Residents in select Texas cities will be able to pick up one free compact fluorescent light (CFL) at designated Home Depot locations, while supplies last, Saturday, April 28 as part of Reliant Energy's™ new Compact With Texas campaign.

This week, in honor of Earth Day and to focus awareness on energy efficiency, Reliant Energy™ announced its Compact With Texas campaign with Mayor Bill White in Houston, Mayor Raul Salinas in Laredo and with the Chamber of Commerce in Corpus Christi. As part of the program, Reliant™ is distributing 6,000 free CFLs through select Home Depot locations. The first 500 bulbs were handed out at the City of Dallas' EarthFest celebration last Friday.

"The Compact With Texas campaign is another effort that demonstrates Reliant Energy's™ commitment to energy efficiency," said Janie Mitcham, Reliant Energy™ senior vice president who will lead the company's energy efficiency and "smart energy" programs. "Reliant Energy™ will continue to offer programs and pricing plans to help Texans conserve energy, and even the smallest of energy efficiency improvements can make a difference in the environment and an electric bill."

In Houston, 3,000 free CFLs will be distributed—one per family and first come, first served —with 1,500 distributed in Corpus Christi and 1,000 in Laredo. All those taking a bulb will be asked to informally pledge to "create a better Texas for tomorrow by switching at least one incandescent light bulb in their home to a compact fluorescent bulb this year."

Reliant Energy™ also took its program to students in the Houston, Corpus Christi and Laredo school districts, where it asked youth to pledge to be "energy efficiency ambassadors" in their homes by turning off lights and household appliances when they are not being used. Company representatives were joined at the school rallies at Blackshear Elementary in Houston, Windsor Park Elementary in Corpus Christi and Tarver Elementary in Laredo by Baby Jay, a Houston-based youth rapper, and the mascots of the Houston Texans and Corpus Christi Hooks.

Click on the map to find a participating Home Depot near you or check out the Reliant Energy™ press release for more information.

To promote Texans' energy efficiency and conservation, TXU Energy is funding a portion of a General Electric (GE) consumer discount coupon for Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs. TXU Energy and GE will distribute the CFL coupons in a newspaper insert advertisement that will run across the state on Earth Day, Sunday, April 22, 2007, giving more than two million households the opportunity to participate in the program.

TXU Energy and GE are offering this discount on purchases of GE's Energy Smart™ light bulbs, which save energy and money, and last longer than conventional incandescent bulbs. The coupon will consist of an instant, in-store $2 discount on individually packaged or multipack ENERGY STAR®-qualified CFLs at designated retailers.

ENERGY STAR-qualified CFLs provide a simple and easy way for consumers to save energy and money on their electric bill. Replacing standard incandescent light bulbs with CFL bulbs, customers will both lower their electricity use by nearly two-thirds for the same amount of light, and save money on their electric bills.

This is one of the first programs in a broader TXU Energy consumer education program to promote energy efficiency and conservation. TXU Energy is dedicated to delivering products and services that help consumers lower their use of natural resources, thereby improving the environment and saving money at the same time.

"In addition to our announcements to significantly lower prices, TXU Energy is also the leader in assisting customers with energy conservation efforts, by increasing awareness and providing simple and low-cost ways to save electricity," said Jim Burke, CEO of TXU Energy.

For more information, check out the TXU Energy press release.

The Houston Department of Health and Human Services and Reliant Energy™ recently announced a program that will fund home energy efficiency improvements for up to 900 Reliant Energy™ customers as part of a larger consumer awareness and education program.

The Reliant Energy™ PowerHouse Program will fund about 900 energy efficiency home repairs for low-income Reliant Energy™ customers in select areas throughout Houston. The program offers a stair-step educational approach, meaning Reliant Energy™ customers must attend an energy efficiency awareness workshop and bill review session to qualify for the energy efficiency home improvements.

Low-income Reliant Energy™ customers in select ZIP codes should receive an information package indicating they are eligible to participate in the home improvement program.

Although the home improvements are available for Reliant Energy™ customers, the energy efficiency awareness workshops are open to anyone in the Greater Houston area. The energy efficiency workshops and bill review sessions will be offered through five HDHHS Multi-Service Centers, including Acres Homes, Denver Harbor, Kashmere, Southwest and Sunnyside. Residents can call the center closest to them for dates and times of the energy efficiency and bill review workshops.

"Reliant Energy™ is committed to helping consumers make the most of their energy dollar," said Tracy Carmen-Jones, vice president, Reliant Energy™ Community Involvement. "The smallest energy efficiency home improvements, such as replacing weather stripping around doors and windows, can help lower electric bills and reduce overall consumption."

"The Houston Department of Health and Human Services is excited to launch the PowerHouse Program with Reliant Energy™ through our Multi-Service Centers," said Stephen Williams, director, HDHHS. "The energy efficiency awareness aspect of the program, as well as the funding for energy efficiency home improvements, will be increasingly important for consumers
as the summer months approach."

For more information, check out the Reliant Energy™ press release.