CenterPoint Energy to launch 100 weather stations across Houston metro ahead of hurricane season

AI generated summary

CenterPoint Energy is set to launch a network of 100 weather stations across the Greater Houston area before the hurricane season begins on June 1. This initiative aims to enhance the utility's ability to forecast severe weather and allocate resources more effectively. As the first investor-owned utility in Texas to establish its own weather station network, CenterPoint seeks to improve its situational awareness and response capabilities in real-time, particularly in light of criticisms regarding its performance during last year's Hurricane Beryl.

The weather stations will monitor various metrics, including humidity, wind speed, temperature, and rainfall, updating every two to five minutes. This data will be shared with state and local governments and the public to bolster community preparedness. In addition to the weather stations, CenterPoint is reinforcing its electrical infrastructure by installing stronger poles, trimming trees near power lines, and burying some lines to better withstand hurricane impacts. The utility has also made staffing improvements, including hiring its first meteorologist, to enhance its operational readiness for future storms.