__________________________________________________________________________________________

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

 

X

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

   
 

For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2007

 

OR

 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13
OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

   
 

For the transition period from ____________ to ____________


Commission
File Number

Registrant, State of Incorporation, Address of
Principal Executive Offices, Telephone Number, and
IRS Employer Identification No.

 


Commission
File Number

Registrant, State of Incorporation, Address of
Principal Executive Offices, Telephone Number, and
IRS Employer Identification No.

1-11299

ENTERGY CORPORATION
(a Delaware corporation)
639 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70113
Telephone (504) 576-4000
72-1229752

 

1-31508

ENTERGY MISSISSIPPI, INC.
(a Mississippi corporation)
308 East Pearl Street
Jackson, Mississippi 39201
Telephone (601) 368-5000
64-0205830

         
         

1-10764

ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.
(an Arkansas corporation)
425 West Capitol Avenue
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
Telephone (501) 377-4000
71-0005900

 

0-5807

ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, INC.
(a Louisiana corporation)
1600 Perdido Street, Building 529
New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
Telephone (504) 670-3620
72-0273040

         
         

1-27031

ENTERGY GULF STATES, INC.
(a Texas corporation)
350 Pine Street
Beaumont, Texas 77701
Telephone (409) 838-6631
74-0662730

 

1-9067

SYSTEM ENERGY RESOURCES, INC.
(an Arkansas corporation)
Echelon One
1340 Echelon Parkway
Jackson, Mississippi 39213
Telephone (601) 368-5000
72-0752777

         
         

1-32718

ENTERGY LOUISIANA, LLC
(a Texas limited liability company)
446 North Boulevard
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Telephone (225) 381-5868
75-3206126

     
         

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Indicate by check mark whether the registrants (1) have filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrants were required to file such reports), and (2) have been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of "accelerated filer and large accelerated filer" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large
accelerated
filer

 



Accelerated filer

 


Non-accelerated filer

Entergy Corporation

Ö

       

Entergy Arkansas, Inc.

       

Ö

Entergy Gulf States, Inc.

       

Ö

Entergy Louisiana, LLC

       

Ö

Entergy Mississippi, Inc.

       

Ö

Entergy New Orleans, Inc.

       

Ö

System Energy Resources, Inc.

       

Ö

Indicate by check mark whether the registrants are shell companies (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ

Common Stock Outstanding

 

Outstanding at April 30, 2007

Entergy Corporation

($0.01 par value)

197,264,890

Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Inc., Entergy Gulf States, Inc., Entergy Louisiana, LLC, Entergy Mississippi, Inc., Entergy New Orleans, Inc., and System Energy Resources, Inc. separately file this combined Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Information contained herein relating to any individual company is filed by such company on its own behalf. Each company reports herein only as to itself and makes no other representations whatsoever as to any other company. This combined Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q supplements and updates the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the calendar year ended December 31, 2006, filed by the individual registrants with the SEC, and should be read in conjunction therewith.

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
March 31, 2007

 

Page Number

   

Definitions

1

Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries

 
 

Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

 
   

Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita

4

   

Results of Operations

6

   

Liquidity and Capital Resources

8

   

Significant Factors and Known Trends

11

   

Critical Accounting Estimates

14

   

New Accounting Pronouncements

14

 

Consolidated Statements of Income

16

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

18

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

20

 

Consolidated Statements of Retained Earnings, Comprehensive Income, and
  Paid-In Capital

22

 

Selected Operating Results

23

Notes to Financial Statements

24

Part I. Item 4. Controls and Procedures

39

Entergy Arkansas, Inc.

 
 

Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

 
   

Results of Operations

40

   

Liquidity and Capital Resources

42

   

Significant Factors and Known Trends

43

   

Critical Accounting Estimates

44

   

New Accounting Pronouncements

44

 

Income Statements

45

 

Statements of Cash Flows

47

 

Balance Sheets

48

 

Selected Operating Results

50

Entergy Gulf States, Inc.

 
 

Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

 
   

Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Katrina

51

   

Results of Operations

51

   

Liquidity and Capital Resources

53

   

Significant Factors and Known Trends

54

   

Critical Accounting Estimates

55

   

New Accounting Pronouncements

55

 

Income Statements

56

 

Statements of Cash Flows

57

 

Balance Sheets

58

 

Statements of Retained Earnings and Comprehensive Income

60

 

Selected Operating Results

61

Entergy Louisiana, LLC

 
 

Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

 
   

Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Katrina

62

   

Results of Operations

62

   

Liquidity and Capital Resources

64

   

Significant Factors and Known Trends

65

   

Critical Accounting Estimates

66

   

New Accounting Pronouncements

66

 

Income Statements

67

 

Statements of Cash Flows

69

 

Balance Sheets

70

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
March 31, 2007

 

Page Number

   
 

Statements of Members' Equity and Comprehensive Income

72

 

Selected Operating Results

73

Entergy Mississippi, Inc.

 
 

Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

 
   

Results of Operations

74

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

75

   

Significant Factors and Known Trends

77

Critical Accounting Estimates

77

   

New Accounting Pronouncements

77

 

Income Statements

78

 

Statements of Cash Flows

79

 

Balance Sheets

80

 

Selected Operating Results

82

Entergy New Orleans, Inc. (Debtor-in-possession)

 
 

Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

 
   

Hurricane Katrina

83

   

Bankruptcy Proceedings

83

   

Results of Operations

84

   

Liquidity and Capital Resources

85

   

Significant Factors and Known Trends

87

   

Critical Accounting Estimates

87

   

New Accounting Pronouncements

87

 

Income Statements

88

 

Statements of Cash Flows

89

 

Balance Sheets

90

 

Selected Operating Results

92

System Energy Resources, Inc.

 
 

Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

 
   

Results of Operations

93

   

Liquidity and Capital Resources

93

   

Significant Factors and Known Trends

94

   

Critical Accounting Estimates

94

   

New Accounting Pronouncements

94

 

Income Statements

95

 

Statements of Cash Flows

97

 

Balance Sheets

98

Part II. Other Information

 
 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

100

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

100

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

100

 

Item 5. Other Information

100

 

Item 6. Exhibits

103

Signature

106

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

In this combined report and from time to time, Entergy Corporation and the Registrant Subsidiaries each makes statements as a registrant concerning its expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, and future events or performance. Such statements are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "believes," "intends," "plans," "predicts" and "estimates" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the only means to identify these statements. Although each of these registrants believes that these forward-looking statements and the underlying assumptions are reasonable, it cannot provide assurance that they will prove correct. Any forward-looking statement is based on information current as of the date of this combined report and speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made. Except to the extent required by the federal securities laws, these registrants undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. There are factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including those factors discussed or incorporated by reference in (a) Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Form 10-K, (b) Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis in the Form 10-K and in this report, and (c) the following factors (in addition to others described elsewhere in this combined report and in subsequent securities filings):

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION (Concluded)

 

DEFINITIONS

Certain abbreviations or acronyms used in the text are defined below:

Abbreviation or Acronym

Term

   

AEEC

Arkansas Electric Energy Consumers

AFUDC

Allowance for Funds Used During Construction

ALJ

Administrative Law Judge

ANO 1 and 2

Units 1 and 2 of Arkansas Nuclear One Steam Electric Generating Station (nuclear), owned by Entergy Arkansas

APSC

Arkansas Public Service Commission

Average realized price per MWh

Revenue per MWh billed

Board

Board of Directors of Entergy Corporation

Cajun

Cajun Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.

capacity factor

Actual plant output divided by maximum potential plant output for the period

City Council or Council

Council of the City of New Orleans, Louisiana

CPI-U

Consumer Price Index - Urban

DOE

United States Department of Energy

EITF

FASB's Emerging Issues Task Force

Energy Commodity Services

Entergy's business segment that includes Entergy-Koch, LP and Entergy's non-nuclear wholesale assets business

Entergy

Entergy Corporation and its direct and indirect subsidiaries

Entergy Corporation

Entergy Corporation, a Delaware corporation

Entergy-Koch

Entergy-Koch, LP, a joint venture equally owned by subsidiaries of Entergy and Koch Industries, Inc.

Entergy Louisiana

Entergy Louisiana Holdings, Inc. and Entergy Louisiana, LLC

EPA

United States Environmental Protection Agency

EPDC

Entergy Power Development Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Entergy Corporation

ERCOT

Electric Reliability Council of Texas

FASB

Financial Accounting Standards Board

FEMA

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FERC

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

firm liquidated damages

Transaction that requires receipt or delivery of energy at a specified delivery point (usually at a market hub not associated with a specific asset); if a party fails to deliver or receive energy, the defaulting party must compensate the other party as specified in the contract

Form 10-K

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the calendar year ended December 31, 2006 filed by Entergy Corporation and its Registrant Subsidiaries with the SEC

FSP

FASB Staff Position

Grand Gulf

Unit No. 1 of Grand Gulf Steam Electric Generating Station (nuclear), 90% owned or leased by System Energy

GWh

Gigawatt-hour(s), which equals one million kilowatt-hours

GWh billed

Total number of GWh billed to all customers

Independence

Independence Steam Electric Station (coal), owned 16% by Entergy Arkansas, 25% by Entergy Mississippi, and 7% by Entergy Power

IRS

Internal Revenue Service

ISO

Independent System Operator

kV

Kilovolt

kW

Kilowatt

1

DEFINITIONS (Continued)

Abbreviation or Acronym

Term

   

kWh

Kilowatt-hour(s)

LDEQ

Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality

LPSC

Louisiana Public Service Commission

Mcf

One thousand cubic feet of gas

MMBtu

One million British Thermal Units

MPSC

Mississippi Public Service Commission

MW

Megawatt(s), which equals one thousand kilowatt(s)

MWh

Megawatt-hour(s)

Nelson Unit 6

Unit No. 6 (coal) of the Nelson Steam Electric Generating Station, owned 70% by Entergy Gulf States

Net debt ratio

Gross debt less cash and cash equivalents divided by total capitalization less cash and cash equivalents

Net MW in operation

Installed capacity owned and operated

Net revenue

Operating revenue net of fuel, fuel-related, and purchased power expenses; and other regulatory credits

Non-Utility Nuclear

Entergy's business segment that owns and operates six nuclear power plants and sells electric power produced by those plants primarily to wholesale customers

NRC

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

NYPA

New York Power Authority

OASIS

Open Access Same Time Information Systems

PPA

Purchased power agreement

production cost

Cost in $/MMBtu associated with delivering gas, excluding the cost of the gas

PRP

Potentially responsible party (a person or entity that may be responsible for remediation of environmental contamination)

PUCT

Public Utility Commission of Texas

PUHCA 1935

Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended

PUHCA 2005

Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005, which repealed PUHCA 1935, among other things

PURPA

Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978

Registrant Subsidiaries

Entergy Arkansas, Inc., Entergy Gulf States, Inc., Entergy Louisiana, LLC, Entergy Mississippi, Inc., Entergy New Orleans, Inc., and System Energy Resources, Inc.

Ritchie Unit 2

Unit 2 of the R.E. Ritchie Steam Electric Generating Station (gas/oil)

River Bend

River Bend Steam Electric Generating Station (nuclear), owned by Entergy Gulf States

SEC

Securities and Exchange Commission

SFAS

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards as promulgated by the FASB

SMEPA

South Mississippi Electric Power Agency, which owns a 10% interest in Grand Gulf

spark spread

Dollar difference between electricity prices per unit and natural gas prices after assuming a conversion ratio for the number of natural gas units necessary to generate one unit of electricity

System Agreement

Agreement, effective January 1, 1983, as modified, among the domestic utility companies relating to the sharing of generating capacity and other power resources

2

DEFINITIONS (Concluded)

Abbreviation or Acronym

Term

   

System Energy

System Energy Resources, Inc.

System Fuels

System Fuels, Inc.

TWh

Terawatt-hour(s), which equals one billion kilowatt-hours

unit-contingent

Transaction under which power is supplied from a specific generation asset; if the specified generation asset is unavailable as a result of forced or planned outage or unanticipated event or circumstance, the seller is not liable to the buyer for any damages resulting from the seller's failure to deliver power

unit-contingent with
availability guarantees

Transaction under which power is supplied from a specific generation asset; if the specified generation asset is unavailable as a result of forced or planned outage or unanticipated event or circumstance, the seller is not liable to the buyer for any damages resulting from the seller's failure to deliver power unless the actual availability over a specified period of time is below an availability threshold specified in the contract

Unit Power Sales Agreement

Agreement, dated as of June 10, 1982, as amended and approved by FERC, among Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, and System Energy, relating to the sale of capacity and energy from System Energy's share of Grand Gulf

UK

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Utility

Entergy's business segment that generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power, with a small amount of natural gas distribution

Utility operating companies

Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy New Orleans

Waterford 3

Unit No. 3 (nuclear) of the Waterford Steam Electric Generating Station, 100% owned or leased by Entergy Louisiana

weather-adjusted usage

Electric usage excluding the estimated effects of deviations from normal weather

White Bluff

White Bluff Steam Electric Generating Station, 57% owned by Entergy Arkansas

3

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

Entergy operates primarily through two business segments: Utility and Non-Utility Nuclear.

In addition to its two primary, reportable, operating segments, Entergy also operates the non-nuclear wholesale assets business. The non-nuclear wholesale assets business sells to wholesale customers the electric power produced by power plants that it owns while it focuses on improving performance and exploring sales or restructuring opportunities for its power plants.

Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which in August and September 2005 caused catastrophic damage to portions of the Utility's service territory in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, including the effect of extensive flooding that resulted from levee breaks in and around the greater New Orleans area.

Entergy has reached an agreement with one of its excess insurers under which Entergy will receive $69.5 million in settlement of its Hurricane Katrina claim. Entergy expects that $53.7 million of this amount will be allocated to Entergy New Orleans. Entergy New Orleans submitted the agreement to the bankruptcy court, which approved the agreement on April 25, 2007. Entergy expects to receive the proceeds under the settlement agreement by the end of May 2007.

Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the Katrina Relief Bill, a hurricane aid package that includes $11.5 billion in Community Development Block Grants (for the states affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma) that allows state and local leaders to fund individual recovery priorities.

In March 2007, the City Council certified that Entergy New Orleans has incurred $205 million in storm-related costs through December 2006 that are eligible for CDBG funding under the state action plan, and certified Entergy New Orleans' estimated costs of $465 million for the gas system rebuild. In April 2007, Entergy New Orleans executed an agreement with the Louisiana Office of Community Development under which $200 million of CDBG funds will be made available to Entergy New Orleans. Entergy New Orleans submitted the agreement to the bankruptcy court, which approved it on April 25, 2007. Entergy New Orleans received $171.7 million of the funds on April 27, 2007, and the remainder will be paid to Entergy New Orleans as it incurs and submits additional eligible costs.

