Texas Attorney Probes Houston Energy Company’s Response to Hurricane Beryl

After a month of criticisms and scrutiny from the Texas government and the wider public, the Attorney General has launched an official investigation into a Houston utility company concerning its response to Hurricane Beryl.

Investigation Launched

Texas’ attorney general has launched an official investigation into the conduct of CenterPoint Energy, an electrical utility company that serves the wider Houston area, during Hurricane Beryl.

Criticisms Flood in

The energy provider was swamped with criticism following the hurricane, due to widespread power outages that left millions without electricity for days, and some for as long as a week.

Pushing for Answers

Republican Gov. Greg Abbot and Texas regulators have pushed for answers concerning CenterPoints’ preparation for and response to the storm, which had been anticipated for weeks before it made landfall in Matagorda County on July 8.

Impact of Beryl

The Category 1 hurricane hammered certain parts of the state, knocking over trees and buildings, cutting power to 3 million people, and resulting in the deaths of at least 36.

Investigating Potential “Unlawful Activity”

Now, Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched a probe into the company, to ascertain whether any “unlawful activity” took place during the company’s emergency response, including possible “fraud, waste, and improper use of taxpayer-provided funds,” according to a press release from the AG’s office issued on Aug 13.

Allegations Against the Company

“The Office of the Attorney General is aware of allegations that CenterPoint’s conduct may have resulted in significant harm to Houston residents, including rate increases, outages, and lengthy delays in restoring power during Hurricane Beryl,” said Paxton in an official statement.

“The Full Force of the Law”

“If the investigation uncovers unlawful activity, that activity will be met with the full force of the law,” he continued.

2.3 Million Customers

During Hurricane Beryl, nearly 3 million people were left without power. Of that 3 million, 2.3 million were estimated to be CenterPoint customers.

Dangerous Blackout Conditions

These blackouts occurred at a time when daily temperatures were reaching 100-degree highs, and at least 8 people died in Harris County due to hypothermia connected to power loss, according to Houston Public Media.

Left Without Power for a Week

A week after Hurricane Beryl landed on Aug 13, anger and frustration erupted across the greater Houston area as 268,000 CenterPoint customers were still without power.

Communication At “a New Low”

“The communication by CenterPoint is at a new low,” Gov. Abbot said at the time. “It has worsened.”

Slammed by the Public and the State

Abbot and other public officials in Texas slammed the company for its slow response times, lagging restoration efforts, and all-round lack of storm preparedness. However, the utility company has defended itself.

CenterPoint Defends Itself

CenterPoint has previously claimed that it issued thousands of workers to affected regions, and is currently undertaking extensive restoration projects and plans to expedite its efforts to strengthen the electricity grid across August. 

Month-Long Plan

This plan includes installing more storm-resistant utility poles, trimming trees and vegetation around power lines, and installing 300 automated devices that will keep power on during storms for some customers by re-energizing power lines.

Other Strategies

They have also extended their August plans to boost storm preparedness by hiring new emergency preparation and response staff, investing in electricity grid inspections and infrastructure, and more.

CenterPoint Responds

Since the announcement from the Attorney General’s office, CenterPoint Spokesperson John Sousa issued a statement on behalf of the company, committing to support the investigation in any way it can.

“Absolute Commitment to Transparency and Cooperation”

“Since Hurricane Beryl, we have demonstrated our absolute commitment to transparency and cooperation through our participation in three separate hearings at the PUCT, the Senate, and the House,” Sousa said.

A Clear Commitment

“We look forward to cooperating with the Texas Attorney General or any other agency and have made clear our commitment to upholding the values of our company,” he continued. 

Hearings and Scrutiny

The utility company will face further hearings concerning worker supply before the storm hit, and how it powered hospitals and other essential public facilities. It may also face scrutiny over claims it has failed to utilize hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding to implement parts of the electricity grid.

Public Utility Commission Investigation

The Public Utility Commission of Texas, a regulatory body that oversees electric, telephone, water and other public utilities across the state, is also carrying out a separate investigation. 

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