CenterPoint Energy Prepares for Beryl’s Impact in Houston Area

HOUSTON – CenterPoint Energy is preparing for the impacts of Beryl as it heads toward the Texas coast.

The agency says it is closely monitoring the forecast and preparing for potential impacts to its natural gas and electric systems as Beryl is expected to make landfall as a hurricane on Monday.

“In anticipation of potential severe weather conditions on the Texas coast and in the Greater Houston area, CenterPoint reminds all customers to develop an emergency plan and assemble a hurricane preparedness kit that includes essential items such as non-perishable food items, water, flashlights, batteries, a first aid kit, any necessary medications, a battery-powered radio and a portable charger for mobile devices,” the agency said.

Currently, the agency’s outage tracking system is unavailable due to technical issues related to the May derecho event. In the meantime, the agency will provide general outage information that will be updated every 15 minutes.

CenterPoint plans to replace the outage map with a redesigned cloud platform that can more easily scale to handle increased customer traffic by the end of the month.

“While real-time Outage Tracker updates are not currently available, CenterPoint electric customers are encouraged to sign up for Power Alert Service® to receive outage information, estimated, as-available or determined restoration times, and community-specific restoration updates during severe weather. With the ability to receive updates via phone call, text message or email, Power Alert Service® helps keep customers informed of restoration progress during an outage,” the agency said. “Because CenterPoint cannot guarantee uninterrupted, consistent or continuous power during a severe weather event, customers who rely on electricity for life-support equipment are encouraged to make alternate arrangements for on-site backup capacity or other alternatives in the event of a loss of electric service.”

The company shared some safety tips for electricity and natural gas during Beryl:

Natural gas

• If you smell natural gas, which has a strong, characteristic odor often compared to rotten eggs or sulfur, immediately leave the area on foot and tell others to leave as well. Do not turn lights on or off, smoke, light matches, use a phone, or use anything that could cause a spark, including a flashlight or generator. Once you are safely out of the area, call 911 and CenterPoint Energy, and we will dispatch a qualified service technician immediately.

• Do not turn off your natural gas at the meter; your natural gas meter must be left on to maintain adequate pressure in the natural gas piping inside the home and to prevent water from entering the lines in the event of a flood.

• Natural gas can be turned off at each appliance. Later, to restore natural gas service to an appliance, you can follow the written instructions located on the appliance to turn it back on. If you are unable to find the instructions or do not feel comfortable turning it back on, call a qualified plumber/technician.

• When performing exterior cleanup and/or repairs, call 811 to locate utility lines before digging on your property.

• If your home has been flooded, call a licensed plumber or natural gas appliance technician to inspect your appliances before requesting service reconnection.

• Be careful with work crews and give them plenty of space to safely assess damage and make repairs.

Electric

• In the event of a power outage, do not open freezers and refrigerators more than necessary, as opening these appliances will allow food to defrost more quickly.

• Use a portable generator only in a well-ventilated area and never operate it inside your home or in a garage to avoid carbon monoxide fumes, which can be fatal.

• Never plug a portable power generator directly into your building’s electrical system during a power outage; electricity could back up into power lines and potentially endanger utility workers, emergency responders, or members of the public.

• Have your weatherstripping head, which connects the overhead power line to your home or business, checked for damage. Any weatherstripping head problems will need to be repaired by a licensed electrician before service can be restored.

• Stay away from low, downed power lines or lines that could be submerged by standing water. Treat all downed power lines and damaged electrical equipment as if they were energized. Report any downed or downed power lines and damaged electrical equipment to CenterPoint Energy by calling 713-207-2222.

• Water poses a potential threat to electrical safety because it is a good conductor. Always be careful not to touch water or anything in contact with it near a downed power line.

• Any amount of water, including a puddle, can become energized. If you see a downed power line near water, move to a safe distance and then immediately call CenterPoint Energy at 713-207-2222 to report it.

• Flooding can be dangerous. Always use extreme caution when entering a flooded area. Submerged electrical outlets or cords can cause flooding, even from a distance.

• Boats or other vehicles used during flooding can expose you to danger from power lines at their normal height. Be vigilant and stay away.

• If water has risen above electrical outlets, contact a licensed electrician before turning on the main circuit breaker.

CenterPoint says it will provide updates as Beryl continues to move toward Texas.