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The smart energy newsletter from CenterPoint Energy June 2015, No. 19
Linemen advance to state rodeo
My Energy InSight
SM
Three line mechanic teams and three apprentices will represent CenterPoint Energy at the 19th Annual
Texas Lineman’s Rodeo in Seguin on July 18 and the International Lineman’s Rodeo in Kansas this October.
These linemen advanced following their performances at the IBEW Local 66 Rodeo, which was held in April.
Teams competed this year in four apprentice events, four journeyman events and two helper events.
The advancing teams are Patrick Huff (Spring Branch),
Brandon Rustin (Katy), and James Candelari (Spring
Branch); Raymond Goyer, Jeff Clapp, and Terry Phillips
(Cypress); Raymond Phillips, Matthew McGinn and
Darrel Harrison (Spring Branch); and apprentices Shawn
Wassgren (Greenspoint), Justin Sommerfeld (Fort Bend)
and Tyler Hilborn (Galveston).
Ollie Scott, head line mechanic at Electric Operations’
Bellaire Service Center, recently participated in the
filming of a special TV program titled “Hurricane
Heroes,” which was shown earlier this month on KHOU
Channel 11 in Houston. Hurricane season continues
through Nov. 30.
What was your role in “Hurricane Heroes”?
I was asked to represent the linemen of CenterPoint
Energy. The program recognizes the many people who
See My Energy InSight on next page
CenterPoint Energy continues to lead
with smart grid technology
The smart energy
newsletter from
CenterPoint Energy
Page 2
More than five years after receiving a $200 million federal Smart Grid Investment Grant from the U.S. Department
of Energy for the acceleration of smart meter installations and Intelligent Grid (IG) construction, CenterPoint Energy
continues to lead the nation in electric grid optimization. The company was one of only six utilities awarded the
maximum grant amount by the DOE in 2009, with $150 million used toward smart meter installations and the
remaining $50 million toward construction of the IG system.
“Through these advancements in smart grid technology, made possible in part by the Department of Energy, we
have seen significant improvement in reliability, and are able to provide better service to customers and improve air
quality in our community,” said Kenny Mercado, senior vice president of Electric Operations. “This is a large step
forward for CenterPoint Energy and will provide the basis for long-term advancements in how we operate
our system.”
Dr. Franklin Orr, undersecretary for Science and Energy of the U.S. Department of Energy, said, “I want to thank
CenterPoint Energy publicly for their partnership and congratulate them and all the businesses who worked so
closely with them on the successful completion of the ambitious grid modernization project. Houston’s grid is more
resilient and more efficient and enhances consumer experience, all at the same time.”
Smart meter surcharge ends
CenterPoint Energy announced last month
that the $3.05 monthly residential smart meter
surcharge that had been recovered through a
charge to retail electric providers has ended.
CenterPoint Energy began installing and
recovering the cost for its advanced metering
system (AMS) through a monthly surcharge to all
REPs beginning in early 2009.
Department of Energy Undersecretary Orr (left) receiving a demo of our new
Advanced Distribution Management System, the intelligent grid’s “brain.”
are counted on to get the Houston area up and running
again after a hurricane. I took KHOU meteorologist
David Paul up in a bucket truck and showed him how
we make repairs to our power lines, transformers and
other equipment if a major storm causes a power outage.
We set up a simulation at the Bellaire Service Center,
so he was able to get a hands-on experience while still
being safe. I think my part of the program will help our
customers appreciate the challenges our crews face
when they’re working long hours, handling high-voltage
equipment and going from one location to another over a
widespread area.
“There is more to
restoring power than
just flipping a switch.”
Why did KHOU want to include a CenterPoint
Energy line mechanic in the special?
It was a great opportunity to educate the public on the
types of issues that are common after a storm, and
what exactly we have to do to get the power back on.
It’s important for customers to see that there is more to
restoring power than just flipping a switch. Sometimes
it’s hard to understand why it’s taking so long to get your
lights and air conditioning back on, so this was a great
way to show what we have to do and why it may take
longer than you might expect. It’s also a reminder of why
it’s so important to be prepared for hurricane season
and the extended power outages that can result when
a region has widespread damage. A lot of customers
remember the impact of Hurricane Ike in 2008 and
Hurricane Rita in 2005. Our company has made major
investments to make the electric grid more resilient, but
in this region, hurricanes and strong thunderstorms are
inevitable.
