Safety

Natural gas

1. If you smell natural gas — which has a distinctive, strong odor, often compared to rotten eggs or sulfur — leave the area immediately on foot, and tell others to leave, too. Do not turn the lights on or off, smoke, strike a match, use a phone or operate anything that might cause a spark, including a flashlight or a generator. Once safely away from the area, call 911 and CenterPoint Energy, and we will send a trained service technician immediately.
2. Do not turn off your natural gas at the meter; your natural gas meter should be left on to maintain proper pressure in the natural gas piping within the house and to prevent water from entering the lines should flooding occur.
3. Natural gas can be turned off at each appliance. Later, to restore natural gas service to an appliance, you may follow the written instructions located on the appliance for re-lighting. If you are unable to locate the instructions or don't feel comfortable re-lighting, call a qualified plumber/technician.
4. While conducting exterior clean-up and/or repairs, call 811 to locate utility lines prior to digging on your property.
5. If your home was flooded, call a licensed plumber or a natural gas appliance technician to inspect your appliances prior to requesting a service reconnection.
6. Be cautious around work crews and give them plenty of room to safely assess damage and make repairs.​

Electric

1. If you experience an electric outage, do not open freezers and refrigerators any more than necessary, as opening these appliances will allow food to thaw more quickly.
2. Only use a portable generator in a well-ventilated area and never run it inside your residence or in a garage to avoid carbon monoxide fumes, which can be deadly.
3. Never connect a portable electric generator directly to your building's electrical system during a power outage; electricity could back feed into the power lines and potentially endanger utility workers, emergency responders or members of the public.
4. Have your weatherhead, which connects the overhead power line to your home or business, checked for damage. Any weatherhead problems will need to be repaired by a licensed electrician prior to service being restored.
5. Stay away from low-hanging, downed power lines or lines that could be submerged in standing water. Treat all downed power lines and damaged electric utility equipment as if they are energized. Report any low-hanging or downed power lines and damaged electric utility equipment to CenterPoint Energy.
6. Water poses a potential electric safety threat because it's a good conductor – always be careful not to touch water, or anything in contact with it, near a downed power line.
7. Any amount of water, including a puddle, can become energized. If you see a downed power line near water, retreat to a safe distance, then call CenterPoint Energy immediately to report it.
8. Flood water can be hazardous. Always use extreme care when stepping into flooded areas. Submerged outlets or electrical cords can energize water, even from a distance.
9. Boats or other vehicles being used in high water can expose you to danger from power lines at their normal height. Be aware and stay away.
10. If water has risen above the electrical outlets, contact a licensed electrician before turning on the main circuit breaker.