Customers call KHOU 11 for help after electricity usage appears to go up while power is out

CenterPoint said it can't communicate with meters while the power is out. A spokeswoman said once it's restored, the accounts will be adjusted.

[@johnpaulwebb3440]

After a 7-day outage from a hurricane I got my highest bill ever. I got the same run around and my bills were never adjusted. The power companies are not your friends.

[@381delirius]

When a public service is allowed to be privatized, that bottom line comes before anything else.

[@RobertTapia]

Zero oversight

[@anthonymarocco955]

Right Exactly What A Scam This Is!! NO POWER NO USE!!!! NO CHARGE WTF????

[@JohnS-ol8dn]

*Nah this is BS.* There is so much corruption in the corporate, federal and judicial world. There is no legitimate reason to estimate usage and report it back to customers. Customers want to see the truth if you're going to provide that feature!

[@gRosh08]

Uncle Amos said... Folks are in store for a tough awakening and it was overdue.

[@TheMrMused]

Except this is Texas. There is no federal oversight of the power grid (or power generators) in the vast majority of the state - including Houston. For all intents and purposes, Texas does not interconnect with the national power grid. So .. largely I would agree, but in this case you can remove federal corruption from your point.

[@JohnS-ol8dn]

@TheMrMused Apologies if I wasn't clear here, but the point wasn't about federal corruption, so there is nothing to remove. I cited all 3 as a general assertion, but not all 3 were related to the point I was making. I thought it was obvious that only #1 qualifies within the context to which I was speaking. This was the intent, either way.

[@idm1738]

Centerpoint basically saying their customers gonna pay for the days their power was out as if it was still on 🤦‍♀️

[@JuniperJupiter23]

This

[@mercygrrl]

That is _exactly_ what CP did w/ my account post-Ike. My block was without power going on 4weeks.

[@WSmith2024]

Wait till they charge users for the restoration fees.

[@amorrbaby8354]

Nah we aint paying it. abbott and the ceo can pay that People like you I think wants bad things to happend if not you'd use your voice to fight against it not hope it comes true

[@WSmith2024]

@@amorrbaby8354 They will put it on your bill. We are still paying for Laura in SW La. BTW FU on your comment.

[@danjo8673]

Don't forget people are still getting charged for home internet even though they can't use it.

[@sugardaddy9992001]

Yep! When tax time rolls around we will all get a refund credit which will go back to the same people who took it away from us at the start. Isn’t this fun

[@analisa7067]

Exactly, I’m still without internet since July 8 and no ETA.

[@sugardaddy9992001]

@analisa7067 We didn't have power or internet in 2008 after hurricane Ike for 3 weeks. If we get another storm this year, it will be months without power and internet. The lack of tree trimming is a major factor in this debacle.

[@analisa7067]

@@sugardaddy9992001 That is horrible! This was only a Category 1. I have never experienced a hurricane this weak perform as much damage as this has to Texas. I agree even another Category 1 will put us out for a month. I would like to know what backup plans other people that work remotely are using. People that actually need to be hardwired to work.

[@HaroonKhan-un6po]

Centerpoint monopoly for power supply to Houston should be terminated. They need to have competition so they don’t overcharge the common man. It seems the regular working people are being squeezed from everywhere.

[@blond98]

It’s simple fraud. I feel sorry for families who are going through a rough time already financially and then have to deal with this BS.

[@kevr4888]

Errors? No, there shouldn't be any!! Since when is mediocre customer service expected!?

[@kucus503]

This straight BS. Goes to show you they charge us what they want

[@ArtistCreek]

Well thats pretty concerning considering it is supposed to be an accurate usage not based on historical data

[@amorrbaby8354]

Exactly!!

[@johnmarine44]

Investigate criminalpoint I mean centerpoint.

[@theenyaarchive]

absolutely disgusting, if it s off its off, and nothing should move or be estimated! Centre point should return everyone's money for the last year... as goodwill gesture!

[@martindavis9930]

This just in... Center Point Energy announces huge rate hike is on the way.

[@kellyd220]

Keep exposing those scammers!! Investigations will soon reveal the real problem

[@Smash22TX]

Did this first guy just show running a few generators in his garage 😮

[@robertward8035]

Hey be glad for that.....😅

[@garyspence2128]

I think those run on gasoline, propane or kerosene.

[@shanna1518]

There battery operated..

[@jazzcat9363]

@@shanna1518 Those are gas caps on top of the generators. The exposed sections on the bottom are oil caps. And the rear side where you some venting and a metal tube? That's the exhaust pipe. These are most definitely NOT battery generators. I went to the WEN website and their battery generators look nothing like these. These are 100% gas generators.

[@dondgc2298]

That’s insane!

[@philoctetes_wordsworth]

CENTERPOINTLE$$

[@english7451]

I call corruption.

[@rubensalais1502]

My wife called centerpoint several times a day to report power lines on the street, but every time she press the number to report power lines down, the call got disconnected, we are thankful for the crews working repairing the power lines but the administration sucks

[@jeepguy4499]

Remember that if you want change, you need to vote out the leadership that allowed the situation to become this dire. Abbott took a page out of Cruz’s book and fled the country.

