CenterPoint not ready to commit to Gov. Abbot’s demands on tree maintenance

Last weekend, Gov. Greg Abbott called on CenterPoint to make changes moving forward to avoid what happened in the wake of Hurricane Beryl.

[@Justindh85]

I did Utility Forestry work in Northern California, Trust me Houston is so much easier to manage than power lines in the mountains with mountain lions and bears. Centerpoint is lying this stuff has been figured out for major cities for years. This is nothing new.

[@HeatherRose2023]

HL&P did it all the time back in the day. Every year they came out and trimmed the trees in my backyard. It’s nothing new.

[@ninaappelt9001]

Centerpoint is more about making money than doing what they should be doing. Supplying electricity to all, all the time.

[@DarkBadger999]

Centerpoint is a company full of incompetent people.

[@BETTERWORLDSGT]

Privatization and massive deregulation of Public Utilities, or about anything else, usually leads to a result such as this!

[@BoJackHorseman_eatshay]

This is wild to me because working in energy trading, CASIO is just as corrupt and immoral as ERCOT. I guess that’s what happens when you have a governor who gives a damn and one who doesn’t and literally is surrounded by criminals… Ahh a man can dream

[@WDMtea]

All you gotta do is see what the executives are making and how much bonuses. That will tell you all you need to know

[@EasyKill7]

I know someone who knows the CEO personally. He did not have kind words about him, since he just got power back this morning.

[@RobertTapia]

Bribes will be paid, people will be appeased, the public will forget, business as usual... Until it freezes and the cycle continues!!!!

[@BoneyandBearrilla]

​@@RobertTapiaRight?!?!?!

[@JCF03]

Nobody wants to take responsibility. Homeowners call the City & the City says it's Centerpoint responsibility. You call Centerpoint & they say it's the City's responsibility. At the end the homeowner either eats the cost or leaves it alone.

[@michaelpizana9733]

I do line clearance and it's Center points responsibility

[@tbessy1963]

Typical texas. That's how Your governor plays. You're Voting red has consequences. Happy now?

[@DIYJim-wx6hq]

⁠@@michaelpizana9733 maybe the homeowner does not want to take responsibility. Perhaps an ordinance that says you can not plant trees or shrubs would fix this? Why do people plant trees under the power lines? This blame game is going too far.

[@dazesalaz6879]

I didnt plant the tree in my front yard. Alot of my neighbors didnt plant any of their trees. They were already there! Lol wtf ​@DIYJim-wx6hq

[@Puzekat2]

That’s the Republican way!! blame game. It’s the blame game. It’s played on the international stage in front of the world to see and you all are complaining???

[@macplus3339]

$19B annual profit monopoly tells me it's Counterpoint's job.

[@jatx]

It will come out of the customers pocket.

[@RLFinTX]

Not mine. I refuse to be their patsy any longer. Nope.

[@ninaappelt9001]

We always end up paying.

[@jollyjohnthepirate3168]

They always pass on the costs of storm damage to the customers. Always have . Always will.

[@AJXOXO-vz1pn]

Who do you think makes more money? The CEO of Walmart or the CEO of Centerpoint? It’s the Centerpoint CEO. $37.8 million in salaries and bonuses last year. More than most developing nations. More than the CEOs of Walmart, Nike, and Walt Disney. Why don’t they spend some of that money and put some people in hotels?

[@niqhtt]

I think that was actually the previous one, current one is 7 mil

[@christinerisden5799]

​@@niqhttWould love to know that link or where to find all of this

[@DarkBadger999]

​@niqhtt For now, until his stock options kick in and he can cash out. Anyway, 7 million is way too much, even if he wasn't an idiot.

[@joezjymnazium77]

That's hilarious!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@AJXOXO-vz1pn]

@@christinerisden5799 it was reported in the Chronicle. If I post a link to it, the KZbin system automatically deletes it. Just search in google for chronicle article Centerpoint ceo salary.

[@rynor2691]

Centerpoint lobbyist have spent more on payments to halfman Abott than on cleaning the powerlines and bettering the infrastructure. Blame Jason P Wells the Centerpoint CEO and spineless Abott

[@youraveragebreakfastcereal5285]

I grew up and lived in Houston my whole life. Power resiliency was never an issue until the last 15 years or so. The deregulation and privatization destroyed resiliency. Abolish center point. Public-owned cooperative now. Many other Texas energy markets have co-ops. Leaving the largest market in the state to be increasingly mismanaged by this company is an embarrassment. The Yucatan got hit by Beryl when it was a cat 5 and they had power restored in 36 hours.

