CenterPoint Energy remains focused on keeping customer bills affordable with continued discipline on our operating and maintenance expenses. We have opportunities across our system that we expect will result in an annual average 1-2% of operations and maintenance savings over the course of our 10-year plan to help maintain customer affordability. We also demonstrate care for our customers through our support of energy assistance programs.
Energy Assistance
2023 Energy Assistance Funds Provided to Low-Income Customers: $29,984,938
Customers who have difficulty paying their CenterPoint Energy bill can request a payment plan or extension by calling 713-659-2111 or visiting CenterPointEnergy.com/PaymentAssistance.
Customers who are receiving energy assistance through the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) may be eligible to receive additional funds through the Gas Affordability Program, offered by CenterPoint Energy in partnership with the Energy CENTS Coalition.
Customer Assistance Fund
CenterPoint Energy is introducing the Customer Assistance Fund (CAF), a new initiative focused on providing bill assistance to eligible customers in Indiana and Ohio to offer a helping hand to families and individuals who typically wouldn’t qualify for public assistance. This launch is part of our ongoing effort to enhance communications and strengthen relationships with customers. We plan to expand the CAF to other service territories in the future, bringing this resource to additional customers that may need financial assistance. The CAF is supported by shareholder contributions, employee donations and voluntary customer contributions.
Weatherization Assistance
CenterPoint Energy’s Agencies in Action helps income-eligible residential customers by providing whole-house energy weatherization upgrades. The program provides free energy audits for income-qualified residents to assess the energy-saving needs of single-family homes in CenterPoint Energy’s Houston Electric service area. The energy audit qualifies customers for energy efficiency upgrades, such as air infiltration, HVAC tune-ups or upgrades, and ceiling or wall insulation.
The Neighborhood Weatherization Program, offered through a partnership between JD Sheth, CenterPoint Energy Indiana and CLEAResult, is intended to help individuals make energy efficiency improvements who could not otherwise afford to do so. This partnership is supported by federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. As of 2024, completed measures for customers included furnace, air conditioning and water heater replacements.
CenterPoint Energy Foundation Grants
The CenterPoint Energy Foundation strives to be a catalyst in the communities it serves by leveraging everyday opportunities and resources to increase the vibrancy of these communities. Priority consideration is given to programs that serve low-to-moderate income families and under-resourced communities and provide increased access to nonprofit programs and services. In 2023, the CenterPoint Energy Foundation awarded:
- A $200,000 grant to OH Taste Foundation in Dayton, Ohio, for the 6888 Kitchen Incubator, a food business incubator dedicated to providing training, business support resources and commercial kitchen space for under-resourced food entrepreneurs.
- A $150,000 grant to Houston Habitat for Humanity to transform 127 acres in Northeast Houston into a mixed-use community with 468 affordable single-family homes and up to 500 multi-family units.
Community Generator Donation Program for the Greater Houston Region
In late 2024, we unveiled our Community Generator Donation Program. Working in close collaboration with local officials to identify key locations across the Greater Houston region, 21 backup generators will be funded through a grant from the CenterPoint Energy Foundation at no cost to customers and will help provide support for critical community partners during major weather events or other emergencies.
Indiana Generation Transition
Our Indiana generation transition plan is helping to avoid potentially significant customer bill increases related to coal generation. As our Indiana Electric business transitions from coal-powered thermal generation to cleaner energy sources like wind and solar, we work to respond to the changing needs of our customers and communities, especially those where this transition is felt the most.
