Nearly three months after Hurricane Beryl left more than two million CenterPoint Energy customers in the dark, the Public Utility Commission (PUC) wants to hear directly from Houston residents.
Public meeting set for Saturday morning
Many were without power for over ten days, and now is the opportunity for the community to weigh in on how well the utility handled the crisis. Your feedback will be crucial in determining whether CenterPoint will move forward with its rate review.
Where?
The PUC will hold a public meeting this Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Harris County Department of Education at 6300 Irvington.
This meeting aims to allow Houstonians to share their experiences with CenterPoint’s response during and after the hurricane. Were they efficient in restoring power? Did they communicate effectively? How well did they maintain their infrastructure?
According to PUC Chairman Thomas Gleeson, the commission has received nearly 15,000 complaints about CenterPoint’s performance. He emphasized that the residents of Houston deserve better communication and that these complaints will play a role in the commission’s decision regarding CenterPoint’s ongoing rate review.
Why your voice matters
This review is significant, as it involves the rates that CenterPoint customers pay on their electricity bills. Before Hurricane Beryl hit, CenterPoint had already requested a rate increase of approximately $60 million annually. However, many—including City of Houston Attorney Arturo Michel—argue that not only should there be no increase, but customers are actually owed a decrease due to overcharges exceeding $100 million each year.
“Not only are they not due an increase. We are due a decrease. You know the customers are due a rate decrease,” said Michel.
CenterPoint has proposed withdrawing from this review, claiming they need to focus on improving infrastructure and preparing for future storms. However, the PUC has delayed making a decision until they hear from those directly impacted by the storm and by any potential rate changes.
RELATED: Why your electric bill might be higher this month
Lawmakers and residents demand accountability
Throughout the restoration process, CenterPoint faced sharp criticism from both lawmakers and residents. Governor Greg Abbott called out CenterPoint for “completely dropping the ball” on restoring power, while State Senator Joan Huffman said, “What we really gotta do is pray because you guys are not ready if another one comes this session.”
CenterPoint has admitted their shortcomings, with a company executive calling their poor communication and failed outage tracker “inexcusable.” Chairman Gleeson reiterated that the PUC wants to ensure the utility learns from these mistakes and improves its response and communication moving forward.
“I think it’s clear that the residents of Houston, the surrounding area, feel that the communication from CenterPoint was, you know, subpar and really needs to be improved upon,” said Gleeson.
Share your experience
If CenterPoint’s response cost you financially, or if their crews left downed poles and tangled wires in your yard, this meeting is your opportunity to demand accountability. The commission wants to hear from you, and CenterPoint representatives will also be present to respond to concerns.
RELATED: Who picks up poles and wires after a storm?
No pre-registration is required—just show up, and you can sign up to speak on the spot. If you can’t attend in person, you can still make your voice heard by submitting comments through an online form.
Your input could help ensure that what happened during Hurricane Beryl doesn’t happen again and that CenterPoint is held accountable for how they manage and charge for their services.
The KPRC 2 team will be at the meeting to bring you all of the details.
