Claire Hao

Houston-area cities fight CenterPoint’s $1.3B rate hike for Beryl, other storms CenterPoint Energy wants to charge customers $1.3 billion for Hurricane Beryl and other storms. Houston-area cities say that’s too much.

Houston-area cities fight CenterPoint’s proposed $1.3B rate hike for Hurricane Beryl, other storms, via @clairehao.bsky.social www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...

Texas flood response sparks outrage: 'A masterclass in how not to communicate' Professional crisis communicators watched the news conferences with dismay. Deflecting blame is not helpful if politicians want to build trust with the public, they say.

Response to deadly Texas floods was 'a masterclass in how not to communicate,' experts say, via @clairehao.bsky.social and @rebekahfward.bsky.social

www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...

The dramatic rise and fall of Houston solar powerhouse Sunnova Energy Houston-based rooftop solar company Sunnova Energy filed for bankruptcy in June. It offers stark lessons for the future of the U.S. residential solar industry.

Houston solar powerhouse Sunnova Energy had a quick rise — and a dramatic fall.

What happened, and what does Sunnova's bankruptcy filing mean for the U.S. residential solar industry's future? I tackled those questions here: www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...

Texans could see rising energy costs as Trump's new law slows clean energy Less solar and wind power will be built in Texas as a result of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” signed into law by President Donald Trump on the Fourth of July.

Less clean energy — perhaps much less — will be built in Texas as a result of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” signed into law by President Donald Trump on the Fourth of July.

That could raise energy costs for everyday residents: www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...

Elderly advocates say the status quo is inadequate in protecting Texas' seniors. And yet...

“We're in the same place as we were this time last year,” the deputy state long-term care ombudsman said.

More below on Harris County's mandate, now likely defunct: hcfmo.net/Divisions/Prev

Efforts to protect Houston seniors with backup power fail in Texas Legislature A year after Hurricane Beryl, none of the many bills filed by Houston-area lawmakers to require backup power at senior homes passed.

After Hurricane Beryl, Houston-area Democrats redoubled their fight to require generators or other types of backup power at senior homes.

A year later, none of their bills passed. The only new law cancels out Harris County's own backup power mandate: www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...

Many Texans cut back on ‘basic needs’ to pay electricity bills, study finds Nearly 80% of low- to moderate-income Houston-area residents said they cut back on “basic household needs” to afford electricity.

Low- to moderate-income residents in the Houston area struggle to pay their energy bills more than residents in other parts of Texas, a statewide nonprofit found in its new report.

Meanwhile, the government's safety net to help such residents is fraying: www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...

Texas leaders vowed to make CenterPoint pay after Beryl's blackouts. Did they? Vows of a $480M refund for CenterPoint customers have yet to be fulfilled a year after Hurricane Beryl left nearly a million Texans without power for four days.

NEW: We asked TX leaders if they're REALLY sure CenterPoint is giving back $100s of millions consumers spent on unused generators -- since documents indicate otherwise.
They pointed us to a spreadsheet that is VERY scant on detail. w/
@clairehao.bsky.social
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/investi...

5 things to know about Texas leaders’ broken Hurricane Beryl promises Texas leaders didn't fulfill vows to ensure CenterPoint refunds Houstonians for unused generators and to reform how utilities make money, the Chronicle found.

We have a shorter, more digestible "five takeaways" version too.

Our reporting looked at two vows: 1) to refund Houstonians $480M for CenterPoint's unused generators, and 2) to change utility incentives, so they don't just make more money by spending big: www.houstonchronicle.com/news/investi...

Texas leaders vowed to make CenterPoint pay after Beryl's blackouts. Did they? Vows of a $480M refund for CenterPoint customers have yet to be fulfilled a year after Hurricane Beryl left nearly a million Texans without power for four days.

There was a lot of anger at CenterPoint after Hurricane Beryl last year — and a lot of talk from Texas politicians about reform.

Nearly a year later, did leaders keep those big promises? Mostly no.

W/ @neenareports.bsky.social, who I learn so much from: www.houstonchronicle.com/news/investi...

Why Houston could see a surge of new gas-fired power plants A new report from the Environmental Integrity Project tracks 130 proposals for gas-fired power plants in Texas.

Interactive map: How AI is fueling a surge of gas power-plant proposals in the Houston area, via @rebekahfward.bsky.social and @clairehao.bsky.social

www.houstonchronicle.com/projects/202...

Renewable energy project cancellations spike in Texas: 'A canary in a coal mine' Renewable energy and battery storage companies are canceling their Texas projects at rates unseen since 2021, according to an analysis of ERCOT data.

Renewable energy & battery project cancellations in April and May spiked to levels unseen since 2021's COVID-19 woes, per a recent analysis of ERCOT data.

Tariffs and the uncertain fate of the tax credits are to blame: “It’s like a canary in a coal mine.” www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...

Can $350M in taxpayer funds make Texas the next nuclear energy powerhouse? Texas sets aside $350M to lure advanced nuclear companies, fueling debate over risks, rewards, and the state’s energy ambitions.

Texas is betting big on nuclear: Lawmakers have approved a new $350M taxpayer-backed fund to give companies grants to develop new projects.

The amount did drop significantly after months of debate. Gov. Abbott said he looks forward to signing the bill: www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...

Houston solar company Sunnova Energy files for bankruptcy after mass layoffs Sunnova Energy, the struggling Houston-based residential solar company, has filed for bankruptcy, according to court and regulatory filings.

Houston's Sunnova Energy has filed for bankruptcy, according to court & regulatory filings.

The news comes days after Sunnova told federal regulators it had laid off 55% of its workforce: www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...