Entergy New Orleans Bankruptcy

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the Entergy New Orleans bankruptcy proceeding. On May 7, 2007, the bankruptcy judge entered an order confirming Entergy New Orleans' plan of reorganization. With the receipt of CDBG funds, and the agreement on insurance recovery with one of its excess insurers, Entergy New Orleans waived the conditions precedent in its plan of reorganization, and the plan became effective on May 8, 2007.

4

Following are significant terms in Entergy New Orleans' plan of reorganization:

Entergy New Orleans currently estimates that the prepetition claims that will be allowed and paid (either in cash or by notes) in the bankruptcy case will approximate the prepetition liabilities currently recorded by Entergy New Orleans, including interest.

With confirmation of the plan of reorganization, Entergy expects to reconsolidate Entergy New Orleans in the second quarter 2007, retroactive to January 1, 2007. Because Entergy owns all of the common stock of Entergy New Orleans, reconsolidation will not affect the amount of net income that Entergy records from Entergy New Orleans' operations for any current or prior period, but will result in Entergy New Orleans' results being included in each individual income statement line item in 2007, rather than just its net income being presented as "Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated equity affiliates," as will remain the case for 2005 and 2006.

 

5

Results of Operations

Following are income statement variances for Utility, Non-Utility Nuclear, Parent & Other, and Entergy comparing the first quarter 2007 to the first quarter 2006 showing how much the line item increased or (decreased) in comparison to the prior period:

 


Utility

 

Non-Utility
Nuclear

 

Parent & Other (1)


Entergy

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006 Consolidated Net Income

 

$119,752 

 

$81,530 

 

($7,654)

$193,628 

Net revenue (operating revenue less fuel
  expense, purchased power, and other
  regulatory charges/credits)

 



34,212 



72,267 



(26,998)



79,481 

Other operation and maintenance expenses

 

26,208 

(3,459)

(11,210)

11,539 

Taxes other than income taxes

 

6,680 

(1,270)

4,161 

9,571 

Depreciation

 

17,413 

1,146 

384 

18,943 

Other income

 

9,900 

(442)

7,101 

16,559 

Interest charges

 

5,848 

(5,163)

10,080 

10,765 

Other expenses and discontinued operations

 

1,058 

2,112 

(2,238)

932 

Income taxes

 

2,207 

31,819 

(8,303)

25,723 

2007 Consolidated Net Income

 

$104,450 

 

$128,170 

 

($20,425)

$212,195 

(1)

Parent & Other includes eliminations, which are primarily intersegment activity.

Refer to "ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES - SELECTED OPERATING RESULTS" for further information with respect to operating statistics.

Net Revenue

Utility

Following is an analysis of the change in net revenue comparing the first quarter of 2007 to the first quarter of 2006.

  

 

Amount

  

 

(In Millions)

 

 

 

2006 net revenue

 

$924.2 

Volume/weather

 

68.1 

Base revenues

 

26.8 

Pass-through rider revenue

 

8.5 

Net wholesale revenue

 

(19.0)

Fuel recovery

 

(25.6)

Purchased power capacity

 

(37.2)

Other

 

12.6 

2007 net revenue

 

$958.4 

6

The volume/weather variance resulted primarily from increased electricity usage, including increased usage during the unbilled sales period and more favorable weather compared to the same period in 2006. Billed usage increased by a total of 1,015 GWh, an increase of 5%. See Note 1 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the accounting for unbilled revenues.

The base revenues variance resulted from rate increases primarily at Entergy Louisiana effective September 2006 for the 2005 formula rate plan filing to recover LPSC-approved incremental deferred and ongoing purchased power capacity costs and for the interim recovery of storm costs. The formula rate plan filing is discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K.

The pass-through rider revenue variance is due to a change in 2006 in the accounting for city franchise tax revenues in Arkansas as directed by the APSC. The change results in an increase in rider revenue with a corresponding increase in taxes other than income taxes, resulting in no effect on net income.

The net wholesale revenue variance is primarily due to decreased results from wholesale contracts and lower wholesale prices.

The fuel recovery variance resulted primarily from adjustments of fuel clause recoveries in the first quarter of 2006 in Entergy Gulf States' Louisiana jurisdiction and a reserve for potential rate refunds in the first quarter of 2007 in Entergy Gulf States' Texas jurisdiction as a result of a PUCT ruling related to the application of past PUCT rulings addressing transition to competition in Texas.

The purchased power capacity variance is due to higher capacity charges and new purchased power contracts that began in mid-2006. A portion of the variance is due to the amortization of deferred capacity costs and is offset in base revenues due to base rate increases implemented to recover incremental deferred and ongoing purchased power capacity charges at Entergy Louisiana, as discussed above.

Non-Utility Nuclear

Net revenue increased for Non-Utility Nuclear primarily due to higher pricing in its contracts to sell power, partially offset by reduced production as a result of a refueling outage in the first quarter of 2007. There were no refueling outages in the first quarter of 2006. Following are key performance measures for Non-Utility Nuclear for the first quarters of 2007 and 2006:

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

Net MW in operation at March 31

 

4,200

 

4,135

Average realized price per MWh

 

$55.11

 

$44.28

GWh billed

 

8,315

 

8,763

Capacity factor

 

90.5%

 

97.1%

Parent & Other

Net revenue decreased for Parent & Other primarily due to lower production as a result of an additional plant outage in the first quarter 2007 compared to the same period in 2006.

7

Other Operation and Maintenance Expenses

Utility

Other operation and maintenance expenses increased from $359 million for the first quarter of 2006 to $385 million for the first quarter of 2007 primarily due to:

Parent & Other

Other operation and maintenance expenses decreased from $20 million for the first quarter of 2006 to $9 million for the first quarter of 2007 primarily due to restoration expenses at the Harrison County plant incurred in the first quarter of 2006.

Other Income

Utility

Depreciation and amortization expenses increased from $186 million for the first quarter of 2006 to $203 million for the first quarter of 2007 primarily due to an increase in plant in service.

Other income increased from $43 million for the first quarter of 2006 to $53 million for the first quarter of 2007 primarily due to carrying charges on storm costs.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rates for the first quarters of 2007 and 2006 were 39.9% and 36.8%, respectively. The difference in the effective income tax rate versus the statutory rate of 35% for the first quarter of 2007 is primarily due to book and tax timing differences for utility plant items and state income taxes, partially offset by book and tax differences related to the allowance for equity funds used during construction and the amortization of investment tax credits.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Liquidity and Capital Resources" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of Entergy's capital structure, capital expenditure plans and other uses of capital, and sources of capital. Following are updates to that discussion.

8

Capital Structure

Entergy's capitalization is balanced between equity and debt, as shown in the following table. The increase in the debt to capital percentage from 2006 to 2007 is the result of additional borrowings under Entergy Corporation's revolving credit facilities, along with a decrease in shareholders' equity primarily due to repurchases of common stock.

 

 

March 31,
2007

 

December 31,
2006

 

 

 

 

 

Net debt to net capital

 

51.8%

 

49.4%

Effect of subtracting cash from debt

 

2.9%

 

2.9%

Debt to capital

 

54.7%

 

52.3%

Net debt consists of debt less cash and cash equivalents. Debt consists of notes payable, capital lease obligations, preferred stock with sinking fund, and long-term debt, including the currently maturing portion. Capital consists of debt, common shareholders' equity, and preferred stock without sinking fund. Net capital consists of capital less cash and cash equivalents. Entergy uses the net debt to net capital ratio in analyzing its financial condition and believes it provides useful information to its investors and creditors in evaluating Entergy's financial condition.

As discussed in the Form 10-K, Entergy Corporation has in place two separate revolving credit facilities, a five-year credit facility and a three-year credit facility. The five-year credit facility expires in May 2010 and the three-year facility expires in December 2008. Entergy Corporation also has the ability to issue letters of credit against the total borrowing capacity of both the three-year and the five-year credit facilities. Following is a summary of the borrowings outstanding and capacity available under these facilities as of March 31, 2007:


Facility

 


Capacity

 


Borrowings

 

Letters
of Credit

 

Capacity
Available

   

(In Millions)

                 

5-Year Facility

 

$2,000 

 

$895 

 

$79 

 

$1,026

3-Year Facility

 

$1,500 

 

$540 

 

$-  

 

$960

See Note 4 to the financial statements for additional discussion of Entergy's credit facilities, and see Part II, Item 5 for an update of the borrowings outstanding as of May 8, 2007.

Capital Expenditure Plans and Other Uses of Capital

See the table in the Form 10-K under "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Liquidity and Capital Resources - Capital Expenditure Plans and Other Uses of Capital," which sets forth the amounts of planned construction and other capital investments by operating segment for 2007 through 2009.

In April 2007, Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business purchased the 798 MW Palisades nuclear energy plant located near South Haven, Michigan from Consumers Energy Company for a cash payment of $380 million. Entergy received the plant, nuclear fuel, inventories, and other assets. The liability to decommission the plant, as well as related decommissioning trust funds of approximately $250 million, was also transferred to Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business. Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business executed a unit contingent, 15-year purchased power agreement (PPA) with Consumers Energy for 100% of the plant's output, excluding any future uprates. Prices under the PPA range from $43.50/MWh in 2007 to $61.50/MWh in 2022, and the average price under the PPA is $51/MWh. In the first quarter 2007, the NRC renewed Palisades' operating license until 2031. Also as part of the transaction, Consumers Energy paid Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business $30 million to assume responsibility for spent fuel at the decommissioned Big Rock Point nuclear plant, which is located near Charlevoix, Michigan.

9

In April 2007, Entergy Louisiana announced that it plans to pursue the self-build solid fuel repowering of a 538MW unit at its Little Gypsy plant.  Petroleum coke will be the unit's primary fuel source.  Entergy Louisiana expects to spend $1.02 billion on the project, and expects the project to be completed in 2011-2012. The planned capital investment estimate in the Form 10-K included the capital required for a project of this type.

Debtor-in-Possession Credit Agreement

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the Entergy New Orleans debtor-in-possession (DIP) credit facility between Entergy New Orleans as borrower and Entergy Corporation as lender. As of March 31, 2007, Entergy New Orleans had $42 million of outstanding borrowings under the DIP credit agreement. During April 2007, at the same time that it made a scheduled pension plan contribution, Entergy New Orleans borrowed under the DIP credit agreement, and on May 8, 2007 had $67 million of outstanding borrowings under the DIP credit agreement.

Cash Flow Activity

As shown in Entergy's Statements of Cash Flows, cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 were as follows:

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

(In Millions)

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

$1,016 

 

$583 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flow provided by (used in):

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

 

476 

 

1,012 

 

Investing activities

 

(253)

 

(859)

 

Financing activities

 

(159)

 

16 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

64 

 

169 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$1,080 

 

$752 

Operating Activities

Entergy's cash flow provided by operating activities decreased by $536 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2006. Following are cash flows from operating activities by segment:

10

Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities decreased by $606 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2006 primarily due to the following activity:

Financing Activities

Financing activities used $159 million of cash for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to providing $16 million of cash for the three months ended March 31, 2006 primarily due to the following activity:

This activity was offset by Entergy Corporation increasing the net borrowings under its credit facilities by $615 million in the first quarter 2007, compared to increasing the net borrowings under its credit facilities by $20 million in the first quarter 2006. See Note 4 to the financial statements for a description of the Entergy Corporation credit facilities.

Significant Factors and Known Trends

See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Significant Factors and Known Trends" in the Form 10-K for discussions of rate regulation, federal regulation, and market and credit risk sensitive instruments. Following are updates to the information provided in the Form 10-K.

State and Local Rate Regulation

See the Form 10-K for a chart summarizing material rate proceedings. See Note 2 to the financial statements herein for updates to the proceedings discussed in that chart.

Federal Regulation

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of federal regulatory proceedings. Following are updates to that discussion.

System Agreement Proceedings

During March and April 2007, the Utility operating companies made four separate filings with the FERC proposing modifications to the formula used to calculate the rough production cost equalization payments/receipts.  The proposed modifications will (1) continue to reflect in the calculation the results of the Utility operating companies' gas hedging program for boiler fuel; (2) confirm the allocation of an individual Utility operating company's bandwidth payment/receipt to its wholesale loads, if any, and establish the allocation between retail jurisdictions in the case of Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States that provide retail service to customers in two separate jurisdictions; (3) modify the basis for functionalizing certain categories of costs among the Utility operating companies to be consistent with other service schedules in the System Agreement; and (4) properly reflect in the calculation property under capital lease.  The Utility operating companies have requested that all four

 

11

 

filings be allowed to become effective no later than May 29, 2007 so that they can be reflected in the calculation of the first payments/receipts.  The APSC, LPSC, MPSC, City Council, and the AEEC have each intervened and in some instances protested one or more of these four filings. Separately, on April 3, 2007, the LPSC filed a complaint with the FERC in which it seeks to have the FERC order the following modifications to the rough production costs equalization calculation: (1) elimination of interruptible loads from the methodology used to allocate demand-related capacity costs; and (2) change of the method used to re-price energy from the Vidalia hydroelectric project for purposes of calculating production cost disparities. Entergy has filed an intervention and protest in this proceeding.

In conjunction with the recent application of Entergy Gulf States and Calcasieu Power, LLC seeking FERC approval of Entergy Gulf States' acquisition of the Calcasieu Generating Facility, the Utility operating companies filed a Petition for Declaratory Order requesting that the FERC find either (1) that in those circumstances where a resource to be acquired or constructed has been determined by Entergy's Operating Committee to be a resource devoted to serving Entergy System load and has been approved by the applicable retail regulator, the cost of such resource shall be reflected in the production cost disparity calculation; or (2) that Entergy Gulf States' acquisition of the Calcasieu facility is prudent and the costs are properly reflected in the production cost disparity calculation.  The APSC, LPSC, MPSC, City Council, NRG, Occidental, LEUG, AEEC, and EPSA have intervened in the proceeding, with the APSC, LPSC, and City Council filing protests.

On April 3, 2007, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued its opinion in the LPSC's appeal of the FERC's March 2004 and April 2005 orders related to the treatment under the System Agreement of the Utility operating companies' interruptible loads.  In its opinion, the D.C. Circuit concluded that the FERC (1) acted arbitrarily and capriciously by allowing the Utility operating companies to phase-in the effects of the elimination of the interruptible load over a 12-month period of time; (2) failed to adequately explain why refunds could not be ordered under Section 206(c) of the Federal Power Act; and (3) exercised appropriately its discretion to defer addressing the cost of sulfur dioxide allowances until a later time.  The D.C. Circuit remanded the matter to the FERC for a more considered determination on the issue of refunds.

On April 27, 2007, the FERC denied the requests for rehearing filed regarding the Utility operating companies' compliance filing to implement the System Agreement decision, with one exception regarding the issue of retrospective refunds. That issue will be addressed subsequent to the remanded proceeding involving the interruptible load decision discussed in the previous paragraph.

