Insights > The Power to Care Helps New Orleanians in Need

The Power to Care Helps New Orleanians in Need

07/28/2017

Entergy New Orleans President and CEO Charles Rice presents more than $300,000 to New Orleans Council on Aging Executive Director Howard Rodgers to help those in need. Joining them are Entergy New Orleans' Demetric Mercadel (l) and Toni Green-Brown (r).
Entergy New Orleans President and CEO Charles Rice presents more than $300,000 to New Orleans Council on Aging Executive Director Howard Rodgers to help those in need. Joining them are Entergy New Orleans' Demetric Mercadel (l) and Toni Green-Brown (r).

As temperatures continue to rise, so does the financial pressure on the Crescent City’s elderly and disabled customers.

With heat indices in the triple digits, New Orleanians are using more electricity to stay cool. That means disabled and elderly customers will need extra help with their monthly bills.

Thanks to the generosity of Entergy employees, customers and shareholders, elderly and disabled customers have a place to turn – The Power to Care.

Entergy New Orleans President and CEO Charles Rice recently presented more than $300,000 to the New Orleans Council on Aging – the organization that administers the program in Orleans Parish – to help qualifying customers pay their utility bills.

“The South has one of the highest poverty rates in the country,” said Rice, “and we know that many of our disabled and elderly customers struggle to meet their financial needs. The Power to Care exists to help ensure the most vulnerable among us don’t have to choose between buying medicine, putting food on the table or handling other monthly expenses.”

Howard Rodgers, executive director of the New Orleans Council on Aging, is glad The Power to Care is available as an additional tool to help senior and disabled citizens.

“Funds from The Power to Care help remove some of the financial worry that comes when the monthly budget is stretched thin,” said Rodgers. “As the cost of living keeps increasing, unexpected expenses can put those on fixed incomes in a real bind. This program is much appreciated, and helps alleviate some of the stress they face.”

In addition to The Power to Care, customers are encouraged to visit entergy.com/savemoney to access a variety of energy-saving tips and calculators that will help them determine the best cost-cutting scenarios to suit their needs. And to avoid the billing spikes that extreme temperatures can bring, customers are urged to sign up for Level Billing so they can better control their monthly budgets. 

What’s more, Entergy New Orleans customers also can take advantage of a variety of energy-efficiency programs and services through the Energy Smart program. And thanks to a pilot program launched by Entergy New Orleans, they can sign up to learn how weather affects home energy usage through an energy scorecard, and how to make informed choices about energy-saving measures. 

To make a donation that will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Entergy shareholders, visit entergy.com/care.


Charlotte J. Cavell