CenterPoint Boosts Investment to $65.5B as Houston Power Demand Surges

HOUSTON, TX – February 19, 2026 – By Carol Moore

CenterPoint Energy announced strong financial results for 2025 and unveiled an accelerated forecast for the Greater Houston area's power consumption, prompting the utility to increase its long-term capital investment plan to a massive $65.5 billion. The company is now projecting it will need to supply 10 gigawatts (GW) of new electric load by the end of 2029, a full two years ahead of its previous estimates, signaling unprecedented economic and industrial expansion in its core Texas market.

The Houston-based utility reported a non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) of $1.76 for the full year 2025, a 9% increase over 2024's $1.62. For the fourth quarter, non-GAAP EPS was $0.45, up from $0.40 in the same period a year prior. These results come as the company navigates a strategic pivot to focus on its regulated utility operations while preparing for a decade of significant infrastructure build-out.

Powering an Economic Boom

The most significant takeaway from the company's report is the dramatic acceleration of energy demand in Greater Houston. CenterPoint's updated forecast reflects a region experiencing a surge in growth from a diverse range of sectors, including data centers, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and energy exports. The 10 GW of new load projected by 2029 is a substantial increase, with a pipeline that includes 2.5 GW already under construction and another 5 GW firmly committed for connection by 2028.

To meet this demand, CenterPoint has increased its 10-year capital plan (2026-2035) by $500 million to $65.5 billion. The additional funds are specifically earmarked for critical electric transmission projects, including a new 765 kilovolt import line designed to enhance grid capacity and reliability. The company also identified over $10 billion in potential capital opportunities beyond this base plan, underscoring the scale of the ongoing expansion.

“I’m proud of how our teams continued to deliver better outcomes for our customers and communities in 2025,” said Jason Wells, Chair of the Board, President & CEO of CenterPoint, in a statement. “We believe that we can connect industrial, life sciences, and a range of technology customers far faster and far more cost‑effectively than other regions as part of our more than $65 billion investment plan. Our speed to power and efficiency are helping attract new jobs and diverse investments to the Greater Houston area.”

Financial Performance and Investor Outlook

While the growth story captured headlines, CenterPoint's financial performance provided a solid foundation. The fourth-quarter non-GAAP EPS of $0.45 met some analyst expectations but slightly missed others, which had forecasted figures closer to $0.46 or $0.47. However, the company's quarterly revenue of $2.51 billion comfortably beat consensus estimates of $2.33 billion. The market reaction was muted, with the company's stock seeing a slight dip in trading following the announcement.

For investors, the long-term picture remains a key focus. The utility reaffirmed its 2026 full-year non-GAAP EPS guidance in the range of $1.89 to $1.91, which represents an 8% growth at the midpoint over 2025's results. This continues a strong trend for the company, which, according to Wells, has “delivered industry-leading 9% non‑GAAP EPS growth in four of the last five years.”

Reinforcing its confidence in future cash flows, CenterPoint also highlighted a 9% growth in its dividend per share in 2025. This combination of consistent earnings growth and shareholder returns, backed by a massive, regulated capital investment program, is central to its investor appeal. The company projects its rate base will grow at over 11% through 2030, a key metric for utility investors that signals future earnings potential.

Enhancing Reliability While Managing Costs

A central challenge for CenterPoint will be executing its multi-billion dollar investment plan without placing an undue burden on its more than 7 million customers across Texas, Indiana, Minnesota, and Ohio. Wells addressed this directly, stating the company aims to keep its portion of bills “essentially flat for our Texas residential customers.”

The strategy to achieve this involves several components. First, the company is leveraging regulatory mechanisms that provide clarity and timely recovery for its investments. CenterPoint has already secured regulatory certainty on approximately 80% of its rate base through 2029. Second, the utility is undergoing a strategic portfolio shift, divesting non-core natural gas assets to recycle capital back into its primary electric operations. The company recently completed the $1.2 billion sale of its Louisiana and Mississippi gas utilities and has a pending agreement to sell its Ohio gas business.

Finally, a focus on operational excellence is yielding tangible results. In 2025, CenterPoint reduced customer outage times by more than 100 million minutes in its Houston Electric business, a significant improvement in service reliability that directly benefits consumers and businesses that depend on stable power. These operational gains, combined with strategic capital allocation, are designed to support the grid's expansion while maintaining affordability. The company's ability to successfully balance these competing priorities will be critical as it embarks on one of the most significant infrastructure expansions in its 150-year history.