Is CenterPoint Prepared for the 2025 Hurricane Season?

As the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season approaches, many Houstonians may wonder whether they will suffer through more extended power outages like those experienced after Hurricane Beryl in 2024.

CenterPoint recently released a report on its progress in bolstering the resilience of the Houston area power grid. Here’s everything you need to know about the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI).

What infrastructure enhancements has CenterPoint implemented?

CenterPoint’s GHRI encompasses a comprehensive suite of upgrades aimed at fortifying the grid against severe weather:

Pole Reinforcements: Installation of 25,000 storm-resilient poles capable of withstanding winds up to 132 mph. As of April 30, 2025, 21,975 poles have been installed.
Undergrounding Power Lines: Completion of 400 miles of underground power lines to reduce outages caused by wind and falling debris.
Vegetation Management: Trimming or removing vegetation along 4,000 miles of power lines to prevent outages from falling trees and branches.
Automation Devices: Deployment of 4,500 automated reliability devices to quickly isolate and address outages, enhancing restoration times.

These measures are projected to reduce customer outages by over 125 million minutes annually, significantly improving service reliability.

What other advancements has CenterPoint completed?

To enhance weather monitoring and response, CenterPoint has installed 100 utility-owned weather stations across its service area. These stations provide real-time data on humidity, wind speed, temperature, and rainfall, enabling more precise forecasting and resource allocation during storms.

Additionally, the company has upgraded its Outage Tracker system, offering customers real-time updates on outages and restoration efforts, accessible in both English and Spanish.

More updates: Community engagement and emergency preparedness

CenterPoint has actively collaborated with local officials and emergency management agencies to improve storm response coordination.

The company has donated and installed 21 backup generators at critical facilities, such as medical centers and community shelters, to ensure essential services remain operational during power outages.

Furthermore, CenterPoint has conducted community outreach events and webinars to educate customers on hurricane preparedness and safety measures.

Will there be power outages in Houston during the 2025 hurricane season?

While CenterPoint has made substantial progress in enhancing grid resilience ahead of the 2025 hurricane season, the company acknowledges that continued investment is necessary.

Plans are underway to invest an additional $5.75 billion from 2026 to 2028 to further strengthen infrastructure, including the replacement or reinforcement of 130,000 poles and the undergrounding of more power lines.

Significant progress has been made, but there is no way to predict with certainty the strength of potential storms and where they may hit. It’s entirely possible that Houston may not be hit with a severe hurricane this year, but there’s also a chance that Houston will be hit by one or more major hurricanes.

Thanks to the work they’ve completed, there is potential that power outages may be fewer in number or shorter-lasting. But again, it all depends on the size and strength of the storms and where they may hit.

When does the 2025 hurricane season begin?

The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1, 2025, and ends on November 30, 2025. Check out the 2025 Atlantic hurricane name list here.

Written by Graham Lumley

Graham Lumley is the Growth Product Manager at BKV Energy, a retail electricity provider in Texas' deregulated market, where he has worked since 2023. He analyzes customer usage and billing data, helps develop BKV's fixed-rate plans, and creates tools to simplify Texas electricity shopping. He has written over 200 articles on Texas electricity rates, delivery charges, plan types, energy generation, and more to help Texans understand their bills and pay less. With over 10 years of experience in consumer products, marketing, and energy, he explains the Texas electricity market in plain language.