Independent Coordinator of Transmission (ICT)

As discussed in the Form 10-K, in the FERC's April 2006 order approving Entergy's ICT proposal, the FERC stated that the weekly procurement process (WPP) must be operational within approximately 14 months of the FERC order, or June 24, 2007, or the FERC may reevaluate all approvals to proceed with the ICT.  The Utility operating companies have been working with the ICT and a software vendor to develop the software and systems necessary to implement the WPP and currently expect that the WPP will commence operations on June 18, 2007.  The software and systems are still being developed and tested, however.  Entergy will notify the FERC as soon as practicable if it and the ICT determine that the June 24, 2007 deadline for implementing the WPP cannot be met. The Utility operating companies also filed with the FERC on April 24, 2007 a request to make certain corrections and limited modifications to the current WPP tariff provisions and requested that the FERC allow these proposed changes to go into effect no later than June 18, 2007.  Additionally, Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana are required to file with the LPSC a compliance filing for review of the model to be used in the WPP prior to receiving final approval for implementation of the WPP.  The Utility operating companies currently expect to submit the required compliance filing during May 2007.

Available Flowgate Capacity (AFC) Proceeding

In accordance with the provisions of the FERC order approving the ICT, during the first quarter 2007 the Utility operating companies notified the FERC, the ICT, and the stakeholders that certain instances had been identified in which software errors related to the AFC process had resulted in the reporting of inaccurate data.  Following the reporting of the initial errors, certain market participants urged the FERC to move forward with

 

12

 

 

the AFC hearing process in light of those errors.  In April 2007, the FERC issued an order terminating the AFC hearing, now that Entergy's ICT has been installed. Requests for rehearing of the FERC order canceling the AFC hearing are due in May 2007.

Market and Credit Risk Sensitive Instruments

Commodity Price Risk

Power Generation

As discussed more fully in the Form 10-K, the sale of electricity from the power generation plants owned by Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business, unless otherwise contracted, is subject to the variability of market power prices. Following is an updated summary of the amount of the Non-Utility Nuclear business' output that is sold forward as of March 31, 2007 under physical or financial contracts (2007 represents the remaining three quarters of the year):

   

2007

 

2008

 

2009

 

2010

 

2011

Non-Utility Nuclear (including Palisades acquisition):

                   

Percent of planned generation sold forward:

                   
 

Unit-contingent

 

44%

 

48%

 

38%

 

25%

 

23%

 

Unit-contingent with availability guarantees (1)

 

45%

 

36%

 

28%

 

22%

 

7%

 

Firm liquidated damages

 

6%

 

4%

 

0%

 

0%

 

0%

 

Total

 

95%

 

88%

 

66%

 

47%

 

30%

Planned generation (TWh)

 

30

 

41

 

41

 

41

 

42

Average contracted price per MWh

 

$48

 

$54

 

$57

 

$53

 

$47

(1)

A sale of power on a unit contingent basis coupled with a guarantee of availability provides for the payment to the power purchaser of contract damages, if incurred, in the event the seller fails to deliver power as a result of the failure of the specified generation unit to generate power at or above a specified availability threshold. All of Entergy's outstanding guarantees of availability provide for dollar limits on Entergy's maximum liability under such guarantees.

The Vermont Yankee acquisition included a 10-year PPA under which the former owners will buy the power produced by the plant through the expiration in 2012 of the current operating license for the plant. The PPA includes an adjustment clause under which the prices specified in the PPA will be adjusted downward monthly if power market prices drop below PPA prices, which has not happened thus far and is not expected in the foreseeable future.

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of Non-Utility Nuclear's value sharing agreements with NYPA involving energy sales from the Fitzpatrick and Indian Point 3 power plants. Non-Utility Nuclear calculated that nothing was owed to NYPA under the value sharing agreements for 2005. On November 1, 2006, NYPA filed a demand for arbitration claiming that $90.5 million was due to NYPA under these agreements for 2005. Non-Utility Nuclear filed a motion in New York state court to determine whether NYPA's claim should be decided by a court as opposed to an arbitrator. In February 2007, the court issued an order denying Non-Utility Nuclear's request, and NYPA's claim is now in binding arbitration. Non-Utility Nuclear has also calculated that nothing was owed to NYPA under the value sharing agreements for 2006. On April 24, 2007, NYPA filed an amended demand for arbitration claiming that an additional $54 million was due to NYPA under the value sharing agreements for 2006. With respect to both of these claims, Non-Utility Nuclear disagrees with NYPA's interpretation of the value sharing agreements, believes it has meritorious defenses to NYPA's claims, and intends to defend against those claims vigorously.

Some of the agreements to sell the power produced by Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear power plants contain provisions that require an Entergy subsidiary to provide collateral to secure its obligations under the agreements. The Entergy subsidiary is required to provide collateral based upon the difference between the current market and contracted power prices in the regions where Non-Utility Nuclear sells power. The primary form of

 

 

13

 

collateral to satisfy these requirements is an Entergy Corporation guaranty.  Cash and letters of credit are also acceptable forms of collateral.  At March 31, 2007, based on power prices at that time, Entergy had in place as collateral $797 million of Entergy Corporation guarantees for wholesale transactions, including $73 million of guarantees that support letters of credit. The assurance requirement associated with Non-Utility Nuclear is estimated to increase by an amount of up to $297 million if gas prices increase $1 per MMBtu in both the short- and long-term markets. In the event of a decrease in Entergy Corporation's credit rating to below investment grade, Entergy will be required to replace Entergy Corporation guarantees with cash or letters of credit under some of the agreements.

In addition to selling the power produced by its plants, the Non-Utility Nuclear business sells installed capacity to load-serving distribution companies in order for those companies to meet requirements placed on them by the ISO in their area. Following is a summary of the amount of the Non-Utility Nuclear business' installed capacity that is currently sold forward, and the blended amount of the Non-Utility Nuclear business' planned generation output and installed capacity that is currently sold forward as of March 31, 2007 (2007 represents the remaining three quarters of the year):

   

2007

 

2008

 

2009

 

2010

 

2011

Non-Utility Nuclear (including Palisades acquisition):

                   

Percent of capacity sold forward:

                   
 

Bundled capacity and energy contracts

 

23%

 

27%

 

27%

 

27%

 

26%

 

Capacity contracts

 

63%

 

39%

 

26%

 

9%

 

3%

 

Total

 

86%

 

66%

 

53%

 

36%

 

29%

Planned net MW in operation

 

4,998

 

4,998

 

4,998

 

4,998

 

4,998

Average capacity contract price per kW per month

 

$1.7

 

$1.4

 

$1.3

 

$1.7

 

$2.0

Blended Capacity and Energy (based on revenues)

                   

% of planned generation and capacity sold forward

 

92%

 

83%

 

60%

 

39%

 

22%

Average contract revenue per MWh

 

$49

 

$54

 

$58

 

$54

 

$47

As of March 31, 2007, approximately 98% of Non-Utility Nuclear's counterparty exposure from energy and capacity contracts is with counterparties with investment grade credit ratings.

Critical Accounting Estimates

See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Critical Accounting Estimates" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the estimates and judgments necessary in Entergy's accounting for nuclear decommissioning costs, unbilled revenue, impairment of long-lived assets, qualified pension and other postretirement benefits, and other contingencies.

New Accounting Pronouncements

The FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities" (SFAS 159) during the first quarter of 2007. SFAS 159 provides an option for companies to select certain financial assets and liabilities to be accounted for at fair value with changes in the fair value of those assets or liabilities being reported through earnings. The intent of the standard is to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by the application of the more complicated fair value hedging accounting rules. Under SFAS 159, companies can select existing assets or liabilities for this fair value option concurrent with the effective date of January 1, 2008 for companies with fiscal years ending December 31 or can select future assets or liabilities as they are acquired or entered into. Entergy is in the process of evaluating the potential effect of making this accounting election.

In June 2006, the EITF reached a consensus on EITF Issue 06-3 "How Taxes Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities Should Be Presented in the Income Statement (That Is, Gross versus Net Presentation)" (EITF 06-3). The scope of this issue includes any tax assessed by a governmental authority that is both imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction between a seller and a customer, and may include, but is not limited to, sales, use, value added, and some excise taxes. Under EITF 06-3, the presentation of taxes within the scope of this issue on either a gross basis (included in revenues and costs) or a net basis (excluded from revenues) basis is an

 

14

 

 

accounting policy decision that should be disclosed. For any such taxes reported on a gross basis, the amounts of those taxes in interim and annual financial statements, for each period for which an income statement is presented, should be disclosed if those amounts are significant. Entergy's policy is to present such taxes on a net basis. EITF 06-3 did not affect Entergy's financial statements.

 

 

 

15

 

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
(Unaudited)
    2007   2006
    (In Thousands, Except Share Data)
         
OPERATING REVENUES        
Electric   $2,064,653    $2,092,933 
Natural gas   37,928    37,415 
Competitive businesses   497,649    437,683 
TOTAL   2,600,230    2,568,031 
         
OPERATING EXPENSES        
Operating and Maintenance:        
  Fuel, fuel-related expenses, and        
   gas purchased for resale   709,981    840,171 
  Purchased power   477,753    461,370 
  Nuclear refueling outage expenses   42,975    41,993 
  Other operation and maintenance   540,969    529,430 
Decommissioning   37,785    35,596 
Taxes other than income taxes   112,909    103,338 
Depreciation and amortization   224,331    205,388 
Other regulatory charges (credits) - net   22,507    (44,018)
TOTAL   2,169,210    2,173,268 
         
OPERATING INCOME   431,020    394,763 
         
OTHER INCOME        
Allowance for equity funds used during construction   16,067    15,459 
Interest and dividend income   57,768    43,831 
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated equity affiliates   4,534    3,586 
Miscellaneous - net   (5,141)   (6,207)
TOTAL   73,228    56,669 
         
INTEREST AND OTHER CHARGES        
Interest on long-term debt   119,854    120,481 
Other interest - net   31,297    17,261 
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction   (9,631)   (9,045)
Preferred dividend requirements and other   5,980    8,038 
TOTAL   147,500    136,735 
         
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES   356,748    314,697 
         
Income taxes   144,553    118,830 
         
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS   212,195    195,867 
          
LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (net of income tax        
benefit of ($1,204))     (2,239)
         
CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME   $212,195    $193,628 
         
         
Basic earnings (loss) per average common share:        
  Continuing operations   $1.06    $0.94 
  Discontinued operations     ($0.01)
  Basic earnings per average common share   $1.06    $0.93 
Diluted earnings (loss) per average common share:         
  Continuing operations   $1.03    $0.93 
  Discontinued operations     ($0.01)
  Diluted earnings per average common share   $1.03    $0.92 
Dividends declared per common share   $0.54    $0.54 
         
Basic average number of common shares outstanding   200,549,935    207,732,341 
Diluted average number of common shares outstanding   206,133,440    211,374,512 
         
See Notes to Financial Statements.        

 

 

16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Page left blank intentionally)

 

 

17

 

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
(Unaudited)
    2007   2006
    (In Thousands)
   
OPERATING ACTIVITIES        
Consolidated net income   $212,195    $193,628 
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow        
 provided by operating activities:        
  Reserve for regulatory adjustments   10,931    42,162 
  Other regulatory charges (credits) - net   22,507    (44,018)
  Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning   262,117    241,807 
  Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued   368,709    370,774 
  Equity in earnings of unconsolidated equity affiliates - net of dividends   (4,534)   (1,412)
  Changes in working capital:        
    Receivables   63,874    328,019 
    Fuel inventory   (4,648)   (28,607)
    Accounts payable   (288,421)   (256,420)
    Taxes accrued   (187,324)   35,968 
    Interest accrued   (20,827)   (16,861)
    Deferred fuel   151,853    199,619 
    Other working capital accounts   (110,493)   140,795 
  Provision for estimated losses and reserves   (15,918)   15,029 
  Changes in other regulatory assets   68,790    (75,674)
  Other   (52,702)   (132,294)
Net cash flow provided by operating activities   476,109    1,012,515 
         
INVESTING ACTIVITIES        
Construction/capital expenditures   (284,731)   (664,178)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction   16,067    15,459 
Nuclear fuel purchases   (184,806)   (91,027)
Proceeds from sale/leaseback of nuclear fuel   114,486    8,827 
Proceeds from sale of assets and businesses   2,617   
Payment for purchase of plant     (88,199)
Decrease in other investments   113,027    12,340 
Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales   160,007    283,874 
Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust funds   (189,536)   (312,417)
Other regulatory investments     (23,448)
Net cash flow used in investing activities   (252,869)   (858,769)
         
See Notes to Financial Statements.        
         
         
         

18

         
         
         
ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
(Unaudited)
    2007   2006
    (In Thousands)
     
FINANCING ACTIVITIES        
Proceeds from the issuance of:        
  Long-term debt   820,016    748,584 
  Preferred stock     73,354 
  Common stock and treasury stock   30,889    11,805 
Retirement of long-term debt   (334,873)   (655,649)
Repurchase of common stock   (558,186)  
Redemption of preferred stock   (2,250)   (2,250)
Changes in credit line borrowings - net     (40,000)
Dividends paid:        
  Common stock   (108,967)   (112,190)
  Preferred stock   (5,987)   (7,661)
Net cash flow provided by (used in) financing activities   (159,358)   15,993 
         
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents   (11)   (173)
         
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents   63,871    169,566 
         
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   1,016,152    582,820 
         
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $1,080,023    $752,386 
         
         
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:        
  Cash paid/(received) during the period for:        
    Interest - net of amount capitalized   $165,856    $146,429 
    Income taxes   $31,433    ($345,366)
         
See Notes to Financial Statements.        
         
         

 

19

 

 

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
ASSETS
March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006
(Unaudited)
    2007   2006
    (In Thousands)
         
CURRENT ASSETS        
Cash and cash equivalents:        
  Cash   $113,975    $117,379 
  Temporary cash investments - at cost,        
   which approximates market   966,048    898,773 
     Total cash and cash equivalents   1,080,023    1,016,152 
Note receivable - Entergy New Orleans DIP loan   42,026    51,934 
Notes receivable   614    699 
Accounts receivable:        
  Customer   405,416    410,512 
  Allowance for doubtful accounts   (19,386)   (19,348)
  Other   446,710    487,264 
  Accrued unbilled revenues   230,980    249,165 
     Total receivables   1,063,720    1,127,593 
Accumulated deferred income taxes   19,533    11,680 
Fuel inventory - at average cost   197,746    193,098 
Materials and supplies - at average cost   616,893    604,998 
Deferred nuclear refueling outage costs   144,176    147,521 
Prepayments and other   131,377    171,759 
TOTAL   3,296,108    3,325,434 
          
OTHER PROPERTY AND INVESTMENTS        
Investment in affiliates - at equity   233,520    229,089 
Decommissioning trust funds   2,905,580    2,858,523 
Non-utility property - at cost (less accumulated depreciation)   210,285    212,726 
Other   41,777    47,115 
TOTAL   3,391,162    3,347,453 
          
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT        
Electric   30,950,535    30,713,284 
Property under capital lease   729,443    730,182 
Natural gas   94,785    92,787 
Construction work in progress   778,900    786,147 
Nuclear fuel under capital lease   222,203    269,485 
Nuclear fuel   646,191    561,291 
TOTAL PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT   33,422,057    33,153,176 
Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization   13,883,748    13,715,099 
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT - NET   19,538,309    19,438,077 
         
DEFERRED DEBITS AND OTHER ASSETS        
Regulatory assets:        
  SFAS 109 regulatory asset - net   744,424    740,110 
  Other regulatory assets   2,653,282    2,768,352 
  Deferred fuel costs   168,122    168,122 
Long-term receivables   17,875    19,349 
Goodwill   377,172    377,172 
Other   960,388    898,662 
TOTAL   4,921,263    4,971,767 
         
TOTAL ASSETS   $31,146,842    $31,082,731 
         
See Notes to Financial Statements.        
 
