CenterPoint Energy fined $125K for carbon monoxide violations

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (WAVE) - The utility company responsible for an incident leading to more than 100 calls of carbon monoxide poisoning in southern Indiana on Christmas Eve is being fined by regulators.

Last year, on Dec. 24, an incorrect gas mixture at a CenterPoint facility turned into a disaster for families in Clarksville, New Albany, and Jeffersonville.

“I have been in Clark County since 1984,” State Representative Rita Leming said. “Members of my community have not experienced this in the past, so something was up. We knew we had to find out what was going on.”

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission completed an investigation into the carbon monoxide leak that sent at least four people to the hospital.

CenterPoint Energy previously stated the cause of the leak was due to an incorrect mixture of gas at the company’s propane air facility in Jeffersonville.

The regulatory commission cited CenterPoint for four violations, including not heating liquid propane to proper temperatures, not having a proper sensor, not having a fail-safe system in place and not alerting anyone that the propane was not at the correct temperature.

Rep. Leming, along with Rep. Ed Clere, said the utility company needs to pay for their negligence. The commission announced the utility company would be fined $125,000 for violations leading to the carbon monoxide leaks.

“The compensation for those affected is important now,” said Rep. Leming.

Rep. Clere shares customers who have filed claims with CenterPoint are being told that the company will only pay for 50% of their claims.

Both Fleming and Clere want CenterPoint to be held accountable and right their wrong in this situation.

Since the incident, CenterPoint has ceased operations within the Jeffersonville facility and will keep the facility shut down until the end of 2023.

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