CenterPoint Energy celebrates National Volunteer Week by recognizing the meaningful work employees do to strengthen communities
Since 2002, employees have volunteered nearly three million hours to local nonprofit organizations
2025-04-24T05:00:00Z

​HOUSTON – April 24, 2025 – In celebration of National Volunteer Week (April 20 to 26), CenterPoint Energy is proud to recognize its employees for collectively dedicating nearly 3 million hours of volunteer work with nonprofit organizations since 2002. CenterPoint's employees strive to make a positive impact by participating in company-organized volunteer efforts, working directly to support causes they consider meaningful to them and serving on nonprofit organization boards and committees.

In 2024, CenterPoint employees volunteered more than 55,000 volunteer hours to nonprofit organizations, providing over $1.8 million dollars in value to the organizations based on the Independent Sector's Value of Volunteer Time report. Approximately 25% of the company's employees participated in volunteer work, surpassing the average volunteer rate of 13% within the utility industry. Additionally, CenterPoint employees at all levels serve on nonprofit organization boards and committees, donating their time and talents to help service organizations achieve initiatives to strengthen communities. 

“At CenterPoint, we have a deep commitment to giving back to the communities we have the privilege of serving. We invest in strengthening and making our communities more vibrant to help our neighbors achieve extraordinary outcomes," said June Deadrick, Vice President, Community Relations at CenterPoint Energy. “Through our employees volunteering for nonprofit causes meaningful to them and CenterPoint Energy Foundation grants, we provide time, energy and financial contributions to organizations and causes that make a positive lasting impact on the lives of others."  

Established in 1974, National Volunteer Week celebrates the positive impact of community volunteers, showing appreciation for their dedication to making a difference by donating their time and talent.

CenterPoint employees volunteer for nonprofit organizations throughout the communities the company serves, including: 

  • West Side Nut Club Special Needs Kids Day (Indiana) – Since 1921, the West Side Nut Club's mission has been to initiate and promote the betterment of the Evansville area. For the last 11 years, employees have volunteered more than 1,000 hours for the West Side Nut Club's Annual Special Needs Kids Day at the Fall Festival. CenterPoint employees work with children with special needs from southwest Indiana and enjoy a morning full of excitement including rides, games and food.
  • Junior Achievement North (Minnesota) – Since 2011, CenterPoint employee volunteers have worked with Junior Achievement North, helping students discover and explore careers in the energy industry and cultivate valuable teamwork and critical thinking skills through various programs. At the annual Job Shadow event, CenterPoint employees provide deep insight and hands-on experiences to high school students that showcase the variety of careers needed to run a utility company. With JA in a Day, volunteers teach elementary students valuable personal financial education and entrepreneurial skills to prepare them to thrive in the future. In 2024, the CenterPoint Energy shop at Junior Achievement North's Biz Town opened, providing Minnesota students with opportunities to simulate running an energy utility and learn about the value of providing energy to power life's moments.
  • The Foodbank in Dayton (Ohio) — For more than 40 years, The Foodbank has served as the primary source of food for the hunger relief network in the Miami Valley. CenterPoint employees in Ohio have a long tradition of volunteering at The Foodbank in Dayton where they help with The Foodbank's drive-thru food distribution. They unload food from pallets, sort and bag produce, and place bags of food into the cars of clients who rely on the resources provided by The Foodbank. The Foodbank has served the Miami Valley for over 40 years and distributed more than 1.4 million pounds of food through the drive-thru in 2024.
  • Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation (Texas) — The mission of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation is to improve lives through the power of literacy and to realize the vision of literacy for all. CenterPoint employees volunteer with this organization to package books to build home libraries and conduct story time for Houston-area students. In addition to volunteering, the CenterPoint Energy Foundation has supported more than 27,000 books being distributed to schools and to students building their home libraries. CenterPoint employees are thrilled to be able to support efforts to spark a love of reading. 

In addition to employees volunteering to create better outcomes for their communities, the CenterPoint Energy Foundation awarded more than $19 million in 2024 to support nonprofit organizations focused on increasing community vitality and investing in education. 

To learn more about CenterPoint and its commitment to the communities the company serves, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/Community.  


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 December 31, 2024, the company had approximately $44 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.

About the CenterPoint Energy Foundation
The CenterPoint Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where CenterPoint Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by shareholders and has no impact on customer rates. More information about the Foundation can be found at CenterPointEnergy.com/Foundation.​


 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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