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TPUC Issues Final Report On “Investigation Of Emergency Preparedness and Response by Utilities in Houston and Surrounding Communities
From the Executive Summary:
{***} Background and Objectives
In May and July 2024, two major weather events tested utilities in the Greater Houston area. A fast-moving thunderstorm called a derecho hit Southeast Texas in May with winds over 100 MPH, damaging electric infrastructure and causing over 1 million power outages. In July, Hurricane Beryl made Iandfall in Matagorda Bay, disrupting electric service for 2.7 million customers, including 2.2 million CenterPoint customers.
To restore power, utilities had to clear vegetation and debris and fix damaged infrastructure. Even a week after Hurricane Beryl hit, hundreds of thousands of Texans were still without power, making daily life difficult.
On July 14, 2024, Governor Greg Abbott directed the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) to thoroughly review how well utilities in the Greater Houston area were prepared for and responded to these severe weather events.
The investigation had these goals:
- Determine how well utilities in the Greater Houston area were prepared for and responded to severe weather events, especially the power outages after the May 2024 derecho and Hurricane Beryl.
- Develop recommendations for utilities and the Legislature to reduce the length and impact of power outages after following future storms and recommend possible changes to Commission rules. {***}
Final Report (11/21/2024)
56822 (0715/2024)
See: PUCurrenT – 2024 Year End Review
Investigation Of Emergency Preparedness And Response By Utilities In Houston And Surrounding Communities
