Entergy helps customers “Beat the Heat” with $4M donation

Entergy said it has provided more than $4.1 million in initiatives and resources this year to help its customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas save on their utility bills this summer.

The initiative is in its 22nd year and has supported thousands of low-income and senior customers through payment assistance and community programs.

“We recognize the economic challenges our customers and communities are currently facing,” said Patty Riddlebarger, Entergy’s vice president of corporate social responsibility. “We are so proud of our employees who, year after year, continue to rise up to the occasion and exemplify our company mission to help out our most vulnerable customers in need.”

Initiatives include more than $3 million donated by Entergy shareholders, employee and customers to provide bill assistance to older customers and customers with disabilities; a $1 million donation to provide energy efficiency kits; more than $75,000 in grants for fans and weatherization kits for vulnerable customers; more than 3,000 energy efficiency kits and more than 2,500 electric fans; and neighborhood sweeps in underserved areas to help weatherproof low-income homes.

Entergy said the initiatives are ongoing and will help customers throughout the summer.

Since mid-June, record temperatures in Texas have broiled that state with the heat index rising to triple digits in several Texas cities. The blazing hot temperatures have spread across the Southeast. Weather predictions indicate the heat is here to stay for a while. Although in many places in Texas the temperatures will drop more than 10 degrees, experts expect the thermometer to climb to 100 through July 8, a relief from the up to 119-degree temps in places like Laredo. So far 11 people have died in Laredo because of the heat, officials said.