20
 
 
 
ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006
(Unaudited)
    2007   2006
    (In Thousands)
         
CURRENT LIABILITIES        
Currently maturing long-term debt   $271,942    $181,576 
Notes payable   25,039    25,039 
Accounts payable   812,018    1,122,596 
Customer deposits   256,753    248,031 
Taxes accrued     187,324 
Interest accrued   140,004    160,831 
Deferred fuel costs   224,883    73,031 
Obligations under capital leases   153,186    153,246 
Pension and other postretirement liabilities   33,726    41,912 
Other   170,902    271,544 
TOTAL   2,088,453    2,465,130 
         
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES        
Accumulated deferred income taxes and taxes accrued   6,142,823    5,820,700 
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits   354,102    358,550 
Obligations under capital leases   218,118    188,033 
Other regulatory liabilities   506,016    449,237 
Decommissioning and asset retirement cost liabilities   2,058,544    2,023,846 
Transition to competition   79,098    79,098 
Accumulated provisions   91,286    88,902 
Pension and other postretirement liabilities   1,438,754    1,410,433 
Long-term debt   9,197,328    8,798,087 
Preferred stock with sinking fund   8,250    10,500 
Other   780,099    847,415 
TOTAL   20,874,418    20,074,801 
         
Commitments and Contingencies        
         
Preferred stock without sinking fund   344,915    344,913 
         
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY        
Common stock, $.01 par value, authorized 500,000,000        
 shares; issued 248,174,087 shares in 2007 and in 2006   2,482    2,482 
Paid-in capital   4,831,803    4,827,265 
Retained earnings   6,211,617    6,113,042 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (54,560)   (100,512)
Less - treasury stock, at cost (50,353,826 shares in 2007 and        
 45,506,311 shares in 2006)   3,152,286    2,644,390 
TOTAL   7,839,056    8,197,887 
         
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY   $31,146,842    $31,082,731 
         
See Notes to Financial Statements.        
         

21

 

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF RETAINED EARNINGS, COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, AND PAID-IN CAPITAL
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
(Unaudited)
         
        2007   2006
        (In Thousands)
                     
RETAINED EARNINGS                    
                     
Retained Earnings - Beginning of period       $6,113,042        $5,433,931     
                     
  Add:                    
    Consolidated net income       212,195    $212,195    193,628    $193,628 
    Adjustment related to FIN 48 implementation       (4,600)       -     
      Total       207,595        193,628     
                     
  Deduct:                    
    Dividends declared on common stock       109,020        112,138     
    Capital stock and other expenses       -        -     
      Total       109,020        112,138     
                     
Retained Earnings - End of period       $6,211,617        $5,515,421     
                     
                     
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS                    
Balance at beginning of period:                    
  Accumulated derivative instrument fair value changes       ($105,578)       ($392,614)    
                     
  Pension and other postretirement liabilities       (105,909)       -     
                     
  Net unrealized investment gains       104,551        67,923     
                     
  Foreign currency translation       6,424        3,217     
                     
  Minimum pension liability       -        (22,345)    
      Total       (100,512)       (343,819)    
                     
                     
Net derivative instrument fair value changes                    
 arising during the period (net of tax expense of $28,325 and $120,392)       41,467    41,467    191,313    191,313 
                     
Pension and other postretirement liabilities (net of tax expense of $274)       478    478    -    - 
                     
Net unrealized investment gains (net of tax expense of $2,790 and $2,314)       3,996    3,996    3,327    3,327 
                     
Foreign currency translation (net of tax expense of $6 and $93)       11    11    173    173 
                     
                     
                     
Balance at end of period:                    
  Accumulated derivative instrument fair value changes       (64,111)       (201,301)    
                     
  Pension and other postretirement liabilities       (105,431)       -     
                     
  Net unrealized investment gains       108,547        71,250     
                     
  Foreign currency translation       6,435        3,390     
                     
  Minimum pension liability       -        (22,345)    
      Total       ($54,560)       ($149,006)    
Comprehensive Income           $258,147        $388,441 
                     
                     
PAID-IN CAPITAL                    
                     
Paid-in Capital - Beginning of period       $4,827,265        $4,817,637     
                     
  Add (Deduct):                    
    Common stock issuances related to stock plans       4,538        (1,600)    
                     
                     
Paid-in Capital - End of period       $4,831,803        $4,816,037     
                     
                     
                     
See Notes to Financial Statements.                    

 

22

 

 

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
SELECTED OPERATING RESULTS
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
(Unaudited)
 
                 
            Increase/    
Description   2007   2006   (Decrease)   %
    (Dollars in Millions)    
Utility Electric Operating Revenues:                
  Residential   $719   $697    $22   
  Commercial   518   541    (23)   (4)
  Industrial   623   667    (44)   (7)
  Governmental   37   40    (3)   (8)
     Total retail   1,897   1,945    (48)   (2)
  Sales for resale   131   175    (44)   (25)
  Other   37   (27)   64    237 
     Total   $2,065   $2,093    ($28)   (1)
                 
Utility Billed Electric Energy                
 Sales (GWh):                
  Residential   7,558   6,917    641   
  Commercial   5,721   5,499    222   
  Industrial   9,186   9,042    144   
  Governmental   385   377     
     Total retail   22,850   21,835    1,015   
  Sales for resale   2,536   2,761    (225)   (8)
     Total   25,386   24,596    790   
                 
                 

23

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

NOTE 1. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Entergy New Orleans Bankruptcy

See Note 9 to the financial statements for information on the Entergy New Orleans bankruptcy proceeding.

Nuclear Insurance

See Note 8 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for information on nuclear liability and property insurance associated with Entergy's nuclear power plants. Following is an update to that information.

Property Insurance

In April 2007, the excess layer coverage for the Utility nuclear plants was increased to $750 million per occurrence per plant and the blanket layer coverage (shared among the plants) for the Utility nuclear plants was decreased to $350 million per occurrence.

Non-Nuclear Property Insurance

See Note 8 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for information on Entergy's non-nuclear property insurance program. Following is an update to that information.

Entergy has reached an agreement with one of its excess insurers under which Entergy will receive $69.5 million in settlement of its Hurricane Katrina claim. Entergy expects that $53.7 million of this amount will be allocated to Entergy New Orleans. Entergy New Orleans submitted the agreement to the bankruptcy court, which approved the agreement on April 25, 2007. Entergy expects to receive the proceeds under the settlement agreement by the end of May 2007.

NYPA Value Sharing Agreements

See Note 8 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for information on the NYPA Value Sharing Agreements. Non-Utility Nuclear calculated that nothing was owed to NYPA under the value sharing agreements for 2005. On November 1, 2006, NYPA filed a demand for arbitration claiming that $90.5 million was due to NYPA under these agreements for 2005. Non-Utility Nuclear filed a motion in New York state court to determine whether NYPA's claim should be decided by a court as opposed to an arbitrator. In February 2007, the court issued an order denying Non-Utility Nuclear's request, and NYPA's claim is now in binding arbitration. Non-Utility Nuclear has also calculated that nothing was owed to NYPA under the value sharing agreements for 2006. On April 24, 2007, NYPA filed an amended demand for arbitration claiming that an additional $54 million was due to NYPA under the value sharing agreements for 2006. With respect to both of these claims, Non-Utility Nuclear disagrees with NYPA's interpretation of the value sharing agreements, believes it has meritorious defenses to NYPA's claims, and intends to defend against those claims vigorously.

CashPoint Bankruptcy (Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy New Orleans)

See Note 8 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for information regarding the bankruptcy of CashPoint, which managed a network of payment agents for the Utility operating companies.

24

Employment Litigation

Entergy Corporation and the Registrant Subsidiaries are defendants in numerous lawsuits and other labor-related proceedings filed by former employees asserting that they were wrongfully terminated and/or discriminated against on the basis of age, race, sex, and/or other protected characteristics. Entergy Corporation and these subsidiaries are vigorously defending these suits and deny any liability to the plaintiffs. Nevertheless, no assurance can be given as to the outcome of these cases.

Asbestos and Hazardous Material Litigation (Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy New Orleans)

See Note 8 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for information regarding asbestos and hazardous material litigation at Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy New Orleans.

 

NOTE 2. RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS

Regulatory Assets

Other Regulatory Assets

See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for information regarding regulatory assets in the Utility business reflected on the balance sheets of Entergy and the Registrant Subsidiaries.

Deferred Fuel Costs

See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for information regarding fuel proceedings involving the Utility operating companies. Following are updates to that information.

Entergy Arkansas

In March 2007, in order to allow further consideration by the APSC, the APSC granted Entergy Arkansas' petition for rehearing and for stay of the APSC's January 2007 order in the proceeding investigating Entergy Arkansas' interim energy cost rate.

In March 2007, Entergy Arkansas filed with the APSC its annual energy cost rate for the period April 2007 through March 2008. The filed energy cost rate decreased from $0.02827/kWh to $0.01179/kWh.

Entergy Gulf States (Texas)

In March 2007, Entergy Gulf States filed with the PUCT a request to refund $78.5 million, including interest, of fuel cost recovery over-collections for the period through January 2007. Entergy Gulf States requested that the proposed refund be made over a six-month period beginning June 2007; however, the refund period is subject to the PUCT's discretion.

25

Storm Cost Recovery Filings

See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for information regarding storm cost recovery filings involving the Utility operating companies. The following are updates to the Form 10-K.

Entergy Gulf States - Texas

In April 2007, the PUCT issued its financing order authorizing the issuance of securitization bonds to recover $353 million of hurricane reconstruction costs and up to $6 million of transaction costs, offset by $32 million of related deferred income tax benefits. Entergy Gulf States expects by mid-2007 to implement rates to recover revenues to pay the securitization bonds, and expects to receive securitization funding by the end of the third quarter 2007.

Entergy Gulf States - Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana

In February 2007, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States filed rebuttal testimony and filed a second supplemental and amending application by which they seek authority from the LPSC to securitize their storm cost recovery and storm reserve amounts, together with certain debt retirement costs and upfront and ongoing costs of the securitized debt issued. Securitization is authorized by a law signed by the Governor of Louisiana in May 2006. The filing updates actual storm-related costs through January 2007 and estimated future costs, declaring that Entergy Louisiana's costs are $561 million and Entergy Gulf States' costs are $219 million.  The filing also updates the requested storm reserve amounts, requesting $141 million for Entergy Louisiana and $87 million for Entergy Gulf States.  Hearings began in late-April 2007. At the start of the hearing, a stipulation among Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, the LPSC staff, and most other parties in the proceeding was read into the record. The stipulation quantifies the balance of storm restoration costs for recovery as $545 million for Entergy Louisiana and $187 million for Entergy Gulf States, and sets the storm reserve amounts at $152 million for Entergy Louisiana and $87 million for Entergy Gulf States. The stipulation also calls for securitization of the storm restoration costs and storm reserves in those same amounts. The LPSC has not issued a decision in the proceeding.

Entergy New Orleans

In March 2007, the City Council certified that Entergy New Orleans has incurred $205 million in storm-related costs through December 2006 that are eligible for CDBG funding under the state action plan, and certified Entergy New Orleans' estimated costs of $465 million for the gas system rebuild. In April 2007, Entergy New Orleans executed an agreement with the Louisiana Office of Community Development under which $200 million of CDBG funds will be made available to Entergy New Orleans. Entergy New Orleans submitted the agreement to the bankruptcy court, which approved it on April 25, 2007. Entergy New Orleans received $171.7 million of the funds on April 27, 2007, and the remainder will be paid to Entergy New Orleans as it incurs and submits additional eligible costs.

Retail Rate Proceedings

See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for information regarding retail rate proceedings involving the Utility operating companies. The following are updates to the Form 10-K.

Filings with the APSC (Entergy Arkansas)

In March 2007, Entergy Arkansas filed rebuttal testimony in the rate case that it filed in August 2006.  The rebuttal testimony requests an annual rate increase of $106.5 million, and retains a return on common equity (ROE) of 11.25%.  A primary reason for the decline in the rate request from the original request of $150 million is the removal of the revenue requirement for the proposed acquisition of a load-following, combined cycle gas-fired generation resource, because Entergy Arkansas was not able to complete negotiations with the owner within the time requirements of the rate case.  Also, in March 2007 and April 2007, the APSC staff and intervenors filed additional testimony.  The APSC staff's filings indicate that an annual rate increase of $2 million is warranted, with a proposed ROE of 9.9%.  The APSC staff has also taken positions, which Entergy

 

26

 

 

Arkansas opposes, regarding costs accumulated in the storm reserve, FERC-allocated System Agreement cost allocation, and removal costs associated with the termination of a lease that could have an adverse effect on future financial results.  An evidentiary hearing in the rate case proceeding ended in early-May 2007.

Filings with the LPSC (Entergy Gulf States)

In January 2007, Entergy Gulf States filed with the LPSC its gas rate stabilization plan for the test year ending September 30, 2006.  The filing showed a revenue deficiency of $3.5 million based on an ROE mid-point of 10.5%.  In March 2007, Entergy Gulf States filed a set of rate and rider schedules that reflected all proposed LPSC staff adjustments and implemented a $2.4 million base rate increase effective with the first billing cycle of April 2007 pursuant to the rate stabilization plan. 

Filings with the MPSC (Entergy Mississippi)

In March 2007, Entergy Mississippi made its annual scheduled formula rate plan filing for the 2006 test year with the MPSC.  The filing shows that an increase of $12.9 million in annual electric revenues is warranted.  The Mississippi Public Utilities Staff is reviewing the filing.

Electric Industry Restructuring

Texas (Entergy Gulf States)

Refer to Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for the current Texas legislation and Entergy Gulf States' proposed transition to competition plan.

In December 2006, the PUCT asked for parties to brief the effects of the 2005 legislation on the competition dockets of Entergy Gulf States, most notably, the settlement that the parties entered with respect to the unbundling of Entergy Gulf States for retail open access. Finding that the 2005 legislation now provides the mechanism by which Entergy Gulf States will transition to competition, the PUCT, on February 1, 2007, dismissed Entergy Gulf States' unbundled cost of service proceeding. After analyzing the PUCT's decision, Entergy Gulf States recorded a provision for its estimated exposure related to certain past fuel cost recoveries that may be credited to customers.

