CenterPoint Energy announces multi-year Systemwide Resiliency Plan to benefit communities and combat extreme weather threats, outages, and other hazards across Greater Houston

Rhea-AI Summary

CenterPoint Energy has announced its enhanced Systemwide Resiliency Plan (SRP) for 2026-2028, representing the largest grid resiliency investment in company history at $5.75 billion. The plan aims to reduce storm-related outage impacts by over 1.3 billion minutes for its 2.8 million customers into 2029.

Key improvements include: automation devices on 100% of major lines, raising 99% of substations above the 500-year flood plain, undergrounding more than 50% of the system, and installing 130,000 stronger storm-resilient poles. The plan is expected to strengthen overall system resiliency by at least 30% over three years and save customers approximately $50 million in annual storm-related costs.

The SRP builds upon the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative launched in 2024, which has already installed 10,600 resilient poles, cleared 3,400 miles of hazardous vegetation, added 370 self-healing automation devices, and undergrounded 200 miles of power lines.

Positive

• Expected to reduce outage impacts by 1.3 billion minutes through 2029
• Projected annual customer savings of $50 million in storm-related costs
• System resiliency improvement of 30% over three years
• Will help avoid outages for 500,000+ customers during major storms

Negative

• Significant capital expenditure of $5.75 billion required
• Implementation timeline extends to 2028/2029
• Potential rate case implications for customers

Insights

Infrastructure Investment Analyst

The announcement of CenterPoint Energy's $5.75 billion Systemwide Resiliency Plan (SRP) marks a pivotal strategic investment with significant implications for both the utility's operational capabilities and investor value proposition. The plan's scope is particularly noteworthy for three key reasons:

1. Comprehensive Infrastructure Modernization: The initiative encompasses critical upgrades including automated self-healing capabilities for high-capacity lines, elevation of 99% of substations above the 500-year flood plain and expanding underground infrastructure to over 50% of the system. These improvements are expected to enhance system reliability by 30% over three years - a substantial operational efficiency gain that should translate to improved financial performance through reduced maintenance costs and regulatory compliance.

2. Strategic Timing and Regulatory Alignment: The submission aligns with the utility's regular four-year rate case cycle, positioning the company favorably for cost recovery through the regulatory process. The projected $50 million annual savings in storm-related costs provides a tangible metric for regulators to evaluate the investment's prudence, while the extensive stakeholder engagement (30 meetings and listening sessions) demonstrates strong regulatory relationship management.

3. Growth-Driven Investment Thesis: With customer base expanding at 2% annually, equivalent to adding Waco's population yearly, the SRP addresses both current infrastructure vulnerabilities and future capacity needs. This proactive approach to managing growth while hardening infrastructure against extreme weather events presents a compelling case for long-term value creation.

The plan's execution risk appears manageable given CenterPoint's track record with the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative, having already demonstrated capability in implementing similar upgrades on a smaller scale. For investors, this represents a clear path to regulated earnings growth while addressing critical infrastructure needs in one of the nation's fastest-growing markets.

CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric's enhanced Systemwide Resiliency Plan (SRP) expected to reduce outage impacts due to extreme weather and storms by 1.3 billion minutes into 2029

100% of lines serving the most customers will have automation devices capable of self-healing; 99% of substations will be raised above the 500-year flood plain, more than 50% of CenterPoint's electric system will be undergrounded; and replace or install 130,000 stronger, more storm-resilient poles and braces 

The 2026-2028 SRP will be the largest single resiliency investment in CenterPoint history and will help address the impact of a wide range of extreme weather and other threats

HOUSTON, Jan. 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, as part of a company-wide commitment to build the most resilient coastal grid in the country, CenterPoint Energy submitted its enhanced Systemwide Resiliency Plan (SRP), which is expected to reduce the impact of storm-related outages by over 1.3 billion minutes for its 2.8 million customers into 2029. The plan represents the largest single grid resiliency investment in the company's history. CenterPoint's 2026-2028 SRP will build on the progress made during the first two phases of the company's Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative, and is designed to help address the impacts of a wide range of extreme weather threats, including more powerful storms, hurricanes, wind events like derechos, flooding, extreme temperatures, tornadoes, wildfires and winter storms.

A rate case for Houston Electric occurs approximately once every four years and is part of an open and transparent regulatory process in which rates are set by the PUCT.

"As the energy capital of the world, the residents of the Greater Houston area expect and deserve an electric system that is safe, reliable, cost-effective and resilient when they need it most. We're determined to deliver just that. Our Systemwide Resiliency Plan represents an historic investment and is a major step on our strategic roadmap to becoming the most resilient coastal grid in the country. The array of resiliency actions will provide customers with clear benefits now and in the future, is cost-effective, and will build on the progress we've already made to date through the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative. Taken together, we believe that these resiliency actions will help create a future with fewer outages coupled with faster restoration times for the customers that we are privileged to serve," said Jason Wells, President and Chief Executive Officer of CenterPoint Energy.

