3 Houston-area residents sue CenterPoint after Beryl outages ruined all the food in their refrigerators

HOUSTON – In the wake of Hurricane Beryl, new details are emerging regarding a lawsuit in which several private citizens are suing CenterPoint Energy for loss, pain and suffering during and after the storm.

It’s a familiar story we’ve heard since the Beryl case: a power outage that results in pounds and pounds of spoiled food being thrown away. Now, three people are seeking their money back in a 30-plus page lawsuit against CenterPoint.

Specifically, the complaint alleges that CenterPoint failed to prepare the network for a predictable weather event and refused to take responsibility for its system failure. The complaint also alleges that CenterPoint failed to properly maintain its lines and equipment and failed to invest adequately in infrastructure.

The plaintiffs suing CenterPoint claim they were without power for 80 hours or more, causing them various injuries, including the loss of everything in their refrigerators and freezers. They want to hold CenterPoint liable by demanding a refund for the spoiled food.

The lawsuit goes on to claim that last year, CenterPoint Energy made more than $6.5 billion in profits while the median income for a Houston resident is about $50,000 a year.

Additionally, he says the company owes its billion-dollar success to its customers and the least it can do is restock Houston’s refrigerators.