[@garyspence2128]

Curious timing, to say the least. And he didn't rush back either...lol.

[@RobertTapia]

Center point CEO is with him in Asia selling your highways as toll ways!!

[@jiveturkey2875]

Vote out what leadership? Local politicians are to blame. They see their city massively growing and don't question their power company on how they plan to support it. Building more crap in the same manner you built the previous crap is idiotic. That's the failure of the local govt.

[@semperapparatus987]

Haha I love how Republicans blame the Democrat elected officials and Democrats blame the Republicans and this is how we got here. Keep us divided and conquered.

[@wallychambe1587]

@@jiveturkey2875 Agree 💯% , Local politicians are to blame!🤬🤬

[@cat58732]

How are they guessing what the usage would have been?

[@panaderofilms]

Lol.. creating an estimate BECAUSE YOUR METER CANNOT BE COMMUNICATED WITH BECAUSE THE POWER IS OUT.. OMG.😂😂😂😂😂

[@Double-H87]

Let’s file PUC complaints

[@blond98]

They’re bought out. It’s like HR at a corporation. They’re not there for you. They’re there for utility providers. Texas is a pro-business state, even if it’s predatory and harms consumers. To make matters worse, Republicans and Democrats in Texas get huge kickbacks at our expense to keep the system broken. You’ll have better luck voting out these people who don’t care.

[@DarkBadger999]

The PUC is complicit with CenterPoint. They're just as corrupt.

[@amorrbaby8354]

You need to also file with the attorney general and your congressman

[@MaryRose86]

Some areas may take months ! My cousin is a lineman and said some areas are expected to not have power until November. They don’t want to let the public know because people will panic.

[@OkaiRet]

Seriously?

[@Lighthouse6104]

I hope that’s not true

[@aya9af]

November?! 😕 I pray for relief sooner than that for people

[@genesisartworks1636]

It is happens every time we lose power they still charged for it.

[@marthaparra9210]

All BS

[@johnknouse8846]

Happens every time! They count on most people not watching that close. And good luck with getting a resolution! I know a lot of people aren’t fans of our governor or our “acting governor”, but I really hope they follow through with their look into Centerpoint!

[@MaryLynn1]

THEY WERE NOT PREPARED!!!!! 😈😈😈

[@Acompony]

He has generators inside …. Not ok

[@DANELLMOTO]

FASCISM IS A BUSINESS HUMAN SACRIFICE FOR PROFIT

[@rangolovesmangos]

Total scam! They need to be sued.

[@mercygrrl]

Ya know, those CenterPoint C-Suite Sweet Sweet Quarterly Bonuses need to roll out ON TIME! CP Executive households have already budgeted that money, if not already spent it!

[@trubleSum1]

Public Utility my ars!

[@shantellgonzalez7916]

Damn yall getting charged for power you don’t even have? 😂😂😂😂😂😂I’m sure your Governor Abbot will okay this! 😆😂😄

[@brandonb819]

He will be fine with it, Houston is Democrat..

[@demiroxx3055]

⁠And then State is Republican ran.

[@brandonb819]

@@demiroxx3055 exactly

[@RobertTapia]

Texas grid is independent with zero oversight nor regulations. It goes down in freezing temps and windy conditions. Hundreds of lives have been sacrificed to corporate greed propped up by Republican incompetence!!!!!

[@spunkysagittarius87]

What a cluster …. 🤨🙄

[@jonkzak]

There should never be any estimating performed by a public utility. There systems need to reflect exactly what is used and bill for that amount only.

[@juliebeckman1506]

Center point need to be investigated! Some of the richest people are working for them, I call Fraud!!!

[@relic21ja]

There will be errors , how are they going to bill you if it's not on sounds like that guy used to sell used cars at a crap dealership can't we just use another provider or is this really a monopoly that's so messed up that nobody knows what is what

[@helidude3502]

For those that have used generators hooked into their panel, did you shut off the main feed breaker? This could be spoofing the meter if you didn’t by back feeding to the grid. Back feeding is also dangerous to anyone contacting or working on lines that should be dead. Of course if you don’t have anything hooked to the house, that would seem very suspicious 🤨

[@OrangeGuyBlows]

Welcome to deregulation.....you get what you vote for.

[@victormontalbano4993]

Yup that’s happened in Ike. ! The so called smart meters. Are only smart for the energy supplier. !!!

[@jameso.4381]

So if the power plant can't connect to a smart meter, it'll just charge an estimate of the monthly usage when there are no outages, and if the power customer doesn't catch it, they will be charged for electricity they never used! And, if the do catch it, they will be given the runaround for years, hoping the customer will give up and go away!

