Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative Phase Two update: CenterPoint Energy completes 70% of critical resiliency work around Houston to prepare for the 2025 Hurricane Season

Rhea-AI Summary

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) has completed approximately 70% of its Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI) Phase Two, with all actions expected to be finished before the 2025 hurricane season. In just seven months, the company has achieved significant milestones including:

• 350 miles of targeted power line undergrounding (85% of 400-mile goal)
• Installation of 17,500+ storm-resilient poles
• Clearing of 2,900+ miles of high-risk vegetation
• Deployment of 3,380+ automated reliability devices

The initiative aims to reduce customer outages by more than 125 million minutes annually. Upcoming projects include completing the remaining underground power lines and installing 100 new weather monitoring stations across Greater Houston by June 1, 2025, to enhance storm preparation and situational awareness.

Positive

• Significant progress (70%) in grid resilience improvements ahead of hurricane season
• 85% completion of power line undergrounding target (350 of 400 miles)
• Installation of 3,380+ automated reliability devices for faster outage recovery
• Expected reduction of 125+ million customer outage minutes annually
• Implementation of 100 new weather monitoring stations for improved storm preparation

Negative

• 30% of critical resilience work still pending completion before 2025 hurricane season

In just seven months, CenterPoint has completed 350 miles of targeted undergrounding; installed 17,500+ stronger, more storm-resilient poles; cleared 2,900+ miles of higher-risk vegetation; and placed 3,380+ automated reliability devices to improve grid resiliency

Historic suite of Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative actions will improve customer reliability by reducing outages by more than 125 million minutes annually

HOUSTON, April 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, CenterPoint Energy released its latest progress update on the second phase of the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI), announcing that approximately 70 percent of this historic resiliency work is now complete and that all GHRI-related actions are expected to be complete before the official start of the 2025 hurricane season.

Since announcing the second phase of GHRI last fall, the company has prioritized a broad suite of resiliency actions, including adding thousands more automation devices capable of self-healing; clearing higher-risk vegetation across thousands of more miles of power lines; installing thousands of stronger, more storm-resistant poles; and undergrounding hundreds of miles of power lines. When complete, CenterPoint's GHRI efforts will improve overall grid resiliency and reliability and are estimated to reduce outages for customers by more than 125 million minutes annually.

Among CenterPoint's upcoming GHRI resiliency achievements are: undergrounding the 350th mile of power lines to help improve resiliency and reduce the risk of outages, and beginning the installation of the first of 100 new local weather monitoring stations by June 1 to improve situational awareness and storm preparation across Greater Houston.

"Our entire CenterPoint Houston Electric team is focused on completing this historic suite of grid resiliency actions before the start of hurricane season. That is our goal, and we will achieve it. To date, we have made significant progress as part of this historic effort, including undergrounding power lines, installing new poles, clearing hazardous vegetation and installing automation devices to reduce the impact of future storms and hurricanes." said Darin Carroll, Senior Vice President of CenterPoint's Electric Business, "We will continue to work every day to complete these critical improvements as part of our company's goal of building the most resilient coastal grid in the country."

GHRI Progress Update: Undergrounding more than 85% complete
Since CenterPoint launched Phase Two of the GHRI in September 2024, the company has made progress across an array of resiliency goals, including undergrounding nearly 350 miles of power lines to date, which is more than 85 percent toward its target of 400 miles.

In March alone, CenterPoint:

• Installed an additional 3,300+ stronger, storm-resilient poles built to withstand extreme winds;
• Installed 1,215 more automated reliability devices capable of self-healing to reduce the impact of outages and improve restoration times;
• Cleared another 655 miles of high-risk vegetation near power lines to reduce storm-related outages; and
• Undergrounded 65 more miles of power lines to improve overall resiliency.

Upcoming GHRI actions: Installing 100 new weather monitoring stations
To further improve situational awareness and storm preparation, this month, CenterPoint will begin the build out of a network of 100 new weather monitoring stations across the Greater Houston area. This new weather station network will provide 24/7 weather monitoring and vital information to help CenterPoint better prepare for and respond to upcoming storms. This work will be completed before the 2025 hurricane season.

Improving communication & preparedness
CenterPoint also continues to improve the way it communicates with customers and engages with communities before, during and after extreme weather events. The company is conducting a year-round safety and preparedness campaign to share information on its preparedness efforts, as well as tips and resources for customers. As part of its overall preparedness efforts, and to improve local emergency coordination, CenterPoint continues to meet with local officials and emergency management offices and hold exercises to evaluate and improve its emergency preparedness and response plans before hurricane season.

CenterPoint will continue to provide updates on its progress toward completing these critical resiliency actions and other GHRI commitments. More information and real-time updates are available at CenterPointEnergy.com/TakingAction.

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 approximately 7 million metered customers in Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio and Texas. As of December 31, 2024, the company owned approximately $44 billion in assets. With approximately 8,500 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business 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 much progress has CenterPoint Energy (CNP) made on the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative Phase Two?

CenterPoint Energy has completed 70% of the GHRI Phase Two work, including 350 miles of undergrounding, 17,500+ storm-resilient poles, and 2,900+ miles of vegetation clearing.

What is the expected reduction in outage time from CNP's Houston Resiliency Initiative?

The initiative is estimated to reduce customer outages by more than 125 million minutes annually.

How many weather monitoring stations will CNP install in Houston by the 2025 hurricane season?

CenterPoint Energy will install 100 new weather monitoring stations across Greater Houston before the 2025 hurricane season.

What percentage of CNP's power line undergrounding goal has been completed as of April 2025?

CenterPoint Energy has completed more than 85% of its power line undergrounding goal, with 350 miles completed out of the 400-mile target.

How many automated reliability devices has CNP installed in the Houston grid upgrade?

CenterPoint Energy has installed 3,380+ automated reliability devices capable of self-healing to reduce outage impact and improve restoration times.