Special Assistance Programs to help customers manage their energy costs

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Serving over 684,000 customers in Arkansas, Entergy recognizes that some of them will need a helping hand at some point. Striving to be a compassionate and caring member of the community we serve, Entergy has a wide array of programs to help customers with special assistance, as well as other programs to help any customer manage their energy costs. Following is a list of the programs our customers may choose from:

Emergency funds available

Power to Care – Entergy stockholders, customers and employees partner with the Southern Good Faith Fund to help needy elderly or disabled customers pay their electric bills. Entergy stockholders make an annual contribution while customers and employees support the fund by adding one dollar or more to their monthly bill. The Southern Good Faith Fund qualifies customers and manages disbursement.

LIHEAP Referrals – LIHEAP (Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program) is a federal program to provide money to local community action agencies to help with expenses such as electric bills and weatherization. Entergy works with those agencies to help coordinate assistance for customers who need it. When a customer qualifies for assistance from a LIHEAP agency, Entergy will continue service or reconnect based on that agency's promise to pay.

Local LIHEAP Agencies

Need more time?

Bill Payment Extensions – Qualifying customers can have their due date extended up to four days through Entergy's Voice Response Unit (automated answering system). Additional extensions are negotiated with one of our phone agents or by entering into a Delayed Payment Agreement (below).

Delayed Payment Agreement – Helping customers who are experiencing a temporary cash flow problem is the objective of Entergy's liberal Delayed Payment Agreement. We allow qualifying customers to pay out their balance due over the following four months along with their current bill.

Options for bill payment

Pick-A-Date – Through this new program, customers may select the date on which their electric bills will be due every month. This is especially helpful for customers who receive income checks monthly, allowing them to coordinate their finances better. Click here to sign up.

Level Billing – This option allows customers to pay roughly the same amount for electric service every month, resulting in manageable bills regardless of the season and usage. Under this program, bills are, essentially, an average of 12 months of bills. Bills will vary every month, but only slightly. Click here to sign up.

Equal Pay – Similar to Levelized Billing, this option allows customers to pay the same amount for electric service every month with an adjustment to this amount every thirteenth month based on the previous twelve months actual bills. This option allows customers to easily budget their electric bills, only having to make adjustments every thirteenth month.

Draw Draft – Customers who want to avoid the effort of mailing their electric bill or carrying it to a pay station can use this option to have the amount automatically deducted from their checking account each month. A statement, but not a bill, arrives in the customer's mail each month. Customers selecting this option in combination with Levelized Billing or Equal Pay (above) will receive a $1.00 credit each month. Click here to enroll.

Back-up measures to prevent disconnects

Courtesy Calls – Entergy attempts to contact every customer by phone the day before they are scheduled to have their power cut off. While, in many cases, the reminder results in quick payment of the bill in full, qualifying customers also are offered payment extension or delayed payment options.

Third-Party Notification – This is for customers who depend on the care of others. Entergy, if asked, will automatically send a copy of a bill and/or disconnection notice to a third party.

Extended Absence Program - This is a series of options for customers who are away from their homes for extended periods. Options include Draw Draft, prepayment and forwarding bills to another address. Customers can customize their billing and payment options to accommodate their individual needs.

Protections against extreme temperatures

Hot Weather Rule – Entergy will not disconnect registered elderly or handicapped customers when the temperature is projected to be 95 degrees or greater.

Cold Weather Rule – Entergy will not disconnect residential customers when the temperature is projected to be 32 degrees or lower.

Special cases

Sales Tax Exemption – Registered customers with an annual household income of less than $12,000 are exempted from the sales tax on the first 500 kwh each month. To qualify, a customer will need to fill out a registration form and mail it to:

Entergy
Customer Relations-Arkansas
P.O. Box 551
Little Rock, AR 72203.

Click here for the Form.

The form is also available at a local Arkansas Revenue Office or by request to our Customer Service Center at 1-800-ENTERGY.

Landlord/Tenant Agreement – This option is for the protection of customers whose electric service is included with their rental payment. The agreement protects the tenant from disconnection because of the landlord's actions.

Essential Service Credit - This program provides a reduced rate for customers who use electric service for only basic, essential services. Basic service is defined as annual electricity consumption of no more than 6000 kwh or an average of 500 kwh per month. The other restriction is that the customer's maximum summer consumption is not more than 1.2 times their maximum winter month's consumption.

Certified Medical Emergency – This program allows for electric service to be continued for up to thirty days for any qualifying customer whose disconnection would cause a medical emergency. To qualify for this benefit, the customer must furnish Entergy a medical certificate from a physician.

Protected Customer – This program is available to residential customers age 65 or older and customers with severe mental or physical impairments that substantially limit their ability to manage their energy costs. For qualified customers registered with this status, Entergy will attempt to make personal contact and explain payment and assistance options in an attempt to avoid service disconnection.

Qualified customers can register by filling out the registration form and mailing it to:

Entergy
Credit Department
P. O. Box 551
Little Rock, AR 72203

Click here for the form.

The form is also available by request through our Customer Service Center at 1-800- ENTERGY (1-800-368-3749).

Life Support Identity Program – This program assists customers who are dependent upon life support systems. Special consideration is given to these customers when normal disconnection of service would have occurred and in restoration of service following a power outage.

Deposits

Entergy customers use electrical service before paying for it. Each month's bill reflects usage during the previous month. For this reason, new customers may be required to make a refundable security deposit, which helps protect Entergy and its customers from those who use electricity and then leave without paying for it. Because such losses affect all of our customers, the security deposit helps us keep everyone's costs down.

Deposit Requirements – The initial deposit is typically based on two month's average billing for a residential customer, except in extenuating circumstances. When no usage history is available, we use an average of all residential customer bills.

When a deposit is required, customers have two options:

• Pay in two installments, one at a Quick Pay Center before service is initiated and the other will be billed on the first month's bill, or

• The customer may be billed for the full amount on your first month's electric service bill.

Alternatives to Deposits – In some cases, the security requirement can be met without paying the deposit. Residential customers can secure their accounts in two ways:

Another Entergy customer, if approved, can complete a notarized "third-party guarantee" form, agreeing to pay an amount equal to the required deposit amount, should the new customer leave an unpaid bill, or…

The applicant's previous electric utility can provide a "Letter of Recommendation" stating that the customer has paid his or her bill on time for the previous 12 months.

Other Entergy outreach programs

Teamwork Arkansas, the economic development arm of Entergy, awards grants throughout the service area promoting economic & community development in Arkansas.

Entergy Arkansas also contributes to a wide variety of charitable organizations, which support varying assistance programs. Through programs such as Community Partnership Grants and contributions to charitable organizations, Entergy provides about $1.3 million to support community programs that benefit education, community development, health and human resources, the environment, the united way, and other causes. This is in addition to hundreds of hours of public service work donated by individual employees.

Seniors' Days – Entergy coordinates a day of entertainment, health tests and information for senior citizens at select locations within its service territory. Entergy partners with local communities and social and health care providers to offer these services to our seniors' communities at no cost to them. Blood pressure, cholesterol, and hearing tests are among the health tests offered. The events are highlighted with fun games, entertainment, fellowship, valuable information on senior living.