Providing electricity transmission and distribution in for Houston and many surrounding cities, Centerpoint is one of the largest TDUs in Texas.
Below you will find Centerpoint power outage information, convenient links for real time power outage maps and Centerpoint outage trackers, and severe weather information for the Houston area.
You’ll also find information to help you with home insurance claims related to the storm and power outage, and important move-in, usage, and rate data.
Please note that Centerpoint has removed their power outage map at this time. To sign up for alerts about power outages, use their Power Alert Service.
Centerpoint Power Outages
For Houston power outages, call Centerpoint Energy’s power outage number at 800-332-7143. Also, the Centerpoint Outage Tracker Map provides a local map and the status of electric outages at the street level. To check the impact of an electric outage on your energy usage, view your usage data using your address and ESID at Smart Meter Texas.
Check our power outage phone guide for energy provider numbers. Below are the best immediate resources for you to determine the status of a Centerpoint outage and weather conditions in your area.
Centerpoint energy outage map and outage tracker
As the Transmission and Distribution Utility company (TDU or TDSP) in the Houston area, Centerpoint Energy corrects power outages, checks meters, and maintains the wires, poles and electric infrastructure.
The company serves more than 2 million customers and its Centerpoint Electric Outage Center provides a range of information.
Please note that Centerpoint has removed their outage map at this time. This is because of functionality issues caused by excessive traffic due to the recent severe thunderstorms in the Houston area.
To find the latest outage numbers and power restoration times, visit their Centerpoint Outage Tracker page. This page provides helpful outage information, with updates every 15 minutes.
You can also get power alerts by signing up for their Power Alert Service.
They’re working hard to find a replacement for the outage map as soon as possible. When they do, we’ll update this page with that information.
When the Centerpoint Outage Tracking Map is live, it allows you to:
- Enter your street and intersection for a more granular view of power outages
- Sign up for power outage alerts by text, phone call, or email
- View the number of unplanned and planned Centerpoint outages by city, county, and zip code
- View the number of customers without power in each area as indicated by this legend:
New improvements on the CenterPoint Outage Tracker:
- Enhanced service maps
- Clickable outage clusters for easy navigation and outage info
- Ongoing updates to estimated restoration times
- Updated Centerpoint outage causes to provide more transparency to customers
- New message templates for Power Alert Service (PAS) registered customers
Best weather sites in Houston: maps and alerts
- KPRC Channel 2 TV: weather alerts
- KTRK Channel 13 TV: Accuweather and radar
- KHOU Channel 11 TV: weather and radar
- Weather.com: Houston weather map
- National Weather Service: Houston-Galveston map
Here is Houston’s current temperature and forecast summary.
Texas Cities Serviced by Centerpoint Energy
Below are the top largest Texas cities serviced by Centerpoint Energy. Click the links for more info on the cheapest electricity plans and everything else related to home electricity in your area, including power outage information, businesses with energy-savings products and services, EV dealerships and charging stations, and more.
Outage info, maps, and numbers for other deregulated areas of Texas
Oncor Electric Outages: Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area (including Arlington, Plano, Garland, Irving and other nearby cities).
American Electric Power (AEP) Outages: Central/South Texas (including Corpus Christi, Abilene, McAllen, Harlingen, San Angelo, Vernon, Victoria, and Laredo).
Texas-New Mexico Power (TNMP) Outages: North, West, and Gulf Coast regions (including Texas City, League City, Alvin, Brazoria, Fort Stockton, and Lewisville).
Sharyland/Oncor Outages: West, Central, and Southern regions (including Arlington, Plano, Garland, and Irving).
During an outage, call the TDU, not the REP
When an electricity outage occurs, you’ll receive faster service by contacting the TDU rather than the retail electricity company (also called an energy provider or light company) who sells you electricity in Texas.
It’s helpful to understand the difference between the TDU and retail electric company. We also offer a list of Texas utility company phone numbers you can call in Texas when an outage occurs based on your zone.
