Houstonians expressed anger over prolonged power outages following Hurricane Beryl during a Public Utility Commission meeting. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick criticized CenterPoint Energy’s response and called for CEO Jason Wells to step down, while residents voiced concerns about rising energy bills and service delays.
On Saturday, the Harris County Department of Education was the site of a gathering of residents and state leaders who expressed their dissatisfaction with CenterPoint Energy's management of the extended power disruptions that occurred in the wake of Hurricane Beryl. The community was able to directly address the utility company's response to the storm and concerns over potential overcharges during the uncommon Houston meeting of the Public Utility Commission (PUC).
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick criticized CenterPoint during his 25-minute address, questioning a contract for mobile generators that, according to Patrick, "were not actually mobile" and citing the company's slow recovery efforts. He also addressed the matter of overcharging customers, citing KPRC's recent interview with CenterPoint CEO Jason Wells, who denied that the company had overcharged customers by $100 million.
Patrick urged the PUC to take action, stating, "I cannot say I am proud of the work of CenterPoint." He demanded Wells' resignation, asserting that the CEO had neglected to furnish clear responses concerning the organization's financial procedures. Patrick stated, "It is not a matter of personal preference, Mr. Wells; however, CenterPoint requires a robust leader."
A significant number of Houstonians, many of whom had been without electricity for more than ten days following the hurricane, attended the meeting, which was livestreamed and commenced at 9 a.m. Residents were required to wait for over three hours before they were permitted to express their frustration with the extended power disruptions and their apprehensions regarding the increasing cost of energy.
Carol Alvarado, the state senator, also addressed the PUC, holding them accountable for the problems that residents encountered. She encouraged the commission to conduct an audit or investigation into CenterPoint's response prior to the upcoming legislative session. Alvarado cautioned, "If this is not resolved, lawmakers will implement modifications."
Houston residents and leaders demanded accountability, transparency, and enhancements in the manner in which CenterPoint Energy manages future crises as the meeting progressed.
