We’ve heard from more of you who are dealing with issues of repeat power outages and frustration with CenterPoint Energy.
RELATED: CenterPoint’s LIVE power outage tracker in Houston area
KPRC 2 Investigates reporter Amy Davis is answering your questions and has what you need to know.
We have received more than 40 messages in less than two months from people saying they lost appliances and paid hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars, to replace and repair electronics in their homes and businesses. This is because of outages and the power surges that followed when electricity came back on.
CenterPoint’s liability agreement
Earlier this summer, we reported that CenterPoint has an agreement with the state that says the utility company is not liable for customers’ property damage caused by equipment malfunctions, weather, or other factors.
How to file a complaint with the Public Utility Commission
If you’re experiencing repeated outages or damage, you can file a complaint online with the Public Utility Commission. When filing, explain how many times you lost power at your home over the last one or two years, how long each outage lasted, and what caused it.
MORE: CenterPoint Energy negotiating to raise Houston electric rates
The PUC will request this information from CenterPoint.
Results: This process has helped many customers get the utility’s attention, resulting in visits from tree trimmers, calls from supervisors requesting more information, and some acknowledgment of the issues. It also creates an official record of the outages and surges.
Learn how to file a complaint with the PUC.
CenterPoint’s rate increase request
CenterPoint is currently requesting a $1.3 billion rate increase to recover costs spent restoring power after Hurricane Beryl. The city of Houston and other cities in CenterPoint’s service area say that amount is too high.
We have learned a settlement was reached Tuesday, though details are not yet public.
The new negotiated amount will be presented to an administrative judge this month for approval.
We will continue to monitor this story and keep you informed about how these developments could affect your electric bill.
