CenterPoint Energy reaches settlement agreement on landmark Systemwide Resiliency Plan to strengthen Houston electric system against extreme weather threats and future hazards

Core Viewpoint - CenterPoint Energy has announced a settlement agreement for its 2026-2028 Systemwide Resiliency Plan (SRP), which is the largest grid resiliency investment in the company's history, aimed at reducing storm-related outages for its 2.8 million customers by nearly 1 billion minutes by 2029 [1][5][8] Investment and Financial Summary - The SRP involves a revised investment of over $3 billion in the electric distribution system, with more than $240 million in costs deferred until the second half of 2029 to minimize customer bill impacts [5][7] - The average residential customer will see an increase of approximately $1.40 per month from 2026 to 2028, with an additional $0.60 in 2030 [7][10] Resiliency Actions - The SRP will enhance the electric distribution system by implementing automation devices capable of self-healing, installing 130,000 stronger poles, and modernizing underground cables [8][14] - The plan builds on previous phases of the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI) and addresses various extreme weather threats, including hurricanes and flooding [2][4] Customer and Community Impact - The SRP is designed to benefit customers across a 12-county service area, particularly in higher-risk areas, and aims to meet the growing energy needs of the population, which is expected to increase by about 2% annually [11][12] - CenterPoint conducted extensive community engagement, including 30 meetings, to gather feedback for the SRP, ensuring it aligns with customer needs and priorities [12] Historical Context - CenterPoint Energy has been serving customers for over 150 years and currently serves approximately 7 million metered customers across multiple states, with total assets of about $44 billion as of March 31, 2025 [13]