CenterPoint Energy prepares for Beryl impact in Houston area

Houston – CenterPoint Energy is preparing for impacts from Beryl as it heads toward the Texas coast.

The agency says it has been closely monitoring forecasts and preparing for potential impacts to its natural gas and electricity systems as Beryl is forecast to make landfall as a hurricane on Monday.

“In preparation for potential severe weather conditions on the Texas coast and in the greater Houston area, CenterPoint reminds all customers to develop an emergency plan and prepare a hurricane preparedness kit that includes essential items such as nonperishable food, water, flashlights, batteries, a first aid kit, any necessary medications, a battery-powered radio and a portable charger for mobile devices,” the agency said.

At this time, the agency’s outage tracking system is unavailable due to technical issues resulting from the May Derecho weather event. In the meantime, the agency will provide general outage information that will be updated every 15 minutes.

CenterPoint plans to replace the outage map with a redesigned cloud-based platform that can more easily scale for increased customer traffic by the end of the month.

“While real-time Outage Tracker updates are not currently available, CenterPoint electric customers are encouraged to sign up for Power Alert Service® to receive details about power outages, estimated restoration times as available or determined, and community-specific restoration updates in the event of severe weather conditions. With the option to receive updates via phone, text, or email, Power Alert Service® helps keep customers informed about restoration progress during a power outage event,” the agency says. “Because CenterPoint cannot guarantee an uninterrupted, regular, or continuous power supply during a severe weather event, customers who rely on electricity for life-support equipment are encouraged to make alternate arrangements for on-site backup capabilities or other alternatives in the event of loss of electric service.”

The company shared some safety tips for electricity and natural gas during Beryl:

Natural gas

• If you smell natural gas (which has a strong, distinctive odor often compared to rotten eggs or sulfur), leave the area immediately on foot and tell others to leave as well. Do not turn lights on or off, smoke, light a match, use the telephone or use anything that may cause sparks, such as a flashlight or generator. Once you are away from the area, call 911 and CenterPoint Energy, and we will dispatch a trained service technician immediately.

• Do not turn off natural gas at the meter; your natural gas meter should be left on to maintain proper pressure in the natural gas lines inside the home and to prevent water from entering the lines should a flood occur.

• Natural gas can be turned off at each appliance. Later, to restore natural gas service to an appliance, you can follow the written instructions on the appliance to turn it back on. If you cannot find the instructions or do not feel comfortable turning it back on, call a qualified plumber/technician.

• When performing exterior cleanup and/or repairs, call 811 to locate utility lines before digging on your property.

• If your home has been flooded, call a licensed plumber or natural gas appliance technician to inspect your appliances before requesting reconnection of service.

• Use caution around work equipment and allow enough space to assess damage and safely make repairs.

Electric

• If there is a power outage, do not open freezers and refrigerators more than necessary, as opening these appliances will allow food to defrost more quickly.

• Use a portable generator only in a well-ventilated area and never run it inside your residence or garage to avoid carbon monoxide fumes, which can be deadly.

• Never connect a portable generator directly to your building’s electrical system during a power outage; electricity could backfeed into power lines and potentially endanger utility workers, emergency personnel, or the public.

• Check the connection head, which connects the overhead power line to your home or business, for damage. Any problems with the connection head will need to be repaired by a licensed electrician before service is restored.

• Stay away from downed or low-hanging power lines or those that may be submerged in standing water. Treat all downed power lines and damaged electrical equipment as if they were energized. Report downed or low-hanging power lines and damaged electrical equipment to CenterPoint Energy by calling 713-207-2222.

• Water poses a potential threat to electrical safety because it is a good conductor: always be careful not to touch water, or anything that comes into contact with it, near a downed power line.

• Any amount of water, even a puddle, can become energized. If you see a downed power line near water, move to a safe distance and call CenterPoint Energy immediately at 713-207-2222 to report it.

• Flood waters can be dangerous. Always use extreme caution when entering flooded areas. Submerged electrical outlets or cables can generate water, even at a distance.

• Boats or other vehicles used in high water may expose you to danger from overhead power lines. Be careful and stay clear.

• If water has risen above electrical outlets, contact a licensed electrician before turning on the main circuit breaker.

CenterPoint says it will provide updates as Beryl continues to move toward Texas.