 

27

 

 

NOTE 3. COMMON EQUITY

Common Stock

Earnings per Share

The following tables present Entergy's basic and diluted earnings per share calculations included on the consolidated income statement:

 

 

For the Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

(In Millions, Except Per Share Data)

 

 

 

 

$/share

 

 

 

$/share

Earnings applicable to common stock

 

$212.2

 

 

 

$193.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average number of common shares
  outstanding - basic

 


200.5

 


$1.06 

 


207.7

 


$0.93 

Average dilutive effect of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock Options

 

4.8

 

(0.025)

 

3.5

 

(0.015)

 

Equity Units

 

0.7

 

(0.003)

 

-

 

 

Deferred Units

 

0.1

 

(0.001)

 

0.2

 

(0.001)

Average number of common shares
  outstanding - diluted

 


206.1

 


$1.03 

 


211.4

 


$0.92 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entergy's stock option and other equity compensation plans are discussed in Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K.

Treasury Stock

During the first quarter of 2007, Entergy Corporation issued 824,527 shares of its previously repurchased common stock to satisfy stock option exercises and other stock-based awards. During the first quarter of 2007, Entergy Corporation purchased 5,672,042 shares of common stock for a total purchase price of $558.2 million.

Retained Earnings

On April 4, 2007, Entergy Corporation's Board of Directors declared a common stock dividend of $0.54 per share, payable on June 1, 2007 to holders of record as of May 10, 2007.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Cash flow hedges with net unrealized losses of approximately $67.8 million net-of-tax at March 31, 2007 are expected to be reclassified into earnings during the next twelve months.

28

 

NOTE 4. LINES OF CREDIT, RELATED SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS, AND LONG-TERM DEBT

Entergy Corporation has in place two separate revolving credit facilities, a five-year credit facility and a three-year credit facility. The five-year credit facility, which expires in May 2010, has a borrowing capacity of $2 billion and the three-year facility, which expires in December 2008, has a borrowing capacity of $1.5 billion. Entergy Corporation also has the ability to issue letters of credit against the total borrowing capacity of both credit facilities. The commitment fee for these facilities is currently 0.13% per annum of the unused amount. Commitment fees and interest rates on loans under the credit facility can fluctuate depending on the senior debt ratings of the Utility operating companies. Following is a summary of the borrowings outstanding and capacity available under these facilities as of March 31, 2007.


Facility

 


Capacity

 


Borrowings

 

Letters
of Credit

 

Capacity
Available

   

(In Millions)

                 

5-Year Facility

 

$2,000 

 

$895 

 

$79 

 

$1,026

3-Year Facility

 

$1,500 

 

$540 

 

$- 

 

$960

See Part II, Item 5 for an update of the borrowings outstanding as of May 8, 2007.

Entergy Corporation's facilities require it to maintain a consolidated debt ratio of 65% or less of its total capitalization. If Entergy fails to meet this ratio, or if Entergy or the Utility operating companies (except Entergy New Orleans) and System Energy default on other indebtedness or are in bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, an acceleration of the facilities' maturity dates may occur.

Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, and Entergy Mississippi, each had credit facilities available as of March 31, 2007 as follows:


Company

 


Expiration Date

 

Amount of
Facility

 

Amount Drawn as of
March 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entergy Arkansas

 

April 2007

 

$85 million

 

-

Entergy Gulf States

 

February 2011

 

$50 million (a)

 

-

Entergy Mississippi

 

May 2007

 

$30 million (b)

 

-

Entergy Mississippi

 

May 2007

 

$20 million (b)

 

-

(a)

The credit facility allows Entergy Gulf States to issue letters of credit against the borrowing capacity of the facility. As of March 31, 2007, $1.4 million in letters of credit had been issued.

(b)

Borrowings under the Entergy Mississippi credit facilities may be secured by a security interest in its accounts receivable.

In April 2007, Entergy Arkansas renewed its credit facility through April 2008 and increased the amount of the credit facility to $100 million. Prior to expiration on May 31, 2007, it is expected that Entergy Mississippi will renew both of its credit facilities.

The credit facilities have variable interest rates and the average commitment fee is 0.13%. The Entergy Arkansas credit facility requires that it maintain total shareholders' equity of at least 25% of its total assets.

The short-term borrowings of the Registrant Subsidiaries (other than Entergy New Orleans) and certain other Entergy subsidiaries are limited to amounts authorized by the FERC. The current FERC-authorized limits are effective through March 31, 2008. In addition to borrowings from commercial banks, these companies are authorized under a FERC order to borrow from the Entergy System money pool. The money pool is an inter-company borrowing arrangement designed to reduce Entergy's subsidiaries' dependence on external short-term borrowings. Borrowings from the money pool and external borrowings combined may not exceed the FERC authorized limits. As of March 31, 2007, Entergy's subsidiaries' aggregate money pool and external short-term borrowings authorized limit was $2.0 billion, the aggregate outstanding borrowing from the money pool was $330.1 million, and Entergy's subsidiaries' had no outstanding short-term borrowing from external sources.

 

29

 

The following are the FERC-authorized limits for short-term borrowings effective February 8, 2006 and the outstanding short-term borrowings from the money pool for the Registrant Subsidiaries (other than Entergy New Orleans) as of March 31, 2007:

 

 

Authorized

 

Borrowings

 

 

(In Millions)

 

 

 

 

 

Entergy Arkansas

 

$250

 

-

Entergy Gulf States

 

$350

 

-

Entergy Louisiana

 

$250

 

$67.1

Entergy Mississippi

 

$175

 

-

System Energy

 

$200

 

-

Under a savings provision in PUHCA 2005, which repealed PUHCA 1935, Entergy New Orleans may continue to be a participant in the money pool to the extent authorized by its SEC PUHCA 1935 order. However, Entergy New Orleans has not made, and does not expect to make, any additional money pool borrowings while it is in bankruptcy proceedings. Entergy New Orleans had $37.2 million in borrowings outstanding from the money pool as of its bankruptcy filing date, September 23, 2005.

In January 2007, Entergy Mississippi redeemed, prior to maturity, $100 million of 4.35% Series of First Mortgage Bonds due April 2008.

Entergy New Orleans Debtor-in-Possession Credit Facility

See Note 4 in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the Entergy New Orleans $200 million debtor-in-possession (DIP) credit facility. As of March 31, 2007, Entergy New Orleans had $42 million of outstanding borrowings under the DIP credit agreement. During April 2007, at the same time that it made a scheduled pension plan contribution, Entergy New Orleans borrowed under the DIP credit agreement, and on May 8, 2007 had $67 million of outstanding borrowings under the DIP credit agreement.

 

NOTE 5. ACQUISITIONS

In April 2007, Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business purchased the 798 MW Palisades nuclear energy plant located near South Haven, Michigan from Consumers Energy Company for a cash payment of $380 million. Entergy received the plant, nuclear fuel, inventories, and other assets. The liability to decommission the plant, as well as related decommissioning trust funds of approximately $250 million, was also transferred to Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business. Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business executed a unit contingent, 15-year purchased power agreement (PPA) with Consumers Energy for 100% of the plant's output, excluding any future uprates. Prices under the PPA range from $43.50/MWh in 2007 to $61.50/MWh in 2022, and the average price under the PPA is $51/MWh. In the first quarter 2007, the NRC renewed Palisades' operating license until 2031. Also as part of the transaction, Consumers Energy paid Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business $30 million to assume responsibility for spent fuel at the decommissioned Big Rock Point nuclear plant, which is located near Charlevoix, Michigan.

30

 

NOTE 6. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Entergy grants stock options, which are described more fully in Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K. Entergy adopted SFAS 123R, "Share-Based Payment" on January 1, 2006. The adoption of the standard did not materially affect Entergy's financial position, results of operations, or cash flows because Entergy adopted the fair value based method of accounting for stock options prescribed by SFAS 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" on January 1, 2003. Prior to 2003, Entergy applied the recognition and measurement principles of APB Opinion 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," and related Interpretations in accounting for those plans. Awards under Entergy's plans generally vest over three years.

The following table includes financial information for stock options for each of the years presented:

 

2007

 

2006

 

(In Millions)

Compensation expense included in Entergy's Net Income for the first quarter

$3.3

 

$2.8

Tax benefit recognized in Entergy's Net Income for the first quarter

$1.3

 

$1.1

Compensation cost capitalized as part of fixed assets and inventory as of
March 31,


$0.5

 


$0.5

Entergy granted 1,854,900 stock options during the first quarter of 2007 with a weighted-average fair value of $14.15. At March 31, 2007, there were 11,834,930 stock options outstanding with a weighted-average exercise price of $57.54. The aggregate intrinsic value of the stock options outstanding was $561 million.

 

NOTE 7. RETIREMENT AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

Components of Net Pension Cost

Entergy's qualified pension cost, including amounts capitalized, for the first quarters of 2007 and 2006, included the following components:

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost - benefits earned during the period

 

$23,428 

 

$23,176 

Interest cost on projected benefit obligation

 

44,602 

 

41,814 

Expected return on assets

 

(49,179)

 

(44,482)

Amortization of prior service cost

 

1,338 

 

1,365 

Amortization of loss

 

11,075 

 

10,931 

Net pension costs

 

$31,264 

 

$32,804 

31

The Registrant Subsidiaries' qualified pension cost, including amounts capitalized, for the first quarters of 2007 and 2006, included the following components:

 

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

System

2007

 

Arkansas

 

Gulf States

 

Louisiana

 

Mississippi

 

New Orleans

 

Energy

 

 

(In Thousands)

Service cost - benefits earned

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  during the period

 

$3,638 

 

$3,011 

 

$2,231 

 

$1,089 

 

$470 

 

$1,021 

Interest cost on projected

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  benefit obligation

 

10,498 

 

8,139 

 

6,251 

 

3,371 

 

1,260 

 

1,710 

Expected return on assets

 

(11,009)

 

(10,750)

 

(7,808)

 

(3,837)

 

(1,446)

 

(2,136)

Amortization of prior service cost

 

412 

 

304 

 

160 

 

114 

 

44 

 

12 

Amortization of loss

 

2,721 

 

623 

 

1,433 

 

749 

 

368 

 

151 

Net pension cost

 

$6,260 

 

$1,327 

 

$2,267 

 

$1,486 

 

$696 

 

$758 

 

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

System

2006

 

Arkansas

 

Gulf States

 

Louisiana

 

Mississippi

 

New Orleans

 

Energy

 

 

(In Thousands)

Service cost - benefits earned

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  during the period

 

$3,626 

 

$2,993 

 

$2,182 

 

$1,077 

 

$501 

 

$1,031 

Interest cost on projected

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  benefit obligation

 

9,915 

 

7,914 

 

6,052 

 

3,252 

 

1,282 

 

1,604 

Expected return on assets

 

(9,834)

 

(10,176)

 

(7,114)

 

(3,683)

 

(884)

 

(1,775)

Amortization of prior service cost

 

415 

 

309 

 

141 

 

128 

 

56 

 

12 

Amortization of loss

 

2,438 

 

640 

 

1,509 

 

725 

 

509 

 

167 

Net pension cost

 

$6,560 

 

$1,680 

 

$2,770 

 

$1,499 

 

$1,464 

 

$1,039 

Entergy recognized $4.0 million and $3.9 million in pension cost for its non-qualified pension plans in the first quarters of 2007 and 2006, respectively.

The Registrant Subsidiaries recognized the following pension cost for their non-qualified pension plans in the first quarters of 2007 and 2006:

 

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

 

 

Arkansas

 

Gulf States

 

Louisiana

 

Mississippi

 

New Orleans

 

 

 

(In Thousands)

Non-Qualified Pension Cost First
  Quarter 2007

 

$123 

 

$317 

 

$6 

 

$44 

 

$57 

 

Non-Qualified Pension Cost First
  Quarter 2006

 

$113 

 

$220 

 

$5 

 

$36 

 

$54 

 

32

Components of Net Other Postretirement Benefit Cost

Entergy's other postretirement benefit cost, including amounts capitalized, for the first quarters of 2007 and 2006, included the following components:

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost - benefits earned during the period

 

$10,638 

 

$10,370 

Interest cost on APBO

 

14,816 

 

14,316 

Expected return on assets

 

(5,577)

 

(4,756)

Amortization of transition obligation

 

542 

 

542 

Amortization of prior service cost

 

(4,049)

 

(3,688)

Amortization of loss

 

4,461 

 

5,698 

Net other postretirement benefit cost

 

$20,831 

 

$22,482 

The Registrant Subsidiaries' other postretirement benefit cost, including amounts capitalized, for the first quarters of 2007 and 2006, included the following components:

 

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

System

2007

 

Arkansas

 

Gulf States

 

Louisiana

 

Mississippi

 

New Orleans

 

Energy

 

 

(In Thousands)

Service cost - benefits earned

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  during the period

 

$1,525 

 

$1,547 

 

$973 

 

$476 

 

$255 

 

$451 

Interest cost on APBO

 

3,037 

 

2,876 

 

1,941 

 

1,049 

 

870 

 

433 

Expected return on assets

 

(2,231)

 

(1,697)

 

 

(819)

 

(682)

 

(470)

Amortization of transition obligation

 

205 

 

151 

 

96 

 

88 

 

416 

 

Amortization of prior service cost

 

(197)

 

218 

 

117 

 

(62)

 

90 

 

(283)

Amortization of loss

 

1,500 

 

793 

 

764 

 

613 

 

282 

 

149 

Net other postretirement benefit cost

 

$3,839 

 

$3,888 

 

$3,891 

 

$1,345 

 

$1,231 

 

$282 

 

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

System

2006

 

Arkansas

 

Gulf States

 

Louisiana

 

Mississippi

 

New Orleans

 

Energy

 

 

(In Thousands)

Service cost - benefits earned

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  during the period

 

$1,337 

 

$1,254 

 

$854 

 

$419 

 

$232 

 

$414 

Interest cost on APBO

 

2,844 

 

2,747 

 

1,856 

 

944 

 

856 

 

407 

Expected return on assets

 

(1,797)

 

(1,489)

 

 

(709)

 

(611)

 

(421)

Amortization of transition obligation

 

205 

 

151 

 

96 

 

88 

 

416 

 

Amortization of prior service cost

 

(408)

 

 

(24)

 

(137)

 

10 

 

(301)

Amortization of loss

 

1,671 

 

1,002 

 

893 

 

644 

 

343 

 

207 

Net other postretirement benefit cost

 

$3,852 

 

$3,665 

 

$3,675 

 

$1,249 

 

$1,246 

 

$308 

Employer Contributions

Entergy expects to contribute $176 million to its qualified pension plans in 2007. As of the end of April 2007, Entergy had contributed $96 million to its pension plans. Therefore, Entergy presently anticipates contributing an additional $80 million to fund its qualified pension plans in 2007.

