CenterPoint Says Sorry, Offers to Forego $110 Million

Will You Forgive After CenterPoint Says Sorry?

CenterPoint says sorry but will their customers forgive the utility? Learn what the utility plans to improve. Could affect your Houston power bills?

CenterPoint Energy is in damage control mode after its poor response to Hurricane Beryl. The company’s fleet of mobile generators went mostly unused, leaving 2.3 million Houston customers without power. Clearly, Texas power users are upset and rightly so. In response, CenterPoint says it's sorry and promises to make things right.

What Happened During Beryl?

Hurricane damage is nothing new to this part of the state. But, in July 2024, Hurricane Beryl caused major damage to Houston’s power grid. The outages lasted days for some customers. Most thought the grid was prepared for Beryl. But it wasn’t. And everyday people suffered. 

Despite leasing $800 million worth of mobile generators, CenterPoint failed to deploy them during the storm. This left many without power. Afterwards, people wondered why CenterPoint didn't use these mobile power plants. The utility admitted it had not properly explained their cost and limits. Now, Texas officials are investigating the firm. 

CenterPoint Sorry, Offers New Plan

CenterPoint has since said it's sorry and is taking action. It plans to forego $110 million in profits from the leased mobile generators. It also plans to build a stronger grid to withstand storms. As part of this effort, CenterPoint launched the "Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative." These are projects to improve and better maintain the Houston grid. Also, it will invest $5 billion to further upgrade the grid between 2026 and 2028. 

Houston power customers could pay higher rates despite CenterPoint Energy being sorry for its Hurricane Beryl response.

What Do Officials Say?

Despite the utility’s efforts, Houston leaders are still angry. Mayor John Whitmire criticized the company’s high rates and poor performance. So, the mayor sent a letter to state officials urging them to lower the firm’s prices. He believes CenterPoint overcharges customers by $100 million each year. 

While CenterPoint has apologized, its public credibility remains low. That's because when the city needed the company, it failed instead. And this will haunt Texans each time a storm enters the Gulf of Mexico. The state is now reviewing prices and may enforce changes. At the same time, officials pressed the utility to cut its profits and improve service. 

What's Next for You?

CenterPoint is saying "sorry", but Houston wants more than an apology. It wants better service. And while the company aims to make the grid stronger, its customers are still paying high rates. The state will decide whether the company's plan is enough. If not, the company may face further sanctions. But for now, Houstonians can expect higher light bills as they wait for real change. After all, a better grid isn’t free. 

To make sure your bill is as low as it can be, shop for power plans at https://www.texaselectricityratings.com/electricity-rates. Find a plan that matches your usage to see the biggest savings.