HOUSTON, June 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Beginning on July 1 and
continuing through September, Reliant Energy will offer extended payment
plans and a moratorium on disconnections for residential critical care
customers, and qualified low-income seniors and other low-income customers.
"We understand that seniors and low-income customers deserve special
attention during the summer months," said Matthew Benner, senior vice
president, retail marketing and operations, Reliant Energy. "Being
competitive means offering flexible solutions to all of our customers and
helping this special group with their unique challenges is part of our
commitment."
This moratorium is part of a comprehensive plan to help customers not
only in the summer months, but on a year-round basis. The plan includes
expanded price plans, home energy efficiency outreach programs to help
lower energy usage, free energy efficiency improvements for senior and
low-income customers and bill payment assistance. In addition, the company
is working in partnership with the City of Houston to provide free cooling
centers that residents can visit during the heat of the day throughout the
summer.
"Two of the key benefits of competition that we offer our customers are
delivering products designed to meet their unique needs and expanding the
tools that can help them to better manage their energy usage," said Benner.
"We appreciate the confidence that elected officials in Texas have in the
competitive retail market. We are committed to providing exceptional
service to all of our customers and taking care of our senior and
low-income customers is an important part of that commitment. This is one
of the reasons why we supported Senate Bill 482."
Although Senate Bill 482, the electric bill debated during the recent
legislative session, did not pass, Reliant is on track to voluntarily meet
the targets established in SB 482 to promote customer choice in 2007. For
example, Reliant has already implemented several of the important consumer
protection provisions included in SB 482. These include:
-- Not requiring deposits for customers who are at least 65 years of age
-- Elimination of cancellation fees for customers on month-to-month
products who switch to another product or provider
-- No refusal of service based on credit history.
"We are hopeful that other companies will join this example by
delivering the full set of benefits to the citizens of Texas," Benner
added.
Reliant Energy, Inc. (NYSE: RRI) based in Houston, Texas, provides
electricity and energy services to retail and wholesale customers in the
United States. In Texas, the company provides service to nearly 1.9 million
retail electricity customers, including residential and small business
customers and commercial, industrial, governmental and institutional
customers. Reliant also serves commercial, industrial, governmental and
institutional customers in the PJM (Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland)
market.
The company is one of the largest independent power producers in the
nation with approximately 16,000 megawatts of power generation capacity
across the United States. These strategically located generating assets
utilize natural gas, fuel oil and coal.
Summer Disconnection Moratorium Facts
From July 1 through September 30, residential critical-care customers,
low-income seniors and other low-income customers who call Reliant and
agree to a payment plan will not be disconnected.
Customers will be considered low-income for purposes of this program if
their household income is not more than 125 percent of the federal poverty
guidelines or they receive food stamps or government medical assistance.*
Seniors who meet the income guidelines above and are at least 65 years
of age are considered low-income seniors.
Critical-care customers are those for whom an interruption in electric
service will create a dangerous or life-threatening condition and must be
qualified by the transmission and distribution company.
Low-Income Seniors and Critical Care
-- Pay 25 percent of deferred bills on the first electric bill after
September 30.
-- Remaining balance to be paid in equal installments over the next five
billing cycles.
Other Low-Income Customers
-- Pay as little as 33 percent of the outstanding balance.
-- Remaining balance to be paid in equal installments over the next five
billing cycles.
* Low-income customers who are not seniors or critical care will not
qualify for extended payments if they have unpaid amounts from the 2006
disconnect moratorium or unpaid balances from prior service with Reliant
that were written off as uncollectible.
Reliant Energy Low-Income and Energy Efficiency Programs
Reliant offers a comprehensive plan to help customers to lower their
energy usage. Many of these programs are targeted to low-income customers
and senior citizens and include extensive home energy efficiency
improvements, energy efficiency education and energy assistance to help
with electricity bill payments. Listed below are ways that Reliant helps:
Energy Efficiency Education
-- Reliant offers useful tips and in-depth information on its website to
help customers control energy usage.
-- Energy efficiency outreach programs bring this information to consumer
groups and events.
Beat the Heat Centers
-- Helps low-income and senior customers lower energy usage by providing
an alternate location outside of the home during the hottest hours of
the day.
-- Designed to aid those customers who are impacted the most by summer
cooling costs.
-- Offers refreshments and various forms of entertainment for all ages.
Power House Program
-- Provides energy efficiency education, upgrades and weatherization for
1,400 senior citizens and low-income residents in targeted areas of the
city
-- Services include:
Extensive energy efficiency improvements, including adding
insulation and replacement of doors and windows, if needed.
Replace one window unit, if it is not working properly.
One-on-one review of electricity invoices
Energy efficiency education
Review of current rate plans and payment options
CARE (Community Assistance by Reliant Energy) Program
-- Assists customers experiencing severe financial hardships by pledging
assistance with Reliant Energy bill payments
-- Since 2005, Reliant has made annual investments of $500,000 to the CARE
program
-- These donations have provided assistance to more than 3,000 customers
in over 100 counties statewide.
Rebuilding Together Houston
-- Reliant has donated over $600,000 to rebuilding together Houston
-- Program helps reduce electricity usage by providing energy efficient
home upgrades
-- Hundreds of employee volunteers support for the annual RTH spring and
fall home repair projects
Compact With Texas
-- Encourages Texans to make a simple home energy efficiency improvement
by taking a pledge to switch from incandescent light bulbs to compact
fluorescent bulbs (CFL), which use up to 75 percent less energy.
-- Reliant distributed 6,000 free CFLs to customers in conjunction with
Earth Day 2007
SOURCE Reliant Energy, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.reliant.com
CONTACT:
media, Pat Hammond, +1-713-497-7723, or
investors, Dennis Barber, +1-713-497-3042, both of Reliant
Energy, Inc.
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