Reliant and City of McAllen Launch Three Beat the Heat Cooling Centers

¾ Reliant Donates $5,000 to Help Residents Stay Cool and Cut Energy Costs ¾

WHAT:          With summer temperatures climbing in the Rio Grande Valley, Reliant is

scaling its statewide Beat the Heat program to McAllen with three public locations to serve as cooling centers to help residents stay cool. The centers will provide a safe, air-conditioned place where residents can rest and cool off, while enjoying water, snacks and activities, with resources and information available to help residents keep cool at home while conserving energy.

Addresses and hours for the centers are:

• Lark Community Center: 2601 Lark Ave.

     Mon-Thurs: 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Fri: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat: 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Sun: closed

• Las Palmas Community Center: 1921 N 25^th St.

                        Mon-Fri: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat-Sun: closed

• Palm View Community Center: 3401 Jordan Rd.

     Mon-Thurs: 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Fri: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat: 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Sun: closed

On Thursday, June 26 at 10 a.m., Reliant and the City of McAllen will hold a press conference to mark the program’s debut, featuring:

• Mayor Javier Villalobos and Reliant discussing relief programs made possible by a $5,000 Reliant donation.
• Reliant donating 250 fans to be distributed to those in need at all three centers on Monday, June 30.
• Information on Reliant bill payment assistance and flexible payment options for qualified customers in need.

In addition to this year’s expansion in McAllen, the Reliant Beat the Heat program also supports residents in Corpus Christi, Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth and Lubbock.

Across the Lone Star State, Reliant has provided more than $18 million to help Texans who need assistance with electricity costs through the CARE (Community Assistance by Reliant Energy) program since 2002. Anyone who needs help paying their electricity bill this summer can call 2-1-1 within Texas or visit 211texas.org. Reliant customers can also contact us 24/7 through a number of convenient ways, including at 1-866-222-7100, via online chat, or on the Reliant app.

WHO:                  Mayor Javier Villalobos, Mayor, City of McAllen

                   Isaac J. Tawil, City Manager, City of McAllen

Denny Meline, Director, McAllen Parks & Recreation

Sidney Evans, Director of Community Engagement, Reliant

WHEN:         Thursday, June 26, 2025 at 10 a.m.

WHERE:       Palm View Community Center – 3401 Jordan Rd., McAllen, TX  78503

VISUALS:     Interviews with representatives from the city, and Reliant; portable cooling devices on display; Spanish-language spokesperson will be available

CONTACT:     Megan Talley, Reliant – 713-537-2160, megan.talley@reliant.com