company programs and stay safe as they complete projects around their homes.

Tips, tools and resources for customers to spring into energy and cost savings

Customers can do the following to help spring into energy and cost savings:

Perform a spring cleaning by changing or cleaning the filters in HVAC systems: Air conditioning can represent approximately 50 percent of a home's energy use as outside temperatures increase. Regular maintenance is one of the best ways to extend the life of a home's system, so swap out or clean filters to minimize costly repairs and keep the system running efficiently.
Maintain a comfortable temperature indoors year-round: To save energy and reduce cooling costs, use weatherstripping or caulk areas in and around a home where cooled air may escape, such as around windows and doors or where warm air could enter.
Block the sun's rays during warmer days: When temperatures increase outside, keep window coverings closed when the sun is shining brightest to maintain a more comfortable indoor temperature.
Save hot water while maintaining comfort: Showering accounts for 40 percent of a home's hot water use. Energy-saving showerheads and faucet aerators can help lower energy costs and reduce hot water use without sacrificing comfort.
Upgrade to more energy efficient appliances and equipment: When replacing appliances and equipment, look for ENERGY STAR®-certified products for increased energy efficiency and cost savings over time. Energy efficiency rebates may be available for qualifying appliances.

Electric customers encouraged to enroll in Power Alert Service®

In addition to reducing energy use and improving efficiency, customers are encouraged to enroll in CenterPoint Energy's Power Alert Service® to receive outage details, estimated restoration times (as available or determined) and customer-specific restoration updates in the event of a power outage. With the option to receive updates via phone call, text or email, Power Alert Service® keeps customers informed of restoration progress during an outage.

Call before you dig

In celebration of Natural Gas Utility Workers Day, CenterPoint Energy honors team members who work every day to serve customers and communities

Houston – March 18, 2025 – Every year, March 18 is recognized as Natural Gas Utility Workers Day, which is a moment to pause and honor the important role natural gas utility workers play in serving as emergency responders and keeping natural gas safely flowing to the businesses and homes in the many communities CenterPoint Energy is privileged to serve. CenterPoint honors the company's employees and those who work throughout the natural gas industry for their tireless work in providing safe, reliable and resilient service to those who rely on natural gas.

CenterPoint's approximately 3,500 natural gas utility workers play a critical role in installing and maintaining natural gas infrastructure such as pipelines and meters, supporting the delivery of energy service to customers, educating the public on natural gas safety and adhering to rigorous safety standards to protect their communities and the environment.

“Our natural gas utility workforce keeps safety at the forefront of all they do. Whether installing natural gas service or responding to emergency calls from customers, our workers focus on delivering resilient, readily available energy solutions for customers. No matter the temperature outside nor the time of day, our natural gas workers are there to help meet the needs of our customers and communities to keep them safe, maintain warmth and enable possibilities to support business needs. We honor and celebrate natural gas utility workers, not just today, but for the work they do every day to help keep us all safe," said Richard Leger, CenterPoint's Senior Vice President, Gas Business.

At CenterPoint, natural gas utility workers serve more than 4.3 million customers across six states, monitor and maintain more than 75,000 miles of distribution pipeline and deploy advanced leak detection technologies to monitor more than 80% of the company's natural gas assets.

In 2024 alone, the company's natural gas utility workers helped:

Replace more than 470 miles of pipeline to help advance efforts to modernize the company's natural gas distribution systems using modern construction materials and installation methods, including efforts to replace cast iron infrastructure.
Deploy more than 250,000 natural gas smart meters across the company's service area, which include enhanced safety and communications features.
Complete more than 2.5 million locates of the company's natural gas facilities, which help customers and community members dig safely and mitigate potential service disruptions.

Tips for customers to stay safe

Safety is CenterPoint's top priority. In addition to the company's employees' commitment to working safely, the company would like to remind customers to always keep natural gas safety top of mind by:

Calling before your dig: Anyone planning a project that requires digging should contact 811 at least two days prior to their work starting to have underground utilities located at no cost.
Learning to recognize a natural gas leak by using one's eyes, ears and noses:

Look for signs of a natural gas leak including persistent bubbling in standing water and discolored or dead vegetation around a pipeline.
Listen for any unusual noises such as whistling, hissing or roaring sounds.
Smell for the distinctive, strong odor, often compared to rotten eggs or sulfur from mercaptan which is added to natural gas for safety detection purposes.

Immediately reporting a suspected natural gas leak: If there's a “rotten egg" odor of natural gas present, immediately leave on foot, go to a safe location and call both 911 and CenterPoint Energy. Don't use electric switches and outlets, phones (including cell phones), drive or start a car or do anything that could cause a spark inside or close to the location.

To learn more about CenterPoint's commitment to natural gas safety, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/Safety.

Images associated with this release can be found at: https://cnplibrary.canto.com/b/UJQKH. These photos are made available courtesy of CenterPoint Energy.