Texas Gov. Greg Abbott calls for investigation into prolonged power outages post-Hurricane Beryl

In the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl hitting Texas, around 350,000 homes and businesses in the Houston area remain without power almost a week later. Governor Greg Abbott has called for an investigation into the response of the utility company serving the area and its readiness for future storms. CenterPoint Energy, responsible for providing electricity to Houston, has faced criticism for the slow restoration process, leaving residents without air conditioning in the summer heat. Governor Abbott has demanded answers from the Public Utility Commission of Texas regarding the prolonged restoration efforts and necessary actions to prevent similar delays in the future. The impact of Hurricane Beryl included downed transmission lines, uprooted trees, and branches damaging power lines. CenterPoint has been given a deadline to outline measures to prevent power outages during future storms, including plans to clear vegetation threatening power lines. CenterPoint Energy, which has restored power to 1.9 million customers since the storm, defended its preparation efforts and cited challenges such as extensive tree and power pole damage hindering swift restoration. The utility company stated it brought in 12,000 additional workers from outside Houston to assist in the recovery process. Despite criticism, CenterPoint expects to have power restored to 90% of its customers by the end of the following day. The utility company's president and CEO, Jason Wells, highlighted the significant damage caused by the storm, with over 2,100 utility poles damaged and more than 18,600 trees removed from power lines affecting a majority of distribution circuits. Governor Abbott emphasized the necessity for Gulf Coast power companies to be adequately equipped to handle hurricanes, underscoring the importance of proactive measures to mitigate future power outages during severe weather events.