The forecast is converging on freezing rain and accumulation
Nearly 1,200 additional mutual aid workers will arrive by Monday
To support potential restoration efforts
National Weather Service A winter storm watch has been issued for the entire area
ERCOT Weather Watch released for
CenterPoint customers urged to be weather alert and have a plan to stay safe and warm during freezing temperatures
Expectations continue to align with a range of possible scenarios early next week via…
In preparation for the mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain expected to affect the area, National Weather Service Now issued a winter storm watch for
“Our CenterPoint teams have already implemented many of the cold weather preparations from our Winter Readiness Plan and we will continue to diligently monitor the weather and our systems as we stand in these staging sites and begin qualifying the approximately 1,200 mutual aid workers who responded to the call. To support potential restoration efforts, we have Plans are in place and we are distributing kits across the communities we serve so our teams can deal with any service issues as safely and quickly as possible, and we urge our customers to remain alert. For the weather, create an emergency plan and take steps now to prepare, he said.
Preparations for cold weather
The company has a cold weather action plan and implemented a series of proactive preparedness measures ahead of winter to strengthen and winterize its infrastructure around the world.
Winter Energy Guide 2025
CenterPoint recently launched the Winter Energy Guide, a comprehensive online resource center that helps customers throughout the winter heating season. The guide features practical and important tips on safety, energy saving and bill management to help customers stay safe and warm all winter long. 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 careful of dropped lines that could be hidden and treat all dropped lines as if they were active.
- Staff safety: Be mindful of crews and give them plenty of room to safely assess damage and make repairs.
- Portable Generators: Use the portable generator only in a well-ventilated area and never operate it inside or in a garage to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) fumes that can be deadly.
- Use heaters safely: Make sure space heaters have an automatic shut-off feature, and keep children, pets and all items at least three feet away. A space heater that uses propane or wood should be vented to the outside. Stoves and ovens should never be used for space heating.
- Electrical system safety: Never connect a portable generator directly to a building's electrical system during a power outage; Electricity can backfire into power lines, potentially endangering CenterPoint workers.
- Preserving food during a break: Avoid opening freezers and refrigerators while they are out of order to preserve the food.
- Natural gas safety: Natural gas is vented with a distinctive, strong odor, often compared to rotten eggs or sulfur. If you detect the smell of natural gas inside your home or building, leave immediately on foot. Do not use switches, telephones (including cell phones) or anything that could cause a spark. Once you get to a safe place, call both of them Centrepoint Energy and 911. Do not use email or the Internet to report a leak, never attempt to fix a natural gas leak yourself, and leave all repairs to trained technicians. For outdoor leaks, leave the area on foot and move upwind 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 spill and to abandon any equipment used in or near the area. Once you get to a safe place, call both of them Centrepoint Energy and 911 to report the leak.
- Know the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning: Early symptoms such as headache and fatigue are flu-like, but without fever. Continued exposure to carbon dioxide can cause more severe headaches, dizziness, nausea, difficulty thinking clearly, and fainting. If everyone in the house is experiencing these symptoms, it could be carbon monoxide poisoning. If symptoms indicate carbon monoxide poisoning, leave the area immediately, get fresh air and call 911.
- Gas meter maintenance: Remove large icicles hanging above instrument clusters and instrument vents. Use a broom (not a shovel) to remove snow from the counter. If your gas meter is covered in ice, do not attempt to melt and/or cut the ice, as this may cause damage to the meter. Allow the ice to melt on its own.
- Call before digging: Call 811 to locate utility lines before digging on the property.
Electrical customers are encouraged to enroll in Power Alert Service ® and follow a CenterPoint Texas X account
While CenterPoint continues to provide information about this weather event, including issuing preparedness communications to critical care customers, the company is also encouraging all electric customers to enroll in the company's Power Alert Service ® to receive winter storm outage details, estimated restoration times, and customer-specific data on restoration updates. Via phone call, text message or email.
Customers can also follow @CenterPoint_TX for the latest information about the company's operations
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