Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative Phase Two update: CenterPoint Energy completes 70% of critical resiliency work around Houston to prepare for the 2025 Hurricane Season
Rhea-AI Summary
CenterPoint Energy (CNP) has completed approximately 70% of its Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI) Phase Two, with all actions expected to be finished before the 2025 hurricane season. In just seven months, the company has achieved significant milestones including:
- 350 miles of targeted power line undergrounding (85% of 400-mile goal)
- Installation of 17,500+ storm-resilient poles
- Clearing of 2,900+ miles of high-risk vegetation
- Deployment of 3,380+ automated reliability devices
The initiative aims to reduce customer outages by more than 125 million minutes annually. Upcoming projects include completing the remaining underground power lines and installing 100 new weather monitoring stations across Greater Houston by June 1, 2025, to enhance storm preparation and situational awareness.
Positive
- Significant progress (70%) in grid resilience improvements ahead of hurricane season
- 85% completion of power line undergrounding target (350 of 400 miles)
- Installation of 3,380+ automated reliability devices for faster outage recovery
- Expected reduction of 125+ million customer outage minutes annually
- Implementation of 100 new weather monitoring stations for improved storm preparation
Negative
- 30% of critical resilience work still pending completion before 2025 hurricane season
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, CNP gained 2.00%, reflecting a moderate positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
In just seven months, CenterPoint has completed 350 miles of targeted undergrounding; installed 17,500+ stronger, more storm-resilient poles; cleared 2,900+ miles of higher-risk vegetation; and placed 3,380+ automated reliability devices to improve grid resiliency
Historic suite of Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative actions will improve customer reliability by reducing outages by more than 125 million minutes annually
Since announcing the second phase of GHRI last fall, the company has prioritized a broad suite of resiliency actions, including adding thousands more automation devices capable of self-healing; clearing higher-risk vegetation across thousands of more miles of power lines; installing thousands of stronger, more storm-resistant poles; and undergrounding hundreds of miles of power lines. When complete, CenterPoint's GHRI efforts will improve overall grid resiliency and reliability and are estimated to reduce outages for customers by more than 125 million minutes annually.
Among CenterPoint's upcoming GHRI resiliency achievements are: undergrounding the 350th mile of power lines to help improve resiliency and reduce the risk of outages, and beginning the installation of the first of 100 new local weather monitoring stations by June 1 to improve situational awareness and storm preparation across
"Our entire CenterPoint Houston Electric team is focused on completing this historic suite of grid resiliency actions before the start of hurricane season. That is our goal, and we will achieve it. To date, we have made significant progress as part of this historic effort, including undergrounding power lines, installing new poles, clearing hazardous vegetation and installing automation devices to reduce the impact of future storms and hurricanes." said Darin Carroll, Senior Vice President of CenterPoint's Electric Business, "We will continue to work every day to complete these critical improvements as part of our company's goal of building the most resilient coastal grid in the country."
GHRI Progress Update: Undergrounding more than
Since CenterPoint launched Phase Two of the GHRI in September 2024, the company has made progress across an array of resiliency goals, including undergrounding nearly 350 miles of power lines to date, which is more than 85 percent toward its target of 400 miles.
In March alone, CenterPoint:
- Installed an additional 3,300+ stronger, storm-resilient poles built to withstand extreme winds;
- Installed 1,215 more automated reliability devices capable of self-healing to reduce the impact of outages and improve restoration times;
- Cleared another 655 miles of high-risk vegetation near power lines to reduce storm-related outages; and
- Undergrounded 65 more miles of power lines to improve overall resiliency.
Upcoming GHRI actions: Installing 100 new weather monitoring stations
To further improve situational awareness and storm preparation, this month, CenterPoint will begin the build out of a network of 100 new weather monitoring stations across the
Improving communication & preparedness
CenterPoint also continues to improve the way it communicates with customers and engages with communities before, during and after extreme weather events. The company is conducting a year-round safety and preparedness campaign to share information on its preparedness efforts, as well as tips and resources for customers. As part of its overall preparedness efforts, and to improve local emergency coordination, CenterPoint continues to meet with local officials and emergency management offices and hold exercises to evaluate and improve its emergency preparedness and response plans before hurricane season.
CenterPoint will continue to provide updates on its progress toward completing these critical resiliency actions and other GHRI commitments. More information and real-time updates are available at CenterPointEnergy.com/TakingAction.
About CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
As the only investor-owned electric and gas utility based in
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.
For more information, contact:
Communications
Media.Relations@CenterPointEnergy.com
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SOURCE CenterPoint Energy
FAQ
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