CenterPoint Energy reaches settlement agreement on landmark Systemwide Resiliency Plan to strengthen Houston electric system against extreme weather threats and future hazards
CenterPoint Energy reaches settlement agreement on landmark Systemwide Resiliency Plan to strengthen Houston electric system against extreme weather threats and future hazards
2025-06-23T05:00:00Z
  • Largest single resiliency investment in CenterPoint history will build on Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative and help address impacts of wide range of extreme weather and other threats
  • 100% of lines serving the most customers will have automation devices capable of self-healing
  • 130,000 stronger, more storm-resilient poles and braces to be installed or replaced
  • This historic investment will reduce storm-related outages by nearly 1 billion minutes
  • Spreading investments over four years vs. three years will minimize bill impacts and help keep customer bills more affordable

HOUSTON, June 13, 2025 - As part of its commitment to build and operate the most resilient coastal grid in the country, CenterPoint Energy (CenterPoint) announced yesterday that it has reached a settlement agreement with parties to its 2026-2028 Systemwide Resiliency Plan (SRP). Subject to Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) review and approval, the SRP represents the largest single grid resiliency investment in CenterPoint's history and is expected to reduce the impact of storm-related outages by nearly 1 billion (more than 913 million minutes) for its 2.8 million customers by 2029.

CenterPoint's 2026-2028 SRP will build on the progress made during the first two phases of the company's Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI) and is designed to further 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.

"We are committed to continuing critical system resiliency work to help provide an electric system for the Greater Houston area that is safe, reliable, cost-effective and resilient when our customers need it most. Following constructive discussions with the Commission and intervening parties, this plan represents a landmark investment and suite of resiliency actions that will provide customers with clear benefits now and in the future," said Jason Wells, President and Chief Executive Officer of CenterPoint Energy.

"Our plan is cost-effective and will build on the progress we've 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 that impact smaller clusters of customers, coupled with faster restoration times for our Greater Houston communities. This is another major step on our strategic roadmap to building and operating the most resilient coastal grid in the nation," said Wells.

Key improvements in CenterPoint's Systemwide Resiliency Plan
This settlement agreement reflects discussions with intervening parties following the filing of CenterPoint's enhanced SRP with the PUCT in January 2025. It includes a revised, agreed-upon investment of more than $3 billion in CenterPoint's electric distribution system. The agreement also includes the deferment of more than $240 million in SRP costs until the second half of 2029, which will help reduce the bill impact for customers by spreading costs over a four-year period instead of three years. Once approved, and while some cost recovery would be deferred into 2029, all SRP work will be completed in the proposed 2026-2028 timeframe.

Separate from the 2026-2028 SRP which is focused on the electric distribution system, CenterPoint will continue its nearly $2 billion investments planned for the electric transmission system, including rebuilding or upgrading more than 2,200 structures to better withstand extreme weather.

Customer bill impacts
Pending approval from the PUCT, CenterPoint's historic SRP investment in the electric distribution system would add approximately $1.40 per month for an average residential customer each year from 2026 through 2028, with a final $0.60 per month added in 2030 to help lessen bill impacts in previous years.

The impacts of these investment in Greater Houston's electric infrastructure are reduced over the next three years, other key components of the average residential customer bill will go down during the same period including:

  • Costs associated with the large temporary emergency generation units will start coming out of rates for Houston Electric customers this summer, and by 2027, bills will be reduced by an estimated $2 per month for the average customer.
  • As a result of the recently settled, four-year Houston Electric rate case, CenterPoint will receive approximately $50 million less revenue annually which means a reduction in electric customer bills by about $1 a month for most customers from 2025 through 2028 while also continuing to deliver support for significant local economic growth and upgrades across Greater Houston area.

Building the stronger, more resilient, self-healing electric system of the future
The investments outlined in CenterPoint's SRP are designed to benefit customers across the entire 12-county service area, with a specific focus on customers in higher-risk areas. When complete, this array 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;
  • 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;
  • Undergrounding: More than 50% of CenterPoint's system will be undergrounded to improve resiliency; and
  • Modernized Cables: 20,150 spans of underground cables will be modernized to reduce the frequency and impact of outages.

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 approximately 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 continue to grow, CenterPoint's SRP will help address the increasing risk that this fast-growing region faces from extreme weather.

A Systemwide Resiliency Plan shaped by experts, stakeholders and customer feedback
The SRP incorporates important feedback from customers, elected leaders, emergency management agencies and independent experts. In preparation for filing the SRP, CenterPoint conducted 30 community meetings and listening sessions and solicited feedback on the 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.

CenterPoint GHRI Phase One and Phase Two resiliency actions
Since launching GHRI in response to Hurricane Beryl last summer, CenterPoint has made progress on the historic series of critical resiliency improvements across both Phase One and Phase Two. When combined, the company has completed the following actions:

  • Installed or replaced more than 26,000 stronger, more storm-resilient poles built to withstand extreme winds;
  • Undergrounded more than 400 miles of power lines to improve overall resiliency;
  • Installed more than 5,150 more automated reliability devices and intelligent grid switching devices to reduce the impact of outages and improve restoration times;
  • Cleared more than 6,000 miles of higher-risk vegetation near power lines to reduce storm-related outages; and
  • Installed 100 weather monitoring stations to improve situational awareness and storm preparation.  

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 March 31, 2025, 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.

