- CenterPoint has been monitoring tropical developments and
preparing this weekend
- Company is in the process of securing work sites, preparing
crews and equipment, and securing additional frontline resources
from mutual assistance companies
- Company's new and improved outage tracker is live with
greater functionality
- Customers in the Greater
Houston area, including those who depend on
electricity for life-sustaining equipment, are encouraged to
begin their planning and preparations as soon as possible
HOUSTON, Sept. 7,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CenterPoint Energy has been
closely monitoring weather forecasts and preparing for potential
impacts from a Gulf of Mexico
tropical system (Invest 91L), which has the potential to make
landfall on the Texas coast in the
coming days. Greater clarity on the weather situation is expected
from the National Hurricane Center tomorrow.
In preparation for potential severe weather across the
Texas coast and Greater Houston area, CenterPoint is in the
process of securing work sites, preparing crews and equipment, and
securing additional frontline resources from mutual assistance
companies. The company is also reminding customers to develop
an emergency plan and assemble a storm preparedness kit that
includes essential items such as nonperishable food, water,
flashlights, batteries, a first aid kit, any necessary medications,
a battery-powered radio, and a portable charger for mobile
devices.
"We have a plan to address this potential storm, and we are
executing our plan," said Darin
Carroll, Senior Vice President, Electric Business. "Although
the exact path and intensity of this potential storm are still
unclear, we want to assure our customers that we are preparing for
impact. We encourage everyone across the Greater Houston area and the larger Gulf Coast
region to get their plans in place now for their families, loved
ones, homes and businesses."
Carroll added, "Following Hurricane Beryl's devastating impact
on the Greater Houston area, we
heard the calls for change and to do better, and we have taken the
feedback seriously. We are determined to re-earn the trust of the
customers and communities we are privileged to serve. While no two
storms and their impact are ever alike, we believe our actions
since Beryl will help improve our response should this tropical
disturbance impact our service territory."
Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative
Across
Greater Houston, CenterPoint is
taking action now to improve resiliency and help reduce the risk of
outages this hurricane season.
As part of the first phase of its Greater Houston Resiliency
Initiative, throughout August CenterPoint crews and contractors
installed more than 1,100 stronger and more resilient fiberglass
poles, trimmed vegetation along more than 2,000 miles of power
lines, and installed more than 300 automation devices in
neighborhoods all over Houston.
The company's next step is taking the boldest series of resiliency
actions in its nearly 160-year history, including additional system
hardening, strategic undergrounding, self-healing grid technology,
and further enhancements to its outage tracker.
Call to Action: Power Alert Service
Customers should
remember that a storm is a powerful force of nature that can cause
significant damage and widespread, lengthy electricity outages.
Conditions can also change unexpectedly and for the worse.
Customers are encouraged to enroll in Power Alert Service® to
receive outage details, estimated restoration times, as available
or determined, and customer-specific restoration updates in the
event of severe weather. With the option to receive updates via
phone call, text or email, Power Alert Service® helps keep
customers informed of restoration progress during an outage event.
Customers can also find additional resources at
CenterPointEnergy.com/StormCenter.
New and Improved Outage Tracker with Greater Web
Resiliency
Within 24 hours of a tropical storm or hurricane
exiting our service area, CenterPoint will communicate an estimated
time for restoration for the entire system and will update the
estimated times of restoration at least daily thereafter. The new
and improved Outage Tracker will be used to update individual
customers on their expected restoration date as soon as possible
after restoration expectations are determined.
To learn more about Outage Tracker's new features and
functionality, watch the demonstration video.
For an in-depth, step-by-step guide to using the Outage
Tracker, click here.
Customers with Critical Needs
Because CenterPoint
Energy cannot guarantee an uninterrupted, regular or continuous
power supply during a severe weather event, customers who depend on
electricity for life-sustaining equipment are encouraged to make
alternate arrangements for on-site backup capabilities or other
alternatives in the event of loss of electric service.
During pre-storm preparations and post-storm recovery efforts,
CenterPoint urges customers to stay informed of weather conditions
and warnings or advisories issued by local authorities by paying
close attention to announcements from local news outlets for
important information regarding ongoing conditions and recovery
efforts. The company also recommends that customers follow these
important natural gas and electric safety tips:
Important Safety Reminders
Electric
- If you experience an electric outage, do not open freezers and
refrigerators any more than necessary, as opening these appliances
will allow food to thaw more quickly.
- Only use a portable generator in a well-ventilated outdoor area
and never run it inside your residence or in a garage to avoid
carbon monoxide fumes, which can be deadly.
- Never connect a portable electric generator directly to your
building's electrical system during a power outage; electricity
could back feed into the power lines and potentially endanger
utility workers, emergency responders or members of the
public.
- Have your weatherhead, which connects the overhead power line
to your home or business, checked for damage. Any weatherhead
problems will need to be repaired by a licensed electrician prior
to service being restored.
- Stay away from low-hanging, downed power lines or lines that
could be submerged in standing water. Treat downed power lines and
damaged electric utility equipment as if they are energized. Report
any low-hanging or downed power lines and damaged electric utility
equipment to CenterPoint Energy by calling 713-207-2222.
- Water poses a potential electric safety threat because it's a
good conductor. Always be careful not to touch water, or anything
in contact with it, near a downed power line.
- Any amount of water, including a puddle, can become energized.
If you see a downed power line near water, retreat to a safe
distance, then call CenterPoint Energy immediately at 713-207-2222
to report it.
- Flood water can be hazardous. Always use extreme care when
stepping into flooded areas. Submerged outlets or electrical cords
can energize water, even from a distance.
- Boats or other vehicles being used in high water can expose you
to danger from power lines at their normal height. Be aware and
stay away.
- If water has risen above the electrical outlets, contact a
licensed electrician before turning on the main circuit
breaker.
Natural Gas
- If you smell natural gas — which has a distinctive, strong
odor, often compared to rotten eggs or sulfur — leave the area
immediately on foot, and tell others to leave, too. Do not turn the
lights on or off, smoke, strike a match, use a phone or operate
anything that might cause a spark, including a flashlight or a
generator. Once safely away from the area, call 911 and CenterPoint
Energy, and we will send a trained service technician
immediately.
- Do not turn off your natural gas at the meter; your natural gas
meter should be left on to maintain proper pressure in the natural
gas piping within the house and to prevent water from entering the
lines should flooding occur.
- Natural gas can be turned off at each appliance. Later, to
restore natural gas service to an appliance, you may follow the
written instructions located on the appliance for re-lighting. If
you are unable to locate the instructions or don't feel comfortable
re-lighting, call a qualified plumber or technician.
- While conducting exterior clean-up and/or repairs, call 811 to
locate utility lines prior to digging on your property.
- If your home is flooded, call a licensed plumber or a natural
gas appliance technician to inspect your appliances prior to
requesting a service reconnection.
- Be cautious around line workers and give them plenty of room to
safely assess damage and make repairs.
As this storm moves toward CenterPoint Energy's electric and
natural gas service territories, additional updates will be
provided as needed.
For additional information on hurricane preparedness,
visit CenterPointEnergy.com/StormCenter and follow
@CenterPoint for updates during inclement weather events. The
following resources are also available on CenterPoint Energy's
dedicated storm page:
- How you can prepare for a storm
- How CenterPoint prepares for a storm
- How CenterPoint restores service following a storm
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.
For more information,
contact
Communications
Media.Relations@CenterPointEnergy.com
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SOURCE CenterPoint Energy