[@tringuyen7519]

Low blow to compare Houston, TX with the Yucatan in Mexico. Abbott may take offense to that!😂😂😂

[@JustLikeHeaven77]

Texas has had deregulation since the 1980s.

[@DiabolikalFollikles]

@@tringuyen7519Good. I hope he does take offense.

[@DiabolikalFollikles]

Well-stated.

[@playertwo1516]

how tiny was yucatan compared to texas?

[@JAD73567]

gov. Abbott won’t make CenterPoint do a thing. He’s in their pocket.

[@ljacobs357]

Abbott appoints the chair of the Public Utilities Commission, who has regulatory authority over CenterPoint. We all know how Republicans feel about regulation. Another blunder by Abbott and Texas Republicans.

[@Repub_Rico_GOP]

Please stop blaming politics on this situation. Companies do almost whatever they want these days and he's actually making them pay tree trimming and complete it by august n he's putting pressure on them to restore power.

[@user-hj4uf9wz1z]

​@Repub_Rico_GOP you can't be serious center point donates alot of money to Abbott Abbott won't do anything about center point just like nothing happened after the deep freeze a few years ago

[@korbendallas7181]

@@Repub_Rico_GOP Stay on your island bubba

[@Repub_Rico_GOP]

@@korbendallas7181 how about you learn what's really happening before coming at me Bubba. Centerpoint is completely the issue lately.

[@tringuyen7519]

@@Repub_Rico_GOPCompanies do whatever they want in TX bc TX GOP allowed them to do so. Abbott’s acting shocked & appalled after he returned from his vacation in SK & Japan.😂

[@caldillman5334]

CenterPoint has and is not doing their jobs and EPCOT has not done THEIR job of either mandating the proper preventative maintenance by Texas energy companies or policing the completion of such mandates! And, of course, Abbott, nor the legislature, have put in sufficient mandates on EPCOT! A complete failure!

[@Level2.0T]

Wow seeing trees sparking like that is very dangerous wow.

[@pamchandler1867]

A LOT OF THOSE POWER POLES LOOKED DRY ROTTED

[@TexasEngineer]

Tree trimming services are not allowed by law to trim vegetation within 10 feet of a power line. In these case CenterPoint must be contacted to do the trimming, by law. All you have to do is to call and make the request to CenterPoint and explain you are having a tree service trim your trees.

[@DarkBadger999]

And then be ignored like the guy in the video

[@rynor2691]

Did you not pay attention to the video?

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

"TexasEngineer" is as naïve (or disingenuous) as they come. 😂

[@rynor2691]

@@Novastar.SaberCombat Mark "TexasEngineer" Johnson seems to work for Centerpoint or is a huge lying brown noser for no reason

[@TexasEngineer]

@@rynor2691 Absoutly. They, non qualified personnel, are NOT suppose to be within 10 feet of the energized lines, only CenterPoint. That is the law. CenterPoint does not trim past 10’. That is up to your tree service. OSHA requirements. FYI, retired with 28 years at CenterPoint.

[@eveskey7982]

This is a problem in many many areas of Texas with power companies not making sure trees off lines and etc. Many residents all over texas have complained and asked for this to be attended to over and over again. Only to be told like the one on this report said, it is on que or can't be done or just ignored.

[@josephs3973]

Centerpoint ceo had a compensation package in 2022 of almost $40M. Just with his compensation alone, they could have doubled their tree trimming spenditure per customer for 2/3 of the customers in Harris and Bend counties.

[@markpashia7067]

12 million a year for three years is A DROP IN THE BUCKET compared to what they bill every month. Someone who has access should convert that to a percent of income figure, but I would bet that it is less than one percent.

[@patwyliee8068]

At least 4 trees caught fire near my neighborhood if the Houston fire department would fine center point energy every time a fire broke out maybe Center point energy would take action quickly and in a timely manner but since the city of Houston refuses to fine center point energy at all these problems will continue and the next hurricane will be worse oh well that's politics go figure ❤😂❤😂❤❤😂

[@dancox3251]

If you spent $1k to trim a single tree on your own, you're not doing it right and you'll never survive in Texas.

