As of January 25, 2026, CenterPoint Energy has deployed over 500 contracted frontline electric workers from nine states to assist in recovery efforts following a severe winter storm that affected the Greater Houston area. Despite challenging conditions, more than 99 percent of the company’s customers maintained power during the overnight weather events, which included high winds and ice accumulation.
The utility company reported that approximately 2,000 customers experienced outages due to the storm, accounting for less than 1 percent of the 2.9 million customers it serves across twelve counties. Since Saturday morning, nearly 30,000 customers have had their power restored, indicating a well-organized response to the adverse weather.
Emergency Operations and Ongoing Recovery Efforts
CenterPoint Energy activated its Emergency Operations Center on January 21, preparing for the winter storm’s impact. As conditions worsened, the company mobilized its workforce of 2,800 personnel to respond to outages and assess damage to electrical and natural gas infrastructure. In addition to the released contractors, CenterPoint has staged over 700 natural gas workers to handle any gas-related emergencies.
Nathan Brownell, Vice President of Resilience and Capital Delivery at CenterPoint, emphasized the importance of reliable electric service during severe weather. He noted, “Our system continues to perform well, but tonight and tomorrow are forecasted to be hard freezes hovering around 20 degrees, which may impact our equipment in some places.” The company is committed to restoring power safely and promptly while maintaining a vigilant watch on weather developments.
To ensure public safety, CenterPoint reminds residents to treat downed power lines as potentially energized and hazardous. The company advises maintaining a distance of at least 35 feet from such lines and to report any incidents immediately.
Preparedness Actions and Community Support
CenterPoint’s winter preparedness measures have included extensive training and infrastructure improvements. The company has conducted over 19,000 hours of emergency training for operational and response personnel throughout 2025. Additionally, it has installed more than 20 emergency backup generators at key locations to enhance local emergency response capabilities.
The firm has also coordinated closely with government officials, providing regular updates on their preparedness activities and customer support efforts. Daily press briefings have been conducted to keep the media and public informed about the situation and ongoing restoration activities.
Customers are encouraged to enroll in CenterPoint’s Power Alert Service® to receive timely updates on outages and restoration efforts via phone, text, or email. The company’s Outage Tracker allows customers to monitor outage information by county, city, and zip code, ensuring they remain informed during this challenging time.
CenterPoint Energy, which operates as the only investor-owned electric and gas utility in Texas, serves over 7 million metered customers across the region. With a history spanning more than 150 years, the company remains committed to ensuring reliable energy delivery even in the face of severe weather conditions. For further information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com.
