Trim your trees! (Reduce power outages)

Hello fellow Houstonians,

I am a distribution lineman for Centerpoint here in Bellaire, and I can’t even begin to tell you how bad the vegetation affects the power grid! More than half of all trouble calls are related to customers trees getting in the power lines and burning everything up. People like to blame ERCOT, or say that the local utility isn’t doing their part, but the reality is many homeowners aren’t doing their part either! Now if your trees and whatnot have grown into the lines such that they are not safe to cut, please let us know so we can help you out. Time and time again we clear up the vegetation around the lines, only for them to grow out again and encroach on the right of way for the power lines. This morning there are 42k people without power because of some rain and wind, and I can guarantee you that number would be a lot lower if people took care of their trees on their property. Thank you. Be safe and enjoy your somewhat cooler Sunday!