A Texas first: CenterPoint Energy announces historic installation of weather station network to monitor severe weather, including hurricanes, across Greater Houston

Rhea-AI Summary

CenterPoint Energy has launched a groundbreaking initiative in Texas, becoming the first investor-owned utility to establish its own weather station network across Greater Houston. The company is installing 100 weather monitoring stations by June 1, 2025, covering 12 counties in their service territory.

The stations will collect real-time data every 2-5 minutes on humidity, wind speed, temperature, and rainfall. This network is part of the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI), aimed at creating the most resilient coastal grid in the country.

Additional resilience measures include:

• Installing 25,000 storm-resilient poles
• Deploying 4,850 automated reliability devices
• Clearing vegetation near 4,000 miles of power lines
• Undergrounding 400 miles of power lines

These improvements are projected to reduce customer outages by over 125 million minutes annually, enhancing storm preparation and emergency response capabilities.

Positive

• First Texas-based utility to establish its own weather station network, gaining competitive advantage
• Installation of 100 weather stations across 12 counties by June 1, 2025, improving operational efficiency
• 25,000 storm-resilient poles installation to enhance infrastructure durability
• 4,850 automated reliability devices deployment for faster outage recovery
• Projected reduction in customer outages by over 125 million minutes annually, potentially improving customer satisfaction and reducing maintenance costs
• 400 miles of power lines being moved underground to improve grid resilience

Negative

• Significant capital expenditure required for infrastructure upgrades and weather station network installation
• Ongoing maintenance costs for new weather monitoring system and upgraded infrastructure

Insights

Utility Infrastructure Expert

CenterPoint's new weather network and grid hardening represents significant operational improvements with quantifiable reliability benefits in hurricane-prone region.

CenterPoint Energy's deployment of a pioneering weather station network marks a significant advancement in utility infrastructure resilience. The installation of 100 weather monitoring stations across their 12-county service territory represents the first such network by a Texas-based investor-owned utility, creating valuable competitive differentiation in storm response capabilities.

The weather stations will provide granular, real-time data on crucial metrics including humidity, wind speed, temperature, and rainfall at 2-5 minute intervals. This precision data enables more targeted resource deployment and faster response times during severe weather events - critical factors in a hurricane-prone region like Houston.

This network is part of CenterPoint's comprehensive Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative which includes 25,000 storm-resilient poles, 4,850 automated reliability devices, vegetation management along 4,000 miles of power lines, and undergrounding 400 miles of lines. Collectively, these improvements are projected to reduce customer outages by 125 million minutes annually.

This quantifiable reliability improvement represents a substantial operational enhancement that addresses a fundamental vulnerability in CenterPoint's service territory. By implementing these measures before the 2025 hurricane season begins on June 1, the company is taking proactive steps to enhance grid resilience rather than reacting after disaster strikes. For utilities serving hurricane-vulnerable regions, such initiatives are increasingly essential for maintaining reliability, managing costs, and meeting evolving regulatory expectations for climate resilience.

Installation of first phase of 100 weather stations will enhance and improve storm mobilization, preparation and response to major weather events

HOUSTON, April 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, CenterPoint Energy (NYSE: CNP) announced that, as part of the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI) and its actions to prepare for the 2025 hurricane season, the company has begun installing the first wave of weather monitoring stations to enhance situational awareness during severe weather events. The implementation of this groundbreaking weather network is a historic moment for Texas, as CenterPoint is the only Texas-based investor-owned utility in the state and the first to establish its own weather station network.

Once completed by June 1, CenterPoint's network of 100 weather stations will provide detailed, real-time weather data from all 12 counties in the company's Greater Houston area electric service territory. This data will enable CenterPoint and local emergency partners to better forecast severe weather; more precisely distribute resources in key areas; take faster action to prepare for and respond to potential impacts to the electric system; and better serve customers before, during and after weather events.

"This is a historic moment for CenterPoint and Texas that will help improve our emergency response as we prepare for the upcoming 2025 hurricane season and beyond," said Matt Lanza, CenterPoint's Meteorology Manager and Emergency Preparedness and Response team member, "Our weather network will provide invaluable situational awareness, in real-time, to help us act quickly, proactively and precisely before weather threatens to impact the electrical system and our customers. Best of all, we will be able to share this vital information with all our emergency partners, state and local governments, and the public, so that everyone across our communities can be better prepared."

Important weather station facts and locations
Over 100 weather monitoring stations will be installed over the next month, before the Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1. The weather monitoring stations will be installed in strategic locations on existing electrical infrastructure across CenterPoint's 12-county Greater Houston area electric service territory. The devices will take measurements every 2-5 minutes, including humidity levels, wind speed, temperature and rainfall.

GHRI update: Actions taken to prepare for hurricane season
CenterPoint's weather monitoring network is the latest in a series of historic actions taken as part of the GHRI, designed to prepare for severe weather and create the most resilient coastal grid in the country. By June 1, the company will also have completed additional resiliency actions including:

• Installing 25,000 stronger, more storm-resilient poles built to withstand extreme winds;
• Installing 4,850 automated reliability devices capable of self-healing, potentially reducing the impact of outages and improve restoration times;
• Clearing high-risk vegetation near 4,000 miles of power lines to reduce storm-related outages; and
• Undergrounding 400 miles of power lines to improve overall resiliency.

Once completed, the array of critical actions will improve overall grid resiliency and reliability and is projected to reduce outages for customers by more than 125 million minutes annually. To learn more about the GHRI and track CenterPoint's progress, 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, 2024, 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 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

How many weather stations is CenterPoint Energy (CNP) installing in Houston for 2025?

CenterPoint Energy is installing 100 weather stations across its 12-county Greater Houston area electric service territory, to be completed by June 1, 2025. The stations will take measurements every 2-5 minutes of humidity, wind speed, temperature, and rainfall.

What improvements is CenterPoint Energy making to Houston's power grid for 2025?

CenterPoint Energy is installing 25,000 storm-resilient poles, 4,850 automated reliability devices, clearing vegetation near 4,000 miles of power lines, and undergrounding 400 miles of power lines. These improvements are projected to reduce customer outages by over 125 million minutes annually.

How will CenterPoint's weather station network help during hurricanes?

The weather station network will provide real-time weather data to help CenterPoint forecast severe weather, distribute resources more precisely, take faster action to prepare for impacts to the electric system, and improve emergency response during hurricanes and severe weather events.

When will CenterPoint Energy complete its Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative?

CenterPoint Energy plans to complete the first phase of its Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative, including the installation of 100 weather stations and other grid improvements, by June 1, 2025, before the start of the Atlantic hurricane season.

Is CenterPoint Energy the first utility in Texas to have its own weather station network?

Yes, CenterPoint Energy is the first Texas-based investor-owned utility to establish its own weather station network, making it a historic development for Texas.