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AUSTIN, Texas \u2014 Texas\u2019 attorney general launched an investigation Monday into Houston\u2019s electric utility over allegations of fraud and waste following\u00a0Hurricane Beryl<\/a>, adding to the mounting scrutiny after widespread power outages left millions without electricity for days.<\/p>\n The latest investigation of CenterPoint Energy<\/a> comes after state regulators and Republican Gov. Greg Abbott have also demanded answers about storm preparations and the response to Beryl, a Category 1 hurricane that knocked out power to nearly 3 million people around the nation\u2019s fourth-largest city.<\/p>\n The storm was blamed for\u00a0at least three dozen deaths<\/a>, including those of some residents who died in homes that were left without air conditioning in sweltering heat after the storm\u2019s passage.<\/p>\n \u201cMy office is aware of concerning allegations regarding CenterPoint and how its conduct affected readiness during Hurricane Beryl,\u201d Ken Paxton, the state\u2019s Republican attorney general, said in a statement. \u201cIf the investigation uncovers unlawful activity, that activity will be met with the full force of the law.\u201d<\/p>\n The utility pledged its support of the investigation.<\/p>\n \u201cWe look forward to cooperating with the Texas Attorney General or any other agency and have made clear our commitment to upholding the values of our company,\u201d CenterPoint spokesperson John Sousa said.<\/p>\n Paxton did not cite any specific allegations of waste or fraud in his announcement and his office did not respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n Abbott has demanded answers from CenterPoint for what he called its slow restoration efforts and poor communication with customers in the days leading up to the storm. The state\u2019s Public Utility Commission has launched its own investigation, and lawmakers grilled the company\u2019s top executive over its failures at a hearing last month.<\/p>\n CenterPoint has largely defended its storm preparedness and said that it deployed thousands of additional workers to help restore power. The utility provider has also begun a monthslong plan to replace hundreds of wooden utility poles and double its tree-trimming efforts after the governor pressed for swift action.<\/p>\n Beryl damaged power lines and uprooted trees when it made its Texas landfall on July 8. It\u2019s the latest natural disaster to hit Houston after a powerful storm ripped through the area in May, leaving nearly 1 million people without power.<\/p>\n Many residents fear that chronic outages have become the norm after Texas\u2019 power grid failed amid a\u00a0deadly winter storm<\/a>\u00a0in 2021.<\/p>\n CenterPoint has previously faced questions over the reliability of Houston\u2019s power grid.<\/p>\n In 2008, Hurricane Ike, a Category 2 storm, knocked out power to more than 2 people million and it took 19 days to fully restore electricity. The city of Houston created a task force initiative to investigate the company\u2019s response and determined it needed to automate parts of its grid to minimize outages.<\/p>\n CenterPoint received millions of dollars in federal funding to implement this technology years ago. However, according to executive vice president Jason Ryan, it\u2019s still a work in progress.<\/p>\n Some utility experts and critics say the company hasn\u2019t adapted its technology fast enough to meet the extreme weather conditions Texas will continue to face.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nRecommended Newsletter:<\/strong> CEO Daily provides key context for the news leaders need to know from across the world of business. Every weekday morning, more than 125,000 readers trust CEO Daily for insights about\u2013and from inside\u2013the C-suite. Subscribe Now<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n