In a stern message to CenterPoint Energy Sunday, Gov. Greg Abbott threatened the Houston-region electricity provider will have its service area reduced if it doesn’t rectify its “failures” to properly prepare and respond to Hurricane Beryl.

Abbott also promised the Public Utilities Commission, the state's utilities regulator, will investigate CenterPoint’s response.

“Maybe they have too large of an area for them to be able to manage adequately,” Abbott said. “It's time to reevaluate whether or not Centerpoint should have such a large territory.”

CenterPoint services roughly 2.8 million customers across nearly all of Harris and Fort Bend counties.

The comments come nearly one week after Beryl blew through Houston and wiped out power to 2.2 million — or 80 percent of — CenterPoint’s customers. The company has faced widespread criticism since, many claiming the company was unprepared and their response was botched. 

Gov. Abbott’s comments Sunday, delivered while roughly 385,000 customers remained without power, became the most forceful voice to take aim at CenterPoint. He also promised to work with legislators to draft laws that would improve power reliability.

“The communication is unacceptable,” Abbott said. “Corrections are coming whether you like it or not.”

Abbott also delivered a list of demands for the company, which he said CenterPoint must have a plan for by July 31 or he will sign executive orders to require them “to do what I expect them to do.”

Abbott commanded that CenterPoint:

• Remove all vegetation that threatens power lines by Aug. 31.

• Outline actions for reducing or eliminating power outages if another tropical storm arrives in the Gulf Coast.

• Specify how they will pre-stage a more “sufficient” number of workers to respond to power outages.

• Fix all poles by next year’s hurricane season.

• Create a plan to “retain or quickly restore” power to nursing homes and hospitals.

“We’re all aboard this freight train that’s coming,” said Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who acted as governor throughout Beryl’s immediate aftermath while Abbott was on an economic trip in East Asia. 

CenterPoint did not immediately respond to a request for comment. As of Sunday afternoon, the company had restored power to 1.85 million customers, with roughly 395,000 still in the dark. CenterPoint estimates some customers in the hardest hit areas could be without power until Friday, July 19.

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Gov. Abbott threatens CenterPoint: Rectify ‘failure’ during Beryl or have service area reduced 