33

The Registrant Subsidiaries expect to contribute the following to qualified pension plans in 2007:

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

System

 

 

Arkansas

 

Gulf States

 

Louisiana

 

Mississippi

 

New Orleans

 

Energy

 

 

(In Thousands)

Expected 2007 pension contributions
  disclosed in Form 10-K

 


$6,987

 


$25,346

 


$ -

 


$784

 


$43,585

 


$5,688

Pension contributions made through
  April 2007

 

$ -

 

$16,550

 


$ -

 

$ -

 

$28,459

 

$3,538

Remaining estimated pension
  contributions to be made in 2007

 

$6,987

 

$8,796

 


$ -

 

$784

 

$15,126

 

$2,150

Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (Medicare Act)

Based on actuarial analysis, the estimated impact of future Medicare subsidies reduced the December 31, 2006 Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligation (APBO) by $183 million, and reduced the first quarter 2007 and 2006 other postretirement benefit cost by $6.3 million and $6.9 million, respectively. In the first quarter 2007, Entergy received $0.9 million in Medicare subsidies for prescription drug claims during the third quarter 2006.

Based on actuarial analysis, the estimated impact of future Medicare subsidies reduced the December 31, 2006 APBO and the first quarters 2007 and 2006 other postretirement benefit cost for the Registrant Subsidiaries as follows:

 

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

System

 

 

Arkansas

 

Gulf States

 

Louisiana

 

Mississippi

 

New Orleans

 

Energy

 

 

(In Thousands)

Reduction in 12/31/2006 APBO

 

($40,636)

 

($35,991)

 

($22,486)

 

($13,560)

 

($10,110)

 

($5,966)

Reduction in first quarter 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  other postretirement benefit cost

 

($1,376)

 

($1,222)

 

($762)

 

($438)

 

($311)

 

($246)

Reduction in first quarter 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  other postretirement benefit cost

 

($1,562)

 

($1,332)

 

($865)

 

($512)

 

($376)

 

($268)

Medicare subsidies received in
  the first quarter 2007 for third
  quarter 2006 claims



$296 

 



$205 

 



$129 

 



$75 

 



$74 

 



$15 

For further information on the Medicare Act refer to Note 11 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K.

34

 

NOTE 8. BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION

Entergy's reportable segments as of March 31, 2007 are Utility and Non-Utility Nuclear. "All Other" includes the parent company, Entergy Corporation, and other business activity, including the non-nuclear wholesale assets business and earnings on the proceeds of sales of previously-owned businesses. As a result of the Entergy New Orleans bankruptcy filing, Entergy discontinued the consolidation of Entergy New Orleans retroactive to January 1, 2005, and is reporting Entergy New Orleans results under the equity method of accounting in the Utility segment. As discussed more thoroughly in Note 9 to the financial statements, Entergy expects to reconsolidate Entergy New Orleans in the second quarter 2007, retroactive to January 1, 2007.

Entergy's segment financial information for the first quarters of 2007 and 2006 is as follows:

 



Utility

 


Non-Utility
Nuclear*

 



All Other*

 



Eliminations

 



Consolidated

(In Thousands)

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenues

$2,103,269

 

$458,251

 

$45,048 

 

($6,338)

 

$2,600,230 

Equity in earnings of

 

 

 

 

 

  unconsolidated equity affiliates

$2,909

 

$-

 

$1,625 

 

$- 

 

$4,534 

Income Taxes (Benefit)

$79,180

 

$84,735

 

($19,362)

 

$- 

 

$144,553 

Net Income (Loss)

$104,450

 

$128,170

 

($20,425)

 

$- 

 

$212,195 

Total Assets

$25,167,308

$5,513,662

$2,887,861 

($2,421,989)

$31,146,842 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenues

$2,131,020

 

$388,010

 

$66,688 

 

($17,687)

 

$2,568,031 

Equity in earnings (loss) of

 

 

 

 

 

  unconsolidated equity affiliates

$5,643

 

$-

 

($2,057)

 

$- 

 

$3,586 

Income Taxes (Benefit)

$76,973

 

$52,916

 

($11,059)

 

$- 

 

$118,830 

Net Income (Loss)

$119,752

 

$81,530

 

($7,622)

 

($32)

 

$193,628 

Total Assets

$24,736,486

$5,037,167

$3,451,763 

($2,709,370)

$30,516,046 

Businesses marked with * are sometimes referred to as the "competitive businesses," with the exception of the parent company, Entergy Corporation. Eliminations are primarily intersegment activity. Almost all of Entergy's goodwill is related to the Utility segment.

 

NOTE 9. ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDING

See Note 18 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the Entergy New Orleans bankruptcy proceeding. On May 7, 2007, the bankruptcy judge entered an order confirming Entergy New Orleans' plan of reorganization. With the receipt of CDBG funds, and the agreement on insurance recovery with one of its excess insurers, Entergy New Orleans waived the conditions precedent in its plan of reorganization, and the plan became effective on May 8, 2007.

35

Following are significant terms in Entergy New Orleans' plan of reorganization:

Entergy New Orleans currently estimates that the prepetition claims that will be allowed and paid (either in cash or by notes) in the bankruptcy case will approximate the prepetition liabilities currently recorded by Entergy New Orleans, including interest.

(Entergy Corporation)

Entergy's income statement for the three months ended March 31, 2007 includes $41 million in operating revenues and $34 million in purchased power expenses from transactions with Entergy New Orleans. Entergy's income statement for the three months ended March 31, 2006 includes $61 million in operating revenues and $7 million in purchased power expenses from transactions with Entergy New Orleans. Entergy's balance sheet as of March 31, 2007 includes $98 million of accounts that are payable to Entergy affiliates by Entergy New Orleans. Entergy's balance sheet as of December 31, 2006 includes $95 million of accounts that are payable to Entergy affiliates by Entergy New Orleans.

With confirmation of the plan of reorganization, Entergy expects to reconsolidate Entergy New Orleans in the second quarter 2007, retroactive to January 1, 2007. Because Entergy owns all of the common stock of Entergy New Orleans, reconsolidation will not affect the amount of net income that Entergy records from Entergy New Orleans' operations for any current or prior period, but will result in Entergy New Orleans' results being included in each individual income statement line item in 2007, rather than just its net income being presented as "Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated equity affiliates," as will remain the case for 2005 and 2006.

(Entergy New Orleans)

Reorganization items reported as operating expenses in the income statements for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 primarily consist of professional fees associated with the bankruptcy case.

36

 

NOTE 10. INCOME TAXES

Entergy or one of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various state and foreign jurisdictions. With few exceptions, Entergy is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local, or non-U.S. income tax examinations by taxing authorities for years before 2002. Entergy's U.S. income tax returns for 2002 and 2003 are currently under examination by the IRS, and the examination is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2007. As of March 31, 2007, the IRS has not proposed any significant adjustments resulting from the current examination.

On November 16, 2006, the IRS issued a Notice of Deficiency to Entergy for the tax years 1997 and 1998. The Notice asserts that Entergy owes additional tax of $17.3 million for 1997 and $61.7 million for 1998. Entergy and the IRS have settled all issues for 1997 and 1998 except for those raised in the Notice which are described as follows: 1) The IRS believes that U.K. Windfall Tax paid by London Electricity, a former subsidiary of Entergy, was not an eligible tax under the foreign tax credit provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Entergy believes that it properly claimed a foreign tax credit for the tax year 1998 attributable to the Windfall Tax paid by London Electricity. This issue accounts for $59.7 million of the 1998 deficiency. 2) The IRS denied Entergy's change in method of accounting for street lighting assets and the related increase in depreciation deductions for 1997 and 1998. Entergy believes that street lighting assets are a separate line of business not subject to the same 20-year depreciable life as distribution assets, but rather are properly classified as having a 7-year depreciable life. This issue accounts for all of the 1997 deficiency of $17.3 million and $2 million of the 1998 deficiency. On December 6, 2006, Entergy filed a petition in the U.S. Tax Court requesting a redetermination of these issues and the resulting deficiencies.

Entergy expects the IRS to issue another Notice of Deficiency in 2007 for the years 1999 - 2001 related to the U.K. Windfall Tax credit and street lighting issues indicating deficiencies of approximately $29 million and $7 million, respectively. In addition, Entergy expects the IRS to include in the Notice an amount related to depreciation deductions that resulted from Entergy's purchase price allocations on its acquisitions of the Pilgrim and Indian Point 2 power plants. Entergy's allocation methodology results in nuclear plant depreciation deductions which have been disallowed by the IRS. Entergy estimates that the 1999 - 2001 deficiency related to nuclear plant depreciation will be approximately $11 million.

For years after 2001, the U.K. Windfall Tax, street lighting, and nuclear plant depreciation issues resulted in federal and state tax benefits of approximately $63 million, $6 million, and $52 million, respectively for each issue, for a total of $121 million.

In summary, these three issues have resulted in tax reductions of approximately $152 million for foreign tax credits, $32 million for street lighting, and $63 million for nuclear depreciation, for a total of $247 million for all years. The potential for accrued federal and state interest on these three issues for all years is estimated to be approximately $69 million, after-tax and net of deposit offsets. Entergy believes that the provisions recorded in its financial statements and as shown in the table below are sufficient to address these three issues as well as other liabilities that are reasonably estimable, including an estimate of probable interest expense, associated with all uncertain tax positions.

Entergy has $124 million in deposits on account with the IRS covering these three and all other uncertain tax positions.

FASB Interpretation No. 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes" (FIN 48) was issued in July 2006. FIN 48 establishes a "more-likely-than-not" recognition threshold that must be met before a tax benefit can be recognized in the financial statements. If a tax deduction is taken on a tax return, but does not meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, an increase in income tax liability, above what is payable on the tax return, is required to be recorded. Entergy and the Registrant Subsidiaries adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes" (FIN 48), on January 1, 2007. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, Entergy recognized an increase in the

 

37

 

liability for unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $5 million, which was accounted for as a reduction to the January 1, 2007 balance of retained earnings.

As of January 1, 2007, Entergy had a total balance of unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $2 billion. Included in this balance of unrecognized tax benefits are $1.7 billion of tax positions for which the ultimate deductibility is highly certain but for which there is uncertainty about the timing of such deductibility. Because of the impact of deferred tax accounting, other than interest and penalties, the disallowance of the shorter deductibility period would not affect the annual effective income tax rate but would accelerate the payment of cash to the taxing authority to an earlier period. Entergy's January 1, 2007 balance of unrecognized tax benefits includes $244 million which could affect the effective income tax rate. Entergy accrues interest and penalties expenses related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. Entergy's January 1, 2007 balance of unrecognized tax benefits includes approximately $52 million accrued for the possible payment of interest and penalties.

As of January 1, 2007, Entergy and the Registrant Subsidiaries have total balances of unrecognized tax benefits, which did not change significantly during the three months ended March 31, 2007, reflected in their balance sheets as follows:

 

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

System

 

Entergy

Arkansas

 

Gulf States

 

Louisiana

 

Mississippi

 

New Orleans

 

Energy

(In Thousands)

Taxes accrued

 

($184,372)

($43,445)

 

($640)

 

$234 

 

$5,830 

 

$4,304 

 

($35,506)

Accumulated deferred
  income taxes and
  taxes accrued

 



2,161,372 



194,718 

 



193,949 

 



58,839 

 



44,599 

 



16,118 

 



209,599 

Total unrecognized
  tax benefit

 


$1,977,000 


$151,273 

 


$193,309 

 


$59,073 

 


$50,429 

 


$20,422 

 


$174,093 

The Registrant Subsidiaries' January 1, 2007 balances of unrecognized tax benefits include amounts which could affect the effective income tax rate as follows (in millions):

Entergy Arkansas

$0.8

Entergy Gulf States

$3.6

Entergy Louisiana

$1.2

Entergy Mississippi

$3.4

Entergy New Orleans

$1.4

System Energy

$1.7

The Registrant Subsidiaries accrue interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. Included in the January 1, 2007 balance of unrecognized tax benefits were accruals for the possible payment of interest and penalty as follows (in millions):

Entergy Arkansas

$1.6

Entergy Gulf States

$4.0

Entergy Louisiana

$0.8

Entergy Mississippi

$3.9

Entergy New Orleans

$0.9

System Energy

$0.8

Entergy and the Registrant Subsidiaries do not expect that total unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change within the next twelve months.

38

 

NOTE 11. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

The FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities" (SFAS 159) during the first quarter of 2007. SFAS 159 provides an option for companies to select certain financial assets and liabilities to be accounted for at fair value with changes in the fair value of those assets or liabilities being reported through earnings. The intent of the standard is to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by the application of the more complicated fair value hedging accounting rules. Under SFAS 159, companies can select existing assets or liabilities for this fair value option concurrent with the effective date of January 1, 2008 for companies with fiscal years ending December 31 or can select future assets or liabilities as they are acquired or entered into. Entergy is in the process of evaluating the potential effect of making this accounting election.

In June 2006, the EITF reached a consensus on EITF Issue 06-3 "How Taxes Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities Should Be Presented in the Income Statement (That Is, Gross versus Net Presentation)" (EITF 06-3). The scope of this issue includes any tax assessed by a governmental authority that is both imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction between a seller and a customer, and may include, but is not limited to, sales, use, value added, and some excise taxes. Under EITF 06-3, the presentation of taxes within the scope of this issue on either a gross basis (included in revenues and costs) or a net basis (excluded from revenues) is an accounting policy decision that should be disclosed. For any such taxes reported on a gross basis, the amounts of those taxes in interim and annual financial statements, for each period for which an income statement is presented, should be disclosed if those amounts are significant. Entergy's policy is to present such taxes on a net basis. EITF 06-3 did not affect Entergy's financial statements.

__________________________________

In the opinion of the management of Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, and System Energy, the accompanying unaudited financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting primarily of normal recurring accruals and reclassification of previously reported amounts to conform to current classifications) necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. The business of the Registrant Subsidiaries is subject to seasonal fluctuations, however, with the peak periods occurring during the third quarter. The results for the interim periods presented should not be used as a basis for estimating results of operations for a full year.

Part I, Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of March 31, 2007, evaluations were performed under the supervision and with the participation of Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, and System Energy Resources (individually "Registrant" and collectively the "Registrants") management, including their respective Chief Executive Officers (CEO) and Chief Financial Officers (CFO). The evaluations assessed the effectiveness of the Registrants' disclosure controls and procedures. Based on the evaluations, each CEO and CFO has concluded that, as to the Registrant or Registrants for which they serve as CEO or CFO, the Registrant's or Registrants' disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by each Registrant in reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms; and that the Registrant's or Registrants' disclosure controls and procedures are also effective in reasonably assuring that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Registrant's or Registrants' management, including their respective CEOs and CFOs, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

39

 

ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.

MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

Results of Operations

Net Income

Net income remained relatively unchanged for the first quarter of 2007 compared to the first quarter of 2006 because higher net revenue was offset by higher taxes other than income taxes and higher other operation and maintenance expenses.

