#United States #Houston #CenterPoint Energy #Emergency Preparedness #Gulf Storm

CenterPoint Energy Prepares for Potential Gulf Storm

As meteorological teams carefully monitor a tropical disturbance in the Northeast Gulf of Mexico, CenterPoint Energy stands poised to implement its summer storm readiness plan if necessary. The current trajectory of the storm shows potential impacts on the Texas Coast, particularly in the Houston area, predominantly expected to be a rain event.

In anticipation of this weather event, CenterPoint Energy is taking maximum precautions by evaluating current models and preparing contingencies. "Our meteorology team is closely tracking the situation as it develops. Although predictions indicate a low chance of significant impact, we are prepared for any necessary action, should the storm strengthen or follow an unexpected path," stated Matt Lanza, CenterPoint's Meteorology Manager.

Proactive Measures in Place

With the safety of its customers being paramount, CenterPoint Energy is implementing several proactive steps. An extensive summer storm readiness plan includes actions such as:

• - Vegetation Management: Mobilizing workers to clear hazardous vegetation around power lines in the Greater Houston area prior to the storm's arrival, thus minimizing the risk of outages.
• - Coordination with Government Officials: Maintaining communication with federal, state, county, and city officials to provide them with updates on pre-storm activities and strategies.
• - Outreach to Critical Care Customers: Proactively contacting residential electric customers with critical care needs through targeted emails, phone calls, or texts.
• - Information Sharing: Keeping customers informed about safety and storm preparedness resources through various channels including social media.
• - Enhanced Call Center Staffing: Preparing to handle a surge in inquiries by increasing call center personnel during the peak of storm activity.

Recent Improvements Since Hurricane Beryl

CenterPoint Energy has made significant strides in enhancing the resilience of its power grid following the vulnerabilities exposed during Hurricane Beryl last summer. Notable improvements include:

• - Installation or replacement of over 26,000 resilient poles meant to withstand extreme weather.
• - Undergrounding of more than 400 miles of power lines, thereby reducing the likelihood of outages.
• - Installation of more than 5,150 automated reliability devices and intelligent grid switching mechanisms to expedite restoration efforts during outages.
• - Clearing of over 6,000 miles of vegetation to minimize storm-related disruptions to service.
• - Deployment of over 100 weather stations across the service area to monitor conditions and inform storm preparation measures effectively.
• - Donation of backup generators to critical facilities to ensure their functionality during adverse weather.
• - Launch of an upgraded cloud-based Outage Tracker to provide real-time updates regarding outages and restoration efforts in both English and Spanish.

Encouraging Customer Preparedness

As the weather forecast remains uncertain, CenterPoint Energy urges customers to prepare a safety plan for the anticipated storms. Customers can access storm safety tips at CenterPointEnergy.com/ActionCenter, available in multiple languages including English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Moreover, customers have the option to enroll in CenterPoint's Power Alert Service to receive timely alerts about outages and restoration updates via their preferred communication method. This service is particularly helpful as it allows up to five additional contacts for family and friends to receive information.

Conclusion

As Hurricane season progresses, CenterPoint Energy is committed to ensuring the safety and reliability of its services for millions of customers in Texas. The company's robust readiness plan demonstrates its commitment to equip its operations to face weather challenges effectively. For ongoing updates, customers are encouraged to follow CenterPoint on various social media platforms and check their website for the latest information.

For further details on disaster preparedness and CenterPoint's initiatives, visit CenterPointEnergy.com.

About CenterPoint Energy

CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP), headquartered in Houston, is a multi-state electric and natural gas delivery company that serves approximately 7 million customers across several states, including Texas. With a service history spanning over 150 years, the company is dedicated to providing reliable energy solutions while prioritizing customer safety and community welfare.