The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) approved the findings and recommendations of the PUCT Staff investigation into the extreme weather preparedness and response of utilities in the Greater Houston area.
The final report, approved by Commissioners today, is the result of a four-month long investigation ordered by Governor Greg Abbott following the May 2024 Derecho and Hurricane Beryl, which left more than two million utility customers without power for multiple days.
“The storm devastation that hit the Houston area earlier this year made clear we need to strengthen our infrastructure and ensure utilities are better prepared to provide reliable service to their customers when extreme weather hits,” PUCT Chairman Thomas Gleeson said. “I thank Governor Abbott for directing us to conduct a rigorous study of what went wrong during the Derecho and Hurricane Beryl. The results of this investigation include several recommendations to better prepare utilities for extreme weather and improve their response to natural disasters.”
The final report outlines 14 recommendations to improve utility performance in the following categories: emergency preparedness and response planning, communication and coordination, customer restoration workflow, physical infrastructure, vegetation management, staffing and mutual assistance, and the use of mobile generation facilities. Some recommendations propose specific policies for consideration by the upcoming 89th Texas Legislature. Others suggest changes to PUCT rules or outline best practices for utilities.
In addition to the recommendations, the report includes an assessment of how utilities performed during the May Derecho and Hurricane Beryl, and an examination of the effects of extended power outages on millions of Houston area consumers, homes, and businesses.
PUCT Staff issued 94 formal requests for information (RFIs) to electric, water, and telecommunications providers in the Houston area to gather information for the investigation. Staff also analyzed utility emergency operations plans and vegetation management reports previously submitted to the PUCT.
The investigation’s findings and recommendations were also informed by public feedback submitted to the PUCT through an online questionnaire and public comments provided by Greater Houston area residents at a PUCT workshop held in Houston in early October. An archived recording of that workshop is available here.