To contact your electricity company, you’ll find phone numbers as well as other contact points and in-depth information on the top providers in Texas on our Electricity Companies page.
For discount rates on energy plans from some of the top-rated providers in Texas, enter your zip code at the top of this page or visit our pages in our table for the top providers shown below.
Top electricity providers in Centerpoint service area
Below are the top energy companies which reside within the Centerpoint service area. You can find detailed plans on our pages for each of the providers shown in the table below:
Use Smart Meter Texas to check the impact of an outage on your usage
In the event of a Houston power outage, to check the impact that an outage has on your energy usage in a given month, go to Smart Meter Texas to access your meter usage data.
For quick tips on getting the most out of your Smart Meter data, be sure to read our guide about Smart Meters.
Protect yourself from rate spikes due to demand surges cause by outages
Electricity events such as outages caused by excess electricity demand can result in large energy rate spikes. These events can create significant increases in your monthly energy bills if you’re not on a fixed-rate plan. Demand spikes especially occur in hot summer months.
Electricity Rates: if you’re on a variable rate plan such as a month-to-month plan, index rate plan, or wholesale rate plan that floats with the market, you can avoid painful bill surprises by protecting yourself with a low-cost fixed-rate plan from trusted Houston electricity companies. You can also check out business electricity rates and receive a custom quote.
Use our Electricity Fact Label Guide to understand how to determine whether an electricity plan is a good fit in relation to your home’s usage history. Here are links for other information:
- Electricity Providers – The 10 You Can Trust in Texas
- Compare Electricity Rates
- Free Electricity (Free Nights and Weekends)
- No Deposit Electric Companies
- Electric Company Near Me
Houston Electricity Promo Code Deals: Use our exclusive Houston energy promo codes to get discounts off the regular Houston electricity rates of the best electric companies in Texas.
Power outage insurance claims
Local residents can sustain property damage as a result of Houston power outages, such as during winter outages when homes can have burst pipes and sewer backups. If your property is damaged, there are some important things to keep in mind, according to Wham & Rogers, one of the top law firms that handles insurance claims in the area:
- Read your homeowner’s insurance policy carefully. It likely contains conditions about giving prompt notice of damage, and how and to whom you must give notice. Some insurance companies will use any failure to comply with conditions to deny claims. If you have already missed deadlines, you should still make an effort to comply; “substantial” (but not precise) compliance is often enough to protect your rights.
- Make sure to document all your damage by taking pictures and keeping copies of any repair quotes you receive. Save and bag all damaged materials.
- Do not give into pressure from an insurance company to accept a quick settlement before fully evaluating your damage.
- If your insurance company denies your claim, don’t simply take their word for it. After crises like this one, some insurers will start by issuing blanket denials of coverage (this happened after Hurricane Harvey, too). Your property damage may be covered even if your insurer says otherwise.
If you feel that your insurer has denied your claim in bad faith or is undervaluing your property damage, or if you simply want assistance navigating the process, you may wish to visit the Wham & Rogers website or call them for a free initial visit at 832-592-1108. You can also text them at 832-413-1428 or email Rene Rogers at renerogers@whamandrogers.com.
The information above is being offered to assist our site visitors whose homes have been damaged due to the storm, and is not an advertisement. Wham & Rogers is a well established, reputable law firm based in The Woodlands, and Home Energy Club has periodically used its services.
What to do in case of a Centerpoint power outage?
- Electrical surges that take place after power outages can damage your electronic devices—disconnect your electronic devices after a power outage.
- Check with your neighbors to make sure that the outage is not only at your home.
- Keep your freezer and refrigerator closed.
- If it’s cold, don’t use a gas stove to heat your home.
- Try to find a power source for supplying power-dependent medical devices if you have any.
- Go to another location in case of an urgent need for cooling or heat.