[@turquoiseshopaholic]

It’s not a regular tree, it’s on a live line, a health hazard

[@korbendallas7181]

lol "you'll never survive in Texas." - man in desert trailer

[@tringuyen7519]

@@turquoiseshopaholicAgreed. Most tree trimming companies won’t go anywhere near power lines!

[@JoeJoe-tg3ed]

I just learned today in class that the governor is in a wheelchair.

[@DIYJim-wx6hq]

A great Governor.

[@user-hx3nw3vj8m]

What does that have to do with anything

[@JAD73567]

@@JoeJoe-tg3ed Brain dead too.

[@korbendallas7181]

@@DIYJim-wx6hq actually pretty shitty

[@Insomnia4321]

This is relevant why?

[@BoneyandBearrilla]

Abbott is lying to look good before the people. So soon as he rolls his behind out of that room, Centerpoint's upper management faces are gonna like this.....🤨🤨🤨😒😒🫤🫤 Abbott....boy bye.

[@jimaugie4993]

Oh, is Abbott back from vacation?

[@tacticalcrusader3709]

He wasn't on vacation but by all means don't let petty facts prevent you from foaming at the mouth.

[@denisekoltys3019]

It gives me a sick head ache just thinking about being in TX with no AC. And I was raised with no AC til I left for college. This is just crazy. But will admit I had old growth Oak trees and always had them pruned every couple years and sometimes every year. You do have to keep up with them if you don’t want them to fall on you, your pets, your house or other trees.

[@joseavila9955]

I can not believe how we as clients suffer the consequences of bad administration for this electrical company. We live in Missouri City, close to Sugar Land, TX without electricity for 9 days. When we call Centerpoint is a joke. We got our roof damaged, our fences blown, two refrigerators full of food spoiled. We can not start the work because there is no electrical. Here they handle this like a third world country.

[@user-om1vv2sr8z]

Ive already decided to leave Houston and I know many others who are making the same decision. I can do a lot of things but live in this heat every time it storms because of the greed is ridiculous. Sad because I was born and raised in Houston and love it here but times are too hard to keep purchasing groceries and putting my family at risk. Yes I know that I will experience difficulties everywhere you live but at this point I’m picking my demons and I’m choosing not to deal with the humidity here with no AC because the grid goes down anytime someone spits out here. What is sad is they won’t take it seriously enough until people start leaving. 😢

[@tringuyen7519]

You’re welcome to come to FL or TN. Both states have no state income tax like TX & are governed by the GOP like TX. But the utility companies are regulated much better!

[@BarrierIsland]

Now the line has been crossed because there are people who died unnecessarily from Hyperthermia. In Florida , we have constant tree trimming by FPL, our energy provider. This saves them money in restoration costs...

[@txlady1049]

You know where the "resiliency" plan funding will come from -- us, the customers. Time CenterPoint ponied up some funds themselves, instead of making us pay for their neglect.

[@enaid54]

I wish Arkansas would do this. They told me it was up to the home owner. Trees have just wrapped around the power lines and they won't come. I have a huge power line that runs to a paper mill and they don't keep it up. I didn't ask for their power line.

[@thatkajunguy8029]

I feel for those doing without electricity right now but...... after Hurricane Ida hit my area we were without electricity, cell service, internet services for a month.... Ida hit on Labor Day and it was plenty hot..... trees down, power poles down, roofs gone, roadways blocked.... We didn't sit around complaining, we were busy cleaning up our yards, our neighbors yards, helping clear right of ways...... I thought Texan were supposed to be tough, not so much obviously.......

[@jrlaymance]

Asplundh and Trees Inc used to clear trees, govt. phucked with the energy sector and now they no longer clear vegetation from power lines

[@DIYJim-wx6hq]

Houston, be careful what you want. You might end up with $1.00 per kWh electrical rates. In California electricity is turned off when it is windy to make sure the company is not sued because of a fire.

[@tringuyen7519]

TX & CA, welcome to climate change. Scientists told you. Stop complaining now that you’re feeling its effects!

[@HtineTEE]

Just came back from San Antonio……most poles are high, metal, and trees below the lines. This isn’t a grid thing, this is a Centerpoint thing. Someone is pocketing that money or it’s paying CEOs. This is unavoidable IF whoever is held accountable for the power infrastructure

[@troybaxter]

Honestly, that's why I don't believe the CenterPoint when they said they were denied funding for upgrades. Not saying I trust the government, but something tells me CenterPoint pocketed all the money they received last time.

