The top executive of Houston’s power utility, CenterPoint Energy, appeared before lawmakers to address the prolonged and deadly power outages following Hurricane Beryl. Jason Wells took personal accountability for the company’s failure to meet customer expectations during the storm. At least a dozen residents in the Houston area died from complications related to the outages, such as hyperthermia. In total, at least 36 deaths have been attributed to Beryl.
Lawmakers grilled Wells over the company’s lack of preparedness for the hurricane, including the failure to provide a timely outage tracker. The special legislative committee examined CenterPoint Energy’s response to the storm and demanded answers for the prolonged outages. Some frustrated residents have called for Wells to step down, but he emphasized that the company is working with the community in their recovery efforts.
Governor Greg Abbott and the Public Utility Commission have also demanded answers from CenterPoint Energy regarding the lengthy outages. The utilities commission has initiated its own investigation into the matter. The storm caused extensive damage to power lines and infrastructure, leaving millions without electricity for days. CenterPoint Energy defended its storm preparedness and deployed thousands of additional workers to help restore power.
Hurricane Beryl is the most recent natural disaster to impact Houston, following a powerful storm in May that left nearly 1 million people without power. In 2021, Texas experienced a deadly winter storm that resulted in widespread power outages across the state. During a meeting with the Public Utility Commission, Wells issued an apology to customers for the company’s shortcomings. CenterPoint Energy plans to launch an outage tracker to better prepare customers for future storms and will hire a chief communications officer to improve messaging.
The inquiry into CenterPoint Energy’s response to Hurricane Beryl marks the first time that Texas lawmakers have publicly scrutinized the company’s actions. The company has acknowledged its failures in deploying the outage tracker in a timely manner and is committed to making changes to improve communication with customers. The investigation by lawmakers and the utilities commission aims to hold CenterPoint Energy accountable for its handling of the storm and ensure better preparedness for future emergencies.