Building the Stronger, More Resilient, Self-Healing Grid of the Future
The bold actions outlined in CenterPoint's SRP are designed to benefit customers across the entire service area, with a specific focus on customers in higher-risk areas. When complete, this suite of resiliency actions, combined with CenterPoint's normal operations, will achieve the following:

• Automation Devices: 100% of lines serving the most customers will include automation devices capable of self-healing to reduce the impact of outages;
• Secure Substations: 99% of substations will be raised above the 500-year flood plain;
• Undergrounding: More than 50% of CenterPoint's system will be undergrounded to improve resiliency;
• Stronger Distribution Poles: 130,000 stronger, more storm-resilient poles (rated to 110 mph and 132 mph) will be either installed new, or replaced or braced to withstand stronger storms;
• Vegetation Management: CenterPoint will deploy an industry-leading, three-year vegetation management cycle for transmission and distribution lines, with 100% of power lines cleared of hazardous vegetation every three years;
• Stronger Transmission Towers: 2,200+ transmission structures will be rebuilt or upgraded to be able to better withstand extreme weather while improving overall reliability; and
• Modernized Cables: 34,500 spans of underground cables will be modernized to reduce the frequency and impact of outages.

These key improvements, along with other planned actions and measures announced earlier in the week as part of CenterPoint's 2024-2029 rate case, are expected to strengthen overall resiliency and reliability of the Greater Houston-area electric system by at least 30% over a three-year period, according to analysis from Guidehouse, an independent third-party expert. In addition, these systemwide improvements will continue to provide important benefits by improving long-term reliability, and will help reduce potential weather-related outages for customers.

A Historic Resiliency Investment
CenterPoint's $5.75 billion Systemwide Resiliency Plan is a historic investment in the grid and will help reduce hundreds of millions of outage minutes per year caused by extreme weather. Given the importance of reducing the future impact of major extreme weather events, the combined actions outlined in the SRP will help avoid outages for more than 500,000 customers in the event of another Hurricane Beryl-like storm, while also helping to improve restoration and response times during such events. When complete, the SRP is also expected to save customers a projected cost of approximately $50 million in storm-related costs per year.

Actions Completed Under Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative
The SRP builds upon core resiliency actions CenterPoint has completed to date through its Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI) that was launched last August to strengthen the grid, improve communications and expand local and emergency partnerships ahead of the 2025 hurricane season. Since launching GHRI in 2024, CenterPoint has already:

• Installed more than 10,600 more storm-resilient poles designed to withstand extreme winds;
• Cleared more than 3,400 miles of hazardous vegetation near power lines;
• Installed more than 370 self-healing automation devices; and
• Undergrounded approximately 200 miles of power lines.

Addressing Growing Energy Needs and Weather Challenges
The resiliency actions outlined by the SRP will also help meet the energy needs of the growing population across CenterPoint's Greater Houston service area. The number of customers is expected to continue growing by 2 percent annually for the foreseeable future – the equivalent of adding a city the size of Waco, Texas, every year. As Greater Houston's population, economy and energy needs grow, CenterPoint's SRP will help address the increasing risk that this fast-growing region faces from extreme weather.

Why is the SRP Needed?
Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) show that the Greater Houston area faces the highest weather and climate hazard risk of any region in the country. In fact, Harris County has more FEMA-designated disaster resilience zones (14) than any other county in the United States.

A Systemwide Resiliency Plan Shaped by Experts, Stakeholders and Customer Feedback
The SRP, which CenterPoint submitted to the Public Utility Commission of Texas today for review, incorporates important feedback from customers, elected leaders, emergency management agencies and independent experts. Over the last three months, CenterPoint has conducted 30 meetings and listening sessions and solicited feedback on our plan during the draft stages. As part of CenterPoint's commitment to long-term affordability, the SRP is designed to provide the greatest dollar value to customers now and in the future by prioritizing proven, cost-effective resiliency actions that will ultimately prove vital to reducing future storm-related costs for the communities CenterPoint serves.

To learn more about CenterPoint's Systemwide Resiliency Plan and the actions it is currently taking to strengthen the grid, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/SystemwideResiliencyPlan.

About CenterPoint Energy, Inc. 
As the only investor-owned electric and gas utility based in Texas, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) is an energy delivery company with electric transmission and distribution, power generation and natural gas distribution operations that serve more than 7 million metered customers in Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio and Texas. With approximately 9,000 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years. For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com. 

Forward-looking Statements
This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "goal," "intend," "may," "objective," "plan," "potential," "predict," "projection," "should," "target," "will," "would" or other similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, which include statements regarding the Systemwide Resiliency Plan, including its benefits, 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 regarding future events that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement contained in this news release speaks only as of the date of this release. 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) the impact of pandemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) financial market conditions; (3) general economic conditions; (4) the timing and impact of future regulatory and legislative decisions; 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, 2023 and CenterPoint's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2024, June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024 and other reports CenterPoint Energy or its subsidiaries may file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For more information, contact
Communications
Media.Relations@CenterPointEnergy.com

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SOURCE CenterPoint Energy

FAQ

What is the total cost of CenterPoint Energy's (CNP) Systemwide Resiliency Plan?

CenterPoint Energy's Systemwide Resiliency Plan will cost $5.75 billion, representing the largest single grid resiliency investment in the company's history.

How many outage minutes will CNP's Systemwide Resiliency Plan reduce by 2029?

The plan is expected to reduce storm-related outage impacts by over 1.3 billion minutes for its 2.8 million customers into 2029.

What percentage of CenterPoint's electric system will be undergrounded under the new plan?

More than 50% of CenterPoint's electric system will be undergrounded to improve resiliency under the new Systemwide Resiliency Plan.

How much will CNP's Systemwide Resiliency Plan save customers annually?

The plan is expected to save customers approximately $50 million in storm-related costs per year once completed.

What improvements has CNP already completed under the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative?

Since 2024, CNP has installed 10,600+ storm-resilient poles, cleared 3,400 miles of vegetation, installed 370+ self-healing automation devices, and undergrounded about 200 miles of power lines.