Spring homeowner frustrated with CenterPoint over exposed power line

HOUSTON - We got a response from CenterPoint within an hour before air. In part, the statement says the wire in question is not a downed wire, but rather a temporary bypass cable.

A CenterPoint spokesperson told us it's not dangerous, but added the family should use caution.

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It's a troubling situation Robert Boykin says he's been dealing with for the past five days.

The power at the family's house went out Sunday, December 29.

Boykin says he was told what was stretching through his backyard, just a few feet away from the pool, was a temporary bypass, and he says that was about it.

Of course, with a child and two dogs wanting to go in the backyard, Boykin says he was fearful.

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On Friday, Boykin says two CenterPoint agents told him it was not in their job description to bury the line underground.

When he complained about the wire remaining on his property exposed, he says he was told it was all that was giving his house power.

"It's upsetting," he said. "You pay these people to do a job and they're CenterPoint's finest."

A CenterPoint spokesperson told us, Boykin or one of his neighbors will have to pay to replace the underground line.

Here's CenterPoint's full statement saying, 

"The line in this customer’s backyard is not a downed wire, it’s a temporary bypass cable. Equipment like this is used to safely continue delivering power while repairs are being made to customer-owned underground infrastructure during the normal course of operations. Safety is CenterPoint’s top priority, and we urge customers to stay at least 35 feet away from downed power lines and immediately report downed lines to the company at 713-207-2222."