Texas Senate Questions Utility Response to Hurricane Beryl

Texas lawmakers have expressed significant frustration with CenterPoint Energy's handling of Hurricane Beryl, which left nearly three million people without power and resulted in at least 36 deaths. During a Senate committee hearing, CenterPoint's CEO, Jason Wells, acknowledged the company's failures, describing their response and communication as 'inexcusable' and stating that resigning would hinder necessary improvements. Senators criticized the lack of an accurate outage map and poor preparation, with Senator Paul Bettencourt emphasizing the broken trust in the power provider. Governor Greg Abbott has also called for accountability, urging lawmakers to investigate the company's operations. CenterPoint has committed to a 40-point improvement plan, including enhanced communication and emergency response measures, but skepticism remains among officials regarding its effectiveness. The hearing marks a critical moment for Texas energy providers as they seek to prevent similar failures in future hurricane responses.