CenterPoint Energy Enhances Houston’s Power Infrastructure for Storm Resilience
HOUSTON — CenterPoint Energy is proactively replacing traditional wooden power poles with more durable, storm-resilient structures intended to withstand severe weather as Houston prepares for the next major storm or hurricane.
This initiative is currently underway in various neighborhoods throughout Houston, including the Heights, where crews are replacing 50 poles as part of the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative.
Launched after Hurricane Beryl struck the area in July 2024—leaving over 2 million customers without power—this initiative aims to bolster the region’s infrastructure against future storms.
The new fiberglass poles can endure winds up to 132 miles per hour and are designed to flex rather than break if impacted by large branches or trees. “Instead of the pole breaking, the pole just bends and we can clear it, and it’ll go right back up, so we can get that power right back on for our customers,” explained Caroline Geiger, director of distribution programs at CenterPoint Energy.
Since the initiative’s launch in August 2024, CenterPoint has upgraded over 82,000 storm-resilient poles and equipment throughout its service area. The company has also trimmed or cleared over 13,000 miles of vegetation near power lines and installed over 800 automation devices known as “trip savers,” which can reboot a power line automatically without needing crew assistance. Over 20,000 hours of storm-prep training have been completed by workers as well.
“All of these upgrades reduce the frequency and duration of power outages for our customers,” Geiger added.
Residents can monitor the progress of resiliency projects in their neighborhoods through CenterPoint’s Community Progress Tracker.
