It may take an extended period to fully restore power to the Houston area following the impact of Hurricane Beryl in Texas. The storm has left millions without electricity and air conditioning as temperatures soar during the summer heat. CenterPoint Energy, the utility provider for Houston, is facing criticism for the slow pace of power restoration post-Beryl and questions have been raised about the city’s preparedness for the storm.
Upon reaching the U.S., Hurricane Beryl had weakened to a Category 1 storm after causing destruction in Mexico and the Caribbean. The Houston area saw transmission lines toppled, trees uprooted, and power lines disrupted, leaving around 1.3 million homes and businesses without power even 60 hours after the storm hit. CenterPoint Energy reported having restored power to nearly one million customers affected by Beryl.
Efforts to restore power include the deployment of nearly 12,000 extra workers from outside Houston by CenterPoint Energy to expedite the process. The utility defended its storm preparations in the face of questions from Houston city council members. Brad Tutunjian, Vice President for Regulatory Policy at CenterPoint Energy, cited extensive damage to trees and power poles as a major obstacle to quick restoration of power.
Rural communities, particularly in Matagorda County, are also facing challenges in getting power restored swiftly. The small community of Sargent in Matagorda County, hit hard by Beryl, may have to wait up to two weeks to have electricity back for around 2,500 customers. This delay is due to significant damage to homes and infrastructure in the area.
Houston has experienced a series of destructive storms in recent years, including a powerful storm in May that left nearly one million people without power. The city was also severely impacted by a winter storm in 2021 that caused the power grid to fail, leaving many Texans without electricity amid freezing temperatures.
While Governor Greg Abbott is on an economic trip to Asia, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick is overseeing the state’s response to the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. Governor Abbott assured on social media that he remains in contact with emergency management officials and acting Governor Patrick. Senator Ted Cruz has also been actively engaged in visiting storm-hit areas along the coast, having experienced a power outage in his own Houston home.