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CenterPoint Energy Monitors Tropical Disturbance Invest 93L

CenterPoint Energy continues to stay alert as the low-pressure system known as Invest 93L progresses in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. The company's Meteorology, Emergency Planning & Response, and Electric Operations teams are carefully tracking this system as it navigates along the Florida Panhandle. Despite the likelihood of minimal impacts, the teams are prepared for any developments.

Recent weather models indicate a low probability of the system evolving into a tropical depression or a storm. Although some heavy rains and scattered showers may occur, concerns are limited for the Greater Houston area, especially as the weather threats are expected to be primarily associated with rainfall for the upcoming Friday and Saturday.

Matt Lanza, CenterPoint's Manager of Meteorology, emphasizes, "The meteorology team continues to monitor the system as it tracks northward across the Florida Peninsula. As per the latest data, the risk remains low for the Greater Houston area. However, we are committed to closely assessing the situation and readying our response efforts as necessary."

Storm Readiness Plan

As summer unfolds, CenterPoint has a robust plan in place to prepare for potential storms. Key action steps include:

• - Mobilizing Vegetation Management Workers: Preemptively clearing potential hazards like overhanging branches near power lines to prevent outages.
• - Coordinating with Government Officials: Providing timely updates about readiness levels and pre-storm activities to local, state, and county government agencies.
• - Outreach to Critical Care Customers: Contacting those reliant on electric services for medical needs to ensure their preparedness.
• - Information and Updates: Communicating safety and storm preparedness information with customers through various channels including email and social media.
• - Enhanced Call Center Staffing: Increasing personnel during storm events to efficiently manage calls and minimize wait times.

Post-Hurricane Improvements

Following Hurricane Beryl’s impact the previous summer, CenterPoint Energy has undertaken significant upgrades as part of its Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI). This includes:

• - Installation or replacement of over 26,000 strong, resilient poles capable of withstanding severe winds.
• - Undergrounding more than 400 miles of power lines to further enhance overall infrastructure resilience.
• - Addition of over 5,150 automated reliability devices designed to mitigate outages and streamline restoration processes.
• - Clearance of over 6,000 miles of high-risk vegetation that could interfere with power lines.
• - Installation of over 100 weather stations throughout the service area to bolster storm preparation.
• - Donation of backup generators to critical facilities for uninterrupted power.
• - Launch of an improved cloud-based Outage Tracker for real-time updates on outages and restoration efforts, available in multiple languages.

Weather Monitoring

CenterPoint's commitment to keeping the community informed is exemplified by the installation of over 100 weather monitoring stations strategically placed across their 12-county service area. Monitoring these stations provides regular assessments of humidity, wind speed, temperature, and rainfall every few minutes, enhancing situational awareness.

Continuous Customer Engagement

The company encourages electric customers to sign up for the Power Alert Service®. This service provides crucial information such as outage updates, estimated restoration timelines, and specific customer notifications via phone, text, or email. Customers can add additional numbers or addresses, allowing friends and family to stay informed.

Stay Prepared

CenterPoint stresses the importance of safety and preparedness among its customers. Residents are urged to visit CenterPointEnergy.com/ActionCenter for valuable storm-related safety tips, available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. The site's improved Outage Tracker ensures easy tracking of outages by region, designed to manage high traffic during storm events.

To keep up with the latest developments, follow CenterPoint on X and visit CenterPointEnergy.com/ActionCenter.

About CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc. operates as a multi-state utility company that delivers electric and natural gas services to roughly 7 million customers across states including Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, and Texas. Headquartered in Houston, the firm is the sole Texas-domiciled investor-owned utility, boasting around $44 billion in assets as of March 31, 2025. The organization brings over 150 years of service experience to its customers, continually enhancing its operational framework for safety and reliability.