Over the past six years, the population in the Cy-Fair area has increased by 20 percent, adding almost 100,000 residents in that time, according to data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. This growth has created a need for capacity on the power grid, which officials with Centerpoint Energy are working to meet. Many residents have complained of increased power outages due to growth, but both Centerpoint and others seeing the strain of power outages are refuting this grievance. Eileen Jones of AireServe of NW Houston said air conditioners have been failing at increased rates this summer, but not from population growth. “Most of the power outages on AC units that have had trouble are due to the weather on our end,” she said. “We have seen an increase in AC damage related to power outages, but it is more due to weather than growth.” Centerpoint serves a territory of roughly 5,000 square miles across Texas, but officials said they are seeing the most need for additional power in the northwest region of Houston. To accommodate the need, Centerpoint creates models that look forward as long-term as 20 years, and as short-term as one year, said Chris Oliver, the service area director for Katy and Cypress. Oliver said the models with a longer time range are generally less accurate, but provide a framework for Centerpoint to determine where and when to bring in additional infrastructure. As of October, the energy company is planning to accommodate areas where major highways are being extended, Oliver said. “We are having to have the most planning along the Grand Parkway,” he said. “Fairfield is building out. Cypress Creek Lakes, Bridgeland, Towne Lake—all of it is growing.” However, even with the additional population strain, Oliver said Centerpoint is seeing no additional strain on its ability to provide power to the area. He said Centerpoint tracks outages and looks at average time without power. “In some years it may be higher than others,” he said. “For example, we had quite a few electrical storms [in] April and then with flooding around Labor Day, which created extended outages in areas where we weren’t able to get to with washed out bridges and swollen creeks. But, because we are adding more customers to the system, that shouldn’t affect the [system’s] capacity.” Oliver said Centerpoint is constantly monitoring the status and capacity of its substations and is planning future stations in the coming years. In the future, Centerpoint officials plan to bring additional transmission lines into the area to provide a higher capacity for power. This project is referred to as the Brazos Valley Connection Project. The energy company is also working on right of way acquisition for the line that will connect the Limestone Power Plant in Limestone County to the Zenith Substation in Harris County. This project will enhance reliability of the power grid in the Greater Houston area, including Cy-Fair, officials said. “The entire project is needed to enhance reliability through increasing available electric supply capacity in the Houston area by summer 2018,” according to the project’s website. “The project will improve the capacity of the Texas electric grid and strengthen regional transmission capabilities.” The line is planned to cross the Grand Parkway north of I-10 West and the Clay Road area. “We will be far, far ahead of having [population created] limits,” Oliver said.