THE WOODLANDS, Texas – The holidays are here, and while Southeast Texas celebrates, winter weather could drive up heating costs. However, staying warm and comfortable doesn’t have to come at the cost of high energy bills. By making a few simple changes around your home, you can improve its energy efficiency and keep costs down throughout the colder months.

Air leaks and inefficient heating can lead to an additional $400 in home energy costs each year. Rather than cranking up the thermostat as temperatures drop, try these affordable and easy fixes.

Prepare for cold weather

• Use solar energy: Open curtains on sunny windows during the day to naturally heat the home and close them at night to reduce the chill from cold windows.
• Insulate drafty windows: Use plastic film or insulation kits to cover drafty windows and stop air leaks.
• Adjust the thermostat:  Turn down your thermostat when you are asleep or out of the house to save as much as 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills.
• Maintain heating systems: Replace air filters, furnace and heat pumps regularly and schedule routine maintenance to keep your  running efficiently.
• Reduce heat loss from the fireplace: Keep the fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning and check the seal on the fireplace flue damper and make it as snug as possible.

By following these simple steps, you can stay warm and comfortable all winter long while keeping your energy bills under control.

Entergy Texas also offers free comprehensive residential energy audits and rebates to help reduce the upfront cost of installing energy-efficient equipment. Visit entergy.com/energyefficiency for more information.

About Entergy Texas
Entergy Texas, Inc. provides electricity to approximately 512,000 customers in 27 counties. Entergy Texas is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���, a Fortune 500 electric company. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through its operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We’re investing in the reliability and resilience of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in our communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. Since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. For the latest news from Entergy Texas, visit the  and connect with @EntergyTX on social media.

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Although warmer weather is still lingering around, soon cooler temps will be here. This time of year can also bring opportunities for customers to tackle home improvement or landscaping projects. As fun and gratifying as these activities can be, no one wants them to result in an accident or injury. Entergy Texas has some helpful tips for staying safe this fall.

Stay safe outdoors

The Halloween season brings children the fun of wearing costumes, enjoying candy and attending fall festivals and carnivals. The offers tips to help children celebrate safely. Prepare to welcome trick-or-treaters to your home safely by checking outdoor lights and making sure walkways and steps are well-lit and free of any tripping hazards. Any extension cords should be specifically designated for outdoor use. Use rubber gaskets in light sockets or hang sockets downward to keep water out and remember to turn outside lights and decorations off when you are away from home or asleep. Help children with videos, activities and other resources.

Keep safety first with home projects

Fall is a great time to tidy up and prep your property for winter. When cleaning up fallen leaves and branches or trimming trees, always use caution and be aware of overhead lines. Position your ladder away from overhead wires, so trimmings will not fall onto power lines. If this happens, always assume downed wires are energized and call 1-800-ENTERGY for help.

If your fall spruce-up includes digging up flower beds, trees or shrubs, remember to call before you dig. Calling 811 before you dig will keep you safe and prevent disruption of utility services to your neighborhood.

When performing maintenance activities that require a ladder inside or out, be sure to wear proper footwear, position the ladder on a flat surface, and have someone nearby to spot you.

Daylight Saving Time ends November 3

When Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, Nov. 3, fewer hours of daylight will make it harder to see children going to and from the school bus in the mornings and evenings. When driving, avoid distractions and watch for children in the neighborhood. The offers additional tips for ensuring children arrive to and from school safely.

When setting your clocks to fall back an hour, take the time to check the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. All homes should contain a carbon monoxide detector to help identify the colorless and odorless gas that can cause serious illness or death.

Stay safe and warm indoors

Candles can add a warm ambience to an autumn evening, but remember it is never safe to leave candles burning unattended. A small sputter or an errant flame can cause a fire in an instant.

They are large consumers of energy and a fire hazard and should be kept at least three feet away from draperies, rugs and furniture. Additionally, homeowners who use a gas or electric furnace should schedule an appointment for service by a certified technician to make sure it is safe for operation and for greatest efficiency.

A wood-burning stove or fireplace can add warmth and coziness to a room but should also be used with caution and proper preparation. Have your chimney cleaned by a professional before the first fire is lit. Fallen leaves, animal nests and other debris can cause the smoke to vent into your home rather than outside and cause a fire.

Remember to replace dirty air filters inside and remove debris from the unit outside to ensure your HVAC unit works efficiently through all seasons.

