How Premium Utility Contractor Responded After Houston’s 2024 Derecho - Restoring Power to Houston Part 1

Houston is no stranger to severe weather. But in May 2024, a band of powerful storms still caught the city by surprise. 

The storms, known collectively as a derecho, brought wind up to 100 miles-per-hour and plunged more than one million energy customers into darkness. As the utility company that serves the Houston area scrambled to restore power, Premium Utility Contractor joined the effort, sending more than 800 employees to help repair infrastructure within the storm-damaged city. 

The derecho swept into Houston on the evening of May 16. The wind toppled trees, blew out high-rise windows, and ripped walls off buildings. Local authorities said eight people died as a result of the storm.

The Houston area has regularly hunkered down in the face of hurricanes. Unlike a hurricane, though, this derecho came largely without warning. By the time the storm clouds cleared on May 17, utility provider CenterPoint Energy was staring down a massive restoration effort and requested mutual assistance crews to support by the thousands.

Premium was activated to respond to Houston by Collective Strategic Resources (CSR), a sister company that operates under the same umbrella of Premium’s parent company, PowerGrid. 

Premium responded to the derecho with a massive amount of resources, allocating roughly 815 full time employees, including working personnel, supervisors, project managers, safety experts, managers, and other support staff to work under CSR. 

Crews were not able to pre-stage prior to the sudden storm, however Premium’s commitment to planning and preparation meant they were ready when called upon. Proactively shifting equipment to its southern laydown areas in anticipation of hurricane season, Premium was able to mobilize quickly. Devoted general foreman (GF’s) rallied their loyal following of journeymen lineman, foremen, apprentices and equipment operators. Both equipment and manpower were on their way to Houston.

With the influx of contractors coming to assist, and with residents of Houston looking for places to stay, available hotel space became scarce. Centerpoint, however, did a great job finding lodging for Premium’s crews. With trucks and equipment at a separate staging site, crews stepped up to take on the added challenge of long travel times. 

Though the wind came and went, hot weather that hung over Houston before the derecho returned in its aftermath. Temperatures soared above 90 degrees. High humidity made temperatures feel like they were more than 100 degrees. 

Premium ensured crews worked safely by taking necessary protocols to keep staff cool and hydrated. At least eight members of Premium’s safety staff were part of the team in Houston, handing out electrolytes and cooling towels, among other safety measures. Safety staff performed health and wellness checks and ensured their colleagues took necessary brakes to stave off heat exhaustion.

With safety as a top priority, and the backbone of Premium’s culture, every day in the field started with a safety briefing. The safety department liaised between their colleagues and Centerpoint to support crews and the larger goal of power restoration. They routinely performed real-time safety inspections, compliance and safety audits and made sure all crews were adhering to PPE (personal protective equipment) requirements. 

Behind the scenes, Premium was busy with daily equipment upkeep, replenishment of supplies and PPE, management of resources and overall strategy. Mechanics traveled with Premium crews to keep equipment in top shape when it was needed most. Fleet personnel worked to ensure the equipment was safe and in good working order.

The wind damage from the derecho did not discriminate, howling through Houston’s urban core while also hitting less densely populated portions of the city. From hospitals, to schools, to residential customers, Premium played its part in the sprawling effort to get power restored. 

Weeks after the storm, once many Houston residents were again going about their daily lives, Premium played a role in post-storm cleanup work. Crews replaced pole lines with fiberglass poles and upgraded various switches throughout the electrical grid in Houston. Premium performed additional damage assessments and inspections and fixed issues its personnel found.

Steps from the Gulf of Mexico and its raging hurricanes, and frequently in the bullseye of powerful summer thunderstorms, Premium personnel left the Houston area on July 3 well aware that the city would face future storms. 

As nature had it, the first of those future storms was already on its way.