CenterPoint Energy announces multi-year Systemwide Resiliency Plan to benefit communities and combat extreme weather threats, outages, and other hazards across Greater Houston
2025-01-31T06:00:00Z

Houston – Jan. 31, 2025 – Today, as part of a company-wide commitment to build the most resilient coastal grid in the country, CenterPoint Energy submitted its enhanced Systemwide Resiliency Plan (SRP), which is expected to reduce the impact of storm-related outages by over 1.3 billion minutes for its 2.8 million customers into 2029. The plan represents the largest single grid resiliency investment in the company's history. CenterPoint's 2026-2028 SRP will build on the progress made during the first two phases of the company's Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative, and is designed to help address the impacts of a wide range of extreme weather threats, including more powerful storms, hurricanes, wind events like derechos, flooding, extreme temperatures, tornadoes, wildfires and winter storms.  

A rate case for Houston Electric occurs approximately once every four years and is part of an open and transparent regulatory process in which rates are set by the PUCT. 

“As the energy capital of the world, the residents of the Greater Houston area expect and deserve an electric system that is safe, reliable, cost-effective and resilient when they need it most. We're determined to deliver just that. Our Systemwide Resiliency Plan represents an historic investment and is a major step on our strategic roadmap to becoming the most resilient coastal grid in the country. The array of resiliency actions will provide customers with clear benefits now and in the future, is cost-effective, and will build on the progress we've already made to date through the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative. Taken together, we believe that these resiliency actions will help create a future with fewer outages coupled with faster restoration times for the customers that we are privileged to serve," said Jason Wells, President and Chief Executive Officer of CenterPoint Energy. 

Building the Stronger, More Resilient, Self-Healing Grid of the Future 

The bold actions outlined in CenterPoint's SRP are designed to benefit customers across the entire service area, with a specific focus on customers in higher-risk areas. When complete, this suite of resiliency actions, combined with CenterPoint's normal operations, will achieve the following: 

  • Automation Devices: 100% of lines serving the most customers will include automation devices capable of self-healing to reduce the impact of outages;  
  • Secure Substations: 99% of substations will be raised above the 500-year flood plain; 
  • Undergrounding: More than 50% of CenterPoint's system will be undergrounded to improve resiliency; 
  • Stronger Distribution Poles: 130,000 stronger, more storm-resilient poles (rated to 110 mph and 132 mph) will be either installed new, or replaced or braced to withstand stronger storms; 
  • Vegetation Management: CenterPoint will deploy an industry-leading, three-year vegetation management cycle for transmission and distribution lines, with 100% of power lines  cleared of hazardous vegetation every three years;  
  • Stronger Transmission Towers: 2,200+ transmission structures will be rebuilt or upgraded to be able to better withstand extreme weather while improving overall reliability; and 
  • Modernized Cables: 34,500 spans of underground cables will be modernized to reduce the frequency and impact of outages. 

These key improvements, along with other planned actions and measures announced earlier in the week as part of CenterPoint's 2024-2029 rate case, are expected to strengthen overall resiliency and reliability of the Greater Houston-area electric system by at least 30% over a three-year period, according to analysis from Guidehouse, an independent third-party expert. In addition, these systemwide improvements will continue to provide important benefits by improving long-term reliability, and will help reduce potential weather-related outages for customers. 

A Historic Resiliency Investment  

CenterPoint's $5.75 billion Systemwide Resiliency Plan is a historic investment in the grid and will help reduce hundreds of millions of outage minutes per year caused by extreme weather. Given the importance of reducing the future impact of major extreme weather events, the combined actions outlined in the SRP will help avoid outages for more than 500,000 customers in the event of another Hurricane Beryl-like storm, while also helping to improve restoration and response times during such events. When complete, the SRP is also expected to save customers a projected cost of approximately $50 million in storm-related costs per year. 

Actions Completed Under Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative 

The SRP builds upon core resiliency actions CenterPoint has completed to date through its Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI) that was launched last August to strengthen the grid, improve communications and expand local and emergency partnerships ahead of the 2025 hurricane season. Since launching GHRI in 2024, CenterPoint has already: 

  • Installed more than 10,600 more storm-resilient poles designed to withstand extreme winds; 
  • Cleared more than 3,400 miles of hazardous vegetation near power lines; 
  • Installed more than 370 self-healing automation devices; and 
  • Undergrounded approximately 200 miles of power lines. 