Net Revenue

Net revenue consists of operating revenues net of: 1) fuel, fuel-related expenses, and gas purchased for resale, 2) purchased power expenses, and 3) other regulatory credits. Following is an analysis of the change in net revenue comparing the first quarter of 2007 to the first quarter of 2006.

 

 

Amount

 

 

(In Millions)

 

 

 

2006 net revenue

 

$231.7 

Pass-through rider revenue

 

8.5 

Volume/weather

 

8.3 

Deferred fuel cost revisions

 

7.3 

Net wholesale revenue

 

(10.9)

Other

 

8.4 

2007 net revenue

 

$253.3 

The pass-through rider revenue variance is primarily due to a change in August 2006 in the accounting for city franchise tax revenues as directed by the APSC. The change results in an increase in rider revenue with a corresponding increase in taxes other than income taxes resulting in no effect on net income.

The volume/weather variance is primarily due to an increase in electricity usage, including the effect of more favorable weather compared to 2006. Billed retail electricity usage increased by a total of 113 GWh.

The deferred fuel cost revisions variance is primarily due to the 2006 energy cost recovery true-up, made in the first quarter of 2007, which increased net revenue by $6.6 million.

The net wholesale revenue variance is primarily due to decreased results from wholesale contracts and lower wholesale prices.

Gross operating revenues and fuel and purchased power expenses

Gross operating revenues increased primarily due to:

40

The increase was partially offset by a decrease of $17.7 million in gross wholesale revenue due to lower wholesale prices and a decrease in volume.

Fuel and purchased power expenses increased primarily due to an increase in deferred fuel expense associated with higher energy cost recovery rates collected from customers.

Other Income Statement Variances

Other operation and maintenance expenses increased primarily due to:

Partially offsetting the increase was a decrease of $1.6 million in payroll and benefits costs.

Taxes other than income taxes increased primarily due to an increase in city franchise tax expense due to a change in August 2006 in the accounting for city franchise tax revenues as directed by the APSC. The change results in an increase in taxes other than income taxes with a corresponding increase in rider revenue, resulting in no effect on net income.

Depreciation and amortization expenses increased primarily due to an increase in plant in service and a revision in 2006 of estimated depreciable lives involving certain intangible assets.

Other income increased primarily due to a revision to the allowance for equity funds used during construction related to removal costs.

Interest and other charges increased primarily due to interest expense of $2.9 million recorded in the first quarter of 2007 on advances from independent power producers per a FERC order, partially offset by a revision to the allowance for borrowed funds used during construction related to removal costs.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rates for the first quarters of 2007 and 2006 were 45.4% and 44.1%, respectively. The difference in the effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2007 versus the federal statutory rate of 35.0% is primarily due to book and tax differences related to utility plant items and state income taxes, partially offset by book and tax differences related to the allowance for equity funds used during construction. The difference in the effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2006 versus the federal statutory rate of 35.0% is primarily due to book and tax differences related to utility plant items and state income taxes, partially offset by the amortization of investment tax credits.

41

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash Flow

Cash flows for the first quarters of 2007 and 2006 were as follows:

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

$34,815 

 

$9,393 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flow provided by (used in):

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

 

208,282 

 

95,463 

 

Investing activities

 

(115,117)

 

(89,049)

 

Financing activities

 

(17,518)

 

28,556 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

75,647 

 

34,970 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$110,462 

 

$44,363 

Operating Activities

Cash flow from operations increased $112.8 million for the first quarter of 2007 compared to the first quarter of 2006 primarily due to the timing of payments to vendors, increased recovery of deferred fuel costs, and the timing of the collection of receivables from customers.

Investing Activities

Net cash flow used in investing activities increased $26.1 million for the first quarter of 2007 compared to the first quarter of 2006 primarily due to money pool activity.

Financing Activities

Financing activities used $17.5 million for the first quarter of 2007 compared to providing $28.6 million for the first quarter of 2006 primarily due to the issuance of $75 million of preferred stock in March 2006, partially offset by money pool activity.

Capital Structure

Entergy Arkansas' capitalization is balanced between equity and debt, as shown in the following table.

 

 

March 31,
2007

 

December 31,
2006

 

 

 

 

 

Net debt to net capital

 

45.9%

 

47.5%

Effect of subtracting cash from debt

 

2.0%

 

0.6%

Debt to capital

 

47.9%

 

48.1%

Net debt consists of debt less cash and cash equivalents. Debt consists of notes payable, capital lease obligations, and long-term debt, including the currently maturing portion. Capital consists of debt and shareholders' equity. Net capital consists of capital less cash and cash equivalents. Entergy Arkansas uses the net debt to net capital ratio in analyzing its financial condition and believes it provides useful information to its investors and creditors in evaluating Entergy Arkansas' financial condition.

42

Uses and Sources of Capital

See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Liquidity and Capital Resources" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of Entergy Arkansas' uses and sources of capital. Following are updates to the information provided in the Form 10-K.

In April 2007, Entergy Arkansas renewed its credit facility through April 2008 and increased the amount of the credit facility to $100 million. There were no outstanding borrowings under the Entergy Arkansas credit facility as of March 31, 2007.

Entergy Arkansas' receivables from or (payables to) the money pool were as follows:

March 31,
2007

 

December 31,
2006

 

March 31,
2006

 

December 31,
2005

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$62,748

 

$16,109

 

$24,577

 

($27,346)

See Note 4 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a description of the money pool.

Significant Factors and Known Trends

See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Significant Factors and Known Trends" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of state and local rate regulation, energy cost rate investigation, federal regulation, utility restructuring, nuclear matters, and environmental risks. Following are updates to the information provided in the Form 10-K.

State and Local Rate Regulation

Entergy Arkansas

In March 2007, Entergy Arkansas filed with the APSC its annual energy cost rate for the period April 2007 through March 2008. The filed energy cost rate decreased from $0.02827/kWh to $0.01179/kWh.

In March 2007, Entergy Arkansas filed rebuttal testimony in the rate case that it filed in August 2006.  The rebuttal testimony requests an annual rate increase of $106.5 million, and retains a return on common equity (ROE) of 11.25%.  A primary reason for the decline in the rate request from the original request of $150 million is the removal of the revenue requirement for the proposed acquisition of a load-following, combined cycle gas-fired generation resource, because Entergy Arkansas was not able to complete negotiations with the owner within the time requirements of the rate case.  Also, in March 2007 and April 2007, the APSC staff and intervenors filed additional testimony.  The APSC staff's filings indicate that an annual rate increase of $2 million is warranted, with a proposed ROE of 9.9%.  The APSC staff has also taken positions, which Entergy Arkansas opposes, regarding costs accumulated in the storm reserve, FERC-allocated System Agreement cost allocation, and removal costs associated with the termination of a lease that could have an adverse effect on future financial results.  An evidentiary hearing in the rate case proceeding ended in early-May 2007.

Energy Cost Rate Investigation

In March 2007, in order to allow further consideration by the APSC, the APSC granted Entergy Arkansas' petition for rehearing and for stay of the APSC's January 2007 order in the proceeding investigating Entergy Arkansas' interim energy cost rate.

43

Federal Regulation

See "System Agreement Proceedings", "Independent Coordinator of Transmission", and "Available Flowgate Capacity Proceeding" in the "Significant Factors and Known Trends" section of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis for updates to the discussion in the Form 10-K.

Critical Accounting Estimates

See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Critical Accounting Estimates" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the estimates and judgments necessary in Entergy Arkansas' accounting for nuclear decommissioning costs, unbilled revenue, and qualified pension and other postretirement benefits.

New Accounting Pronouncements

See "New Accounting Pronouncements" section of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis for a discussion of new accounting pronouncements.

44

ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.
INCOME STATEMENTS
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
(Unaudited)
     
    2007   2006
    (In Thousands)
         
OPERATING REVENUES        
Electric   $502,738    $447,622 
         
OPERATING EXPENSES        
Operation and Maintenance:        
  Fuel, fuel-related expenses, and        
   gas purchased for resale   138,039    102,471 
  Purchased power   116,405    118,930 
  Nuclear refueling outage expenses   7,013    7,355 
  Other operation and maintenance   99,855    91,755 
Decommissioning   8,000    7,483 
Taxes other than income taxes   19,983    9,620 
Depreciation and amortization   56,065    52,818 
Other regulatory credits - net   (5,028)   (5,527)
TOTAL   440,332    384,905 
         
OPERATING INCOME   62,406    62,717 
         
OTHER INCOME        
Allowance for equity funds used during construction   5,596    1,902 
Interest and dividend income   7,583    7,675 
Miscellaneous - net   (1,206)   (885)
TOTAL   11,973    8,692 
         
INTEREST AND OTHER CHARGES  
Interest on long-term debt   19,354    18,978 
Other interest - net   4,897    1,540 
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction   (2,744)   (857)
TOTAL   21,507    19,661 
         
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES   52,872    51,748 
         
Income taxes   23,990    22,825 
         
NET INCOME   28,882    28,923 
         
Preferred dividend requirements and other   1,718    2,038 
         
EARNINGS APPLICABLE TO        
COMMON STOCK   $27,164    $26,885 
         
See Notes to Financial Statements.        
         

 

45

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Page left blank intentionally)

 

 

 

 

 

46

 

 

ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
(Unaudited)
     
    2007   2006
    (In Thousands)
         
OPERATING ACTIVITIES        
Net income   $28,882    $28,923 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:        
  Reserve for regulatory adjustments   (552)   7,082 
  Other regulatory credits - net   (5,028)   (5,527)
  Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning   64,065    60,301 
  Deferred income taxes,investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued   67,344    20,019 
  Changes in working capital:        
    Receivables   39,292    25,549 
    Fuel inventory   (12,908)   (14,869)
    Accounts payable   (27,956)   (69,957)
    Taxes accrued   (30,513)   9,570 
    Interest accrued   596    3,666 
    Deferred fuel costs   84,739    47,312 
    Other working capital accounts   3,845    5,649 
  Provision for estimated losses and reserves   134    (1,214)
  Changes in other regulatory assets   8,441    2,037 
  Other   (12,099)   (23,078)
Net cash flow provided by operating activities   208,282    95,463 
         
INVESTING ACTIVITIES        
Construction expenditures   (72,495)   (63,547)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction   5,596    1,902 
Nuclear fuel purchases   (30,530)  
Proceeds from sale/leaseback of nuclear fuel   32,601   
Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales   7,008    48,526 
Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust funds   (10,658)   (51,353)
Change in money pool receivable - net   (46,639)   (24,577)
Net cash flow used in investing activities   (115,117)   (89,049)
         
FINANCING ACTIVITIES        
Proceeds from the issuance of preferred stock     73,446 
Change in money pool payable - net     (27,346)
Dividends paid:        
  Common stock   (15,800)   (15,600)
  Preferred stock   (1,718)   (1,944)
Net cash flow provided by (used in) financing activities   (17,518)   28,556 
         
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents   75,647    34,970 
         
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   34,815    9,393 
         
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $110,462    $44,363 
         
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:        
Cash paid during the period for:        
  Interest - net of amount capitalized   $20,361    $14,049 
         
See Notes to Financial Statements.        
         

 

47

 

 

ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
ASSETS
March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006
(Unaudited)
   
  2007   2006
  (In Thousands)
         
CURRENT ASSETS        
Cash and cash equivalents:        
  Cash   $2,684    $2,849 
  Temporary cash investments - at cost,        
   which approximates market   107,778    31,966 
     Total cash and cash equivalents   110,462    34,815 
Accounts receivable:        
  Customer   106,874    105,347 
  Allowance for doubtful accounts   (15,031)   (15,257)
  Associated companies   101,243    57,554 
  Other   84,748    114,108 
  Accrued unbilled revenues   58,141    66,876 
     Total accounts receivable   335,975    328,628 
Deferred fuel costs   -     2,157 
Accumulated deferred income taxes   22,086    19,232 
Fuel inventory - at average cost   35,881    22,973 
Materials and supplies - at average cost   102,660    100,061 
Deferred nuclear refueling outage costs   17,892    23,678 
Prepayments and other   9,073    6,368 
TOTAL   634,029    537,912 
         
OTHER PROPERTY AND INVESTMENTS        
Investment in affiliates - at equity   11,205    11,206 
Decommissioning trust funds   444,162    439,408 
Non-utility property - at cost (less accumulated depreciation)   1,445    1,446 
Other   2,976    2,976 
TOTAL   459,788    455,036 
         
UTILITY PLANT        
Electric   6,643,784    6,599,348 
Property under capital lease   4,534    5,260 
Construction work in progress   128,018    113,069 
Nuclear fuel under capital lease   121,397    124,850 
Nuclear fuel   19,253    21,044 
TOTAL UTILITY PLANT   6,916,986    6,863,571 
Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization   3,019,804    2,986,576 
UTILITY PLANT - NET   3,897,182    3,876,995 
         
DEFERRED DEBITS AND OTHER ASSETS        
Regulatory assets:        
  SFAS 109 regulatory asset - net   86,312    93,682 
  Other regulatory assets   529,742    542,052 
Other   40,812    35,359 
TOTAL   656,866    671,093 
         
TOTAL ASSETS   $5,647,865    $5,541,036 
         
See Notes to Financial Statements.        
 
 
48
 
 
ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006
(Unaudited)
   
  2007   2006
  (In Thousands)
 
CURRENT LIABILITIES        
Accounts payable:        
  Associated companies   $36,553   $64,546
  Other   116,478   117,655
Customer deposits   52,896   49,978
Taxes accrued   6,648   37,161
Interest accrued   20,175   19,579
Deferred fuel costs   82,582   -
Obligations under capital leases   56,203   56,265
Other   14,648   15,372
TOTAL   386,183   360,556
         
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES        
Accumulated deferred income taxes and taxes accrued   1,306,294   1,243,855
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits   58,839   59,834
Obligations under capital leases   69,728   73,845
Other regulatory liabilities   104,454   103,350
Decommissioning   480,810   472,810
Accumulated provisions   14,673   14,539
Pension and other postretirement liabilities   258,407   259,147
Long-term debt   1,308,400   1,306,201
Other   98,438   96,623
TOTAL   3,700,043   3,630,204
         
Commitments and Contingencies        
         
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY        
Preferred stock without sinking fund   116,350   116,350
Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 325,000,000        
 shares; issued and outstanding 46,980,196 shares in 2007        
 and 2006   470   470
Paid-in capital   588,527   588,528
Retained earnings   856,292   844,928
TOTAL   1,561,639   1,550,276
         
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY   $5,647,865   $5,541,036
         
See Notes to Financial Statements.        
         

