On Thursday, KPRC 2′s Gage Goulding spoke with Jason Wells, the CEO of CenterPoint Energy. This was Wells’ first interview with a TV news station since the aftermaths of the May derecho and Hurricane Beryl.
During the interview, Goulding showed Wells a clip from an interview conducted by KPRC 2′s Rilwan Balogun. During the clip, Balogun spoke with Janet Jarrett, a woman who lost her sister, Pamela, to hyperthermia during the prolonged power outages following Beryl.
After seeing the clip, Wells expressed remorse for the situation.
“I just... I’m so deeply sorry,” Wells told Goulding. “Any loss of life is incredibly tragic, obviously, emotionally that, you know, that hits me in the stomach. And that is why we are so determined to build the grid that our customers expect and deserve.”
After Gage’s interview, Rilwan followed up with Janet—who now lives in Louisiana—to hear her reaction to Wells’ response.
Rilwan Balogun: What’s your reaction to hearing from CenterPoint’s CEO?
Janet Jarrett: It’s hard to... think about them at this point. I mean, my life has changed incredibly because of what happened to my sister, and I had to make a lot of changes. I just want to say, you know, forgiveness is a hard thing. And everybody has to go through that and deal with things that we didn’t expect to happen. But I’m adjusting, trying to adjust to what happened in my life. Which a lot of people that had to go through what I went through, [are] probably doing the same thing... I don’t even know what to say. I’m serious; I really don’t know what to say. I saw the video, and I still didn’t have words for it. I’m just like, “Wow. Okay.”
Rilwan Balogun: Did you ever expect CenterPoint’s CEO to hear about you and what happened to your sister?
Janet Jarrett: Well, I thank them for their response, and that’s all I can say, is that I thank them for their response. I just hope they can do better.
Rilwan Balogun: The [Public Utility Commission] is meeting here in Houston tomorrow (Saturday), trying to hear from folks who dealt with CenterPoint, just their thoughts and the reaction. If you can talk to the PUC, what would you want them to know? This is that board that oversees sensor points and other electrical companies.
Janet Jarrett: Well, first, the only thing I would say is, when they have something in place like an emergency system, they need to follow through with that. If we’re putting our names on something where they can reach out to people, make sure they’re okay... Well, then make sure they do that. Just don’t have our names on something and you don’t reach out, you don’t say anything. Or when we reach out, make sure there’s somebody on the other line to pick up, to help us with whatever situation it may be. You know, why have a system in place if you’re not gonna use it?
Rilwan Balogun: Are you happy with the response from CenterPoint CEO there?
Janet Jarrett: I’m going to say I thank them for their response, and that’s all I’m going to say.
Jarrett was limited in what she was able to say, as she is preparing a lawsuit against CenterPoint. However, she believes the company and the leaders at the PUC should listen to more stories like hers.
They have to, because this cannot happen again to anyone,” Jarrett added. “It shouldn’t happen to anyone ever again... Everybody needs to make better choices when it comes to certain business.”
According to the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office, the overall number of deaths attributed to Hurricane Beryl in Harris County is now at 22.