Be ready for inclement weather

lasts through the end of November, so it is important to not let your guard down even when the weather begins to cool. Prepare now for severe weather that may come your way by

Save money year-round with our Customer Bill Toolkit

Entergy Texas’ has ways for customers to manage their energy usage and take more control of their electric bills. From programs to customized bill payment options, the toolkit can lead to bill savings for customers.

For more information, visit for the tools and resources you need to understand your bill, reduce your usage or look for assistance programs and services available to you. 

About Entergy Texas

Entergy Texas, Inc. provides electricity to approximately 512,000 customers in 27 counties. Entergy Texas is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���, a Fortune 500 electric company. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through its operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We’re investing in the reliability and resilience of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in our communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. Since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. For the latest news from Entergy Texas, visit the and connect with @EntergyTX on social media.

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – The past two summers have brought record-level temperatures to Southeast Texas, which led to and higher costs on monthly bills. Entergy Texas is committed to helping our customers stay cool and save money this summer with bill management tools and customer assistance events.

Entergy’s newly launched online is a one-stop shop that connects customers to bill management, energy efficiency and financial assistance resources. This new resource helps our customers explore simple ways to lower electricity use and costs.¬†

“With the heat index in Southeast Texas continuously reaching above 100 degrees this summer, we understand that many of our customers are using more power to stay cool, often for extended periods of time” said Stuart Barrett, vice president of customer service at Entergy Texas. “Since cooling and heating costs can account for more than 50% of an average customer’s monthly electric bill, we created our Bill Toolkit as a resource to make it easier for customers to effectively manage energy usage and offer assistance to those who need a little extra financial help.”

Track your energy use

Bill management tools like empower our customers to set electricity usage alerts and monitor how much energy they use each day. Tracking electricity use over time can help customers identify habits that contribute to higher use and budget their monthly expenses. With the myAdvisor dashboard, customers have access to usage and cost details, bill history, bill projections, analyzer tools and more.

Manage your bills your way

Entergy Texas offers several flexible payment options so customers can choose when, where and how they receive their bills.

• allows customers to pay their bills when it works best for them.
• allows customers to “level out” seasonal energy use fluctuations, making their bills more consistent every month.
• billing allows customers to get their bills emailed as soon as they post and instant access to two years of billing history.
• allows customers to avoid late fees, writing checks and paying for postage by having bills automatically deduct from their bank accounts.

Customers interested in deferred payment arrangements or payment extensions are encouraged to visit our mobile app or to see if they automatically qualify. For additional payment options, customers can call 1-800-ENTERGY (1-800-368-3749) and follow our automated response system billing and payment menu.

Customer assistance events

Entergy Texas recently hosted a series of measures through its annual Beat the Heat program, which focuses on helping low-income customers and communities stay cool and pay their bills. In June of this year, the company donated 2,000 box fans to 36 cities and agencies across Southeast Texas, an increase from the 1,300 box fans distributed in 2023. Additionally, the company organized energy efficiency neighborhood sweeps events that offered complimentary A/C tune-ups and energy efficiency upgrades to residents in the Port Arthur and Navasota areas of our service territory.

Find financial assistance

Entergy Texas partners with local and state organizations to connect qualifying customers with financial assistance including:

• The Power to Care program provides emergency bill payment assistance to older adults and customers with disabilities.
• makes it easy for customers to quickly and confidentially check their eligibility for federal, state and local financial assistance.
• provides financial assistance for energy bills and other energy-related expenses.

For more ways to save energy and money, customers can visit .

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Winter has officially arrived, with colder temperatures impacting the region, but that doesn’t mean your usage and electric bill must increase.

Heating costs can account for more than 50% of a customer’s monthly energy usage because it takes more energy to heat a home in extreme temperatures. Instead of cranking up the thermostat, take advantage of no-cost or low-cost steps to help save energy and money on your utility bill.

Prepare for winter weather

Keep heating costs low this season by taking these steps to improve energy efficiency: 

• Seal air leaks. Use caulk or weatherstripping around doors, windows and any location where there may be a path between the inside and outside.
• Adjust the thermostat. Set the thermostat to 68 degrees during winter months, and dress in layers to stay warm. Each degree above 68 can increase your energy bill by about 3%.
• Conserve hot water. Set your hot water heater’s thermostat to 120 degrees, or the medium setting. Wrap electric water heaters with water heater blankets, which can be found at home improvement stores.

