CenterPoint Energy customer outage update

CenterPoint Energy customer outage update

Total customers with power:                                                                  1.54 million
(68 percent of total customers)

Total customers without power:                                                         713,000
(32 percent of total customers)

Total customers restored:                                                                     1.44 million

Total number of customers in service territory:                               2.26 million

Total number of customers affected by Ike:                                      2.15 million

Comments

[PWoods]

I'm in zip code 77009 and just started my 11th day without power. I decided to spot check everyone in the “light blue” zone who were estimated to have substantial power. Just counting zip codes from 77001 to 77050:
- Only 6 out of 28 light blue zip codes who are now at or below 20% dead;
- 5 are between 20% and 40% dead;
- 10 are between 40% and 60% dead;
- 7 are between 60% and 90% dead
I’d say they missed their mark pretty significantly of having less than 20% outages in this light blue zone. They only achieved 21% of their goal, or 79% failure. My guess is that CenterPoint had so much backlash over the originally zoned maps saying much of the inner city was going to be without power “beyond 9/22” that they arbitrarily redrew the map with unreasonable goals to keep everyone happy. I'm not blaming them for the power being out. I know they are doing the best that they can. However, I am blaming them for raising expectations and hopes when there wasn't any conceivable way they could achieve that goal.

[Chili Palmer]

They should have at least one guy in each zip code working there. At least we would see progress being done in each zip code.

[Robert]

I have been tracking the Centerpoint restoration process for several days. While they appear to be making some steady progress, many of us feel their efforts are uncoordinated and random. Furthermore, they significantly lag behind Entergy in the restoration effort (72% vs 96%). Obviously, as a current customer without power since Ike, we have been tracking the progress with specific interest to our area. While power has been restored to 78% of zip code 77386, 2760 customers still remain without power. This number has been gradually reduced from 6356 customers on September 15th. The reason for my posting is that I live in this zip code and I am on a particular circuit that still has all of its customers without power. 2431 customers on a single circuit remained without power inside this zip code which has only 2760 total customers without power. At first glance, this may appear to sound like we may have power in a few days. However, there are still lines down and trees on lines ultimately prohibiting power restoration. Furthermore, there has not been a single truck working to repair the downed lines or to remove the trees nor has there been any power restored to any customers on the previously mentioned circuit.(2431 remain without power since the storm) I have called Centerpoint on numerous occasions to point this out, yet all we get is lip service and pledges to reassure us that they are "working as fast as they can to restore power". I cannot reach anyone who can address the subject directly. If there are issues with the circuit that require more time to repair, I can fully understand. However, the absence of line and tree crews in the area cause us all to be pessimistic regarding the projected restoration dates. I could continue with lengthy dialogue and correspondence from which I have received when calling to request additional information, but I've made my point. Unless someone is dispatched to remove the trees and restore the lines (in particular along Riley Fuzzel Rd and inside Benders Landing Development), the power cannot be restored. If there is anyone out there that can bring this to someone's attention at Centerpoint, the residents of Benders Landing and surrounding developments would greatly appreciate it. My e-mail address is rdugal1@aol.com if anyone is interested in pursuing this.

[w/o power]

Day 11 no power! I have seen no one working in the zip code 77388. While a few in this zip code have had their power restored, there's a very large number left w/o! Where are all these CenterPoint workers the media claims? The timeframe Entergy restored power to people puts CenterPoint to shame!

[Terri]

77079 has been abused bt centerpoint for 11 of the longest days but i guess money talks and us mere apt. livers don't matter

[no power in kingwood]

According to Centerpoint's website they say that there are only 2493 people without power in 77345 zipcode; however, when I call they tell me that there are 2850 people just in my circuit without power. How could that be - more people in my circuit without power than in the whole zipcode without power - smells fishy!! They state that our zipcode only has 31% without power, yet if you drive thru our zipcode well more than half of the homes do not have power. I think they are padding their outage website to make it look like they are actually restoring more homes than what they really are. Probably trying to keep from taking any heat over the fact they aren't keeping up the pace of Entergy - who has 96% restoration.

[Chili Palmer]

Money doesn't talk! I live on a street with many half million dollar+ homes without power in Bellaire. I guess you have to be well over a million to get attention.

[wvp condos]

I'm in 77055. 80% was to be restored by 5/22 but it wasn;t. In fact the outage % has gone UP according to the charts they keep updating. ???? A Hou Chronicle link shows our condo address had power as of 9-14. That's what scares me. Do they even know who does & doesn't. ???

