— 45 Beat the Heat Cooling Centers, $150K in community donations, $1M in customer assistance, and more tools help Texans navigate the summer —

As the summer heat descends on Texas, Reliant is kicking into high gear to help our neighbors stay safe, conserve energy, and beat the heat together. To demonstrate that commitment, a total of 45 Reliant Beat the Heat cooling centers will be available across Houston, Dallas, Corpus Christi, and new this year, Fort Worth and Lubbock, along with a suite of money-saving tools, resources, and plans for customers statewide.

“Our Beat the Heat centers not only give Texans a reliable safety net to cool off during the months ahead but also provide a place to support one another, and socialize with friends, while saving energy at home,” said Elizabeth Killinger, president, Reliant. “Hot Texas summers are inevitable, but they provide an opportunity to lend a hand and look for ways to help our customers and the community. We encourage any customer who needs support to contact us, and together, we will find the best path forward.”

Reliant’s statewide 2023 summer programming includes:

Places for Communities to Gather

• Visit Beat the Heat Cooling Centers: 45 Reliant Beat the Heat centers provide a comfortable place for seniors and other vulnerable neighbors to visit with friends, cool off, and stay safe, while decreasing energy usage at home. Reliant’s centers are located throughout Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Corpus Christi, and Lubbock, in partnership with city governments and local health departments. To see a full list of Beat the Heat centers, addresses and hours, visit reliant.com/beattheheat.
• Portable AC Unit Donations: In conjunction with City partnerships across Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Corpus Christi, and Lubbock, Reliant is funding more than 1,000 personal cooling devices, including portable AC units and Arctic Air coolers, to help keep residents cool in their homes.

Smart Tools to Manage and Optimize Energy Use

• Next-Level Energy Insights via an Easy-to-Use App: With new features now available, the Reliant app provides customers the ability to actively manage their energy habits and improve efficiency with real-time bill projections, usage trends over time, and usage comparisons. Further, solar customers can see both their energy consumption and production simultaneously, and electric vehicle owners can check the charge of their car and schedule charging in advance.
• Earn Rewards for Conserving Energy: When electricity demand is high, the Reliant Degrees of Difference program rewards customers with bill credits for reducing energy usage and adjusting smart thermostat temperatures by no more than four degrees. Reliant’s program is compatible with Google Nest, Honeywell Home, and Emerson Sensi. Customers always remain in control and can manually adjust their thermostat if needed.

Resources for Customers Who Need Assistance

• Get Help with Zirtue: Reliant's exclusive offering allows customers to get help from a friend or family member to pay their energy bill via Zirtue. A Zirtue account is free and is one of the many financial aid tools Reliant offers to customers to make their lives easier.
• Access Assistance: The Community Assistance by Reliant Energy (CARE) program helps customers who are facing financial hardship pay their electricity bills through local agency assistance, made possible by both Reliant and customer contributions. This summer, Reliant has committed $1 million to CARE funding in direct support of customers across Texas. Since 2002, CARE has provided more than $15 million to help Texans who need assistance with electricity costs.
• Level Out Costs: Average billing can be added to even out the highs and lows of seasonal changes in electricity usage and make it easier for customers to manage a monthly budget.
• Contact 24/7 Customer Support: Reliant prioritizes giving everyone access to the electricity they need to live comfortably. Anyone shopping for a new electricity plan, concerned about summer bills, or needing payment assistance is encouraged to contact Reliant. Agents are available 24/7 via live phone support, online chat, or on the Reliant app.

For more information on any of these programs, visit reliant.com/summer.

About Reliant, an NRG company

Reliant powers and simplifies life by bringing electricity and related services to homes and businesses across Texas. Serving customers and the community is at the core of what we do, and the company is recognized nationally for outstanding customer experience. Reliant is part of NRG Energy, Inc., a Fortune 500 company. NRG is a leading energy and home services company operating in the United States and Canada, powered by people and our passion for a smarter, cleaner, and more connected future. For more information about Reliant, visit reliant.com and connect with Reliant on Facebook at facebook.com/reliantenergy and Twitter or Instagram @reliantenergy. PUCT Certificate #10007.

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