Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued a stern directive to CenterPoint Energy, the utility company at the center of criticism for widespread power outages in the Houston area following Hurricane Beryl. Abbott has given CenterPoint until the end of the month to present a comprehensive plan to prevent future outages or face executive orders to address its failures.

Governor Abbott’s Ultimatum to CenterPoint Energy

CenterPoint Energy, responsible for delivering electricity to homes and businesses, faced backlash after 2.2 million customers lost power when Hurricane Beryl made landfall as a Category 1 storm. Although 98% of those affected have had power restored, nearly 300,000 customers remain without electricity amid a deadly heat wave. Houston’s heat index reached 103 degrees on Monday, according to the National Weather Service, exacerbating the situation for those without air conditioning.

“The clock is ticking for CenterPoint to step up and get the job done,” Abbott declared at a press conference in Houston, accompanied by Mayor John Whitmire and Thomas Gleeson, chairman of the Texas Public Utility Commission. Abbott emphasized the urgent need for action, noting that the lack of power in extreme heat poses severe risks to residents’ health and safety.

Efforts to Restore Power and Community Support

In response to the ongoing crisis, state and local agencies have mobilized to provide ready-made meals, water, and other necessities to those without power. Law enforcement presence has increased with the deployment of additional Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and other officers from various parts of the state.

CenterPoint Energy announced in a news release that it is “repositioning crews and equipment” to repair damaged wires and poles in the most critical areas. Despite restoring power to nearly 2 million customers, the company acknowledges that many are still waiting for service. “We know the remaining customers are counting on us and are committed to restoring power to all remaining customers able to receive it,” said Lynnae Wilson, a senior vice president at CenterPoint.

Abbott’s directives require CenterPoint to submit detailed plans for vegetation management around power lines, preparations for future tropical storms, and strategies to position personnel for immediate response to power outages. Gleeson assured that the Texas Public Utility Commission would investigate CenterPoint’s handling of the outages, stressing the need for a sense of urgency and immediate action during this hurricane season.

Hurricane Beryl’s Impact and Historical Context

Hurricane Beryl, the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record, wreaked havoc across the Caribbean before striking Texas. The storm caused significant damage to infrastructure and power lines in Jamaica, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, resulting in at least 11 fatalities. In the United States, Texas bore the brunt of Beryl’s fury as it hit the Gulf Coast as a Category 1 hurricane.

The storm brought heavy rain, strong gusts, and multiple tornadoes, flooding streets, trapping people in their vehicles, and knocking out power to over 2 million homes and businesses. The prolonged power outages have had severe consequences, with at least one death linked to heat exposure and two fatalities in Harris County attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning from home generators. This isn’t the first time CenterPoint has faced criticism for power outages. In 2020, Texas grocery store chain H-E-B sued the utility over a rate increase, arguing that repeated outages forced the company to install backup generators at its stores. H-E-B won the lawsuit, leading to the ousting of CenterPoint’s CEO.