News Summary
A recent survey reveals that 69% of Houston residents are concerned about ongoing power outages due to storms. CenterPoint Energy faces criticism as thousands endure long outages, causing property damage and financial strain. While the utility provider has made infrastructural improvements, trust remains low. CenterPoint seeks a $1.3 billion rate increase which has been contested by local authorities. Community safety and service reliability are under scrutiny as residents prepare for future storms.
Houston Survey Reveals Distrust in CenterPoint Energy Amid Ongoing Power Outages
A recent survey conducted by the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs has revealed that a significant majority of Houston residents—69% of the 2,300 voters polled—express concern over power outages. This persistent issue has been highlighted amid reports of significant outages affecting thousands of households due to recent storms.
Current Situation
On a recent Tuesday morning, over 180,000 customers in the Houston area experienced power loss due to storm impacts, with current outage counts documented at 71,566 for CenterPoint Energy and 23,790 for Entergy. CenterPoint announced that approximately 167,000 of its customers were affected by outages this week, which has intensified calls for accountability and improved service from the utility provider.
Infrastructure Improvements and Challenges
Despite the ongoing dissatisfaction, representatives from CenterPoint have indicated that the company has made significant infrastructural improvements. They have added more utility wires and created redundancies to bolster service reliability. Moreover, recent reports from David Holt of the Consumer Energy Alliance acknowledged the enhancements made since prior outages. However, building public trust may depend on the company’s response timing during major storm situations.
Reports from Houston residents have revealed that many are facing repeated power outages, resulting in damage to their homes and additional costs due to power surges. Particularly concerning is that over 40 residents reported substantial property damage over these outages. Furthermore, it is essential to note that CenterPoint holds a liability agreement with the state, which limits their liability for customer property damage caused by equipment failures or severe weather conditions.
Regulatory and Financial Developments
In addition to addressing reliability concerns, CenterPoint has requested a $1.3 billion rate increase to recover costs incurred from Hurricane Beryl. However, cities such as Houston have voiced objections regarding the amount sought, deeming it excessive. A settlement related to this rate increase has been reached, pending approval from an administrative judge.
In light of the struggles with power outages, the Public Utility Commission (PUC) allows customers to file formal complaints, which help in documenting the extent and impact of outages experienced by residents.
Community Response and Preparedness Efforts
Residents’ experiences during the outages have contributed to their rising discontent. For instance, one customer expressed frustration regarding the prolonged time for power restoration exceeding 15 hours and recounted an eight-day blackout that occurred during Hurricane Beryl.
In preparation for the storm season, CenterPoint has reported replacing over 25,000 utility poles and is actively working to underground power lines to enhance resilience. So far this year, these measures have resulted in a reduction of 20 million minutes in power outages compared to the previous year, showing progress in reducing outage duration, although community experiences remain varied.
Safety Recommendations
Amid ongoing outages, residents are reminded to stay clear of downed power lines and to report such hazards to the appropriate energy companies. The safety of the community continues to be a paramount concern alongside the need for improved energy service reliability.
As Houston residents grapple with frequent power outages and emerging frustrations toward CenterPoint Energy, the overall sentiment remains one of cautious optimism as the utility strives to implement infrastructural changes and improve community trust.
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Additional Resources
- Click2Houston: CenterPoint Power Outages
- Houston Chronicle: CenterPoint Outages Survey
- ABC13: Frustrated Customers
- PR Newswire: CenterPoint Reliability Improvements
- KHOU: Houston Power Outages
- Wikipedia: Electricity in the United States
- Google Search: Houston Power Outages
- Google Scholar: Houston Power Outages
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Electricity
- Google News: Houston Power Outages

Author: STAFF HERE HOUSTON TX WRITER
HOUSTON STAFF WRITER The HOUSTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREHouston.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Houston, Harris County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Art Car Parade, and Chevron Houston Marathon. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Houston Partnership and Houston Area Urban League, plus leading businesses in energy and healthcare that power the local economy such as ExxonMobil, Schlumberger, and Houston Methodist. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREDallas.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.