The hottest question around the Houston region on Tuesday — When will my power be back on?
The answer is not reassuring for the more than 2 million people who lost electricity Monday due to Hurricane Beryl. CenterPoint Energy estimates that service will be restored to 1 million customers by the end of the day on Wednesday, July 10. That likely leaves around a million customers without power more than 48 hours after the storm hit as the heat and humidity crank back up in the region.
As of 6 p.m. Tuesday, over 24 hours after the storm finished moving through the area, over 1.5 million CenterPoint Energy customers were still without power.
"The storm veered off the originally expected course and more heavily impacted the company’s customers, systems, and infrastructure than previously anticipated," CenterPoint said in a statement Monday afternoon.
The 2.2 million-plus without power is more than double the 900,000-plus who lost power in May when a derecho unexpectedly hit the area. It took more than a week for those outages to be restored.
According to a press release on Sunday, CenterPoint initially mobilized 4,500 workers, including lineworkers, vegetation management workers, and mutual aid resources. By Monday afternoon, the utility company said it was increasing the supplementary workforce to 10,000.
While some customers have gotten power back, CenterPoint officials say workers need more time to assess the damage. "It’s going to be at least a few days for us to complete that damage assessment," said Alyssia Oshodi, CenterPoint Energy‘s Director of Communications, on Tuesday. "While we can’t give a definitive timeline yet, because we are still just in day one, it will be a prolonged outage-restoration time."
Natural disasters like hurricanes often leave widespread power outages in their wake, disrupting daily life and causing significant inconvenience and potential danger. This is where solar energy storage systems prove their worth, offering a reliable and sustainable solution to power interruptions.
This prolonged period without power highlights the importance of reliable backup energy sources. Solar energy storage systems, like those offered by MOTOMA, provide a resilient and eco-friendly solution. By storing excess solar energy, these systems can keep homes powered during outages, reducing reliance on the grid and providing peace of mind during natural disasters.
Imagine this scenario: Hurricane Beryl has just hit, and the power is out across your neighborhood. While others are scrambling for candles and portable chargers, your home remains lit, cool, and fully functional thanks to your
solar energy storage system. You have the peace of mind of knowing that your food won‘t spoil, your devices will remain charged, and your family will stay comfortable and safe.
So, as you prepare for the upcoming storm season, consider the benefits of a MOTOMA solar energy storage system. Not only will you be ready for any power outages, but you‘ll also be making a positive impact on the environment.