[@Satellite2145]

Wtf centerpoint

[@rosswhite4527]

It’s always about money. Top management usually not willing to spend anything that affects bonuses.

[@christinerisden5799]

Homeowners with chimneys would love all of that tree ( i.e. all of that wood. It would be seasoned by winter ).

[@cbutlermk]

Me too! I’ve called several times! Nothing from them!

[@KrazyKajun602]

It's common sense. If the tree is on your property, its your tree. It's the homeowners responsibility.

[@BigfootIsOutThere]

THANK YOU!!! People let their trees get out of control and then want to pass the buck.

[@jorge10928]

Not ready to commit until reimbursement for restoration is approved. It's all talk and Hot Wheels will approve the reimbursement and pass the costs to consumers.

[@StevenStroud-yv1jq]

Been saying this since 1988. People need to take responsibility for the tree and vegetation before moving in. There are thousands of huge trees in the south.

[@mikeheffner6636]

Good lord, these people are so damn entitled, your trees, your problem

[@Michael-ty2uo]

gladly their stock is plummeting right now

[@nightmarestitcher]

One of the greediest companies in America, but what are ya gonna do? Got have electricity..

[@rachelledavis1231]

Gov Abbot needs to just go ahead and have their service area reduced, they clearly can't handle what they currently have!

[@donhoverson6348]

That deregulation thing is really working out for them. Private industry is so much more efficient without regulation.

[@user-jk3ht5hn3m]

This guy should run for governor, he shovels the bull as good as abbot

[@robertpaul6257]

Hundreds of UT POLES WITH SOME WITH TRANSFORMERS HAVE BEEN LEANING 15 DEGREES FOR 20 YEARS!!!!!

[@richardszablewski1420]

And anyone who would know about trees Governor Abbott is the person to ask.

[@denisecaccese830]

WHERE THE HELL WAS GOVERNOR ABBOTT RIGHT AFTER THIS HAPPENED! HE IS THE PROBLEM!

[@theextremeteam4733]

Either way , more work means the bills will be higher for those who consume power ….In this monopoly game the companies win

[@meganc243]

I think both energy company and other government agencies need to trim trees..it expensive to do so nobody wants to do it lol..also the electrical grid itself needs better upgrades..that has been proven..so saying it's jus trees..it's sadly lacking in logic

[@davidescobar923]

Remove center point and let the state take over

[@brin3m]

in ohio they trim the trees every 4 years. they do an excellent job too

[@CCCC-tq8yo]

I called too a yr ago and they never showed up

[@angelamalek]

Any business, if responsible, would see that they are overbooked for tree trimming and either expand their business or ask for help from the city.

[@anwornation3399]

It is doable, should not be a problem, it's so easy

[@mauricelopez1745]

If the tree is in your property and it falls or causes a power outage is your fault.

[@Flokiabob311]

Well it’s the storm’s fault, but go ahead and blame others if that makes you feel better

[@tringuyen7519]

No, it’s CenterPoint’s fault bc regular tree trimming companies are barred from trimming anywhere near power lines.

[@noway1844]

Now the blame game and buck passing begin and not one thing will change. Just like last time.

[@peterspeer2626]

Texas does not believe in Climate resilience? Preventive Maintenance(PG&E $$) -- It is the ability to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to hazardous events, trends, or disturbances related to climate. It's not the first and will not be the last storm. You all going to have to pay more for a better power grid. Underground? Constant tree trimming. Where I live "In Sydney Australia" all the trees next to power lines get constantly trimmed. In a very green city of 4 million. And 100% if I called about sparks the tree would be trimmed within hours

[@JoeBidenAUTISM]

Ah i see what it is they just lazy asf

[@karabinas]

I own 2 chainsaws…I’ve never lost power in Houston

[@marmars1081]

Either maintain your lines or lose your monopoly on our city!

[@joaquinben4458]

Nobody wants to work.

[@georgeberg2106]

Maybe if Abbott didn't hate Houston so much he would have helped Houston be prepared for a storm. It's so much easier to score political points when you blame others.

[@ryleyrichardson1303]

Don’t be a fool and believe that Abbott will do anything about this

[@user-hx3nw3vj8m]

Governor Abbott are you sure you want them to clear all vegetation you are talking about large trees that are in people's yards

[@Acompony]

Centerpointle$$

[@georgeburns7251]

Just get a generator.