Addressing Growing Energy Needs and Weather Challenges 

The resiliency actions outlined by the SRP will also help meet the energy needs of the growing population across CenterPoint's Greater Houston service area. The number of customers is expected to continue growing by 2 percent annually for the foreseeable future – the equivalent of adding a city the size of Waco, Texas, every year. As Greater Houston's population, economy and energy needs grow, CenterPoint's SRP will help address the increasing risk that this fast-growing region faces from extreme weather. 

Why is the SRP Needed? 

Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) show that the Greater Houston area faces the highest weather and climate hazard risk of any region in the country. In fact, Harris County has more FEMA-designated disaster resilience zones (14) than any other county in the United States. 

A Systemwide Resiliency Plan Shaped by Experts, Stakeholders and Customer Feedback 

The SRP, which CenterPoint submitted to the Public Utility Commission of Texas today for review, incorporates important feedback from customers, elected leaders, emergency management agencies and independent experts. Over the last three months, CenterPoint has conducted 30 meetings and listening sessions and solicited feedback on our plan during the draft stages. As part of CenterPoint's commitment to long-term affordability, the SRP is designed to provide the greatest dollar value to customers now and in the future by prioritizing proven, cost-effective resiliency actions that will ultimately prove vital to reducing future storm-related costs for the communities CenterPoint serves.  

To learn more about CenterPoint's Systemwide Resiliency Plan and the actions it is currently taking to strengthen the grid, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/SystemwideResiliencyPlan. 

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 includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "goal," "intend," "may," "objective," "plan," "potential," "predict," "projection," "should," "target," "will," "would" or other similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, which include statements regarding the Systemwide Resiliency Plan, including its benefits, 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 regarding future events that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement contained in this news release 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, June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024 and other reports CenterPoint Energy or its subsidiaries may file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. ​


 Recent News

 

 
CenterPoint Energy monitoring and prepared for cold front with strong winds across Greater Houston area

​​​Wind gusts in 35 – 45+ mph range forecasted to impact Greater Houston area Sunday night into Monday morning

Enhanced frontline workforce prepared and ready to respond to potential impacts on system

HOUSTON – March 14, 2026  – CenterPoint Energy is monitoring and prepared for an incoming cold front forecasted to impact the Greater Houston area Sunday night and Monday morning, bringing with it strong winds with potential gusts in the range of 35 – 45+ mph. The company's enhanced workforce of more than 900 CenterPoint frontline workers is prepared to respond to any impacts on electric service. CenterPoint continues to communicate and coordinate with local government officials ahead of Sunday's forecast.

During this week's storms, approximately 97.5% of CenterPoint's 2.9 million customers across the Greater Houston area had uninterrupted service. Customers who experienced storm-related outages were restored on average within approximately 54 minutes. The vast majority of customers were restored within 3 hours or less.

“As a cold front is expected to move through the area, our CenterPoint team has been monitoring the potential for strong winds with gusts of at least 35 – 45+ mph or higher across our service territory," said Matt Lanza, CenterPoint's Manager of Meteorology. “Our crews are prepared for the possibility of another round of very strong winds starting Sunday evening, and our frontline workers stand ready to respond. We will continue to actively monitor for any severe weather and urge our customers to stay alert in anticipation of quickly changing weather conditions."

Preparing for Severe Weather: Key Actions
As part of its storm preparedness efforts, CenterPoint is taking the following actions:

  • Readying t​he company's workforce and resources:More than 900 personnel remain ready to support potential restoration efforts throughout the week.
  • Monitoring severe weather 24/7: The Meteorology team continues to track weather forecast developments, and the company is updating response efforts as conditions evolve.
  • Coordinating with local officials: CenterPoint is providing updates to local officials and emergency management partners.

What customers should do:

About CenterPoint Energy, Inc.  
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) is a multi-state electric and natural gas delivery company serving more than 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 December 31, 2025, the company had approximately $46.5 billion in assets. With approximately 8,800 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been serving customers for more than 150 years. For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com.

