Houston’s$5.75B Grid Overhaul: Building a Storm-Proof Power Network

The plan addresses vulnerabilities exposed by extreme weather events like Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.

 


Image for illustration purposes.

Texas-based energy provider CenterPoint Energy has unveiled a $5.75 billion proposal to transform Houston’s power grid into the “most resilient coastal system in the US”.

Core Upgrades
The five-year plan focuses on four key infrastructure improvements:

  1. Underground Power Lines
    • Bury over 50% of overhead cables to protect against wind damage
    • Modernise 34,500 spans of existing underground lines
  2. Structural Reinforcements
    • Strengthen 130,000 power poles with advanced materials
    • Rebuild/upgrade 2,200+ transmission towers
  3. Flood Protection
    • Elevate critical substations above 500-year flood levels
    • Waterproof equipment at 450+ distribution sites
  4. Smart Grid Technology
    • Install 5,000+ automation devices for real-time fault detection
    • Migrate outage management systems to cloud platforms

Operational Improvements

  • Implement three-year vegetation trimming cycles for transmission corridors
  • Deploy mobile substations for rapid disaster response
  • Expand workforce training programmes for storm recovery

Expected Outcomes

  • 30% improvement in overall grid resilience
  • £39 million/year reduction in storm-related repair costs
  • Prevent outages for 500,000+ customers during major storms
  • Faster restoration times through automated fault isolation

Driving Factors

  • Population Growth: Houston adds 60,000+ customers annually (equivalent to Waco, Texas)
  • Regulatory Mandate: 2023 Texas law requiring utilities to submit resiliency plans
  • Industrial Demand: Supports critical facilities like the Port of Houston and Texas Medical Centre

Context
The proposal follows criticism of CenterPoint’s Hurricane Beryl response, where emergency generators saw limited use. It aligns with broader Texas grid upgrades, including Oncor’s approved £2.4 billion plan and Entergy’s £109 million initiative.

CEO Jason Wells stated: “These targeted investments will deliver fewer outages, faster repairs, and long-term value for our growing customer base.” Approval from Texas’ Public Utility Commission is pending.

Source: Utility Dive