Houston solar company Sunnova Energy lays off 700+ employees Sunnova Energy has laid off 718 employees, or approximately 55% of its workforce, in a desperate bid to slash costs as one of its subsidiaries files for bankruptcy.

So, the jokes about announcing bad news yesterday, when everyone's attention was elsewhere? Houston's Sunnova Energy seems to have actually done that.

The solar company has laid off 700+ employees, or 55% of its workforce, per a Thursday SEC filing: www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...

Is CenterPoint ready for hurricane season? CEO touts ‘unprecedented’ prep CenterPoint executives say they have made key changes since Hurricane Beryl, so its Houston-area power grid is ready for hurricane season this year.

Is CenterPoint ready for hurricane season? CEO Jason Wells touted a list of "unprecedented" prep to the Chronicle's ed board yesterday.

City & community leaders say CenterPoint's responsiveness has improved since Beryl. Still, they want more transparency. www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...

"It's Easier to Build Here," Texas Energy After the 89th Legislature with Claire Hao Houston Chronicle energy reporter Claire Hao covered the legislative session in depth; she joined me to discuss what passed, what didn't, and what it means for the future of the Texas grid

I was joined by the @houstonchronicle.com's @clairehao.bsky.social to unpack the major energy issues in the 89th Legislature, including the anti-energy development bills that didn't make, the nuclear and large load bills that did, and much more. #txlege #txenergy
www.douglewin.com/p/its-easier...

Renewable energy survived Texas attacks. Its future now depends on Trump. Texas bills targeting solar and wind power are dead, so the state’s flourishing renewable energy industry remains alive and well — for now.

It’s official: Texas bills targeting solar and wind power are dead.

Here's a recap of the arguments that worked, as the renewable energy industry tries the same appeals to lobby against Trump's "big, beautiful bill." www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...

Lawmakers: Offshore wind farms should be banned from connecting to ERCOT's grid The bill bars any offshore wind project or related grid infrastructure in Texas waters from connecting to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas power grid.

Texas lawmakers have advanced a bill to prohibit offshore wind turbines in the Gulf from connecting to the ERCOT power grid through state waters.

All that’s left before it goes to the governor’s desk is a full House vote: www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...

Does CenterPoint's proposal make ratepayers 'whole' for unused generators? Texas lawmakers will no longer push CenterPoint Energy to directly refund Houstonians for generators that went unused after Hurricane Beryl.

Why is that language gone? Lawmakers have deemed CenterPoint's counterproposal good enough to make ratepayers "whole" for the $997M generator lease.

The company's proposal, however, factors in a rate decrease related to other cases of alleged overcharging: www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...

SB 231, a bill reforming how utilities can lease generators, could be up for a vote in the House as soon as tomorrow. The Senate already passed it.

Language that would order a utility "to refund to customers any amount improperly recovered" has been stripped out of the bill.

CenterPoint didn't follow its own policies in leasing generators, audit says CenterPoint Energy “did not adequately follow its own practices” in leasing its controversial generators for nearly $1 billion, according to a third-party audit

CenterPoint “did not adequately follow its own practices” in leasing generators for nearly $1 billion, per a third-party audit of the deal.

Most of the generators can't be used to restore outages caused by damage to neighborhood-level power lines: www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...

Ultimately, ratepayers pay a price, whether utilities: 1) recover storm costs, 2) harden infrastructure, or 3) ask investors to bear huge losses.

“The customer always pays the costs. That’s a truism that’s very important for the utility, for regulators, for lawmakers, for everybody, to recognize.”

Why are Houston residents responsible for CenterPoint's May derecho costs? CenterPoint Energy will pass on $400 million of its storm costs from last May to its Houston customers via a recently approved rate increase.

A few weeks ago, I wrote that CenterPoint would hike rates to pass on $400M of its derecho & other storm costs from last May to Houston-area customers.

Many readers responded: Why is the company allowed to do this?

Today's story tackles that question: www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...

How will the ERCOT grid hold up during this week's Texas heat wave? Electricity demand is expected to set an all-time May record this week, according to forecasts from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.

This year's first major heat wave is here. How will the ERCOT power grid hold up? via @clairehao.bsky.social

www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...

NRG Energy to acquire 18 natural gas power plants in $12 billion deal NRG Energy plans to double its power generation capacity by acquiring 18 natural gas power plants from LS Power in a deal valued at $12 billion.

Another day, another big power generation deal.

Houston's NRG Energy announced a $12 billion agreement to acquire 18 natural gas power plants today. Why?

To supply electricity to data centers, of course: www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...

Renewable folks say the bill could not only stop new development, but also send existing solar & wind projects to an early grave.

Lawmakers say they're trying to help the companies that build natural gas power plants, but even those companies weren't eager to see the bill pass.

Texas GOP moves closer to killing the state's renewable energy boom The bills would require nearly every solar and wind farm in the state to back up their electricity output with natural gas power plants or a fleet of batteries.

The Texas GOP is getting closer than ever to killing the state’s renewable energy boom, according to the industry.

Much of the concern centers around a bill that passed the Senate yesterday requiring backup power for every solar & wind farm in Texas: www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...

Texas solar companies urge Congress to protect federal tax credits More than 50 solar companies with Texas ties signed onto a Thursday letter pleading with members of Congress to preserve federal clean energy tax credits.

Texas solar, energy storage companies plead with Congress to maintain federal clean energy tax credits, via @clairehao.bsky.social www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...

CenterPoint: Houston metro could need 50% more electricity by 2031 at peak times CenterPoint Energy’s Houston-area customers could require 50% more electricity during peak usage times by 2031, company executives told investors.

Houston metro could need 50% more electricity by 2031 at peak times, says CenterPoint, via @clairehao.bsky.social www.houstonchronicle.com/business/ene...