CenterPoint Energy Winter Storm Update: CenterPoint releases more than 500 contract frontline electric workers to support restoration efforts in other hard-hit areas of the country; more than 99 percent of customers maintained power through overnight winter weather
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Rhea-AI Summary
CenterPoint Energy (NYSE:CNP) provided a winter storm update on Jan 25, 2026: as of 4:00 p.m. the company mobilized a 2,800-person electric workforce, released more than 500 contract crews to assist utilities in harder-hit states, and held a final daily operations briefing at 4:30 p.m. Approximately 2,000 customers (under 1% of ~2.9 million served) were experiencing weather-related outages; fewer than 30,000 customers have been restored since Saturday 6:00 a.m. CenterPoint continues inspections of 270 substations, natural gas regulator stations, staging of CNG trailers, deployment of frontline gas workers, and customer outreach while monitoring forecasts for hard freezes near 20°F.
Positive
- Mobilized 2,800 frontline electric workers for storm response
- Released >500 contract crews to assist harder-hit utilities
- Outages limited to ~2,000 customers (<1% of 2.9M service population)
- Inspected all 270 electric substations as part of readiness actions
Negative
- Forecasted hard freezes around 20°F may further affect equipment
- Overnight high winds, wintry precipitation and some ice impacted the electric system
- Fewer than 30,000 customers restored since Saturday 6:00 a.m., indicating ongoing restoration needs
Details
News Market Reaction – CNP
On Jan 26, the first trading day after this news, CNP closed 1.65% above the previous close.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Jan 26 session.
Key Figures
- Customers with power
- More than 99%
- Share of customers maintaining power through overnight winter weather
- Customers currently impacted
- Approximately 1,000
- Electric customers impacted at one point during restoration
- Customers in outage at 4 p.m.
- Approximately 2,000
- Weather-related outages as of 4 p.m., under 1% of base
- Customers restored
- Less than 30,000
- Customers restored since Saturday 6 a.m.
- Total customers served
- 2.9 million
- Electric customers across 12 counties
- Mobilized workforce
- 2,800 workers
- Frontline workforce fully mobilized for restoration
- Contractors released
- More than 500
- Contract frontline electric workers sent to other hard-hit states
- Emergency training hours
- More than 19,000
- Total emergency training hours in 2025
Historical Context
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Expanded emergency workforce and preparations ahead of Jan 22–24 winter storm.
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Announcement of Q4 2025 earnings webcast details and access information.
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Declared regular quarterly common dividend of $0.2300 per share.
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Reported stronger Q3 2025 results and reiterated 2025–2026 EPS guidance.
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Announced $2.62B sale of Ohio gas business and reiterated EPS growth plans.
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Key Terms
emergency operations center technical
compressed natural gas (cng) technical
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Download photos and videos of CenterPoint's winter weather response efforts here
Overall system operated as designed with few customer outages, with less than
2,800 workers remain fully mobilized as crews restore impacted customers safely and as quickly as possible
Approximately 1,000 electric customers currently impacted; Less than 30,000 customers already restored since Saturday 6 a.m.
Company maintains readiness ahead of hard freezes overnight tonight and Monday
CenterPoint Energy continues to actively deploy crews across the
"We know how important it is for our customers to have electric service to power their daily lives, especially during cold weather and freezing conditions like we've seen this weekend. Our system continues to perform well, but tonight and tomorrow are forecasted to be hard freezes hovering around 20 degrees, which may impact our equipment in some places. We are currently responding to any outages safely and as quickly as we can, and we will continue to monitor our system diligently as winter weather conditions are exiting our service area. We want to thank our dedicated crews for braving this weather and supporting our community through this event, and we want to thank our customers for their continued patience," said Nathan Brownell, CenterPoint VP of Resilience and Capital Delivery.
CenterPoint will conduct its last daily operations briefing for this event today at 4:30 p.m.
Safety reminder: Wires down
The company reminds customers and community members to always assume downed lines or wires are energized and potentially dangerous if contacted. Stay at least 35 feet away from downed power lines or fallen wires and a similar safe distance from objects touching downed lines (tree limbs, vehicles, fences, etc.) and immediately report downed power lines to CenterPoint.
Actions CenterPoint is taking to respond
CenterPoint activated its Emergency Operations Center on January 21 and has been actively preparing for the impacts caused by winter storm, including:
- Deploying restoration electric workforce: Continuing to deploy its 2,800-person workforce to support winter storm response efforts and address potential equipment damage and outages;
- Releasing 500 contract crews to support restoration efforts for utilities in hard-hit areas;
- Staging more than 700 frontline natural gas workers to respond safely and quickly around the clock to any gas emergency calls and service interruptions;
- Keeping customers informed: Sharing safety and preparedness information and resources with CenterPoint customers through direct outreach, social media and other channels;
- Inspecting and testing critical electric equipment, including all 270 electric substations, executing enhanced tree trimming and conducting inspections to prepare for wintry precipitation and cold temperatures;
- Conducting outreach to Critical Care customers: Reaching out to identified Critical Care Residential and Chronic Condition Residential electric customers by email, phone or text.
- Coordinating with government officials: Providing regular updates to government officials on preparation activities and closely coordinating on customer support.
- Providing operational updates for media and public: Conducting daily press briefings to provide important updates related to its pre-storm activities and readiness posture; additional briefings may be held to provide operational updates on response and restoration efforts following the storm.
These emergency preparedness actions build on the winter readiness activities that CenterPoint has conducted since the fall of 2025, including annual weatherization requirements from the Electric Reliability Council of
- Donated and installed more than 20 emergency backup generators at key locations across
Greater Houston to improve local emergency preparedness and response efforts; - Positioning 17 compressed natural gas (CNG) trailers to provide additional supply for our customers, if needed, adding an additional trailer today to help strengthen preparedness;
- Inspecting nearly 200 natural gas regulator stations and installing heaters on equipment to prevent ice damage; and
- Conducted more than 19,000 total hours of emergency training in 2025 for hundreds of operational, emergency response and other personnel and contractors to strengthen severe weather preparation and response efforts.
Stay informed with Power Alert Service®
CenterPoint electric customers are encouraged 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.
Track what's happening in your neighborhood on Outage Tracker
Customers can also stay up to date on outages with CenterPoint's Outage Tracker, available in English and Spanish. The Outage Tracker is built to handle increased traffic during storms, is mobile-friendly, accessible for those with disabilities and allows customers to see outages by county, city and zip code.
Customers can get storm-related electric and natural gas safety tips and the latest information at CenterPointEnergy.com/ActionCenter.
About CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
As the only investor owned electric and gas utility based in
For more information, contact:
Communications
Media.Relations@CenterPointEnergy.com
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SOURCE CenterPoint Energy
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