Company is prepared to provide safe, reliable energy during cold weather  

Energy efficiency tips can help customers manage energy usage while keeping their homes comfortable 

Evansville, Ind. – Dec. 12, 2025 – With colder temperatures expected across southwestern Indiana this weekend, including highs in the teens and lows in the single digits, CenterPoint Energy reminds customers that it has a comprehensive cold weather action plan in place and is prepared for potential impacts from the colder weather. CenterPoint teams are monitoring conditions, coordinating with agencies and emergency responders, as appropriate, and remain ready to deploy resources as needed to maintain safe and reliable service. The company encourages customers to have their cold weather plan in place as well.   

Electric and natural gas preparedness actions in southwestern Indiana 

CenterPoint prepares year-round for cold weather through proactive steps that support safe and reliable delivery of electric and natural gas service to southwestern Indiana communities. The company’s efforts include: 

·         Monitoring the electric and natural gas systems 24/7 and implementing cold weather action plans to support delivery of service. 

·         Conducting infrastructure projects to modernize the company’s electric and natural gas distribution systems. 

·         Checking critical systems and equipment ahead of extreme winter weather to prepare for high demand and cold temperatures. 

·         Staging staff across the company’s service area, ready to respond to potential service issues safely and as quickly as possible. 

Safety tips 
CenterPoint encourages customers to keep safety at the forefront of their minds as they heat their homes: 

·         ​​Use space heaters safely. Make sure a space heater has an automatic shut-off, and keep children, pets and all items at least three feet away from it. A space heater that uses natural gas, propane or wood should be vented to the outside. Stoves and ovens should never be used for space heating. 

·         Test carbon monoxide (CO) and smoke alarms to make sure they work properly. Change batteries regularly. Alarms don’t last forever, so replace them according to the manufacturer’s instructions. 

·         Know the signs of CO poisoning. Early symptoms such as headache and fatigue are similar to the flu, but without a fever. Continued CO exposure can lead to more severe headaches, dizziness, nausea, difficulty thinking clearly and fainting. If everyone in a household is experiencing these symptoms, it could be CO poisoning. If CO poisoning is suspected, leave the area immediately, get fresh air and call 911. 

·         Immediately report a electric outage or downed power lines. Customers should never approach downed lines and should assume they are live. If a downed line is spotted, leave the area and call 911 and CenterPoint Energy at 800-227-1376. 

·         Immediately report a suspected natural gas leak. If there’s a “rotten egg” odor of natural gas present, immediately leave on foot, go to a safe location and call both 911 and CenterPoint Energy at 800-227-1376. Don’t use electric switches and outlets, phones (including cell phones), drive or start a car inside or close to the location or do anything that could cause a spark. 

·         Keep natural gas meters clear. Use a broom to gently remove snow, but avoid using a shovel, which can cause damage. If ice builds up, let it melt naturally rather than trying to chip or melt it away. Keep the area around the meter clear of snow piles to allow safe access in an emergency.  

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Energy-saving tips 
CenterPoint encourages customers to consider implementing easy tips that can help manage energy usage, including: 

·         Make sure the heating system is operating safely and efficiently. Change or clean the furnace filter regularly to help maximize the furnace’s efficiency and life. 

·         Turn down the thermostat. Lowering the thermostat at night or when away for at least eight hours can potentially save on heating costs. With a programmable thermostat, a heating system can work around a customer’s schedule. 

·         Keep warm air in and cold air out of the home. Use caulk or weather-stripping to seal leaks around doors, windows and other openings such as pipes or ducts. Towels can also be rolled up and pushed against the bottom of a door’s interior. Close fireplace dampers when not in use to prevent heat loss. 

·         Use window coverings and blinds effectively. If it’s sunny outside, open window coverings during the day to capture warmth from the sun, and close coverings at night to keep warmth inside. 

·         Circulate warm air with ceiling fans. Set ceiling fans to turn clockwise and slowly to move warm air from the ceiling to living levels. 

Resource Hub available for customers 
To help customers manage energy use and bills during cold weather, CenterPoint offers an online Customer Resource Hub. The hub provides easy access to billing tools, energy efficiency programs and tips and other resources. To learn more, visit  CenterPointEnergy.com/ResourceHub.​ 

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WEEKLY DEATH REPORT NOV 10 TO NOV 16, 2025

Indiana high school seniors and college students planning to pursue a career in teaching can now apply for a Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship, according to Vanderburgh County legislators.

State Rep. Tim O’Brien (R-Evansville) said this renewable scholarship, established in 2016 through legislation passed by the Indiana General Assembly, pays $10,000 per year for up to four academic years for students who commit to teaching in Indiana for at least five years.

“These scholarships are direct investments in our teachers, students and communities,” O’Brien said. “Anyone who wants to pursue a career in education should consider applying.”

State Rep. Matt Hostettler (R-Patoka) said scholarships will be awarded to high school and college students who have graduated or will graduate from an Indiana accredited high school or non-accredited nonpublic high school. Applicants must also rank in the top 20% of their high school graduating class, have a top 20% ACT or SAT score, or have a cumulative grade point average of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

“Indiana’s continued educational strength relies on having great teachers leading our classrooms,” Hostettler said. “Future generations will benefit from having the best and brightest teachers right here in Indiana.”

State Rep. Wendy McNamara (R-Evansville) said the 2026-2027 application is available online atscholartrack.che.in.gov through Jan. 31. Applicants will be notified of their scholarship status by April 2026. For questions, email the Indiana Commission for Higher Education at NextTeacher@che.in.gov.

“It is hard to overstate the role teachers play in students’ development and progress, so we should want the best educators working in our state,” McNamara said. “The Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship helps fulfill this need by providing funding for prospective teachers’ education while ensuring our state retains top talent.”

In 2023, the legislature passed a law that increased the scholarship award amount from $7,500 to $10,000 and removed the annual 200-recipient cap. Last year, more than a thousand students applied for the scholarship, a new record, with nearly 300 scholarships awarded.

To learn more about the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship, visit in.gov/che.