Last Thursday, CenterPoint Energy deployed nearly 70 employees and support personnel from Houston to assist Austin Energy and Oncor with power restoration efforts due to the winter storm's extensive damage, resulting from freezing rain and fallen trees.
As hundreds of thousands of businesses and households across Central and East Texas remain without power, CenterPoint Energy has also provided more than 250 contractors and support personnel in the last few days to aid impacted utilities and their customers.
"Our thoughts are with those impacted by the winter storm. We are ready to lend a helping hand to our neighbor utilities and are fully committed to restoring power to affected customers as safely and quickly as possible," said Lynnae Wilson, CenterPoint Energy's Senior Vice President, Electric Business. "Our linemen are skilled to perform in any type of conditions, just like they do for our customers at home."
CenterPoint Energy crews will begin working 16-hour shifts after the safety and onboarding process is complete and will continue to take the necessary steps to protect the safety and well-being of customers, employees, contractors and communities.
CenterPoint Energy is part of electric utility mutual assistance programs that provide access to thousands of lineworkers and vegetation crews from around the country to lend a hand during widespread power outage emergencies. Coming to the aid of other utilities is nothing new to CenterPoint Energy employees. Over the years, crews have responded and restored power to hundreds of thousands of customers throughout the country who have been left in the dark following hurricanes, ice storms, tornadoes and severe thunderstorms.