[@dsmith8859]

This is just another example of the great state of Texass taking care of its people

[@yogisurfrunner1925]

Great catch Ch11!! This is no surprise from an industry insider.And the answer from the BBB dude to call the Tx Atty Gen. Hahahahahahaha - as if

[@BluBarron]

They really should have to issue a credit for the days we go without power. Not necessarily just to help the customer. I believe it would make them prepare and repair better. If they knew they would have to pay out for the time customers were without power it would change their business practices. They would actually work all year to harden and bury the power lines. Make sure that the linemen are prepared before the storm. It’s cheaper for them to just wait till something breaks before fixing it than to work constantly to make sure it doesn’t break. We have to find a way to change that. Hitting their bottom line is usually the best way to make them think and act proactively.

[@kennethmalone8104]

I got a bill for may when the power was off for like 4 to 5 days. I called an some IDIOT tried to convince me the setup is the same even if power is off but at an much lower rate. 👀🤔🤔🤔😡😡

[@crimsyn76]

So they use historical usage data to estimate usage when they can't communicate with the meter during an outage. An outage would imply 0 usage. What a load of shit.

A corporation cheating customers ? Oh no that would never happen 😂

[@Gorditoroks]

Holy guacamole , I am no advocate and not affiliated with any utility industry. I could see where they would estimate usage or consumption with it being essentially a commodity and then come back and make there adjustments. Not saying that it’s perfect but if they estimate usage then you know how much product to allocate. We do the same thing in the fuel industry. I agree that they are not your friends but everyone is letting the media get them all horned up and mad at Centerpoint. Hell during Ike we did not have power for 2 weeks and everyone was greatful that they had what they had. Oh wait, that was before the infamous doomscrolling lol. It will all work out, if you got the time to sit around and check your phone app for your electricity usage everyday, maybe you need to make changes. Hell they making a big spectacle and they have not even been billed yet. Give people a chance geez

[@dmunoz5999]

THIS IS BS ON CENTERPOINT PART!!

[@MarkTurner-vs7uc]

How do you fight this when everyone is a crook or a coward?

[@truonghthe]

WTF.... If the customer do such thing most likely they being charge with "Fraud", but when power company does it, they use "readjust"? What they think this is? scrabble game?

[@WalkawayRene12]

Wow, what a scam!

[@jazzcat9363]

So, not to take away from the point of this clip but is that dude seriously running gas generators inside of the garage!?

[@jsmithepa]

When I first saw this, I went, they using historical/average data, and sure enough. If their metering equipment fail, how is the customers' fault. And we have to contact the attorney general to resolve the issue now? These money making enterprises, like lawyers, can't lose can they, either way, no matter how shoddy, they make money, the whole thing is a scam, there is no accountability.

[@markseagraves5486]

Buyer beware.

[@jorge10928]

Those are sre the restoration fees everyone is going to get charged.

[@amorrbaby8354]

Im not getting charged anything. You can rollover if you want to, I'm not so dont say everyone

[@jorge10928]

@@amorrbaby8354 Centerpoint already submitted a request for reimbursement from the energy commission and come October they will either approve or reject the increase to consumers. Educate yourself.

[@MaryLynn1]

KATRINA ALL OVER AGAIN.

[@marcus_b1]

So they are basically ADDING usage your bill and masking it within regular usage. You just can't see it until situations like a multi-day 100% power outage when there is no usage to mask it with. This is NOT AN ERROR!! They are stealing money.

[@backtoobasics]

😂😂😂 smart meters eh

[@htowndevil6564]

they estimate the usage the usage should be due zero

[@LobsterDog98]

Is there a chance people are back feeding the electricity through the meter causing the meter to receive the power it needs? thats a pretty common thing when you don't turn the main off like you're supposed too...

[@burtcooper612]

should`ve, could`ve, would`ve...it is, what it is.

[@notmethnx]

This is obscene

[@Inverter222]

Can we get regulation back now please?

[@dareal4723]

Lot of shoulds.. in that statement

[@maxkilla16]

LOL 🤡 world

[@mark-wh2yv]

Honest errors???? Yea in the company's favor

[@john-ms9sc]

Oh hell no

[@geangarcia2673]

money 💰

[@synergy021]

Very bad practice. They should only report meter readings and do no estimations on user accounts.

[@Thunder_Dome45]

They just don't understand how billing works.

[@Robert-dx4fq]

Lol Texas need I say more 😢

[@lauran6184]

Mine is showing the same.

[@kevinba7981]

A guy with a Google shirt complains about the light bill. Ironic

[@XXXCRSPL]

Amazing how a shirt says it all lmao

[@jazzcat9363]

...........i'm lost. Where is the irony? It's just a shirt.

[@MillennialMadness85]

Scammers

[@Kacee2]

I think Centerpoint hired a bunch of DEI people in upper management.

[@blaydCA]

Hired rich white folks with NO qualifications! There you go!

[@tothetexaschiefalotrecords738]

Maybe yall left the light on 😅

[@amorrbaby8354]

You know people died right. Use the litte bit of brain you have and RESPECT what people are going through, idiot

[@iamextremest]

So now on top of our hot suffering, we have to go over our bill to make sure they didn't make any mistakes. And all that. Insane

[@soflodoug]

bbb? 😂😂 what a joke.

[@codecaine]

[@frankcontreras5928]

🪛 us like all else