Over 99.9% of Greater Houston Customers Remain Powered Amid Winter Storm Enzo's Impact

CenterPoint Energy's Response to Winter Storm Enzo

As severe weather takes its toll on the Greater Houston area, CenterPoint Energy has achieved a remarkable feat in power restoration. As of 11 a.m. on a Tuesday during the storm, the company reported that over 99.9% of its customers are receiving normal electric service. This is a testament to the comprehensive storm preparation and disaster management efforts in place.

The ongoing Winter Storm Enzo has brought significant precipitation and frigid temperatures, prompting CenterPoint to mobilize around 3,000 frontline workers. This dedicated team includes contractors and mutual aid personnel who are diligently addressing scattered outages across a 12-county region. Since the onset of the storm, approximately 18,700 customers have had their power restored, leaving about 2,800 still affected by outages.

Darin Carroll, Senior Vice President of CenterPoint's Electric Business, commended the efforts of the team while highlighting the importance of public cooperation during these turbulent weather conditions. He encouraged residents to stay off the roads, thus allowing restoration crews to operate safely without the risk of vehicles interfering with their work or damaging infrastructure.

Preparation and Service Efforts

CenterPoint's proactive measures included the activation of its Emergency Operations Center, which allows for coordinated efforts in restoration. They have deployed a range of resources aimed at combating the effects of the winter storm, including:

1. Frontline Worker Deployment: Approximately 3,000 workers, including many from mutual aid agreements, are actively working on power restoration and equipment repairs.
2. Temporary Generation Units: To assist with local warming centers, CenterPoint has supplied temporary power solutions amid the freezing conditions.
3. Customer Communication: The company is committed to keeping its nearly 2.8 million customers informed through various channels, such as social media and direct outreach.
4. Critical Care Outreach: CenterPoint has reached out to critical care and chronic condition customers via email, calls, and text messages to ensure their safety and power continuity during the storm.
5. Coordination with Officials: The company maintains regular communication with government officials, providing updates and ensuring efficient support for affected customers.

The National Weather Service has placed Southeast Texas under a Winter Storm Warning, set to last until 6 p.m. Furthermore, an Extreme Cold Watch will be in effect from evening through Wednesday morning. CenterPoint is prepared, with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) maintaining that grid conditions remain normal for now, although teams are ready to respond should that change.

Customer Support

For electric customers, CenterPoint highly recommends enrollment in the Power Alert Service®, which provides outage updates and restoration timelines via phone, text, or email. Customers can also utilize the enhanced, cloud-based Outage Tracker, now available in both English and Spanish, to see localized outage information at the county, city, and ZIP code levels.

For the latest news and updates, customers and residents can visit CenterPoint Energy's website or follow their social media handles for real-time information on storm response efforts. The company continues to encourage safety and preparedness as the winter storm persists in the Greater Houston area.

Understanding that this storm has created hardships for many, the CenterPoint Energy team is fully engaged and ready to address any further challenges caused by Winter Storm Enzo, ensuring that normalcy is restored for all customers as swiftly and safely as possible.