August 3, 2009

By Lee McGuire

HOUSTON -- CenterPoint Energy will soon start paying someone to keep an eye on the progress the utility is making as it prepares Houston’s electric grid for another hurricane.

Last September, some Houstonians went 21 days without power. The near-total collapse of the electric grid during Hurricane Ike prompted promises for change.

Houston Mayor Bill White convened a task force after Ike. It suggested changes in the way CenterPoint trims trees. It also recommended an expensive investment in an intelligent grid that would contain sensors to re-route power automatically.

To make sure it happens, the City of Houston has pressured CenterPoint to pay for a watchdog. Details aren't final, but a CenterPoint spokesperson and a city attorney say it will be one or two people who will be on the job for 5 to 10 years.

However, the person who helped push for the task force in the first place isn't convinced this is the answer.

"I'd rather hire two more police officers than hire two people to watch over CenterPoint to make sure they do what they were supposed to do in the first place," said Houston City Council member Peter Brown.

The city will pick who gets the job. For now, it's unclear who that person would report to.