Recent developments have seen Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launch an investigation into CenterPoint Energy for potential violations during Hurricane Beryl. The energy provider faced heavy criticism for its handling of widespread outages that left millions without power and tragically led to the hyperthermia deaths of at least 15 people.
In response to these allegations, Paxton’s office stated, “The Office of the Attorney General is aware of allegations that CenterPoint’s conduct may have resulted in significant harm to Houston residents, including rate increases, outages, and lengthy delays in restoring power during Hurricane Beryl.”
The investigation will delve into allegations of fraud, waste, and improper use of taxpayer-provided funds, with Paxton emphasizing that any unlawful activity will face the full force of the law.
CenterPoint’s Plan for Improving Responsiveness
CenterPoint recently unveiled a response plan in light of feedback from Gov. Greg Abbott, aimed at fortifying the infrastructure in the Houston area to prevent similar outages in the future. The plan includes over 40 tasks to strengthen the electric grid and enhance customer communications and emergency coordination to better tackle future hurricanes.
Jason Wells, President and CEO of CenterPoint, expressed their commitment to becoming the most resilient coastal utility in the country by initiating the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative. This initiative targets immediate actions to reinforce infrastructure and regain customer trust.
Brad Tutunjian, VP of Regulatory Policy for CenterPoint, echoed the urgency stressed by the governor, emphasizing their dedication to enhancing resilience and customer communication.
Key Actions Taken by CenterPoint:
- Installing stronger and more storm-resilient poles: Replacing wooden poles with stronger fiberglass ones.
- Trimming or removing vegetation from power lines: Doubling vegetation management workforce.
- Installing automated devices: Introducing trip savers to minimize outages.
Future Plans Include:
- Enhancing emergency response capabilities and coordination.
- Investing in grid reinforcement to withstand extreme conditions.
- Improving customer feedback mechanisms and communication.
- Expanding community education programs.
CenterPoint has already completed 15 out of the 40 planned actions and will continue updating on their progress. The company is steadfast in its mission to enhance preparedness and responsiveness to safeguard Texans in times of crisis.