Entergy helps elderly and disabled ‘Beat the Heat” with fan give-away

Special To The Mississippi Link

JACKSON – Hot temperatures are a given part of summer in Mississippi, and so is Entergy Mississippi, Inc.’s Beat the Heat fan give-away program. This marks the 13th year of the program, which provides floor fans and window unit air conditioners to hundreds of low-income, elderly and disabled customers in the state. This year, company employees will distribute 350 fans and 36 window unit air conditioners during August.

Since the program began, more than 7,100 fans and more than 600 air conditioners have been given away.

“A simple box fan can make a real difference for someone in need,” said Gloria Johnson, customer service director for Entergy Mississippi, Inc. “Extreme heat can be deadly, especially to the elderly, and Beat the Heat is one way we address the problem.”

In Hinds County, the Hinds County Human Resource Agency will qualify residents and help with distribution. Residents interested in the program should contact the agency at 601-923-3930 to see if they qualify.

Those living outside of Hinds County should visit the Mississippi Department of Human Services website at www.mdhs.state.ms.us/pdfs/cs_commactdirectory.pdf for a list of all state agencies.

Beat the Heat is administered by the Mississippi Department of Human Services, which supports the program through a generous contribution.

“Whether it’s working to get bill payment assistance to Mississippians through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, weatherizing houses or hosting the annual Low Income Summit and Poverty Forum, Entergy and the Department of Human Services are longtime partners in working to help Mississippians in need,” said Sollie Norwood, director of the department’s Division of Community Services. “The annual fan give-away program is one more opportunity to help our most vulnerable citizens.”

Entergy Mississippi, Inc. provides electricity to more than 435,000 customers in 45 counties. It is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation. Entergy Corporation 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, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.