[mary kucera]

my very elderly parents ages 88 and 93 are still without electricity 77061. it would be nice if you could get to them 7618 cayton. electricity is on across the street from them. thank you

[Dee Kean]

Come on people..please...it is their fault. Obviously the restoration plan DIDN'T work. 77530 was supposed to have power yesterday! Duh! Build a house but make sure you build it next to a hospital, fire or police dept. Looks like restoration moved from West to East. I guess I'll have power next year. I have to run a generator due to a sick child. Have spent 700.00 in fuel. I live paycheck to paycheck and my job is still out. Where's my FEMA help. My application for assistance was denied because I didn't report any disaster related damage. Just haven't had power since the 12th. GO FIGURE!!

[Richard]

77080 was supposed to have power yesterday. CenterPoint is lying and they are stupids and retards.

[Maplewood West 77071]

Hey Centerpoint is full of great new nothing as day 11 with no power comes and goes for 77071. Our subdivision Maplewood West has cleared all our trees and hauled it away ourselves out of our own pockets. So we can sit in the dark eating camp style in our driveways getting bitten by giant mosquitoes. I got news for Houston and Centerpoint, you suck! We are tax payers and we got nothing, not a truck, not a light, not a POD, no ice no nothing. Only the strong kindness of neighbors helping neighbors and pooling our sweat and $$ into getting by without power. If we had lines we would install the power ourselves! This is a shame that Houston has no value towards its citizens, only throwing away power to Galveston, where there ain't no houses to give power to. Clearly Centerpoint and Houston were not prepared for this storm. And they are showing how worthless they are as a city. And I can't wait to leave Houston and take my taxes with me!

[Terry136]

Sounds like the only b*tch most people have is they didn't have electricity by the time Ike was out of Harris county. I got news for you people -- it takes TIME to repair the damage done by Mother Nature. Maybe you should ride along with a line crew for a day. I'm sure you would have a better appreciation of what they're doing for YOU in an effort to get power restored.

[Vampire in Nassau Bay]

Living down the street from the Hilton Hotel in Nassau Bay is equivalent of being the red-headed stepchild.

Just about every part of Nassau Bay has power EXCEPT the little corner ALWAYS forgotten in Nassau Bay.

Following Rita, we were without power for three days. Now we're on day 12 with NO SIGHT of a power truck anywhere.

The lines are hanging beautifully, yet no one appears to even be checking them out.

'nuff said, Mr. Mayor.

[Richard]

For Tery136: go sleep with your Mother Nature.
We work and do not have time to ride along with the line crew. "it takes TIME to repair the damage" - It past 10 days you STUPID.

[Terry136]

For Richard:
How many power poles did centerpoint have to replace? How many transformers had to be replaced? How many miles of new cable did they have to string? You obviously don't have the answer to any of these questions, so you're in no position to say how long it should take them to get the job done. It appears as though YOU are the stupid one. Trying to GUESS how long it should take Centerpoint to repair the damage when you don't even know what the damage is.

Get a life, and get a grip. And move to a state that doesn't have hurricanes.

[no power in kingwood]

For Terry,

Yes we may not know how long it takes to repair the lines, however I do know that the crews were only out for a few hours today in the back of Kingwood and nowhere in sight after 5 pm - THEY AREN'T DOING A VERY EFFICIENT JOB - SITTING WITH A LOT OF IDLE TIME WHILE THEY WERE HERE - THEY AREN'T WORKING 24/7 like Centerpoint is trying to lead us to believe they are.

[Woodlands in the Dark]

We are on day 12 without power in The Woodlands 77382. I am frustrated with the lack of power, but I remind myself of the monsterous task that Centerpoint is taking on right now. It cannot be easy. Do I wish we were the first restored? Yes! But that was not to be my luck. I am just thankful I am not one of the ones in Galveston whose home is gone. Hopefully the lights will be back on soon.

[Gerardus M. Smit]

After nine days without power at Windfern Gardens subdivision in 77040, we finally got power back Tuesday evening. Ike' damage had been finally been repaired. On Thursday at 1:00 PM CP caused a failure through their own actions and the area around West Road between BW8 and Windfern Road lost power. It took CP one hour before power returned with the result that half of Windfern Gardens homes remained without power. CP confirmed on the phone that they had caused the problem but did not have enough personell to fix the problem and we would simply have to wait. This comment about not having enough personell to fiw their problem is a flat contradiction to CP comments on TV that they had no need for additional people as they would only get in each others way. CP was either lying or incompetent. They need clean-up crews to fix those areas they have bypassed leaving darkness in a sea of light. I have not been impressed with CP performance.