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Reliant has launched its 2021 Beat the Heat Program intended to help Houston residents stay cool as temperatures rise.
The program provides portable air conditioning units, as well as access to cooling enters, to those in need.
“This morning I am joining #HarrisCounty Commissioner @AdrianGarciaHTX, CM @dwr4hou, @reliantenergy and @HoustonHealth in announcing the 16th annual Reliant's 2021 #BeattheHeat Program,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner wrote in a June 10 Twitter post.
The program is geared toward individuals who need assistance in beating the summer’s heat including seniors and disabled individuals.
“The hot weather every summer takes a toll on our most vulnerable Houstonians,” Turner said in a City of Houston release. “This program gives them a chance to keep their homes cool and manage the potential for high electricity bills.”
Just three days after the launch of the annual Beat the Heat Program, Houston and Harris County were both placed under a heat advisory.
“Please take the proper measures to keep yourself and those around you safe and cool,” Turner tweeted on June 13.
On its website, Reliant offers various tips on how residents can stay cool at home including staying hydrated, limiting outdoor activity and wearing light-colored clothing.
Reliant works with the city governments of Houston, Dallas and Corpus Christi to provide various ways for the elderly and other vulnerable individuals to avoid the heat.
Beat the Heat is among several programs Reliant is implementing for the summer season.
One is the Degrees of Difference program, which will automatically adjust smart thermostats during periods of high electricity demand to help customers conserve electricity and save money.
The company also has a Community Assistance by Reliant Energy (CARE) Program that provides customers with financial support to help pay their electricity bill.