CenterPoint Energy continues monitoring severe weather and remains prepared as additional storms forecast for southwestern Indiana

​​​CenterPoint's electric infrastructure performed well and had minimal customer impacts during this week's storms and stands ready for another round of severe weather expected Sunday 

Customers encouraged to stay safe and maintain emergency plans

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – March 13, 2026 – CenterPoint Energy is monitoring another round of potentially severe thunderstorms forecast to move through southwestern Indiana on Sunday. According to the National Weather Service, damaging winds, heavy rain and isolated tornadoes are possible Sunday afternoon through the evening hours.

The company has remained in a heightened posture since storms moved through the region on Tuesday and Wednesday. CenterPoint is preparing crews and coordinating with local government officials ahead of Sunday's forecast.

During this week's storms, the company's electric system performed well with minimal outages that peaked at approximately 900 customers out of the approximately 154,000 electric customers CenterPoint serves in the region.

“More than 99% of our customers had uninterrupted service during this week's storms, and we remain fully prepared as another system moves into our area," said Mike Roeder, President of CenterPoint Energy Indiana. “Our teams stand ready to respond."

CenterPoint encourages customers to prepare for severe weather: 

  • Track outages: Bookmark Outage Tracker (available in English and Spanish and mobile-friendly) to see the latest outage information.
  • Stay safe: Visit Ready.gov for storm safety tips. 
  • ​Follow us: Real-time updates will be available on X and at CenterPointEnergy.com/ActionCenter. ​

CenterPoint Energy offers expanded support for southwestern Indiana customers as state’s winter disconnection moratorium ends

​EVANSVILLE, Ind. – March 12, 2026 – As part of its commitment to affordability and supporting our local communities, CenterPoint Energy is encouraging customers to take advantage of available payment options, assistance programs and one-on-one support ahead of Indiana's winter disconnection moratorium ending on March 15.

Under Indiana law, customers who receive Energy Assistance Program (EAP) assistance or who are eligible and have applied for the program are protected from service disconnection between December 1 and March 15. As that protection period ends, CenterPoint wants customers to know that help is available and that reaching out is the first step. The company has taken a series of steps over the past year to expand resources and support available to customers managing energy costs.

“We know that affordability is the top issue for many of our customers and we want you to know that there are resources available to help you manage your energy use and bills. Please reach out to us," said Mike Roeder, President of CenterPoint Energy Indiana. “Our teams are here to help and work with you. We can connect you with assistance programs, set up a payment plan or help you find ways to reduce your energy costs. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can help you find a path forward."

Steps customers can take now

Financial assistance programs are available to help customers manage energy costs:

  • ​Payment arrangements: Allow customers who are having difficulty paying their bill in full to set up a plan to pay in smaller increments over time
  • Energy Assistance Program: Provides financial help to income-eligible households and is accepting applications through April 20, 2026
  • Universal Service Fund: Helps natural gas customers who have received EAP save between 15% and 32% on their bills through May 31.
  • Township trustee assistance: Available year-round, with eligibility and support levels determined by local trustee offices

Customers can also sign up for Budget Bill to level out monthly payments, schedule a no-cost Home Energy Assessment or visit the Online Energy Efficiency Store to access discounted energy-saving products.

More ways to connect and get help

As part of its ongoing commitment to affordability, CenterPoint has made it easier for customers to connect and find support. Guided by direct feedback from customers and stakeholders, the company has expanded resources across southwestern Indiana, including:

  • One-on-one support through Community Connect events happening throughout the region
  • A redesigned Customer Resource Hub, making it simpler to find billing support, assistance programs and energy-saving resources in one place

The next Community Connect event is scheduled for March 18 at CenterPoint Energy Plaza, 211 NW Riverside Drive in Evansville, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., where customers can meet with CenterPoint team members and get help with any of the programs and resources listed above.

For more information or to explore available resources, customers can visit CenterPointEnergy.com/ResourceHub or call 1-800-227-1376.

Ongoing commitment to affordability

In October 2025, CenterPoint launched its 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, expanded customer support programs and implemented additional protections as part of the Indiana Electric rate case settlement – such as annual late-fee waivers upon request, reduced reconnection fees and safeguards for medically vulnerable customers. Additional customer resources are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

CenterPoint Energy offers support for Indiana customers as state’s winter disconnection moratorium ends

INDIANAPOLIS – March 12, 2026 – CenterPoint Energy is encouraging customers to take advantage of available payment options, assistance programs and one-on-one support ahead of Indiana's winter disconnection moratorium ending on March 15.

