New Orleans Programs for Customers with Special Needs

Emergency Funds Available

Helping Hands – Developed in 1983 as a joint effort between Entergy New Orleans, Inc. and the New Orleans Council on Aging (NOCOA), Helping Hands receives funds from Entergy employees, customers, NOCOA clients and the Company to provide energy assistance to New Orleans area residents. Administered by NOCOA, the requirements for aid include:

65 years of age or older
On Disability or Social Security
Below the poverty level

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Referrals – LIHEAP 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 coordinated 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. Click here for more information, including a list of LIHEAP providers.

Elderly and Handicapped Emergency Assistance Fund – A joint effort between Entergy New Orleans, the New Orleans Council on Aging and Total Community Action. Entergy provides funding for the program administered by NOCOA and TCA to address the needs of the disadvantaged through direct energy assistance.

Options for bill payment

Pick-A-Date – Through this 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 enroll.

Levelized 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 enroll.

Draw Draft – Customers who want to avoid mailing their electric bill or carrying it to a pay station can use this option to have the amount automatically deducted from their bank account each month. A statement, not a bill, arrives in the customer’s mail each month. Click here to enroll.

Pay-By-Phone - Entergy now offers a Pay-by-Phone option for small business and residential customers. You can pay your bill over the phone by credit card, debit card or checking account. The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can pay each month’s bill in full or specify the amount you wish to pay that month. The choice is up to you. There is a convenience fee of $2.95 charged by our partner BillMatrix per transaction for payments up to $600. The payment option can be accessed by calling 1-800-584-1241. Click here for more information.

Back-up measures to prevent disconnects

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.

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 are offered payment extension or delayed payment options.

Third-Party Notification – This is for customers who depend on the care of others. Entergy New Orleans, 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.

Special Cases - 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.

Entergy New Orleans Customer Service Managers

New Orleans – Toni Green, Regional Manager
Council District A – Kerry Jones
Council District B – Vacant
Council District C – Amy Davis
Council District D – Lynn Lee
Council District E – Katherine Miller-Harris

New Orleans Area Social Service and Energy Assistance Offices
Click here for list of offices.