CenterPoint Energy prepares for TS Nate; urges customers to be prepared for potential flooding and issues important natural gas safety tips

HOUSTON, Oct. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- As the Gulf Coast braces for Tropical Storm Nate, CenterPoint Energy (NYSE:CNP) is closely monitoring and preparing for the storm. The company has developed the following pre- and post-storm natural gas safety tips that customers should follow:

Before the storm:

    --  Do not turn off your natural gas service at the meter; doing so could
        allow water to enter the natural gas lines.
    --  Be alert for the smell of natural gas. If you smell gas, leave the area
        immediately on foot and tell others to leave, too.
    --  If you smell gas, do not turn the lights on or off, smoke, strike a
        match, use a cell phone or operate anything that might cause a spark,
        including a flashlight or a generator.
    --  Do not attempt to turn natural gas valves on or off. Once safely away
        from the area, call CenterPoint Energy at 888-876-5786. The company will
        send a trained service technician.

After the storm:

    --  If your home was flooded, call a licensed plumber or gas appliance
        technician to inspect your appliances and gas piping to make sure they
        are in good operating condition before calling CenterPoint Energy to
        reconnect service. This includes outdoor gas appliances including pool
        heaters, gas grills and gas lights.
    --  Call 811, the nationwide Call Before You Dig number before cleaning
        debris, digging on your property or to locate underground natural gas
        lines and other underground utility lines.
    --  Be aware of where your natural gas meter is located. As debris is put
        out for heavy trash pickup, make sure it is placed away from the meter.
        If debris is near a gas meter, the equipment used by trash collectors
        could pull up the meter, damaging it and causing a potentially hazardous
        situation. If this happens, leave the area immediately and call
        CenterPoint Energy at 888-876-5786.

Visit CenterPoint Energy's weather safety pages and follow the company @cnpalerts and Facebook.com/CenterPoint Energy.

For more information contact:
Corporate Communications
24-hour access:
713.619.5143

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SOURCE CenterPoint Energy, Inc.