Under Indiana law, customers who receive Energy Assistance Program (EAP) assistance or who are eligible and have applied for the program are protected from service disconnection between December 1 and March 15. As that protection period ends, CenterPoint wants customers to know that help is available and that reaching out is the first step.

“We know that affordability is the top issue for many of our customers and we want you to know that there are resources available to help you manage your energy use and bills. Please reach out to us," said Mike Roeder, President of CenterPoint Energy Indiana. “Our teams are here to work with you. We can connect you with assistance programs, set up a payment plan or help you find ways to reduce your energy costs. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can help you find a path forward."

Steps customers can take now

Financial assistance programs are available to help customers manage energy costs:

  • Payment arrangements: Allow customers who are having difficulty paying their bill in full to set up a plan to pay in smaller increments over time
  • Energy Assistance Program: Provides financial help to income-eligible households and is accepting applications through April 20, 2026
  • Universal Service Fund: Helps natural gas customers who have received EAP save between 15% and 32% on their bills through May 31
  • Township trustee assistance: Available year-round, with eligibility and support levels determined by local trustee offices

Customers can also sign up for Budget Billing to level out monthly payments or visit the Online Energy Efficiency Store to access discounted energy-saving products.

For more information or to explore available resources, customers can visit CenterPointEnergy.com/ResourceHub or call 1-800-227-1376.​​

Less than 2.5% of CenterPoint Energy customers impacted during midweek storms

Average restoration for a customer was about 54 minutes, with the vast majority of customers restored in 3 hours or less 

 

Essentially all customers impacted by Wednesday afternoon’s storms have now been restored, with crews working diligently to restore remaining 700 customers 

 

 Frontline workers and contractors supported ongoing restoration and continue responding to localized outages 

  

HOUSTON – March 11, 2026 – After Wednesday afternoon’s storms traveled across CenterPoint Energy’s electric service territory, approximately 2.5% of its 2.9 million customers across the Greater Houston area experienced impacts to electric service during the weather event. With more than 70,000 customers impacted since storms started to move through the area around noon, approximately 69,000 customers have been restored since the storms arrived this afternoon. As of 9:45 p.m., approximately 700 customers are currently without power. 

 

The company's Emergency Operation Center was activated ahead of the storms, and more than 1,400 frontline workers and contractor crews were available to respond to isolated outages throughout the company's 12-county service area. The average time to restore customers who experienced storm-related outages was approximately 54 minutes, and the vast majority of customers were restored in 3 hours or less. 

 

The company is expected to return to normal operations tomorrow morning. 

 

“Severe weather and storms are something we prepare for year‑round, and our crews train continuously so we’re ready ahead of the storms reaching our communities,” said Jason Fabre, CenterPoint’s Vice President, Special Response Team and Incident Commander. “We understand how disruptive any outages can be, and our crews work safely and as quickly as possible until every customer is restored. We will monitor the weather the rest of the night and be prepared to respond immediately to any additional outages.” 

 

CenterPoint took the following actions for today’s event: 

 

  • Deployed the company's resources: Had 1,400 personnel ready to respond to outages and support preparedness actions ahead of restoration efforts. 
  • Activated Emergency Operations Center: To coordinate storm response efforts throughout the day, the company proactively activated its Emergency Operations Center on Tuesday and remained ready to respond. 
  • Monitored weather 24/7: The Meteorology team continues to track forecast developments, and the company is updating response plans as conditions evolve. 
  • Pre-positioned resources: Response teams were pre-positioned in areas where storms were forecasted to impact and remain ready to respond to any electric or natural gas service interruptions safely and as quickly as possible. 
  • Coordinated with local officials: The company provided updates to local officials and emergency management partners. 

 

About CenterPoint Energy, Inc.   
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) is a multi-state electric and natural gas delivery company serving more than 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 December 31, 2025, the company had approximately $46.5 billion in assets. With approximately 8,800 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been serving customers for more than 150 years. For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com.  ​

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