For Entergy Arkansas, powering affordability starts with making sure customers know what resources are available.

That’s why the Entergy Solutions team attended an event at Plaza Frida in Little Rock, connecting with members of the Spanish-speaking community and sharing information designed to help customers use less energy, improve comfort and manage their monthly bills.

“It’s important for all customers to know what resources are available to them especially when temperatures are putting a strain on energy usage,” said Eunice Pandohie, Entergy Arkansas analyst.

Pandohie and the Entergy Solutions team educated the community about residential programs including the Home Energy Solutions program where homeowners can receive energy-saving products and services at no additional cost. From high-performance showerheads and duct sealing to AC tune-ups, a network of authorized trade allies tackle everyday issues that can drive up energy use and make homes uncomfortable.

For Little Rock customer Maria Escalante, learning led to action. Escalante signed up for help and soon had a team at her home looking for ways to improve its energy efficiency.

“Anything that can help me lower my energy usage, I am definitely be interested in something like that,” Escalante said.

The team started with a weatherization assessment to identify areas where the home could be wasting energy.

“When we first got here, we noticed some of the vents were having condensation,” said Robert Ortegon, Free Lighting Corporation director of operations. “After running our tests we noticed our duct blaster ran kind of high which indicated some duct leaking.”

A trip to the attic revealed disconnected ductwork. The team sealed and taped the ducts and identified low insulation levels that needed to be addressed. They installed weather stripping around the back door and sealed areas around doors and windows to help keep cold air inside.

“Once we sealed everything up for them, they are going to feel more comfortable in the house,” Ortegon said.

The work supports the Affordable Power focus of Next Generation Arkansas, Entergy Arkansas’s long-term plan to meet the state’s changing energy needs while keeping electricity affordable. Energy efficiency programs give customers another way to take greater control of their energy use.

“These programs are very important,” Pandohie said. “Our goal under Next Generation Arkansas is affordability. These programs help our customers save energy and can make their bills more affordable.”

For Escalante, the experience also gave her a better understanding of the home and how to keep it running efficiently.

“It was a very educational experience,” Escalante said. “I learned many things. All the issues that my home was having and how often I should have my A/C unit tuned up.”

From a conversation at Plaza Frida to improvements inside a Little Rock home, Pandohie said seeing customers put that information into action makes the outreach worthwhile.

“It’s very rewarding to know we’re educating our customers about our programs that help them save electricity.”

Escalante hopes more customers will take advantage of the opportunity.

“I would recommend that everyone ask for this program,” she said. “It is a godsend.”

To be eligible for the Home Energy Solutions program you must be a current Entergy Arkansas residential customer (renter or owner) who:

• Lives in a single-family home.

• Lives in a home that is at least one year old and has a ducted HVAC system.

To be eligible for the Home Energy Assessment, your home must be at least 10 years old or have a peak energy bill of at least $0.10 per square foot. For example, if you have a 1,200 square foot home, your peak energy bill would be $120 or more.

If you’re ready to lower your energy costs and make your home more comfortable, contact the Entergy Arkansas Entergy Solutions team for more information by emailing [email protected] or calling 1-866-627-9177.

Entergy Solutions also offers programs for manufactured homes, multifamily homes, large commercial and industrial and businesses. To learn more about programs for all customers, visit entergysolutionsar.com.