The summer months can put a strain on anyone's electricity budget. Reliant is proud to offer a Beat the Heat program providing relief from the heat in Corpus Christi, Houston and North Texas.
The need for social distancing has changed the way services are provided by Reliant-sponsored Beat the Heat programs. Please review the updates below for additional information.
Staying Cool at Home
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are staying home to stay healthy. With that in mind, here are tips for staying cool at home this summer.
- Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke
- Pay attention to the temperature in your home
- Stay hydrated by drinking more water than usual
- Use cooling towels
- Take cool baths or showers
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which are dehydrating
- Have a loved one call to check on you throughout the day
- Ask your doctor how heat can affect any medications you're taking
- Limit outdoor activity
- Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing
Houston
Reliant's Beat the Heat portable air conditioner program assists eligible seniors, disabled individuals, and families without means to cool their homes. If you are a resident of Precinct 2 in East Harris County, please contact Precint2gether at 713-274-2222 for details. Otherwise, please call the Harris County Area Agency on Aging at 832-393-4301 to learn more.
If you would like to be notified when emergency cooling centers open, please register for AlertHouston notifications. You may also call 3-1-1, follow the City of Houston on Facebook, or check their news releases for updates and locations.
Individuals should call 832-393-4984 if they have home cooling concerns.
Corpus Christi
Reliant's Beat the Heat Centers are currently only offering drive-through services. Please download this flyer for more information on the curbside distribution schedule. If you are a Corpus Christi resident and need help paying your utility bill, please call the Nueces County Community Action Agency at 361-882-4193.
If you would like to be notified when emergency cooling centers open, please register for ReverseAlert notifications. You may also call 361-826-3472 , follow the City of Corpus Christi on Facebook, or check their news releases for updates and locations.
Greenwood Senior Center
4040 Greenwood Dr.
Corpus Christi, TX 78416
361-826-1368
Oveal Williams Senior Center
1414 Martin Luther King Dr.
Corpus Christi, TX 78401
361-826-2305
Lindale Senior Center
3135 Swantner
Corpus Christi, TX 78404
361-826-2340
North Texas
For 10 years Reliant has supported the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center and the West Dallas Multipurpose Center’s Beat the Heat program in the City of Dallas. While the City wants to keep their residents safe, the Center's are currently closed and evaluating how to provide heat relief for the Summer of 2020.
Reliant is proud to sponsor The Salvation Army of North Texas’ summer cooling stations!
During the summer months, extreme heat can be life-threatening, especially for the 829,000 North Texans living in poverty and more than 216,000 individuals at risk of experiencing homelessness.
Reliant and The Salvation Army are proud to provide a place to cool off and rehydrate with locations in Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis and Tarrant counties. The Salvation Army’s cooling stations will open when temperatures rise above 100 degrees for three days in a row, and they will remain open until September 1st or later if needed.
Safety precautions: To ensure the well-being of all staff and visitors, each location is taking extra sanitizing measures and also enforcing the use of masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, and social distancing. Cooling station areas will be sanitized and wiped down frequently and between uses. Additionally, staff and volunteers will be trained to spot signs of heat-related health issues so that emergency services can be called and/or implemented if needed.
The Salvation Army – Oak Cliff
1617 W. Jefferson Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75208
214-941-5911
The Salvation Army – Pleasant Grove
8341 Elam Rd.
Dallas, TX 75217
214-398-6619
Carr P. Collins Social Service Center
5302 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75235
214-424-7050
The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of Irving
250 E. Grauwyler
Irving, TX 75061
972-438-6553
The Salvation Army – Garland
451 West Avenue D.
Garland, TX 75040
972-272-4531
The Salvation Army – Lewisville
206 W. Main Street
Lewisville, TX 75057
972-353-9400
The Salvation Army Social Services & Shelter
1508 East McKinney St.
Denton, TX 76209
940-566-3800
The Salvation Army of Ellis County
620 Farley St.
Waxahachie, TX 75165
972-937-7727
The Salvation Army – Plano
3528 E. 14th St.
Plano, TX 75074
972-423-8254
The Salvation Army – McKinney
600 Wilson Creek Pkwy.
McKinney, TX 75069
972-542-6694
J.E. & L.E. Mabee Social Service Center
1855 E. Lancaster Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76103
817-344-1800
The Salvation Army – Northside Community Center
3023 NW 24th St.
Fort Worth, TX 76164
817-624-3111
The Salvation Army – Arlington
712 W. Abram St.
Arlington, TX 76013
817-860-1836
If you would like to be notified when emergency cooling centers open, please register for notifications. You may also call 3-1-1, follow the City of Dallas on Facebook, or check their news releases for updates and locations.
Community Assistance by Reliant Energy (CARE) Program
Reliant provides financial assistance to customers facing hardship to help pay their electricity bill through our CARE program. This initiative is made possible thanks to generous customer, corporate and employee contributions.
If you need help paying your electricity bill, call 2-1-1 or visit 211texas.org for agency assistance near you. If you don’t meet the federal guideline criteria, inform the 211 representative that you are a Reliant customer and would like information on agencies that have support from the Community Assistance from Reliant Energy (CARE) program. If you qualify, it may take up to 8 weeks to receive financial assistance.
Please note that 2-1-1 Texas does not administer funds directly. Assistance is issued at the discretion of our agency partners to eligible customers, and it may not cover your entire electricity bill. Since 2005, more than $11 million has been distributed.