by Miranda Dunlap, Abdelraoufsinno
July 14, 2024

<h1>Gov. Abbott threatens CenterPoint: Rectify ‘failure’ during Beryl or have service area reduced </h1> <p class="byline">by Miranda Dunlap, Abdelraoufsinno <br />July 14, 2024</p> <p>In a stern message to CenterPoint Energy Sunday, Gov. Greg Abbott threatened the Houston-region electricity provider will have its service area reduced if it doesn’t rectify its “failures” to properly prepare and respond to Hurricane Beryl.</p> <p>Abbott also promised the Public Utilities Commission, the state's utilities regulator, will investigate CenterPoint’s response.&nbsp;</p> <p>“Maybe they have too large of an area for them to be able to manage adequately,” Abbott said. “It's time to reevaluate whether or not Centerpoint should have such a large territory.”</p> <p>CenterPoint services roughly 2.8 million customers across nearly all of Harris and Fort Bend counties.</p> <p>The comments come nearly one week after Beryl blew through Houston and wiped out power to 2.2 million — or 80 percent of — CenterPoint’s customers. The company has faced widespread criticism since, many claiming the company was unprepared and their response was botched. </p> <p>Gov. Abbott’s comments Sunday, delivered while roughly 385,000 customers remained without power, became the most forceful voice to take aim at CenterPoint. He also promised to work with legislators to draft laws that would improve power reliability.</p> <p>“The communication is unacceptable,” Abbott said. “Corrections are coming whether you like it or not.”</p> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter" data-effect="slide"> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container"> <ul class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper"> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-34485" data-id="34485" src="https://abdelraoufsinno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240714_ABBOTT-BERYL-PRESSER-_MDJ_02.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Texas Governor Greg Abbott holds a briefing on Texas' ongoing response and recovery efforts for Hurricane Beryl, Sunday, July 14, in Houston. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, the Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd, and Gallery Furniture owner Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale also participated in the press conference. (Marie D. De Jesús / Abdelraoufsinno)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-34498" data-id="34498" src="https://abdelraoufsinno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240714_ABBOTT-BERYL-PRESSER-_MDJ_017.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Bryson Williams, left, 11, greets Texas Governor Greg Abbott, center, as he exited a press conference at Gallery Furniture on Texas' ongoing response and recovery efforts for Hurricane Beryl, Sunday, July 14, in Houston. (Marie D. De Jesús / Abdelraoufsinno)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-34496" data-id="34496" src="https://abdelraoufsinno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240714_ABBOTT-BERYL-PRESSER-_MDJ_09.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, left, and Gallery Furniture owner Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale arrive at a press conference held by Texas Governor Greg Abbott at Gallery Furniture in Houston, Sunday, July 14, 2024. (Marie D. De Jesús / Abdelraoufsinno)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-34488" data-id="34488" src="https://abdelraoufsinno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240714_ABBOTT-BERYL-PRESSER-_MDJ_04.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Texas Governor Greg Abbott holds a press conference on Texas' ongoing response and recovery efforts for Hurricane Beryl, Sunday, July 14, in Houston. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, the Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd, and Gallery Furniture owner Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale also participated in the press conference. (Marie D. De Jesús / Abdelraoufsinno)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-34494" data-id="34494" src="https://abdelraoufsinno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240714_ABBOTT-BERYL-PRESSER-_MDJ_16.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd, left, as Texas governor Greg Abbott observes him speak at a press conference on Texas' ongoing response and recovery efforts for Hurricane Beryl, Sunday, July 14, in Houston. (Marie D. De Jesús / Abdelraoufsinno)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-34493" data-id="34493" src="https://abdelraoufsinno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240714_ABBOTT-BERYL-PRESSER-_MDJ_013.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, center, shares remarks during a press conference at Gallery Furniture about Texas' ongoing response and recovery efforts for Hurricane Beryl, Sunday, July 14, in Houston. (Marie D. De Jesús / Abdelraoufsinno)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-34490" data-id="34490" src="https://abdelraoufsinno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240714_ABBOTT-BERYL-PRESSER-_MDJ_12.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Texas Governor Greg Abbott, left, holds a briefing and a press conference on Texas' ongoing response and recovery efforts for Hurricane Beryl, Sunday, July 14, in Houston. Next to the governor is Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick right, who shared remarks on behalf of the Texas Senate at Gallery Furniture. (Marie D. De Jesús / Abdelraoufsinno)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-34506" data-id="34506" src="https://abdelraoufsinno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240714_ABBOTT-BERYL-PRESSER-_MDJ_020.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Gallery Furniture owner Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale, center, works with others to move a table toward the location where a press conference will take place so the press can stand on the table and have better visibility of Texas Governor Greg Abbott and other officials, Sunday, July 14, in Houston. (Marie D. De Jesús / Abdelraoufsinno)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-34501" data-id="34501" src="https://abdelraoufsinno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240714_ABBOTT-BERYL-PRESSER-_MDJ_018.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Gallery Furniture owner Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale stands on a table he asked his staff to bring to provide better visibility to the press during a press conference on Texas' ongoing response and recovery efforts for Hurricane Beryl held by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Sunday, July 14, in Houston. (Marie D. De Jesús / Abdelraoufsinno)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-34504" data-id="34504" src="https://abdelraoufsinno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240714_ABBOTT-BERYL-PRESSER-_MDJ_019.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Bryson Williams, 11, greets Texas Governor Greg Abbott, center, as the governor exited a press conference at Gallery Furniture on Texas' ongoing response and recovery efforts for Hurricane Beryl, Sunday, July 14, in Houston. (Marie D. De Jesús / Abdelraoufsinno)</figcaption></figure> </li> </ul> <p><a class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white" role="button"></a><a class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white" role="button"></a><a aria-label="Pause Slideshow" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause" role="button"></a></p> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white"></div> </div> </div> <p>Abbott also delivered a list of demands for the company, which he said CenterPoint must have a plan for by July 31 or he will sign executive orders to require them “to do what I expect them to do.”</p> <p>Abbott commanded that CenterPoint:</p> <ul> <li>Remove all vegetation that threatens power lines by Aug. 31.&nbsp;</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Outline actions for reducing or eliminating power outages if another tropical storm arrives in the Gulf Coast.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Specify how they will pre-stage a more “sufficient” number of workers to respond to power outages.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Fix all poles by next year’s hurricane season.&nbsp;</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Create a plan to “retain or quickly restore” power to nursing homes and hospitals.&nbsp;</li> </ul> <p>“We’re all aboard this freight train that’s coming,” said Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who acted as governor throughout Beryl’s immediate aftermath while Abbott was on an economic trip in East Asia. </p> <p>CenterPoint did not immediately respond to a request for comment. As of Sunday afternoon, the company had restored power to 1.85 million customers, with roughly 395,000 still in the dark. CenterPoint estimates some customers in the hardest hit areas could be <a href="https://abdelraoufsinno.com/fifth-ward-recovery/">without power until Friday, July 19.</a></p> <p>This <a target="_blank" href="https://abdelraoufsinno.com/abbott-threatens-centerpoint-rectify-failure-during-beryl-or-have-service-area-reduced/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://abdelraoufsinno.com">Abdelraoufsinno</a> and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<img src="https://abdelraoufsinno.com/apple-touch-icon-180x180.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1" style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;"><img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="https://abdelraoufsinno.com/?republication-pixel=true&post=34484&amp;ga4=" style="width:1px;height:1px;"></p> Copy to Clipboard

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