AUSTIN, Texas — State leaders said they will demand answers about the state and CenterPoint Energy’s response to hurricanes and tropical storms at a hearing on Monday. It comes in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl which left more than 2 million CenterPoint customers without power.
Members of the Texas State Senate’s special committee have specific areas of concern. CenterPoint claims it's already taking action to earn the public’s trust back.
“I’m trying to speak for the public who wants a simple question answered: Why weren’t we prepared better?” Sen. Paul Bettencourt said.
Bettencourt is one of 13 members of a special committee formed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
Bettencourt tells KHOU his questions -- aside from addressing the “utterly horrible” communication with the public -- will be asking why CenterPoint’s infrastructure has not been improved. He claims other utilities around the country have technology that’s resilient to storms.
“It’s really getting my blood boiling the more I see how much has been available for over a decade and why CenterPoint hasn’t adopted any of this,” Bettencourt said.
State Sen. Carol Alvarado tells KHOU state leaders including Patrick and Gov. Greg Abbott have received a plan from the utility to address those concerns.
“They’re talking about increasing their budget on vegetation…we’re certainly going to pick apart what they’ve submitted thus far,” Alvarado said.
CenterPoint Energy issued this statement about the hearing:
“All of us CenterPoint are committed to re-earning our customers’ trust and confidence following Hurricane Beryl through real and meaningful actions. We have already begun implementing more than 40 specific actions aimed at strengthening the grid, bolstering customer communications, and improving storm response. On Monday, we will be discussing these actions with elected leaders, as well as our company-wide commitment to get better, address our customers’ concerns, and to becoming the most resilient coastal grid anywhere in the country.”
In a hearing with the state’s Public Utilities Commission, CenterPoint leaders apologized to customers and stated it would “improve in every area” of its storm response. One area includes vegetation management.
“When 60 percent of your failures relate to vegetation, you should be managing the problem. And again, why are we having to have a hearing with a multi-billion dollar company to tell them to do their job? But that’s what’s going to happen,” Bettencourt said.
He said it's possible legislation will be filed and additional oversight of the company could be created.
