Energy Assistance

From July 1 through September 30, low-income customers across Texas can benefit from summer assistance programs that will include a return of our Beat the Heat Centers, weatherization assistance, deposit waivers and more.

View press release

Our 2010 summer assistance initiatives include:

• A voluntary moratorium on disconnecting electricity service for low-income seniors, critical-care customers and other low-income residential customers who contact Reliant Energy and agree to a payment plan
  
• An $800,000 commitment to assist low-income and elderly residential customers in paying their electricity bills through CARE (Community Assistance from Reliant Energy)
  
• Seven Beat the Heat Centers to provide heat relief in high-need areas in Houston
  
• A $130,000 commitment for Weatherization Assistance programs for low-income families and seniors in Corpus Christi and Dallas
  
• Waived residential customer deposits for qualified senior citizens
  
• Deposit installment plans for qualified low-income residential customers
  
• Extensions and payment plans for qualified residential customers
  
• Special agents dedicated to residential customers who are eligible for social agency assistance or who need special arrangements
  
• Average Billing to help manage bill size during the hottest months of the year for qualified residential customers
  
• Competitive residential pricing plans with no long-term contracts or with up to 24 months of price security, except for changes in law or regulatory charges

To find out more about our assistance programs, call one of our Customer Care Representatives at 713-207-7777 or 1-866-222-7100.

Together with Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS), we have made a $50,000 commitment in new funding for energy efficiency improvements for low-income homes through the DCHHS Weatherization Assistance Program. The first recipient, Betty Jo Hanks said, "The weatherization on my home has made a world of difference.  Recently when the outside temp was in the 40s, I didn't have to turn on my heater.  Thanks to the installation and other improvements the temperature inside my home stayed at about 70 degrees."

Ten of our qualified customers will receive $5,000 in energy efficiency improvements, including:

• Installing attic insulation
• Checking and servicing heater/air conditioner
• Sealing ducts, caulking and weather-stripping
• Installing energy-efficient refrigerator
• Installing water-saving devices and compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)
• Repairing and/or replacing windows/doors

 For more information about the program, see the press release.

Rebuilding Together Houston (RTH) is a non-profit organization that provides home repair services for low income, elderly and/or disabled Houston-area homeowners. Each spring and fall, Reliant Energy volunteers team up with RTH to work on its home repair projects.

Since 2002, Reliant employees have helped repair more than 50 homes in low-income Houston areas. Working together with Rebuilding Together Houston, Reliant employees have made energy efficient upgrades to more than 1,200 homes in low-income Houston neighborhoods through the Reliant Energy Acres Homes and PowerHouse programs, which launched March 2006. 

This program provides home improvements designed to permanently lower the electricity usage of program clients who are also Reliant Energy customers.
Home improvements provided through this program include:

• Installation of R30 insulation in attics
  
• Replacing window air conditioner units in poor and/or non-working condition
  
• Providing window air conditioner units to homes without an existing unit
  
• Replacing old refrigerators with energy-efficient models
  

Founded in 1982 and the successor to PSI Home Savers, RTH is funded by donations and grants from corporations, churches, foundations, in-kind contributions and public-sector funds. More than 97 percent of the resources go directly to benefiting program clients.

The Low Income Deposit (L.I.D.) Program assists our customers in the Centerpoint (CNP) service territory to pay the deposit for their electricity service.  The program is based on an “Each One Help One” approach whereby, after a 12 month period, deposit amounts are placed back in the L.I.D. fund to be used for deposit assistance for another eligible family. 

Since the program inception in 2006, we have donated over $300,000 to help Texas residents pay their deposits.

Qualified benefactors in the CNP territory are:

• Seniors aged 60-64 (deposit is waived for seniors 65 and above)
• Families with children aged 6 years old or younger
• Disabled individuals

Three funded agencies assist Texans in 5 counties.

• Harris County Social Services 713-696-7900
• Ft. Bend Social Services 281-342-7300
• Galveston County Community Action Council 1-409-762-8418

Help is available. If you or someone you know meets the qualifications, please call us toll free at 1-866-RELIANT or 1-866-735-4268 for assistance.

Through the PowerHouse program, we educate customers on energy conservation, help with understanding billing statements, discuss our products and services, and conduct home energy efficiency repairs for low-income and senior customers. 

•  Energy Efficiency Seminar – a 20 minute fun-filled energy efficiency session to educate CNP residents on ways to conserve electricity.

• Bill Review & Assistance – a face-to-face meeting with a seasoned representative to better understand their bill as well as services and/or pricing plans available to them. 

• Energy Efficiency Home Improvements – improvements and repairs for eligible low income and senior customers residing in the 7 selected communities. These may include:
  • Attic Insulation
  • Refrigerator (refrigerator purchased prior to 1993)
  • One Window air conditioner
  • Door and window replacement and/ or treatment (if needed)

Participating Communities:           

• Acres Homes
• Denver Harbor        
• E LittleYork, Settegast, & Trinity Gardens     
• Greater Fifth Ward                                         
• Greater Fondren                                            
• Independence Heights                                  
• Sunnyside, South Park, & Third Ward          

Houston Multi-service Centers:

• Acres Homes MSC
• Denver Harbor MSC
• Market Street MSC
• Sunnyside MSC
  

For more information about the PowerHouse program call 713-497-6666.

The CARE (Community Assistance from Reliant Energy) Energy Assistance Program offers a helping hand to Reliant customers during a difficult time. The program is funded by corporate contributions and many generous donations from our customers.

Customers who qualify may receive this one-time annual assistance through non-profit social service agencies in our communities. These agencies review customer cases and qualify them based upon the agency’s designated hardship criteria. Customers looking for assistance can locate the CARE agencies by calling 211 from anywhere in the state of Texas or by contacting one of the organizations listed below.