2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season: CenterPoint Energy emphasizes preparedness with critical resiliency efforts completed before June 1; urges customers to have an emergency plan and practice that plan

Rhea-AI Summary

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) has completed major grid resilience improvements ahead of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, focusing on strengthening infrastructure and emergency preparedness. The company has implemented key components of its Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative, including installing 26,000 storm-resilient poles, 5,150 automated devices, clearing vegetation from 6,000 miles of power lines, undergrounding 400+ miles of power lines, and installing 100 weather stations. CenterPoint has also enhanced its emergency response capabilities through AI partnerships, community coordination, and technology upgrades. Notable improvements include donating 20+ backup generators to critical facilities, implementing new damage modeling systems, and launching an upgraded bilingual Outage Tracker. The company conducted emergency response exercises with local officials and continues hosting community preparedness events across its 12-county service area.

Positive

• Completed major infrastructure improvements ahead of schedule including 26,000 storm-resilient poles and 400+ miles of undergrounded power lines
• Implementation of AI and advanced technology solutions for better weather impact prediction
• Installation of 100 weather stations for real-time monitoring
• Donation and installation of 20+ backup generators for critical facilities
• Launch of improved bilingual cloud-based Outage Tracker system

Negative

• None.

Historic series of Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative key improvements completed ahead of schedule to strengthen the grid and reduce the impact of outages from major storms

Joint emergency response exercise completed; community safety and preparedness events continue with emergency officials and local partners

CenterPoint continues proactive outreach and communication efforts across Greater Houston service area to help customers prepare for upcoming storm season

HOUSTON, June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season officially underway, CenterPoint Energy is reinforcing the resiliency and preparedness efforts the company already completed to strengthen grid resiliency, improve local emergency coordination and help communities and customers better prepare for potential severe weather.

Last month, CenterPoint held its 2025 emergency response exercise as part of a coordinated effort with public officials, emergency response managers and community partners to improve local cooperation and response efforts. The company continues to work with communities to donate and install more than 20 backup generators for critical facilities and other key locations across its 12-county service area and has been hosting a series of community and customer outreach events across the Greater Houston area to share important safety information and preparation updates.

"Ahead of this year's hurricane season, CenterPoint has been fully engaged in completing a series of historic resiliency improvements and preparedness activities to enhance how we prepare for and respond to hurricanes and other severe weather events," said Tony Gardner, CenterPoint Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer. "While we've accomplished a great number of milestones ahead of the start of hurricane season, we won't stop there. We will continue diligently monitoring the weather, making more improvements and investments, and maintaining our storm preparedness efforts while we work every day to achieve our goal of building the most resilient coastal grid in the country."

2025 Hurricane Season Preparedness: Getting Ready for Extreme Weather
CenterPoint has been conducting and helping coordinate a series of important preparedness activities over the last several months, including:

• Completing historic grid improvements: As part of the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI), CenterPoint has completed a series of critical resiliency actions ahead of schedule, including:
  • Installing 26,000 stronger, more storm-resilient poles;
  • Installing 5,150 automated devices;
  • Clearing high-risk vegetation from 6,000 miles of power lines;
  • Undergrounding more than 400 miles of power lines; and
  • Installing 100 weather stations to provide real-time weather monitoring.
• Leveraging AI and emerging technologies: Collaborating with industry-leading technology providers, including Neara and Technosylva, to better predict and prepare for extreme weather impacts.
• Working with emergency partners to get ready: Coordinating with local officials, emergency management offices and community partners to prepare for extreme weather events, including through joint emergency response exercises.
• Donating and installing emergency generators to key locations: Working with local communities to provide backup generators to critical facilities and community centers that provide medical care, food and water, cooling and other essential services in emergencies.
• Hosting customer and community hurricane preparedness events: Holding a series of community preparedness events and webinars to provide updates about CenterPoint's preparations for hurricane season, important safety tips and key resources for customers.
• Enhancing critical storm response tools: Implemented sophisticated damage modeling to help expedite critical decision making before and during an event, as well as adopted a new storm management software program to more efficiently onboard and deploy mutual assistance crews in support of CenterPoint's emergency response efforts.
• Upgrading CenterPoint's Outage Tracker: Launched a new and improved, cloud-based Outage Tracker to provide real-time updates on outages and restoration efforts, available in English and Spanish.

CenterPoint will continue to provide updates on its critical resiliency actions. More information is available at CenterPointEnergy.com/TakingAction.

About CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) is a multi-state electric and natural gas delivery company serving approximately 7 million metered customers across Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, and Texas. The company is headquartered in Houston and is the only Texas-domiciled investor-owned utility. As of March 31, 2025, the company had approximately $44 billion in assets. With approximately 8,300 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been serving customers for more than 150 years. For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com.

Forward-looking statements
This news release, as well as the website pages related to the GHRI, includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this news release or the website pages related to the GHRI, the words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "goal," "intend," "may," "objective," "plan," "potential," "predict," "projection," "should," "target," "will" or other similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, which include statements regarding the GHRI and longer-term resiliency plans, including effectiveness, timing and related matters, are based upon assumptions of management which are believed to be reasonable at the time made and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual events and results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Any statements in this news release or the website pages related to the GHRI regarding future events that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement contained in this news release or the website pages related to the GHRI speaks only as of the date of this release or the date that such statement is made, as applicable. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the provided forward-looking information include risks and uncertainties relating to: (1) business strategies and strategic initiatives, restructurings, joint ventures, acquisitions or dispositions of assets or businesses involving CenterPoint Energy or its industry; (2) CenterPoint Energy's ability to fund and invest planned capital, and the timely recovery of its investments; (3) financial market and general economic conditions; (4) the timing and impact of future regulatory, legislative and political actions or developments; and (5) other factors, risks and uncertainties discussed in CenterPoint Energy's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 and other reports CenterPoint Energy or its subsidiaries may file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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SOURCE CenterPoint Energy

FAQ

What improvements has CenterPoint Energy (CNP) made for the 2025 hurricane season?

CenterPoint has installed 26,000 storm-resilient poles, 5,150 automated devices, cleared 6,000 miles of power lines, undergrounded 400+ miles of lines, and installed 100 weather stations as part of their Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative.

How is CenterPoint Energy (CNP) using technology to prepare for hurricanes?

CenterPoint is leveraging AI partnerships with Neara and Technosylva, implementing sophisticated damage modeling, adopting new storm management software, and launching an improved bilingual cloud-based Outage Tracker.

What community support is CenterPoint Energy (CNP) providing for hurricane preparedness?

CenterPoint is donating and installing over 20 backup generators at critical facilities, hosting preparedness events and webinars, and coordinating with local officials and emergency management offices.

How many miles of power lines has CenterPoint Energy (CNP) undergrounded for storm protection?

CenterPoint Energy has undergrounded more than 400 miles of power lines as part of their Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative to improve storm protection.

What areas does CenterPoint Energy's (CNP) hurricane preparedness program cover?

CenterPoint Energy's hurricane preparedness program covers their 12-county service area in the Greater Houston region.