HOUSTON ( TECHY QUANTUM) — CenterPoint Energy has activated its storm readiness plan as severe weather threatens to bring heavy rainfall, strong winds and isolated tornadoes to the Houston area Friday night through Saturday morning.
The utility said it is preparing for potential CenterPoint outages by mobilizing crews, monitoring weather systems, and coordinating with emergency management officials.
“We’re staying alert and ready to respond safely and quickly if severe weather impacts our region,” said Matt Lanza, CenterPoint’s manager of meteorology.
“Our top priority is restoring service efficiently and keeping customers informed during any CenterPoint outage that may occur.”
The National Weather Service has issued tornado warnings for parts of Harris, Montgomery, Grimes, and Walker counties, warning residents to prepare for possible street flooding and power disruptions.
Houston’s location near the Gulf Coast makes it highly susceptible to sudden weather shifts, particularly during transitional months.
Forecasts show heavy rain and thunderstorms sweeping across Southeast Texas, with rainfall totals possibly reaching three to four inches in some areas.
CenterPoint Energy serves more than 2.8 million electric customers in the Houston metro area and routinely activates emergency protocols when severe weather is expected.
The CenterPoint outage response plan includes pre staging repair crews, testing communication lines, and ensuring backup power systems are operational.
“Preparedness is essential in a city like Houston, where flooding and high winds can knock out power in minutes,” said Tony Gardner, CenterPoint’s chief customer officer.
“Our teams are ready to respond to any CenterPoint outage reports while keeping safety and transparency front and center.” Weather specialists said CenterPoint’s decision to activate its plan early could help limit the duration of power interruptions.
“This storm has all the ingredients for localized tornadoes and flash flooding,” said Dr. Hannah Brooks, a meteorologist at Rice University.
“Utilities that pre stage resources typically see fewer long term CenterPoint outages because they can begin restoration work as soon as it’s safe.”
Experts added that coordination with ERCOT and local emergency agencies plays a key role in maintaining system stability.
“When CenterPoint shares real time grid data with emergency managers, it allows faster damage assessment and prioritization of essential infrastructure like hospitals,” said David Hinojosa, deputy director of the Harris County Office of Emergency Management.
During Houston’s May 2024 derecho storm, CenterPoint Energy restored power to over 95 percent of affected customers within 24 hours, even after nearly 400,000 CenterPoint outages were reported across the region.
According to industry benchmarks from the Edison Electric Institute, utilities with formalized storm readiness plans can reduce outage durations by up to 40 percent compared with reactive approaches.
ERCOT, which oversees most of Texas’ electric grid, confirmed that statewide conditions remain stable, though local distribution systems could face temporary CenterPoint outages caused by downed lines or lightning strikes.
“Grid wide reliability remains solid, but localized disruptions are inevitable when severe weather strikes urban centers,” said ERCOT spokesperson Melissa Tran.
For many Houstonians, the threat of power loss has become a familiar worry during major storms.
“I’m glad CenterPoint is getting ahead of this,” said Maria Lopez, a resident of Spring Branch. “After the last big CenterPoint outage, we invested in a small generator, but preparation at their end helps everyone.”
In the Heights, business owner Andre Nguyen said early alerts give him time to protect his equipment.
“When storms hit without warning, it’s chaos,” he said. “Knowing CenterPoint has a plan makes a difference for small businesses like mine.”
Some residents expressed concern for vulnerable populations who rely on consistent electricity.
“My biggest fear is for elderly neighbors who depend on powered medical devices,” said community volunteer Linda Tran. “Even a short CenterPoint outage can be life threatening for them.”
CenterPoint said additional field teams will remain on standby through the weekend, and mutual assistance crews from nearby states could be deployed if widespread CenterPoint outages occur.
The company encouraged residents to sign up for Power Alert Service notifications, which provide real time outage tracking and restoration estimates in English and Spanish.
Meteorologists expect storms to weaken by Sunday morning, but residual rain could linger into the afternoon.
“We’ll continue to work closely with local emergency officials and provide consistent updates,” Gardner said. “Our crews are fully prepared to restore service safely and quickly once conditions allow.”
As Houston braces for another round of severe weather, CenterPoint Energy’s activation of its storm readiness plan underscores the importance of early coordination and proactive communication.
While the full impact of the system remains uncertain, the city’s preparedness from emergency management teams to utility workers offers reassurance to residents who have grown accustomed to unpredictable Gulf Coast storms.
For now, officials emphasize patience, safety, and vigilance as crews stand ready to respond to any CenterPoint outage that might arise.