Centerpoint Energy is a large natural gas utility company that provides electricity and natural gas to over 5 million consumers in Texas, Arkansas, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Centerpoint Energy has multiple natural gas pipelines in the middle region of The United States, and sells the natural gas it harvest to other electrical companies. They maintain electrical wires and infrastructures as well. We are going to look at five things you probably didn’t know about this large natural gas distributor and producer.
5. Their pipelines are as long as a third of the Earths circumference
Centerpoint Energy has many natural gas pipelines that stretch from multiple natural gas site all across the mid-western part of the United States. They have about 8,200 miles of pipelines in total, which is about a third of the worlds circumference; a pretty impressive feat. That’s more than the distance between New York City to India, to give you some perspective.
4. They paid no taxes between the years of 2008 to 2010
Centerpoint Energy has been a very successful distributor of natural gas, seeing about $1.9 billion dollars in profits between the years of 2008 and 2010 and receiving around $280 million dollars in tax rebates. Yet, Centerpoint somehow managed to pay not a single dollar of taxes in these years, of which many people criticized Centerpoint Energy.
3. They developed a smart meter to save consumers money and electricty
In 2009 Centerpoint devised a new smart meter for homes that was aimed to save the consumer money and to reduce the energy consumption of homes. Centerpoint wanted to create a system that was beneficial for both the company and its consumers, and they did exactly that. After testing a small sample group with their new system in Houston, they found the smart meters to be extremely successful and started to implement them to all of their customers. Centerpoint funded this project from some money that was granted to them from the federal stimulus package, proving it to be a good use of government funds.
2. They have over 24,000 circuit miles in power lines
Like our fact about Centerpoint’s pipelines, Centerpoint has around 24,325 miles of circuit power lines both above and under ground. That figure is 577 miles shy from the circumference of the entire earth. This fact alone is clearly evident that Centerpoint is truly an energy powerhouse whose power distribution infrastructure is massive.
1. They have won over 30 enviornmental awards
Over the recent years Centerpoint Energy has won many outstanding environmental awards for its service and dedication to providing the safest and cleanest methods for distributing natural gas and energy to its consumers. While natural gas is the cleanest form of fossil fuel, it still leaves a large carbon footprint and Centerpoint strives their hardest to make it as clean as possible. Centerpoint has won 8 Energy Star awards, which are given out by the Enviornmental Protection Agency, including 6 Energy Star Sustained Excellence Awards showing that Centerpoint is committed to the Environment.
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