[@Puzekat2]

A Republican controlled state has problems with infrastructure maintenance in their privatized system. But y’all pay low taxes. In fact they were trying to get rid of property tax outright. how do you think this stuff is paid for without tax money?

[@Allheadingtosameplace]

Easy solution New power company

[@gw2315]

Keep voting GOP and see there incompetence Greg is incompetent

Time to take care of your selfs!!! state failed you. Abbott has hurt texas by not following thru with improvements. dose'nt repersent just rules. See the results.both senators on vacation .

[@user-zn7wx2lm9z]

Can't texans file law suit against centerpoint?

[@user-hj4uf9wz1z]

No they cant

[@aao449]

Abbott will block it b/c he gets kickbacks $$$ from centerpoint.

[@user-hj4uf9wz1z]

@@aao449 actually the texas courts already ruled you can't sue the electric companies

[@aao449]

@@user-hj4uf9wz1z - Oh, how convenient for Abbott. Doesn’t men he is not benefitting from centerpoint financially.

[@user-hj4uf9wz1z]

@@aao449 are you serious when companies donate to him he won't hold them accountable just like nothing happened a few years ago after that deep freeze

[@Iamadroid]

It's comical that people expect the power company to trim their tree. Why dont homeowners take care of their trees. If their tree falls on the neighbors house than the homeowner is on the hook. Maybe the power company should just start charging homeowners who's trees damaged their lines.

[@yeet5146]

To be technical you aren't supposed to trim your trees near power lines by law. So people are really just following the law. Also why don't we just have egotistical idiots like you do the work for everyone since you have the time and equipment.

[@Eyesunmoonstars]

These trees are of nature and not planted by the homeowner. Therefore it’s everybody’s or no one’s responsibility to upkeep the tree. If it is on city easement I say it’s a city responsibility. If it’s on the property owner’s then it’s the property owners responsibility. 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@houstonsam6163]

Tree-trimming spending per customer is not a valid metric because the CenterPoint service area is more population dense than the service area of other power companies. Do you people in the media have *any* critical thinking skills??? The people who complained that they had asked CenterPoint to trim the trees - were the trees on those people's property? Sounds like they might just have wanted to get someone else to pay for having their trees trimmed and CenterPoint seemed like a good patsy. This looks like another exercise in blaming CenterPoint when just a couple of minutes of honest thought makes clear that the issue might not be so simple. But we can't have honest thought when ratings and clicks are at stake - let's just keep piling on CenterPoint about things we are completely ignorant of.

[@seapotatoes7260]

Insane isn't it? These people lost me at the unrealistic expectations for restorations. I respect Greg for bringing up the actual problem being trees and not just crapping on CP without any real solutions. However I still think it is unfair and perhaps an overreach of the government to force a company to maintain both public easements and private property at their own expense and private property is not always accessible. Vegetation management should be subsidized by tax dollars if it should be required by the state to do so. Therefore CP can be Obligated to the management of the growth around their power lines as well as manage complaints of infrastructure damage on private property in a timely manner.

[@Justindh85]

Seriously do vegetation fuel reduction twice a year and the problem is significantly reduced so yeah Centerpoint is full of BS. FYI: I was a Utility Forester so I do have experience with what I am talking about.

[@houstonsam6163]

@@Justindh85 Glad to hear you know how to trim trees. As a Utility Forester were you obligated to trim trees on private property at your own expense, or at public expense, rather than at the expense of the property owner?

[@houstonsam6163]

@@seapotatoes7260 Now now, we can't waste time on fair thinking when there are many more things we can blame CenterPoint for.

[@Justindh85]

@@seapotatoes7260 by your standards people in California had no responsibility to prevent electrical strikes that would start wildfires right. If I owned a hospital and my machines malfunctioned because of my negligence and someone died who is responsible? Obviously, it would be the hospital's fault correct.

[@peterspeer2626]

Texas does not believe in Climate resilience? Preventive Maintenance(PG&E $$) -- It is the ability to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to hazardous events, trends, or disturbances related to climate. It's not the first and will not be the last storm. You all going to have to pay more for a better power grid. Underground? Constant tree trimming. Where I live "In Sydney Australia" all the trees next to power lines get constantly trimmed. In a very green city of 4 million. And 100% if I called about sparks the tree would be trimmed within hours.