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Insights > Entergy’s Light-Bulb Giveaway Helps Mississippians Boost Efficiency, Lower Bills
Entergy’s Light-Bulb Giveaway Helps Mississippians Boost Efficiency, Lower Bills
10/06/2020
This year, Entergy Mississippi had a bright idea: give away 70,000 energy-efficient light bulbs to customers who are struggling financially because of the pandemic. The bulbs will help lower their homes’ energy use and save them money on their power bills.
“We want to make sure all of our customers have access to energy-efficient solutions,” said Tison Reno, Entergy Mississippi’s manager of product and services deployment. “LED bulbs use far less energy than older standard bulbs, and even a few bulbs can save energy and lower bills. During these difficult times, those savings can make a difference.”
To make sure light bulbs get to customers who need them most, Entergy Mississippi is distributing them through the Mississippi Food Network, food banks, community action centers, the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery Veterans Affairs Medical Center and other nonprofit community partners throughout the company’s service area.
Each box contains four light-emitting diode light bulbs. Most LEDs last 10 times longer and use 75% less energy than traditional bulbs. That means if a customer replaces four standard bulbs with new LEDs, the energy savings can start to add up.
“Many people aren’t aware how much difference LED lights make,” said Roxanne McIngvale, a volunteer with Interfaith Council on Poverty in Hernando. “But they’re also are more expensive, so Entergy’s program makes it possible for people to switch to more efficient bulbs. Also, many of our recipients are elderly and can’t see well. Having good lighting helps them not only reduce their power bill but also see better.”
Volunteer Diamond Whitaker makes sure participants receive energy-efficiency light bulbs during a monthly food-distribution event at Greater Mount Calvary Food Ministry in Jackson.
In August, Greater Mount Calvary Food Ministry in Jackson distributed light bulbs to 225 clients during the agency’s monthly food distribution.
“Each client was given light bulbs along with their food boxes, and they were very grateful,” said Stanley Wyatt, assistant director of Greater Mount Calvary Food Ministry. “We’re looking forward to working with Entergy Mississippi again in the future."
Entergy Mississippi offers energy-efficiency programs for all customers along with incentives and rebates for those who invest in energy-efficient products. Through Entergy Solutions, residential customers can sign up for Entergy’s free Residential Energy Audit and Direct Install program to receive LED bulbs, advanced power strips, and efficient faucet aerators and showerheads.
More energy-efficient products in a household add up to more savings. Over time, customers can potentially save hundreds of dollars in utility expenses by switching to energy-efficient products.
“Our light bulb giveaway benefits customers by not only covering the up-front cost, but also helping them lower their electric bills,” Reno said. “Our community partners are excited to offer free light bulbs — it’s something different to help people out, especially during a time when they are seeing increased needs because of the pandemic.”
Energy-efficient light bulbs are distributed throughout Entergy Mississippi’s service area. Samaritans volunteer Hilma Newton (left) selects a package of LEDs from their shelves in Horn Lake and Felicia Newman (right) adds them to a client’s box of goods at Newman Foundation Services in Terry.
