After the widespread power outages that left over 2.2 million residents of Houston in the dark following Hurricane Beryl, CenterPoint Energy has rolled out a new Outage Tracker. The tool comes as a response to the massive blackout and the subsequent public outcry for improved services. The new tracker, detailed in The Houston Chronicle, is designed to be mobile-friendly and boasts updates every five minutes, including a weather integration layer meant to predict how weather could influence further outages.
While the tracker has been met with cautious optimism, many remain skeptical, wondering if it can withstand the test of another major storm. As reported by Chron.com, this skepticism isn't unfounded, given CenterPoint's past performance during disasters. Offering address searchability, weather overlays, and color-coded outage details, the features are a clear upgrade. Still, the ability of the new "REPORT" button on the map to handle potential floods of outage reports during future crises is yet to be seen.
The tracker not only allows customers to report outages directly but also provides them with details such as the house number affected and the type of outage experienced. Through a demonstration video and a step-by-step guide, CenterPoint is attempting to help customers adapt to the new system. The overhaul came after the energy company removed its outdated tracker when May's derecho hit and before Hurricane Beryl landed, causing frustrations to mount as customers were left with a temporary and sometimes inaccurate map, according to The Houston Chronicle.
Amid calls for increased transparency and reliability, CenterPoint seems to be stepping up, at least technologically. The new cloud-based platform is anticipated to be more durable and adaptable to high web traffic situations. However, the "Summary" section of the map, offering aggregated data by ZIP code, county, and city, alongside the "Layers" tab, which allows the toggling on and off of weather radar overlays, were touted, the true resilience of these features against the onslaught of a major event remains to be put to the test. The Houston community, still recovering from the latest setback, is watching closely, as reported by Chron.com.
The introduction of the Outage Tracker by CenterPoint may be seen as a step toward mending fences with its customer base, one fraught with widespread infrastructural challenges and a seemingly extensive road to regaining public trust.