• Keep doors and windows closed. Constant traffic will let out warm air, forcing your heater to work harder to keep the room at a set temperature.
• Ensure fans are turning the right way. Fans should be run at a low speed clockwise during the winter to prevent the cold air from blowing down on you.
• Replace air filters. Dirty filters make your heating system work harder. Replace them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Leverage the sun. During the day, open your curtains and blinds to let in the warm sunlight. Close them at night to reduce heat loss.

Customers are also encouraged to take advantage of Entergy Solutions programs, including a comprehensive residential energy audit and some on-the-spot upgrades, like LED lights and weatherstripping. This is available to qualifying customers at no additional cost, and more information is available online at .

If you’ve made your home as energy efficient as possible and the bill still seems to be higher than it should be, contact our customer service representatives at 1-800-ENTERGY. Our representatives can investigate customer accounts, verify whether the billings are correct and provide additional information about a particular account.

Bill payment assistance 

Entergy Texas has a number of for those needing help paying their energy bills, including payment extensions, deferred payment arrangements and level billing.

• Power to Care – Through The Power to Care program, local nonprofit agencies can provide emergency bill payment assistance to seniors and disabled individuals in crisis. Find out more at .
• CEAP – The Comprehensive ���ϳԹ��� Assistance Program (CEAP) is a utility assistance program designed to assist low-income households in meeting their immediate energy needs and to encourage consumers to control energy costs for years to come through energy education. For information on how to apply for assistance, visit .¬†

Customers who are behind on bill payments should contact Entergy either online at or by phone at 1-800 ENTERGY (1-800-368-3749) to make payment arrangements and prevent disconnection. The Entergy app is also available for Android and iPhone operating systems at Entergy.com/app and can be used for your convenience to pay bills, monitor your usage and more.

There are also a couple of programs that can help better manage payment of your Entergy Texas bill going forward, including:

• Level billing – Entergy Texas averages your bill over a rolling 12-month period so you have a consistent bill each month of the year. Pay about the same every month with no surprises. Enroll at .
• Pick-A-Date – Choose what day of the month you get billed to line up with your budget and manage your cash flow at .

About Entergy Texas

Entergy Texas, Inc. provides electricity to more than 486,000 customers in 27 counties. Entergy Texas is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in New Orleans. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through its operating companies across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy is creating a cleaner, more resilient energy future for everyone with our diverse power generation portfolio, including increasingly carbon-free energy sources. With roots in the Gulf South region for more than a century, Entergy is a recognized leader in corporate citizenship, delivering more than $100 million in economic benefits to local communities through philanthropy and advocacy efforts annually over the last several years. Our approximately 12,000 employees are dedicated to powering life today and for future generations. For the latest news from Entergy, visit the .

Those high temperatures can also mean higher than normal energy bills, particularly as we work to keep our homes air conditioned. There is, however, free help available to you from Entergy Texas, Inc. that may take a bite out of your dog days energy consumption.”

Our website, , walks our customers through their home room by room or item by item, explaining how and where energy is wasted and offers solutions to help customers make their homes more efficient,” explained Mic Cowart, senior customer service manager for Entergy Texas. “The site also offers links to videos, a home energy calculator or to the bill paying options we make available for our customer’s convenience.”

For example, if you click on the link to a of energy saving tips, one of the items that can be explored is how energy is lost through air registers. It’s estimated that about 20 percent of the air that moves through a home’s duct system is lost to leaks and poorly sealed connections. But the tips don’t tell you only where energy is escaping but what improvements to make to save you money.

The site also addresses appliances in the home. Did you know that about 10 percent of your electricity bill is related to television use in your home? And the home electronics you use, such as gaming systems or Blu-Ray players, will consume about 75 percent of their total usage while turned off; making it more important than ever to be aware of the steps you can take to keep your energy use as low as possible.

Other ways to manage electricity bills include:

· , which smooths out the highs and lows of your electricity bill by averaging your bill over a 12-month period.

· , which allows you to choose the date your bill is due each month.

Entergy’s also describes more than a dozen other resources, such as third-party notification and even the many places and ways you can pay your bill.

Entergy Texas, Inc. delivers electricity to more than 430,000 customers in 27 counties. It is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���. Entergy is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including nearly 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power, making it one of the nation’s leading nuclear generators. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.8 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

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