Entergy Texas awarded ~$200 million to better protect the Southeast Texas power grid from severe weather

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- Entergy Texas has been awarded approximately $200 million through the Texas Energy Fund (TxEF) Outside‑ERCOT Grant Program to help strengthen the electric grid for more than 538,000 customers across Southeast Texas. The funding will be used to strengthen key parts of the electric system, which will support faster power restoration after severe weather and reduce restoration costs. The investment comes at an important time, as hurricane season begins and the region continues adapting to more frequent and intense storms.

“Texans deserve reliable electricity no matter where they live,” said Texas Governor Greg Abbott. “These grants will strengthen the power infrastructure that Southeast Texas families, businesses, schools, and hospitals rely on every day. Texas will build a stronger, more reliable electric grid for all Texans.”

The grant funding will be used to complete two major storm‑resilience and reliability projects across the Entergy Texas service area, including parts of Chambers, Grimes, Hardin, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, Orange, and Walker counties.

The larger project includes strengthening more than 400 miles of transmission and distribution lines and upgrading more than 9,000 utility structures, including poles that are more likely to be damaged during major storms. A second project will add flood‑protection measures to five substations, helping them stay online during extreme weather and keep power flowing to nearby communities.

“The TxEF Outside‑ERCOT Grant Program is delivering real improvements to electric reliability across Texas,” said Public Utility Commission of Texas Chairman Thomas Gleeson. “These projects will strengthen critical power equipment, reduce storm‑related outages, and help restore power more quickly when severe weather strikes. This is exactly the kind of investment Texan voters approved when they created the TxEF.”

Better service reliability at no additional cost to customers

For communities that regularly face hurricanes, tropical storms, and other severe weather, the TxEF funding allows Entergy Texas to move faster on these grid improvements without adding costs to customer bills.

“Working in close partnership with state leadership, we are fast‑tracking critical grid upgrades to better defend against extreme weather,” said Eliecer Viamontes, CEO of Entergy Texas. “Delivering these outcomes with zero impact to customer bills makes this a definitive win for the families, businesses, and communities we serve across Southeast Texas.”

These improvements also align with Entergy Texas’ long‑term Southeast Texas Energy Plan, known as STEP Ahead—a multiyear effort focused on preparing the region for continued growth while building a stronger, more storm‑ready electric system.

To learn more about how Entergy Texas is staying a STEP Ahead of the power needs for its customers and rapidly growing communities, visit www.entergytexas.com/stepahead.