Balanced billing equalizes the monthly payments a utility user will pay and will eliminate the high spikes that often occur in July and August. Utility assistance, a monthly bill reduction, is also available to qualified low income applicants. During periods of heat emergency, utility companies are prohibited from disconnecting residential utilities due to lack of payment until after the crisis. Do not use a fan in an unair-conditioned room if the room temperature is over 85 degrees. The rapid movement of hot air will accelerate the body s heating process and can quickly cause heat illness or death.
Fans are very useful for cooling in the spring and fall when temperatures are more moderate.
Fans will help reduce utility costs in an air-conditioned home by circulating cooled air. During an extreme heat episode, the City of Houston will make available many public buildings for people to use as a cooling center. Most of the money was made available for utility assistance for 9,000 households. The managing agency, Sheltering Arms, also installed 1,800 air conditioning units into previously unair-conditioned homes of high risk residents. Friends and family members should aggressively monitor the health status of high risk individuals who live without air-conditioning or are reluctant to turn it on, during extreme heat conditions.