CenterPoint Energy Prepares for Potential Severe Weather from Tropical Disturbance

CenterPoint Energy Prepares for Potential Severe Weather from Tropical Disturbance



CenterPoint Energy is currently monitoring a tropical disturbance known as Invest 98L, making its way through the Bay of Campeche. The Meteorology, Emergency Planning and Response, and Electric Operations teams are keeping a close watch on the situation as it may affect the South Texas coast by the week's end. The preliminary forecast indicates that the Greater Houston area is likely to experience increased rain chances.

Matt Lanza, the meteorology manager at CenterPoint, emphasized the importance of being prepared. "We will continue to monitor the storm's movements and rely on our technology and data to remain vigilant," he stated. While details of the impact are still being assessed, residents should be ready for potential changes in weather patterns as the weekend approaches.

Preparations Underway



To ensure customer safety and service continuity, CenterPoint is implementing its summer storm readiness plan. This includes several proactive measures:

1. Mobilizing Workforce: The company is deploying vegetation management workers to eliminate any hazardous plants near power lines, minimizing the risk of outages.
2. Government Coordination: Regular updates will be shared with local, state, and federal officials to keep them informed of the company's readiness.
3. Customer Outreach: CenterPoint is reaching out to critical care customers to ensure they remain informed and safe during any potential outages.
4. Information Sharing: The organization is committed to providing timely safety and preparedness information via various channels, including social media.
5. Increased Call Center Staffing: As call volume typically rises during storms, additional staff will be on hand to assist customers and reduce wait times.

These actions follow the launch of the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI) after last year's Hurricane Beryl, which has focused on enhancing storm resilience within the region.

Resiliency Improvements After Hurricane Beryl



Since the formation of the GHRI, CenterPoint has accomplished significant enhancements within its 12-county service area:
  • - Over 32,000 storm-resistant utility poles have been installed or replaced,
  • - More than 400 miles of power lines have been placed underground to improve reliability,
  • - The installation of over 5,150 automated reliability devices designed to enhance outage management,
  • - Clearing of 7,000 miles of vegetation near power lines to decrease the chance of storm-related outages,
  • - The addition of over 100 weather stations for improved monitoring,
  • - The provision of 22 backup generators to essential facilities for crisis situations, and
  • - Launching an upgraded Outage Tracker that provides real-time information in both English and Spanish.

Weather Monitoring and Safety



CenterPoint has installed over 100 weather stations strategically throughout the Greater Houston area to measure parameters such as humidity, wind speed, temperature, and rainfall every few minutes. This initiative is crucial for ensuring a proactive approach to storm preparedness ahead of the Atlantic hurricane season.

Residents are encouraged to sign up for the Power Alert Service to receive updates regarding outages, restoration timelines, and other critical information directly related to their service. There is also the option to include additional contacts, ensuring loved ones are informed.

Preparing for inclement weather is essential, and CenterPoint advises customers to have a safety plan in place. Storm-related safety tips are available at CenterPointEnergy.com/ActionCenter, which caters to customers in multiple languages, including Spanish and Vietnamese.

For ongoing updates about the storm and power outages, customers can monitor CenterPoint's cloud-based Outage Tracker, which is designed to handle high traffic during adverse weather conditions. News and safety information are available via CenterPoint's official social media accounts.

About CenterPoint Energy: CenterPoint Energy, Inc., trades on the NYSE under CNP, is an electric and natural gas delivery company with a customer base of approximately 7 million across several states, including Texas and Minnesota. It is headquartered in Houston and has a strong commitment to providing reliable energy services while focusing on customer engagement and safety.

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