After disconnecting electronic devices (until the power comes back on), find the TDU number to call and learn when the outage will be over. If you have an urgent need for heating or cooling, relocate if you can safely do so. This is especially critical if you have older adults or young children at your home.
When using a generator, place it outside your home and keep it away from any windows. In case you live far away from the nearest city or town and you often rely on your generator, it’s advised to have an emergency fuel supply.
If it’s cold and you can’t move to a warmer location, don’t ever use a gas stove for heating, as it can cause harmful consequences.
The best thing to do if you have frequent power outages is to prepare for them beforehand by having batteries or other power sources that you can rely on whenever an outage takes place. It’s also helpful to have a landline home phone available—they work without electricity so you can make calls in case of emergencies. It’s also important to have an extra power source for any kind of medical devices you may have.
Now that you have the right number for the electric company to call in case of a power outage, make sure to keep it in a safe place that you can remember, or even save it in your phone.
Starting Your Centerpoint Service
Below is step-by-step information for residents moving into homes with an existing meter and without a meter in the Houston area.
3 easy steps to start service in Houston with a meter installed
Here are the steps if the home you’re moving into already has a meter:
- Choose an electric company (also called a retail electricity provider or light company)
- See a list of electric companies in Texas, a list of the top 10 electric companies, and then compare electricity rates in Houston by entering your zip code.
- Read our Savvy Shopper’s Guide guide for choosing the right electricity plan for your home.
- Read our guide about all things Houston electricity, from energy rates to EV charging stations and companies that help reduce your energy usage.
- If you need to change or upgrade your existing meter or energy transmission to your home, find a Centerpoint Service Center near you.
- Enroll in an energy plan from the electric company you choose. You can view vetted plans from trusted energy providers and enroll online in less than 10 minutes on our homepage.
- Your new electric company will send an order to start service to Centerpoint Energy. When Centerpoint receives the order, they’ll turn on your electricity on the date you request, assuming that the weather and their inventory of other jobs permits.
5 steps to start service in Houston with no meter installed
Here are the steps you’ll need to take if your new home does not have a meter installed:
- Call Centerpoint Energy at one of the following numbers:
- Whether you’re a homeowner or a business owner, call 713-207-2222 to have Centerpoint create an Electric Service Identifier number (ESI ID).
- Choose an electric company (also called a retail electricity provider or light company) at least 2 business days after you receive your ESI ID number.
- See a list of electric companies in Texas, a list of the top 10 electric companies, and a list of the lowest rates in Houston by entering your zip code.
- Read our Savvy Shopper’s Guide for choosing the right electricity plan for your home.
- Read our guide about all things related to Houston electricity, from rates to EV charging stations to service companies that help reduce your energy usage.
- Enroll in an energy plan from the electric company you choose. You can view vetted plans from trusted providers and enroll online in less than 10 minutes on our home page.
- Your new electric company will send an order to start service to Centerpoint Energy. When Centerpoint receives the order, they’ll turn on your electricity generally within 7 business days of the date you request, assuming that the weather and their workload other jobs permits.
- Obtain your permit by checking with the permitting entity for your area. Call 713-207-2222 or 800-332-7143 for more information.
Need help with electricity terminology? Read our handy glossary of terms related to electricity.
About Centerpoint Energy
Centerpoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 140 years.
In 1866, Houston Gas Light Company was formed to supply gas made from oyster shells and coal for the street lights in a coastal village in southeast Texas. In 1882, the company, operating as Houston Electric Light & Power, was granted a franchise by the Houston City Council. For the next century, HL&P generated electricity for sale and delivery to retail customers in the Houston area.
The company was renamed Reliant Energy in 1999, and with the restructuring of the electricity market in Texas, the retail electric division was spun off as Reliant Resources and the company also sold off its electric generation assets. The remaining regulated energy transmission company (TDU) was named Centerpoint Energy, servicing the greater Houston area.
Houston is located in a deregulated energy zone in Texas, where consumers can choose their electricity provider and receive competitive energy rates.