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, 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 and the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative, including their respective 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 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) business strategies and strategic initiatives, restructurings, joint ventures, acquisitions or dispositions of assets or businesses involving CenterPoint Energy or its industry; (2) CenterPoint Energy's ability to fund and invest planned capital, and the timely recovery of its investments; (3) financial market and general economic conditions; (4) the timing and impact of future regulatory, legislative and political actions or developments; 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, 2024 and CenterPoint's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2025 and other reports CenterPoint Energy or its subsidiaries may file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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

SOURCE CenterPoint Energy

 Recent News

 

 
CenterPoint Energy completes vast majority of restoration efforts in Carlos and Alexandria

  • Majority of service restored in less than 24 hours 
  • Remaining locations include seasonal cabins and commercial businesses 
  • City Hall remains staging area  ​

MINNEAPOLIS — Dec. 5, 2025 — CenterPoint Energy has completed the vast majority of its restoration efforts for the natural gas outage impacting customers in the Carlos and Alexandria areas following yesterday’s third-party vehicle strike to an above-ground natural gas regulator station near Carlos. 

 

In less than 24 hours, CenterPoint Energy crews responded to the emergency, assessed the major damage, made repairs, and restored the majority of necessary services. As of this morning, service has been restored to nearly all impacted customers, with only a limited number of remaining locations—a mix of commercial businesses and seasonal cabins—awaiting relight. Crews will complete these remaining relights today, with businesses expected to be restored promptly this morning as daylight hours allow easier access and coordination. 

 

As of 8 a.m., Carlos City Hall is no longer serving as a warming center but will remain the staging area for restoration crews until all work is complete. CenterPoint Energy extends its sincere thanks to Douglas County, the City of Carlos, the Carlos Fire Department, and the many community members who have stepped up to provide food, supplies, and support throughout this restoration effort. Their efforts and generosity have been invaluable in helping impacted customers stay safe and warm. 

 

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

 

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

CenterPoint Energy submits Indiana generation plan to prioritize long-term reliability, economic growth and customer affordability

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Dec. 5, 2025 – CenterPoint Energy’s Indiana Electric business today submitted its 2025 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) that focuses on customer affordability while also providing reliable service now and in the future across southwestern Indiana. The 2025 IRP, which was developed following a series of public meetings and stakeholder discussions since March 2025, is a vital strategic roadmap that defines the appropriate mix of generation required to meet the region’s future energy needs and support potential economic growth, while also prioritizing customer affordability.

“We have listened closely to stakeholders across southwestern Indiana and worked together to address our customers’ and the community’s future energy needs and priorities. Our 2025 IRP reflects this shared focus on reliability and affordability for the Hoosier families we are privileged to serve. Most importantly, it provides a flexible path forward to support southwestern Indiana’s energy and economic needs for decades to come,” said Mike Roeder, President of CenterPoint Energy Indiana.

2025 IRP: Key Benefits for Southwestern Indiana
CenterPoint’s 2025 IRP is a forward-looking, 20-year generation plan, which all Indiana electric utilities are required to submit to the IURC. As part of a commitment to build a more reliable, safer and affordable energy future, CenterPoint’s 2025 IRP includes the following key provisions and benefits for its 150,000 electric customers across southwestern Indiana:

  • Limits near-term rate impacts. Helps minimize any rate increase in the near term for southwestern Indiana customers.
  • Uses existing and planned resources. Leverages existing and previously approved generation resources to meet customers’ energy needs.
  • Defers higher-cost projects. Delays moving forward on certain higher-cost projects that would increase near-term customer bills.
  • Provides flexibility for future growth. Includes an alternate preferred portfolio to support scalable system expansion to help accommodate potential new load growth while working to minimize impact to existing customers.
  • Provides current and future customer savings. As part of CenterPoint’s affordability efforts, includes cancellation of nearly $1 billion in non-economical renewable projects, saving customers approximately $18/month in current and future costs.

2025 IRP: Engaged with Stakeholders to Incorporate Varying Perspectives
Throughout the planning of its 2025 IRP, CenterPoint has worked closely with stakeholders across southwestern Indiana and the state. The new IRP addresses stakeholder and community feedback and helps achieve a realistic and responsible generation resource plan that best serves southwestern Indiana’s energy future. The scope of local outreach and public engagement efforts included:

  • Holding four public stakeholder meetings, with in-person and virtual options, bringing together customers and representatives from more than 30 organizations to share feedback and discuss local needs and priorities.
  • Responding to various stakeholder requests and questions through public meetings and technical sessions and using that feedback to help refine the plan.
  • Using stakeholder input to refine elements of the planning process by incorporating varying perspectives to develop a well-rounded plan.

As part of the ongoing regulatory process, the IURC and stakeholders will review the IRP and provide additional feedback. CenterPoint will continue to engage customers, local and state officials and community organizations as it implements the plan and its previously announced affordability actions. To view the 2025 IRP and related documents, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/IRP.

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, Minnesota, Ohio and Texas. As of September 30, 2025, the company owned approximately $45 billion in assets. With approximately 8,300 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 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, such as CenterPoint Energy's ability to execute on the proposed plan, the anticipated benefits of the plan (including in relation to reliability, economic growth and affordability), the amount and expected impact to rates and customer's bills, and any other statements 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) business strategies and strategic initiatives, acquisitions or dispositions of assets or businesses involving CenterPoint Energy or its industry; (2) CenterPoint Energy's ability to fund and invest planned capital, and the timely recovery of its investments; (3) financial market and general economic conditions; (4) the timing and impact of future regulatory, legislative and political actions or developments; 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, 2024 and CenterPoint Energy's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2025, June 30, 2025 and September 30, 2025 and other reports CenterPoint Energy or its subsidiaries may file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
CenterPoint Energy assessing damage caused by vehicle hitting its natural gas infrastructure near Carlos, Minnesota

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Important Information for Customers

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

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

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

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