Storms and power outages

Reporting an outage

Power is delivered by CenterPoint Energy regardless of which retailer bills for it. In their own words: "We deliver but do not sell electricity."¹ Outage reports, restoration estimates and downed-line reports all go to CenterPoint. Calling the retail provider accomplishes nothing. See electricity.

Electric outage or downed line: 713-207-2222.¹ There is a separate number for a gas leak, 888-876-5786, and the two are not interchangeable.¹ CenterPoint also runs an outage tracker that updates "every five minutes".²

A downed line is always an emergency. CenterPoint's own instruction: "See a downed power line? Stay at least 35 feet away and call 911 and 713-207-2222."³

Generators

The City of Humble lists installing a generator among the works needing plans submitted.⁴ A permanent standby generator needs a transfer switch and a gas or propane line. Put one in without a permit and nothing happens right away. It turns up when you sell the house. Portable generators run outdoors and away from windows, never in a garage, attached or not.

Hurricane season

Runs June 1 to November 30. The hurricane center puts the peak at September 10, "with most activity occurring between mid-August and mid-October",⁵ so the risky stretch runs later than most people plan for. The same two things go wrong every season. People cannot fill a car because the pumps have no power, and people lose a freezer of food because nobody ever started the generator to check it.

Still open

• Which parts of Timberwood lose power first and come back last, which neighbors know precisely and no utility publishes
• Whether the neighborhood has any tree limbs consistently threatening service drops
• Which local tree services do storm work at reasonable notice, which belongs in Services

See also

• Flooding
• Electricity
• Who to call