CNP responds to severe storms in Houston
The smart energy
newsletter from
CenterPoint Energy
A severe storm system swept through the Houston area in late May, leaving up to 11 inches
of flood waters, extensive damage to electrical facilities and hundreds of thousands of power
outages. CenterPoint Energy crews worked around the clock to restore power, an effort that
was made more difficult by slow-receding flood waters and flooded underground lines.
How big was the storm?
• An estimated 162 billion gallons of water fell on Harris County, enough to fill the A­ strodome
511 times.
• During the height of the storm, there were 2,100 lightning strikes in a 15-minute period.
Page 3
• Wind speeds reached tropical storm-force levels, one gust reaching 100 miles per hour.
You can take steps to be prepared for the next severe storm by registering for our free Power
Alert ServiceSM, which will alert you when your power goes out and sends updates about when
power will be restored. Visit CenterPointEnergy.com/PowerAlertService to register or change
your preferences.
DID YOU KNOW?
We recently hosted a Twitter chat with the Houston Office of
Emergency Management and the National Weather Service to
mark the start of hurricane season. Here are a few vital pieces of
information to know going into hurricane season:
•Flooded appliances need to dry for 1 week and be checked by a
repairman before turning back on.
•When a major storm is forecast, you should plan to be without
power for an extended amount of time:
HURRICANE
WIND SPEED
EST OUTAGE
CATEGORY 1
74-95 mph (64-85 kt)
7-10 days
CATEGORY 2
96-110 mph (83-95 kt)
2-3 weeks
CATEGORY 3
111-130 mph (96-113 kt)
3-5 weeks
CATEGORY 4
131-155 mph (114-135 kt)
4-6 weeks
CATEGORY 5
≥156 mph (>136 kt)
6-8 weeks
•ALWAYS stay away from low-hanging or downed power lines.
Assume they are energized. Call us at 713-207-2222 to report
them.
Houston freeways were under water after the May storm, making it difficult for crews to reach damaged areas.
The smart energy
newsletter from
CenterPoint Energy
Page 4
What’s on YOUR mind?
Houstonians took to social media after last month’s storm to express their
appreciation for crews’ hard work to restore power under difficult circumstances:
Diana M. on Facebook: “So thankful for the guys who are working nonstop
to get everyone’s power back on. We were very happy to see them! These folks
should be appreciated for the work they do when these situations happen. I know
they want to finish this job as much as we want them to.”
Paul L. on Facebook: “It took 23 hours, but thank you, guys, for working hard to
restore our power. We have lots of families with kids in the apartment complex
and I’m glad they can all sleep well tonight.”
Joshua E. on Twitter: “Thanks for working so hard to restore our power! Crews
were at my house at 2 a.m. cutting trees and fixing a transformer.”
Creighton W. on Twitter: “A crew showed up about 2:30 a.m. with A LOT of
trucks/equipment. Looks like a big project ahead. Thanks, guys!”
Get low-cost LED bulbs at Efficiency
Connection
CenterPoint Energy, in conjunction with CLEAResult Consulting and Techniart,
currently offers ENERGY STAR®-rated LED bulbs at a reduced price through an LED
marketplace called Efficiency Connection. Visit www.techniart.com/cpe for more
discounted energy efficient products and pricing on various LED bulbs.
Summer energy efficiency tip:
• If your HVAC equipment is more than 10 years old, or if you’ve noticed it’s not
keeping your house comfortable in the summertime heat, consider replacing
it with ENERGY STAR-certified equipment, which has higher efficiency ratings
than standard models. Ask your contractor about following ENERGY STAR’s
Quality Installation Guidelines.
Additional tips to save
energy and money:
• Program your thermostat to save energy when you are away from home
• Seal leaky ducts
• Change your air filters regularly
GOT QUESTIONS?
WE’VE GOT THE ANSWERS …
There are four ways you can contact us in order to get the
answers you need:
VIDEO OF THE MONTH:
Learn more about how CenterPoint Energy
restores power after a major storm at
YouTube.com/CenterPointEnergyvid.
CONNECT WITH CENTERPOINT ENERGY ON
FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND YOUTUBE
For energy tips, tools, and news, follow us @EnergyInSights.
For breaking news about service-related outages, follow us @CNPalerts.
1. Visit CenterPointElectric.com
If you’d like to connect with us on Facebook, find us at Facebook.com/CenterPointEnergy.
2. Email questions to EnergyInSight@CenterPointEnergy.com
Go to YouTube.com/CenterPointEnergyvid for more tips and tools to manage your energy use.
3. Call 713-207-2222 or 800-332-7143
4. Find us on Facebook and Twitter
©2015 CenterPoint Energy 145424