CenterPoint details Houston winter storm impacts, outage restoration progress, and cold-weather safety guidance for residents

Winter weather keeps pressure on Houston-area infrastructure

CenterPoint Energy issued a winter storm status update for Greater Houston as freezing rain and ice created hazardous travel conditions and intermittent power interruptions across parts of its 12-county electric service territory. The utility reported that more than 99% of customers continued to have service during the event, while crews addressed scattered outages and monitored conditions for additional weather-related damage.

As of early Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, the company said roughly 2,000 customers were without electricity, representing less than 1% of the approximately 2.9 million electric customers it serves in the region. CenterPoint reported restoring about 27,000 customer outages since the storm’s impacts began Saturday morning.

Workforce mobilization and restoration operations

CenterPoint said it deployed an expanded restoration workforce of more than 3,300 workers to conduct damage assessments, repair weather-related equipment issues, and restore service. The company’s update emphasized ongoing work in field conditions that included high winds, precipitation, some ice accumulation and freezing temperatures.

As conditions evolved and outage totals remained comparatively limited, CenterPoint said it released more than 500 contracted frontline workers to support restoration efforts in other states that were experiencing heavier storm impacts, while maintaining significant staffing locally.

Outages remained relatively limited, but risks persisted

Outage totals fluctuated through the weekend. CenterPoint’s outage reports ranged from several thousand customers without power at certain points to lower levels later in the day, as restoration crews brought circuits back online and as localized damage was repaired. In the broader Texas picture, utilities in other regions reported larger outage totals than those seen in the Houston metro area.

Local conditions still posed significant safety risks beyond electricity. Ice on major roadways contributed to travel disruptions, and the combination of below-freezing temperatures and ongoing moisture increased the likelihood of refreezing and additional hazards overnight.

Safety guidance: downed lines, heating, and travel

CenterPoint’s public safety messaging focused on hazards that tend to increase during winter storms, particularly when ice or falling limbs can damage overhead lines.

• Residents should treat downed power lines as energized and dangerous and keep a safe distance.
• Customers experiencing outages were advised to avoid approaching damaged electrical equipment and to report issues through official utility channels.
• With temperatures expected to remain very low, residents were urged to take precautions when using supplemental heat and to follow local travel advisories as icing conditions persist.

CenterPoint said its crews would continue restoration work until remaining customers are returned to service, while monitoring for additional outages as cold conditions continue.

What happens next

CenterPoint indicated that crews would remain in the field to complete repairs and respond to any new outages triggered by ongoing winter weather. Residents across the Houston area were urged to plan for hard-freeze conditions, limit unnecessary travel during icy periods, and remain alert to changing conditions that can affect both the electric system and public safety.