As Hurricane Rafael Crosses the South-Central Gulf of Mexico, CenterPoint Energy Continues to Monitor and Remains Ready to Respond

Rhea-AI Summary

CenterPoint Energy is actively monitoring Hurricane Rafael, currently a Category 3 storm, and implementing emergency preparedness protocols across its Gulf Coast service area. The company has suspended natural gas disconnections in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, and has identified over 13,000 mutual assistance resources for potential emergency response. While forecasts suggest the storm may head toward Mexico, CenterPoint remains prepared for any potential impacts on both electric and natural gas infrastructure. The company has enhanced its staffing plans and is ready to deploy resources for service restoration if needed.

Positive

• 13,000 mutual assistance resources identified for emergency response
• Proactive suspension of natural gas disconnections in three states
• Enhanced cloud-based Outage Tracker system implemented for better customer service

Negative

• Potential service disruptions and infrastructure damage from hurricane impact
• Operational costs associated with emergency preparedness and potential restoration efforts

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• Teams remain ready to respond with enhanced staffing plans and conducting pre-landfall emergency preparedness protocols 
• Customer natural gas disconnections have been suspended in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi to focus resources on preparation efforts

HOUSTON, Nov. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Following Rafael's rapid intensification into a Category 3 hurricane before striking Cuba on Wednesday, CenterPoint Energy continues to diligently monitor weather forecasts and remains ready to execute its emergency preparedness plans and potential restoration efforts following any landfall impacts in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

The company is continuing to conduct pre-landfall emergency preparedness protocols and stands ready to deploy enhanced staffing plans across its Gulf Coast service area to help restore service related to any potential outages. CenterPoint has also identified more than 13,000 mutual assistance resources that are available to support emergency response efforts if needed.

In addition to working closely with emergency responders and agency partners, the company is also sharing safety information with customers across its multi-state Gulf Coast service area.

"While forecasts are starting to indicate a potential path toward Mexico in the coming days, there remains a great deal of uncertainty around this storm and its potential impacts. To make sure we are ready for our customers and the communities we serve across the Gulf Coast, we continue to prepare to respond for any potential impacts from Hurricane Rafael on both our electric and natural gas infrastructure. Should it change paths and make a landfall in Texas, Louisiana or Mississippi, our teams will be focused on restoring service to customers as safely and quickly as possible," said Richard Leger, CenterPoint's Senior Vice President of Gas Business.

CenterPoint temporarily suspends natural gas disconnections ahead of Rafael
To help support its customers ahead of the storm's landfall, CenterPoint has temporarily suspended disconnections of natural gas service in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. This action will remain in place until next week when more is known about Hurricane Rafael and any potential impacts and restoration activities.

Electric and natural gas safety tips

• If you experience an electric outage, do not open freezers and refrigerators any more than necessary, as opening these appliances will allow food to thaw more quickly.
• Only use a portable generator in a well-ventilated area and never run it inside or in a garage to avoid carbon monoxide fumes, which can be deadly.
• Never connect a portable electric generator directly to your building's electrical system during a power outage; electricity could back-feed into the power lines and potentially endanger CenterPoint Energy workers.
• Do not turn off your natural gas at the meter; your natural gas meter should be left on to maintain proper pressure in the natural gas piping within the house and to prevent water from entering the lines should flooding occur.
• If you wish to discontinue natural gas service, the natural gas can be turned off at each appliance. Later, to restore natural gas service to an appliance, you may follow the written instructions located on the appliance for re-lighting. If you are unable to locate the instructions or don't feel comfortable re-lighting, call a qualified plumber/technician.

Important information for electric customers
At this time, the Greater Houston area is not expected to be heavily impacted by Hurricane Rafael's potential impacts, but storms are unpredictable, conditions can change rapidly and storm-related outages could occur. CenterPoint electric customers are encouraged to enroll in the company's Power Alert Service® to receive outage details, estimated restoration times and customer-specific restoration updates via phone call, text or email. Customers can also stay up-to-date on outages with CenterPoint's new and improved, cloud-based Outage Tracker, which allows customers to see outages by county, city and zip code. The new tracker is capable of handling increased traffic during storms and is ADA- and mobile-friendly.

CenterPoint encourages all customers to have a plan to stay safe
CenterPoint is encouraging all of its customers to prepare and have a plan to stay safe during Hurricane Rafael. Customers can get storm-related electric, natural gas and flooding safety tips at CenterPointEnergy.com/StormCenter. Additional preparation best practices are available at Ready.gov. 

For the latest updates, follow CenterPoint on X (formerly Twitter) for real-time updates. For more information and other resources, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/NaturalGasSafety. 

About CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
As the only investor-owned electric and gas utility based in Texas, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) is an energy delivery company with electric transmission and distribution, power generation and natural gas distribution operations that serve more than 7 million metered customers in Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio and Texas. With approximately 9,000 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years. For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com.

For more information, contact
Communications
Media.Relations@CenterPointEnergy.com

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SOURCE CenterPoint Energy

FAQ

What preparations has CenterPoint Energy (CNP) made for Hurricane Rafael?

CenterPoint Energy has suspended natural gas disconnections in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, identified 13,000 mutual assistance resources, enhanced staffing plans, and implemented pre-landfall emergency preparedness protocols.

How can CenterPoint Energy (CNP) customers track power outages during Hurricane Rafael?

Customers can track outages through CenterPoint's improved cloud-based Outage Tracker system and enroll in Power Alert Service® for updates via phone call, text, or email.

What areas does CenterPoint Energy (CNP) expect to be impacted by Hurricane Rafael?

While the Greater Houston area is not expected to be heavily impacted, CenterPoint is monitoring potential effects across its Gulf Coast service area in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.