Examples of regulated Texas cities with energy monopolies include Austin, San Antonio, and Beaumont. In other states, examples of utilities in regulated cities which provide power include: the Los Angeles Dept. of Water & Power (which provides electricity and corrects power outages in Los Angeles), and San Diego Gas and Electric.
Examples of combination energy provider-TDUs in other de-regulated states include Con Edison, which corrects power outages in New York City, and PECO which corrects power outages in Philadelphia.
Power Outage Maps for Cities in Houston Area
|
City Power Outage Map |
Transmission and Distribution Utility (TDU) Servicing City |
| Houston power outage map | Centerpoint outage |
| Tomball power outage map | Centerpoint outage |
| Kingwood power outage map | Centerpoint outage |
| The Woodlands power outage map | Entergy outage |
| Spring power outage map | Centerpoint outage |
| Jersey Village power outage map | Centerpoint outage |
| Aldine power outage map | Centerpoint outage |
| Humble power outage map | Centerpoint outage |
| Katy power outage map | Centerpoint outage |
| Sugar Land power outage map | Centerpoint outage |
| Rosenberg power outage map | Centerpoint outage |
| Pearland power outage map | Centerpoint outage |
| La Porte power outage map | Centerpoint outage |
| Galveston power outage map | Centerpoint outage |
| Missouri City power outage map | Centerpoint outage |
| Friendswood power outage | TNMP outage |
| League City power outage map | TNMP outage |
| Alvin power outage map | TNMP outage |
| Texas City power outage map | TNMP outage |
| Brazoria power outage map | TNMP outage |
| Angleton power outage map | TNMP outage |
Centerpoint Power Outage Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for power to be turned on after an outage?
Transmission and Distribution Utilities (TDUs) such as Centerpoint in Houston transmit electricity and read meters, and are responsible for turning your power back on. The amount of time required to correct an outage varies depending on conditions. Here’s where you can find answers if you’re experiencing a Centerpoint outage:
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- Check Home Energy Club’s outage guide and phone list to learn who to call to get your power turned back on in case of an outage.
- Read power outage and weather updates, and view your Houston-area outage tracking map.
Why did my electric bill increase after a power outage?
Excess power demand which causes power outages can also cause electricity commodity price spikes. If you aren’t enrolled in a fixed-rate electricity plan in Texas, your utility bill could have an ugly bill surprise following price spikes caused by demand surges. Here are resources to help you:
- Fixed-rate plans from top electricity providers in the Houston area can help protect you from price spikes.
- Checkyour energy usage by viewing our Smart Meter Texas guide, and visit SmartMeterTexas.com to see your historical usage data collected by Centerpoint.
Where do I report a power outage in Houston?
If you experience a power outage in the Houston area, you should always call Centerpoint’s power outage number at 800-332-7143.
You can also report a Centerpoint power outage by visiting their power outage map on the Centerpoint Outage Page. You can look at the outage tracker on that page for updated Houston outage information. If you have a different TDU, such as Entergy in The Woodlands/Conroe area and TNMP south of Houston, you can view our guide on who to call if you have a power outage.
What causes power outages?
Bad weather is the most common cause of power outages. Lightning strikes during thunderstorms can disrupt power. Flooding, ice storms, and strong winds that knock down trees are among other leading causes of power outages.
Utility companies also must undergo maintenance to provide the best service, so sometimes power outages are scheduled.
How long is refrigerated food okay during a power outage?
Studies show that food can last up to 4 hours in a fridge without power. To help your perishables last as long as possible, keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
To ensure that you have enough food, stock up on non-perishable foods and keep a supply throughout the year in case of an emergency.
What’s the first thing I should do during a power outage?
The first thing you should do if your power goes out is to unplug all your electronic devices. If power is restored while they are plugged in, the surge of electricity can heavily damage or destroy your devices.
It’s advisable to have all of your electronics plugged into surge protectors, especially in case you aren’t home during an outage.
