Texas retail electricity company’s contest drew on elementary school teacher’s affinity for online media and tracking weather patterns
Mary Hart has a lot on her mind. She worries about her two adult sons in New York and she constantly thinks about the safety of the students at W.T. Francisco Elementary School in Haltom City.
Even so, Hart says she’s always optimistic and enjoys participating in online contests.
“Someone is going to win,” she says.
Hart proved herself right by winning the TXU Energy Beat the Heat Sweepstakes. The sweepstakes invited Texans to enter the contest daily by several means, including signing up for a TXU Energy plan, liking the TXU Energy Facebook page, following the retail electricity company on Twitter, tagging TXU Energy in an Instagram photo and sharing how they beat the heat through photos and other social media posts. Hart entered the contest daily through txu.com/beattheheat.
The Beat the Heat Sweepstakes prize was determined by adding up the state’s daily high temperatures from July 2 to Sept. 29. During that time, Texas reached or exceeded a statewide high temperature of 100 degrees on 63 days. The hottest day during the sweepstakes was Aug. 2, when Wichita Falls and surrounding communities saw a high of 114 degrees.
The summer weather was not a repeat of the record heat in 2011, but it was still hot enough to boil up a prize of more than $8,500.
“I am kind of in shock,” Hart says, adding that she really has to think about how to use the money.
Hart says technology is a big part of her life and that she surfs the Internet often. Along with looking for and participating in contests, Hart says she keeps a close eye on weather patterns and forecasts.
“I am the person who watches the radar,” she says.
Hart added that she recently started using the TXU Energy website to pay her bill and that she is excited to try the TXU Energy MyEnergy DashboardSM. Among other things, the dashboard helps customers track their electricity use and illustrates how weather influences electricity consumption.
Hart has been a teacher for 33 years and a TXU Energy customer for 25 years.
About TXU Energy
TXU Energy is a market-leading competitive retail electricity provider, powering the lives of more Texans than any other retailer. TXU Energy offers a variety of innovative products and solutions, allowing both its residential and business customers to choose options that best meet their needs, including exceptional customer service, competitively priced electricity service plans, innovative energy efficiency options, renewable energy programs and other electricity-related products and services. Visit txu.com for more information about TXU Energy. REP #10004.