Significant reliability improvements in 2025: CenterPoint Energy's Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative helps deliver 45% reduction in customer outage minutes across Houston in first half of year

Rhea-AI Summary

CenterPoint Energy (NYSE:CNP) reported significant reliability improvements in its Houston-area operations, achieving a 45% reduction in customer outage minutes through June 30, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. The company's Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI) has led to 33% fewer vegetation-related outages and over 20 million less outage minutes per month.

Key infrastructure improvements include installation of 32,000+ storm-resilient poles, clearing vegetation near 7,000+ miles of power lines, adding 5,150+ self-healing automation devices, and undergrounding 400+ miles of power lines. The company is implementing a $3.2 billion Systemwide Resiliency Plan aimed at reducing outages by nearly 1 billion minutes by 2029.

Positive

• 45% reduction in total electric service outage minutes through June 30, 2025
• 33% decrease in vegetation-related outages compared to 2024
• 41 million minutes decrease in outages compared to five-year average
• $3.2 billion investment in Systemwide Resiliency Plan for future improvements

Negative

• Significant ongoing capital expenditure required for system improvements
• Continued exposure to extreme weather risks despite improvements

Insights

Utility Infrastructure Analyst

CenterPoint's 45% reduction in outages demonstrates successful implementation of their $3.2B grid resilience program, improving operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

CenterPoint Energy has reported remarkable progress with its Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI), achieving a 45% reduction in customer outage minutes across Houston in the first half of 2025 compared to 2024. This substantial improvement translates to over 20 million fewer outage minutes per month and 41% fewer outage minutes compared to the five-year average.

The company's strategic investments are yielding measurable operational benefits, particularly in vegetation-related outages, which have decreased by 33%. These improvements stem from a comprehensive infrastructure overhaul including 32,000+ storm-resilient poles, vegetation management across 7,000+ miles of power lines, 5,150+ self-healing automation devices, and 400+ miles of undergrounded power lines.

These reliability enhancements represent significant progress in CenterPoint's $3.2 billion Systemwide Resiliency Plan (SRP), which aims to reduce outages by nearly 1 billion minutes by 2029. For a utility company, such dramatic improvement in service reliability typically translates to higher customer satisfaction, reduced maintenance costs, fewer emergency repair expenses, and potentially improved regulatory relationships.

As extreme weather events become more common in coastal areas, CenterPoint's proactive infrastructure hardening positions the company favorably compared to other utilities in hurricane-prone regions. The company's goal of building "the most resilient coastal grid in the country" signals a long-term strategic vision that aligns infrastructure investments with climate resilience requirements, potentially reducing future capital expenditure spikes following major weather events.

Average customer outage minutes decreased every month in first half of 2025 compared to last year; outage minutes year-to-date are also significantly below the five-year average

Number of outages related to trees, branches and other vegetation contacting lines down about 33% compared with the same time period in 2024

Actions taken to strengthen system and improve reliability included historic investment in more storm-resistant poles, automation devices, undergrounding power lines and clearing of hazardous vegetation across service area

HOUSTON, July 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CenterPoint Energy today announced significant improvements in reliability for its Houston-area customers, with the total electric service outage minutes reduced by approximately 45% through June 30, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. The reduction in outages or service interruptions follows the unprecedented series of resiliency actions taken by CenterPoint to strengthen the electric system, improve reliability and reduce the impact and duration of outages, as part of its Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI).

Additionally, CenterPoint customers across Greater Houston have experienced about 33% fewer outages related to trees, branches, and other vegetation coming in contact with electrical equipment than it did in 2024 over the same time.

"Showing up for our customers is what drives our work every day. This is a significant improvement by any standard. The 45% decrease in outage minutes reflects the significant and real progress being felt by our communities across Greater Houston. Looking ahead, we remain laser-focused on building on the positive impact of our GHRI actions and achieving further resiliency and reliability improvements as we prepare for the reality of more extreme weather and more powerful storms," said Darin Carroll, Senior Vice President of CenterPoint's Electric Business.

Significant improvements in reliability across Greater Houston area
From January 1 through June 30, 2025, CenterPoint customers experienced shorter outages, including more than 20 million less outage minutes per month, and a 45% reduction in the duration of outages for individual customers. In addition, outages year-to-date have decreased by 41 million minutes compared to the five-year average since 2020.

Since launching the GHRI in July 2024 with a goal of improving the reliability and resiliency of the electric system, CenterPoint has completed a series of critical actions and improvements, including:

• Installing 32,000+ stronger, storm-resilient poles built to withstand extreme winds;
• Clearing higher-risk vegetation near 7,000+ miles of power lines;
• Installing 5,150+ automation devices capable of self-healing; and
• Undergrounding 400+ miles of power lines.

Working towards our goal: Building the most resilient coastal grid in the country
In the coming months and years, CenterPoint will continue working to strengthen the system and further improve reliability through a series of long-term investments, including the company's $3.2 billion Systemwide Resiliency Plan (SRP). The SRP is designed to dramatically improve resiliency against more extreme weather of the future; increase reliability for Houston customers, with a goal of reducing outages by nearly 1 billion minutes into 2029; and achieve our public goal of becoming the most resilient coastal grid in the country.

For more information about CenterPoint's work to strengthen the system, visit 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 Statement
This news release, as well as the website pages related to the GHRI and SRP, 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 and SRP, 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 CenterPoint Energy's resiliency plans such as the GHRI and SRP, including with respect to timing, filings related thereto, anticipated benefits, 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 and SRP 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 and SRP 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, 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 CenterPoint's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 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

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/significant-reliability-improvements-in-2025-centerpoint-energys-greater-houston-resiliency-initiative-helps-deliver-45-reduction-in-customer-outage-minutes-across-houston-in-first-half-of-year-302512362.html

SOURCE CenterPoint Energy

FAQ

How much did CenterPoint Energy (CNP) reduce outage minutes in Houston during first half of 2025?

CenterPoint Energy achieved a 45% reduction in customer outage minutes through June 30, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024, with over 20 million fewer outage minutes per month.

What infrastructure improvements has CenterPoint Energy (CNP) implemented in Houston?

CenterPoint has installed 32,000+ storm-resilient poles, cleared vegetation near 7,000+ miles of power lines, added 5,150+ self-healing automation devices, and undergrounded 400+ miles of power lines.

How much is CenterPoint Energy investing in its Systemwide Resiliency Plan?

CenterPoint Energy is investing $3.2 billion in its Systemwide Resiliency Plan, aiming to reduce outages by nearly 1 billion minutes by 2029.

What is the reduction in vegetation-related outages for CenterPoint Energy in 2025?

CenterPoint Energy reported a 33% reduction in outages related to trees, branches, and other vegetation coming in contact with electrical equipment compared to 2024.

How does CenterPoint Energy's 2025 outage performance compare to historical averages?

Outages year-to-date have decreased by 41 million minutes compared to the five-year average since 2020, showing significant improvement in system reliability.