It’s been over a week since Hurricane Beryl hit Texas, and many residents are still without power. The storm, which was classified as a Category 1 hurricane, brought winds up to 97 miles per hour, causing significant damage by toppling trees and power lines. At its worst, nearly 2.2 million utility customers were left without electricity. As of Friday, thousands are still waiting for their power to be restored.
The situation has sparked frustration and blame among officials in Houston and across the state. The central issue being discussed is why it took so long to get power back on. The Texas Newsroom spoke with former elected officials and energy experts who agreed that the preparations before the storm were insufficient. They believe that better planning and preparation are needed before hurricane season starts.
Sylvester Turner, former Houston mayor and long-time state lawmaker, emphasized the need for improved preparedness. “The storms are coming more frequently and with greater intensity,” Turner said. “That means we need to be prepared well ahead of time.”
CenterPoint Energy, the main utility provider for the affected area, has faced intense scrutiny for its response to the storm. Turner believes the responsibility for the power outage and its slow resolution lies with not just the utility company, but also the state and city governments.
Issues with CenterPoint Energy
Fallen trees, which caused some deaths and outages, highlighted the need for better tree maintenance and more effective generators. The Houston Chronicle reported that CenterPoint Energy invested $800 million in 20 large generators, but 15 of them are not being used. These generators are reportedly too large and require time to set up, leading to delays in their deployment.
CenterPoint’s President and CEO, Jason Wells, explained that the large generators were not used because they are intended for “load shedding,” which involves shutting off power as directed by ERCOT, the state’s grid operator. However, Doug Lewin, an Austin-based energy expert, argued that this explanation doesn’t hold up. “We’ve only had three load-shedding events in 35 years,” Lewin said. “It doesn’t make sense to spend $800 million on mobile generators for such rare events.”
Lewin suggests that Texas needs more diverse and permanent power generation methods, including solar panels, wind power, and backup generators. He argues that such technologies are crucial for keeping essential facilities like assisted living centers and water treatment plants operational during storms.
Government’s Response
Governor Greg Abbott was criticized for not cutting short his business trip to Asia during the hurricane. Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, who acted as governor in Abbott’s absence, issued a disaster declaration before the storm and later formed a special committee to investigate CenterPoint’s response.
Upon returning to Texas, Abbott quickly addressed the situation, placing blame on CenterPoint and demanding answers. He wrote a letter to CenterPoint’s CEO, asking the company to address vegetation issues and improve its power restoration plans. Abbott also required CenterPoint to speed up its plan to replace old power poles with more resilient ones. If the company does not comply, Abbott warned that he might deny its request for rate increases or reconsider its service area.
Abbott also requested an investigation from the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) to determine whether the issues were due to personnel failures or infrastructure problems. The PUC has been given until December 1 to submit its findings.
Criticism of Policy Choices
While CenterPoint Energy faces heavy criticism, energy expert Doug Lewin believes that elected officials also share the blame. “They’ve chosen to spend billions on new gas plants that don’t help during hurricanes and allowed CenterPoint to spend $800 million on mobile generators that haven’t been effective,” Lewin said. He argues that policymakers need to improve regulatory and policy decisions to better serve Texans.
The Texas Newsroom reached out to Governor Abbott and Lt. Governor Patrick for comments but did not receive a response.
Also Read:
- Governor Abbott Demands Probe into Houston Power Outages After Beryl
- Houston Mother Fights for Justice After Rotten Tree Destroys Home in Hurricane Beryl
Looking Ahead
CenterPoint has promised to restore power to all customers by the end of Friday, July 19. As some Houstonians question their ability to stay in a city prone to frequent outages and flooding, Ed Emmett, former Harris County judge and current energy policy fellow at the Baker Institute, stresses the importance of better coordination and preparation for future storms. “It’s a reminder that you can’t take electricity for granted,” Emmett said. “You need to assume that a storm is coming your way and be ready.”
