CenterPoint Energy mobilizes to respond to winter storm projected to impact the Greater Houston area
Rhea-AI Summary
CenterPoint Energy is preparing for a significant winter storm expected to hit the Greater Houston area starting Monday evening. The company has secured 1,200 additional mutual aid workers arriving Monday and is establishing three staging sites for potential restoration efforts. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Southeast Texas from 6:00 p.m. Monday through 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, with forecasts predicting freezing precipitation and accumulation.
ERCOT has issued a Weather Watch for January 20-23 due to expected extreme cold weather, higher electrical demand, and potential lower reserves. CenterPoint has implemented its cold weather readiness plan, including infrastructure winterization and coordination with emergency responders. The company has also launched its Winter Energy Guide, providing safety tips and resources for customers during the winter heating season.
Positive
- Proactive deployment of 1,200 additional workers shows strong emergency preparedness
- Implementation of comprehensive winter readiness infrastructure plan
- Strategic positioning of crews and staging sites for rapid response
Negative
- Potential service disruptions could impact revenue and customer satisfaction
- Increased operational costs due to emergency response measures
- Higher risk exposure due to extreme weather conditions
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, CNP gained 1.54%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Forecasts converge on freezing precipitation and accumulation
Approximately 1,200 additional mutual aid workers will arrive by Monday
to support potential restoration efforts
National Weather Service issued Winter Storm Watch for the entire region
ERCOT Weather Watch issued for January 20 – 23 due to extreme cold weather across its region
CenterPoint customers urged to be weather alert and have a plan to stay safe and warm through freezing temperatures
Forecasts continue to align on a range of potential scenarios early next week across the
In preparation for the mixture of snow, sleet and freezing rain anticipated to impact the region, the National Weather Service has now issued a Winter Storm Watch for
"Our CenterPoint teams have already executed numerous cold weather preparations from our winter readiness plan and we will continue to diligently monitor the weather and our systems as we stand up these staging sites and begin onboarding the approximately 1,200 mutual assistance workers who've answered the call to support potential restoration efforts. We have plans in place and are stationing crews across the communities we serve so our teams can handle any service issues safely and as quickly as possible. We urge our customers to stay weather alert, have an emergency plan in place and take steps now to prepare," said Darin Carroll, Senior Vice President of CenterPoint's Electric Business.
Cold weather preparations
The company has a cold weather action plan in place and has performed a series of proactive pre-winter preparedness actions to strengthen and winterize its infrastructure across
2025 Winter Energy Guide
CenterPoint recently launched its Winter Energy Guide, a comprehensive online resource hub that helps customers throughout the winter heating season. The guide features practical and important safety, energy savings and bill management tips to help customers stay safe and warm throughout the winter season. To learn more, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/ReadyforWinter.
Safety reminders
CenterPoint reminds customers to stay safe during and after winter storms:
- Downed power lines: Stay at least 35 feet away from downed power lines and report them to CenterPoint at 713-207-2222. Be especially mindful of downed lines that could be hidden and treat all downed lines as if they are energized.
- Work crew safety: Be cautious around work crews and give them plenty of room to safely assess damage and make repairs.
- Portable generators: Only use a portable generator in a well-ventilated area and never run it inside or in a garage to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) fumes, which can be deadly.
- Use space heaters safely: Make sure space heaters have an automatic shut-off, and keep children, pets and all items at least three feet away from it. A space heater that uses natural gas, propane or wood should be vented to the outside. Stoves and ovens should never be used for space heating.
- Electric system safety: Never connect a portable electric generator directly to a building's electrical system during a power outage; electricity could back-feed into the power lines, potentially endangering CenterPoint workers.
- Preserving food during outages: Avoid opening freezers and refrigerators during outages to preserve food.
- Natural gas safety: Natural gas is odorized with a distinctive, strong odor, often compared to rotten eggs or sulfur. If a natural gas odor is detected inside a home or building, leave immediately on foot. Do not use electric switches, telephones (including cell phones), or anything that could cause a spark. Once in a safe location, call both CenterPoint Energy and 911. Do not use email or the Internet to report the leak and never attempt to repair a natural gas leak yourself—leave all repairs to trained technicians. For leaks outside, leave the area on foot and move in an upwind direction away from the leak or vapor cloud to a location where the smell of gas is no longer present. Warn others to stay away from the leak and abandon any equipment being used in or near the area. Once in a safe location, call both CenterPoint Energy and 911 to report the leak.
- Know the signs of CO poisoning: Early symptoms such as headache and fatigue are similar to the flu, but without a fever. Continued CO exposure can lead to more severe headaches, dizziness, nausea, difficulty thinking clearly and fainting. If everyone in a household is experiencing these symptoms, it could be CO poisoning. If symptoms suggest CO poisoning, leave the area immediately, get fresh air and call 911.
- Gas meter maintenance: Remove large icicles hanging over meter assemblies and appliance vents. Use a broom – not a shovel – to clear snow from the meter. If the gas meter is encased in ice, do not attempt to melt and/or chip the ice, as this could cause damage to the meter. Allow the ice to melt on its own.
- Call before digging: Call 811 to locate utility lines prior to digging on a property.
Electric customers encouraged to enroll in Power Alert Service® and follow CenterPoint Texas X account
While CenterPoint continues to provide information around this weather event, including issuing preparedness communications to critical care customers, the company also encourages all electric customers to enroll in the company's Power Alert Service® to receive winter storm outage details, estimated restoration times and customer-specific restoration updates by phone call, text or email.
Customers can also follow @CenterPoint_TX to receive the most up-to-date information on the company's operations in the
For the latest weather information for the
For more information, contact
Communications
Media.Relations@CenterPointEnergy.com
FAQ
How many additional workers has CNP mobilized for the Houston winter storm response?
What is the duration of ERCOT's Weather Watch for CNP's service area?
When does the Winter Storm Watch begin for CNP's Houston service area?
What preventive measures has CNP taken for the 2025 winter storm?
How can CNP customers stay updated about power outages during the storm?