49

 

 

ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.
SELECTED OPERATING RESULTS
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
(Unaudited)
 
            Increase/    
Description   2007   2006   (Decrease)   %
    (Dollars In Millions)    
Electric Operating Revenues:                
  Residential   $ 181   $ 151    $ 30    20 
  Commercial   99   80    19    24 
  Industrial   102   89    13    15 
  Governmental   5       25 
     Total retail   387   324    63    19 
  Sales for resale                
    Associated companies   78   78     
    Non-associated companies   33   51    (18)   (35)
  Other   5   (5)   10    200 
     Total   $ 503   $ 448    $ 55    12 
                 
Billed Electric Energy                
 Sales (GWh):                 
  Residential   2,032   1,910    122   
  Commercial   1,327   1,279    48   
  Industrial   1,721   1,778    (57)   (3)
  Governmental   65   65     
      Total retail   5,145   5,032    113   
  Sales for resale                
    Associated companies   1,993   1,865    128   
    Non-associated companies   669   856    (187)   (22)
     Total   7,807   7,753    54   
                 

 

50

 

 

ENTERGY GULF STATES, INC.

MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Katrina

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which hit Entergy Gulf States' service territory in the Texas and Louisiana jurisdictions in August and September 2005, which resulted in power outages, significant damage to electric distribution, transmission, and generation and gas infrastructure, and the loss of sales and customers due to mandatory evacuations, and Entergy Gulf States' efforts to recover storm restoration costs. Following is an update to that discussion.

Storm Cost Recovery Filings with Retail Regulators

In April 2007, the PUCT issued its financing order authorizing the issuance of securitization bonds to recover $353 million of hurricane reconstruction costs and up to $6 million of transaction costs, offset by $32 million of related deferred income tax benefits. Entergy Gulf States expects by mid-2007 to implement rates to recover revenues to pay the securitization bonds, and expects to receive securitization funding by the end of the third quarter 2007.

In February 2007, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States filed rebuttal testimony and filed a second supplemental and amending application by which they seek authority from the LPSC to securitize their storm cost recovery and storm reserve amounts, together with certain debt retirement costs and upfront and ongoing costs of the securitized debt issued. Securitization is authorized by a law signed by the Governor of Louisiana in May 2006. The filing updates actual storm-related costs through January 2007 and estimated future costs, declaring that Entergy Louisiana's costs are $561 million and Entergy Gulf States' costs are $219 million.  The filing also updates the requested storm reserve amounts, requesting $141 million for Entergy Louisiana and $87 million for Entergy Gulf States.  Hearings began in late-April 2007. At the start of the hearing, a stipulation among Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, the LPSC staff, and most other parties in the proceeding was read into the record. The stipulation quantifies the balance of storm restoration costs for recovery as $545 million for Entergy Louisiana and $187 million for Entergy Gulf States, and sets the storm reserve amounts at $152 million for Entergy Louisiana and $87 million for Entergy Gulf States. The stipulation also calls for securitization of the storm restoration costs and storm reserves in those same amounts. The LPSC has not issued a decision in the proceeding.

Results of Operations

Net Income

Net income decreased $17.5 million primarily due to lower net revenue and a higher effective income tax rate partially offset by higher other income.

Net Revenue

Net revenue consists of operating revenues net of: 1) fuel, fuel-related expenses, and gas purchased for resale, 2) purchased power expenses and 3) other regulatory charges. Following is an analysis of the change in net revenue comparing the first quarter of 2007 to the first quarter of 2006.

 

 

Amount

 

 

(In Millions)

 

 

 

2006 net revenue

 

$295.0 

Fuel recovery

 

(33.1)

Volume/weather

 

19.8 

Other

 

(3.2)

2007 net revenue

 

$278.5 

51

The fuel recovery variance resulted primarily from adjustments of fuel clause recoveries in the first quarter of 2006 in Entergy Gulf States' Louisiana jurisdiction and a reserve for potential rate refunds in the first quarter of 2007 in Entergy Gulf States' Texas jurisdiction as a result of a PUCT ruling related to the application of past PUCT rulings addressing transition to competition in Texas.

The volume/weather variance is primarily due to increased electricity usage, including increased usage during the unbilled sales period and the effect of more favorable weather compared to the same period in 2006. Billed usage increased a total of 185 GWh. See Note 1 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the accounting for unbilled revenues.

Gross operating revenues, fuel and purchased power expenses, and other regulatory charges

Gross operating revenues decreased primarily due to a decrease in fuel cost recovery revenues of $97 million due to lower fuel rates. The decrease was partially offset by more favorable volume/weather as discussed above.

Fuel and purchased power expenses decreased primarily due to decreased recovery of fuel and purchased power costs as a result of lower fuel rates.

Other regulatory charges increased primarily due to higher purchased power capacity charges.

Other Income Statement Variances

Taxes other than income taxes decreased primarily due to lower Louisiana franchise taxes resulting from lower fuel recovery revenues as discussed above.

Other income increased primarily due to carrying charges on storm restoration costs approved by the PUCT, in addition to interest earned on money pool investments. The PUCT approval and the securitization filing for the recovery of reconstruction costs are discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K and Note 2 to the financial statements herein.

Interest and other charges increased primarily due to interest recorded on advances from independent power producers per a FERC order and interest recorded on deferred fuel costs.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate was 39.8% for the first quarter of 2007 and 27.6% for the first quarter of 2006. The difference in the effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2007 versus the federal statutory rate of 35% is due to book and tax differences related to utility plant items and state income taxes, partially offset by book and tax differences related to the allowance for equity funds used during construction. The difference in the effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2006 is primarily due to book and tax differences related to the allowance for equity funds used during construction and utility plant items, the amortization of investment tax credits, and flow-through book and tax timing differences.

52

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash Flow

Cash flows for the first quarters of 2007 and 2006 were as follows:

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

$180,381 

 

$25,373 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flow provided by (used in):

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

 

141,210 

 

138,424 

 

Investing activities

 

(88,201)

 

(153,109)

 

Financing activities

 

 (36,818)

 

1,845 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

16,191 

 

(12,840)

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$196,572 

 

$12,533 

Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities decreased $64.9 million for the first quarter of 2007 compared to the first quarter of 2006 primarily due to a decrease in construction expenditures of $137 million due to storm-related projects in 2006, partially offset by money pool activity.

Financing Activities

Financing activities used cash of $36.8 million for the first quarter of 2007 compared to providing cash of $1.8 million for the first quarter of 2006 primarily due to common stock dividends paid in 2007 and money pool activity.

Capital Structure

Entergy Gulf States' capitalization is balanced between equity and debt, as shown in the following table.

 

 

March 31,
2007

 

December 31,
2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net debt to net capital

 

49.9%

 

50.1%

 

Effect of subtracting cash from debt

 

2.1%

 

1.9%

 

Debt to capital

 

52.0%

 

52.0%

 

Net debt consists of debt less cash and cash equivalents. Debt consists of notes payable, capital lease obligations, preferred stock with sinking fund, and long-term debt, including the currently maturing portion. Capital consists of debt and shareholders' equity. Net capital consists of capital less cash and cash equivalents. Entergy Gulf States uses the net debt to net capital ratio in analyzing its financial condition and believes it provides useful information to its investors and creditors in evaluating Entergy Gulf States' financial condition.

53

Uses and Sources of Capital

See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Liquidity and Capital Resources" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of Entergy Gulf States' uses and sources of capital. Following are updates to the information provided in the Form 10-K.

Entergy Gulf States' receivables from or (payables to) the money pool were as follows:

March 31,
2007

 

December 31,
2006

 

March 31,
2006

 

December 31,
2005

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$107,555

 

$75,048

 

($5,124)

 

$64,011

See Note 4 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a description of the money pool.

Entergy Gulf States has a $50 million line of credit. The line of credit allows Entergy Gulf States to borrow money and to issue letters of credit. $1.4 million in letters of credit were issued under the facility at March 31, 2007, and no borrowings were outstanding. The line of credit terminates in February 2011.

Significant Factors and Known Trends

See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Significant Factors and Known Trends" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of transition to retail competition; state and local rate regulation; federal regulation; the Energy Policy Act of 2005; industrial, commercial, and wholesale customers; nuclear matters; environmental risks; and litigation risks. Following are updates to the information disclosed in the Form 10-K.

Jurisdictional Separation Plan

In March 2007, Entergy Gulf States filed an application with the FERC requesting authorization to implement its jurisdictional separation plan that will result in the restructuring of Entergy Gulf States into two separate utilities, one subject solely to the retail jurisdiction of the LPSC (EGS-LA) and the other subject solely to the retail jurisdiction of the PUCT (ETI). Interventions and protests are due by May 14, 2007.

In addition to the terms of the plan described in the Form 10-K, additional terms of the plan include that EGS-LA will retain the entirety of Entergy Gulf States' outstanding long-term debt. Under one or more debt assumption agreements with EGS-LA, ETI would assume a portion of this long-term debt allocable to the portion of Entergy Gulf States' assets allocated to ETI. EGS-LA will record an assumption asset to reflect the long-term debt assumed by ETI. ETI would grant EGS-LA a first lien on its assets to secure its debt obligations under the debt assumption agreement or agreements. ETI would have three years from the date of separation to pay off the assumed debt. In addition, under the proposal, the currently outstanding preferred stock of Entergy Gulf States would be redeemed as part of the jurisdictional separation.

Entergy Gulf States has also filed with the FERC an application, on behalf of ETI, for authority from the end of 2007 through March 31, 2010 to issue up to $200 million of short-term debt, up to $300 million of tax-exempt bonds, and up to $1.4 billion of other long-term securities, including common and preferred stock and long-term debt. Entergy Gulf States, on behalf of EGS-LA, has filed a similar FERC application for authority over the same time period to issue up to $200 million of short-term debt, up to $500 million of tax-exempt bonds and up to $750 million of other long-term securities, including common and preferred membership units and long-term debt.

Additional FERC filings and a filing with the NRC will be made before the separation can occur. In addition, under the LPSC order approving the jurisdictional separation plan, jurisdictional separation will not occur if Entergy Gulf States cannot obtain reasonable assurances from the rating agencies that upon the separation there will not be a downgrade in ETI's or EGS-LA's credit ratings from Entergy Gulf States' credit ratings. Entergy Gulf States' current target for completing the jurisdictional separation is projected to be the end of 2007.

54

State and Local Rate Regulation

In January 2007, Entergy Gulf States filed with the LPSC its gas rate stabilization plan for the test year ending September 30, 2006.  The filing showed a revenue deficiency of $3.5 million based on an ROE mid-point of 10.5%.  In March 2007, Entergy Gulf States filed a set of rate and rider schedules that reflected all proposed LPSC staff adjustments and implemented a $2.4 million base rate increase effective with the first billing cycle of April 2007 pursuant to the rate stabilization plan. 

In March 2007, Entergy Gulf States filed with the PUCT a request to refund $78.5 million, including interest, of fuel cost recovery over-collections for the period through January 2007. Entergy Gulf States requested that the proposed refund be made over a six-month period beginning June 2007; however, the refund period is subject to the PUCT's discretion.

Federal Regulation

See "System Agreement Proceedings", "Independent Coordinator of Transmission", and "Available Flowgate Capacity Proceeding" in the "Significant Factors and Known Trends" section of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis for updates to the discussion in the Form 10-K.

Critical Accounting Estimates

See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Critical Accounting Estimates" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the estimates and judgments necessary in Entergy Gulf States' accounting for nuclear decommissioning costs, the application of SFAS 71, unbilled revenue, and qualified pension and other postretirement benefits.

New Accounting Pronouncements

See "New Accounting Pronouncements" section of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis for a discussion of new accounting pronouncements.

 

55

 

 

 

ENTERGY GULF STATES, INC.
INCOME STATEMENTS
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
(Unaudited)
   
    2007   2006
    (In Thousands)
         
OPERATING REVENUES        
Electric   $795,254    $855,790 
Natural gas   37,928    37,415 
TOTAL   833,182    893,205 
         
OPERATING EXPENSES        
Operation and Maintenance:        
  Fuel, fuel-related expenses, and        
   gas purchased for resale   239,568    284,876 
  Purchased power   306,804    313,092 
  Nuclear refueling outage expenses   3,656    4,674 
  Other operation and maintenance   125,854    121,557 
Decommissioning   2,844    2,622 
Taxes other than income taxes   31,311    36,025 
Depreciation and amortization   52,415    48,695 
Other regulatory charges - net   8,358    269 
TOTAL   770,810    811,810 
         
OPERATING INCOME   62,372    81,395 
         
OTHER INCOME        
Allowance for equity funds used during construction   4,432    6,046 
Interest and dividend income   16,375    8,103 
Miscellaneous - net     (910)
TOTAL   20,807    13,239 
         
INTEREST AND OTHER CHARGES  
Interest on long-term debt   34,893    33,653 
Other interest - net   5,344    2,096 
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction   (2,888)   (3,309)
TOTAL   37,349    32,440 
         
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES   45,830    62,194 
         
Income taxes   18,233    17,145 
         
NET INCOME   27,597    45,049 
         
Preferred dividend requirements and other   962    1,022 
         
EARNINGS APPLICABLE TO        
COMMON STOCK   $26,635    $44,027 
         
See Notes to Financial Statements.        

 

56

 

 

ENTERGY GULF STATES, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
(Unaudited)
     
    2007   2006
    (In Thousands)
         
OPERATING ACTIVITIES        
Net income   $27,597    $45,049 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:        
  Reserve for regulatory adjustments   11,816    6,087 
  Other regulatory charges - net   8,358    269 
  Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning   55,259    51,317 
  Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued   13,128    32,760 
  Changes in working capital:        
    Receivables   17,530    120,195 
    Fuel inventory   (6,595)   (9,143)
    Accounts payable   (6,063)   (17,833)
    Taxes accrued   (384)  
    Interest accrued   579    (102)
    Deferred fuel costs   34,127    27,723 
    Other working capital accounts   (18,560)   (660)
  Provision for estimated losses and reserves   693    (769)
  Changes in other regulatory assets   7,971    (106,199)
  Other   (4,246)   (10,270)
Net cash flow provided by operating activities   141,210    138,424 
         
INVESTING ACTIVITIES        
Construction expenditures   (69,249)   (206,217)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction   4,432    6,046 
Insurance proceeds   8,134   
Nuclear fuel purchases   (7,461)   (6,102)
Proceeds from sale/leaseback of nuclear fuel   9,923    5,391 
Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales   12,093    20,360 
Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust funds   (15,947)   (23,891)
Change in money pool receivable - net   (32,507)   64,011 
Changes in other investments - net   2,381    915 
Other regulatory investments     (13,622)
Net cash flow used in investing activities   (88,201)   (153,109)
         
FINANCING ACTIVITIES        
Change in money pool payable - net     5,124 
Redemption of preferred stock   (2,250)   (2,250)
Dividends paid:        
  Common stock   (33,600)  
  Preferred stock   (968)   (1,029)
Net cash flow provided by (used in) financing activities   (36,818)   1,845 
         
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   16,191    (12,840)
         
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   180,381    25,373 
         
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $196,572    $12,533 
         
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:        
Cash paid during the period for: