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

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

 
   

X

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

   
 

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2008

 

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 or Organization, Address of Principal Executive Offices, Telephone Number, and IRS Employer Identification No.

 


Commission
File Number

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

1-11299

ENTERGY CORPORATION
(a Delaware corporation)
639 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans, Louisiana 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
New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
Telephone (504) 670-3700
72-0273040

         
         

333-148557

ENTERGY GULF STATES LOUISIANA, L.L.C.
(a Louisiana limited liability company)
446 North Boulevard
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802
Telephone (800) 368-3749
74-0662730

 

000-53134

ENTERGY TEXAS, INC.
(a Texas corporation)
350 Pine Street
Beaumont, Texas 77701
Telephone (409) 838-6631
61-1435798

         
         

1-32718

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

 

1-9067

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

 
 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


Registrant


Title of Class

Name of Each Exchange
on Which Registered

     

Entergy Corporation

Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value - 189,450,354
shares outstanding at January 30, 2009

Equity Units, 7.625%

New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc.

New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

     

Entergy Arkansas, Inc.

Mortgage Bonds, 6.7% Series due April 2032
Mortgage Bonds, 6.0% Series due November 2032

New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

     

Entergy Louisiana, LLC

Mortgage Bonds, 7.6% Series due April 2032

New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

     

Entergy Mississippi, Inc.

Mortgage Bonds, 6.0% Series due November 2032
Mortgage Bonds, 7.25% Series due December 2032

New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Registrant

Title of Class

Entergy Arkansas, Inc.

Preferred Stock, Cumulative, $100 Par Value
Preferred Stock, Cumulative, $0.01 Par Value

   

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, L.L.C.

Common Membership Interests

   

Entergy Mississippi, Inc.

Preferred Stock, Cumulative, $100 Par Value

   

Entergy New Orleans, Inc.

Preferred Stock, Cumulative, $100 Par Value

   

Entergy Texas, Inc.

Common Stock, no par value

Indicate by check mark if the registrants are well-known seasoned issuers, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

 

Yes

 

No

Entergy Corporation

Ö

   

Entergy Arkansas, Inc.

   

Ö

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, L.L.C.

   

Ö

Entergy Louisiana, LLC

   

Ö

Entergy Mississippi, Inc.

   

Ö

Entergy New Orleans, Inc.

   

Ö

Entergy Texas, Inc.

   

Ö

System Energy Resources, Inc.

   

Ö

Indicate by check mark if the registrants are not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

 

Yes

 

No

Entergy Corporation

   

Ö

Entergy Arkansas, Inc.

   

Ö

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, L.L.C.

   

Ö

Entergy Louisiana, LLC

   

Ö

Entergy Mississippi, Inc.

   

Ö

Entergy New Orleans, Inc.

   

Ö

Entergy Texas, Inc.

   

Ö

System Energy Resources, Inc.

   

Ö

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 if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrants' knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of "accelerated filer," "large accelerated filer," and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Large
accelerated
filer

 


Accelerated filer

 


Non-accelerated filer

 

Smaller
reporting
company

Entergy Corporation

Ö

           

Entergy Arkansas, Inc.

       

Ö

   

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, L.L.C.

       

Ö

   

Entergy Louisiana, LLC

       

Ö

   

Entergy Mississippi, Inc.

       

Ö

   

Entergy New Orleans, Inc.

       

Ö

   

Entergy Texas, 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 Act.) Yes o No þ

System Energy Resources meets the requirements set forth in General Instruction I(1) of Form 10-K and is therefore filing this Form 10-K with reduced disclosure as allowed in General Instruction I(2). System Energy Resources is reducing its disclosure by not including Part III, Items 10 through 13 in its Form 10-K.

The aggregate market value of Entergy Corporation Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value, held by non-affiliates as of the end of the second quarter of 2008, was $23.0 billion based on the reported last sale price of $120.48 per share for such stock on the New York Stock Exchange on June 30, 2008. Entergy Corporation is the sole holder of the common stock of Entergy Arkansas, Inc., Entergy Mississippi, Inc., Entergy New Orleans, Inc., Entergy Texas, Inc., and System Energy Resources, Inc. Entergy Corporation is the sole holder of the common stock of Entergy Louisiana Holdings, Inc., which is the sole holder of the common membership interests in Entergy Louisiana, LLC. Entergy Corporation is the sole holder of the common stock of EGS Holdings, Inc., which is the sole holder of the common membership interests in Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, L.L.C.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Proxy Statement of Entergy Corporation to be filed in connection with its Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be held May 8, 2009, are incorporated by reference into Part III hereof.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

SEC Form 10-K
Reference Number

Page
Number

     

Definitions

 

i

Entergy's Business

Part I. Item 1.

1

   Financial Information for Utility and Non-Utility Nuclear

 

2

   Strategy

 

3

Report of Management

 

4

Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries

   

   Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

Part II. Item 7.

5

      Plan to Pursue Separation of Non-Utility Nuclear

 

5

      Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike

 

8

      Entergy Arkansas January 2009 Ice Storm

 

9

      Entergy New Orleans Bankruptcy

 

10

      Results of Operations

 

10

      Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

20

      Rate, Cost-recovery, and Other Regulation

 

34

      Market and Credit Risk Sensitive Instruments

 

47

      Critical Accounting Estimates

 

49

      New Accounting Pronouncements

 

55

   Selected Financial Data - Five-Year Comparison

Part II. Item 6.

57

   Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

58

   Consolidated Statements of Income For the Years Ended December 31, 2008,
     2007, and 2006

Part II. Item 8.

59

   Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows For the Years Ended December 31,
     2008, 2007, and 2006

Part II. Item 8.

60

   Consolidated Balance Sheets, December 31, 2008 and 2007

Part II. Item 8.

62

   Consolidated Statements of Retained Earnings, Comprehensive Income, and
     Paid-in Capital for the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006

Part II. Item 8.

64

Notes to Financial Statements

Part II. Item 8.

65

   Utility

Part I. Item 1.

 

      Customers

 

188

      Electric Energy Sales

 

188

      Retail Rate Regulation

 

190

      Property and Other Generation Resources

 

196

      Fuel Supply

 

201

      Federal Regulation of the Utility

 

204

      Service Companies

 

207

      Jurisdictional Separation of Entergy Gulf States, Inc. into Entergy Gulf States
        Louisiana and Entergy Texas

 

207

      Entergy Louisiana Corporate Restructuring

 

209

      Earnings Ratios of Registrant Subsidiaries

 

210

   Non-Utility Nuclear

Part I. Item 1.

210

      Property

 

210

      Energy and Capacity Sales

 

212

      Fuel Supply

 

213

      Other Business Activities

 

213

   Non-Nuclear Wholesale Assets Business

Part I. Item 1.

214

   Property  

214

   Entergy-Koch, L.P.

Part I. Item 1.

214

   Regulation of Entergy's Business

Part I. Item 1.

215

      Energy Policy Act of 2005

 

215

      Federal Power Act

 

216

      State Regulation

 

216

      Regulation of the Nuclear Power Industry

 

217

      Environmental Regulation

 

220

   Litigation

 

229

   Employees

 

233

   Risk Factors

Part I. Item 1A.

234

   Unresolved Staff Comments

Part I. Item 1B.

None

Entergy Arkansas, Inc.

   

   Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

Part II. Item 7.

250

      Results of Operations

 

250

      Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

253

      State and Local Rate Regulation

 

257

      Federal Regulation

 

260

      Utility Restructuring

 

261

      Nuclear Matters

 

261

      Environmental Risks

 

261

      Critical Accounting Estimates

 

261

      New Accounting Pronouncements

 

263

   Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

264

   Income Statements For the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006

Part II. Item 8.

265

   Statements of Cash Flows For the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007,
     and 2006

Part II. Item 8.

267

   Balance Sheets, December 31, 2008 and 2007

Part II. Item 8.

268

   Statements of Retained Earnings for the Years Ended December 31, 2008,
     2007, and 2006

Part II. Item 8.

270

   Selected Financial Data - Five-Year Comparison

Part II. Item 6.

271

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, L.L.C.

   

   Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

Part II. Item 7.

272

       Jurisdictional Separation of Entergy Gulf States, Inc. into Entergy
       Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Texas

 

272

      Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike

 

273

      Results of Operations

 

274

      Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

278

      State and Local Rate Regulation

 

283

      Federal Regulation

 

285

      Industrial and Commercial Customers

 

285

      Nuclear Matters

 

286

      Environmental Risks

 

286

      Critical Accounting Estimates

 

286

      New Accounting Pronouncements

 

288

   Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

289

   Income Statements For the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006

Part II. Item 8.

290

   Statements of Cash Flows For the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007,
     and 2006

Part II. Item 8.

291

   Balance Sheets, December 31, 2008 and 2007

Part II. Item 8.

292

   Statements of Members' Equity and Comprehensive Income for the Years
     Ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006

Part II. Item 8.

294

   Selected Financial Data - Five-Year Comparison

Part II. Item 6.

295

Entergy Louisiana, LLC

   

   Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

Part II. Item 7.

296

      Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike

 

296

      Results of Operations

 

296

      Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

300

      State and Local Rate Regulation

 

306

      Federal Regulation

 

308

      Utility Restructuring

 

308

      Industrial and Commercial Customers

 

309

      Nuclear Matters

 

309

      Environmental Risks

 

309

      Critical Accounting Estimates

 

309

      New Accounting Pronouncements

 

311

   Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

312

   Income Statements For the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006

Part II. Item 8.

313

   Statements of Cash Flows For the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007,
     and 2006

Part II. Item 8.

315

   Balance Sheets, December 31, 2008 and 2007

Part II. Item 8.

316

   Statements of Members' Equity and Comprehensive Income for the Years
     Ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006

Part II. Item 8.

318

   Selected Financial Data - Five-Year Comparison

Part II. Item 6.

319

Entergy Mississippi, Inc.

   

   Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

Part II. Item 7.

320

      Results of Operations

 

320

      Hurricane Katrina and Storm Costs Recovery Filing

 

323

      Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

324

      State and Local Rate Regulation

 

327

      Federal Regulation

 

329

      Utility Restructuring

 

329

      Critical Accounting Estimates

 

329

      New Accounting Pronouncements

 

330

   Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

331

   Income Statements For the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006

Part II. Item 8.

332

   Statements of Cash Flows For the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007,
     and 2006

Part II. Item 8.

333

   Balance Sheets, December 31, 2008 and 2007

Part II. Item 8.

334

   Statements of Retained Earnings for the Years Ended December 31, 2008,
     2007, and 2006

Part II. Item 8.

336

   Selected Financial Data - Five-Year Comparison

Part II. Item 6.

337

Entergy New Orleans, Inc.

   

   Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

Part II. Item 7.

338

      Hurricane Gustav

 

338

      Results of Operations

 

338

      Hurricane Katrina

 

341

      Bankruptcy Proceedings

 

342

      Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

343

      State and Local Rate Regulation

 

347

      Federal Regulation

 

348

      Environmental Risks

 

348

      Critical Accounting Estimates

 

348

      New Accounting Pronouncements

 

349

   Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

350

   Income Statements For the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and
     2006

Part II. Item 8.

351

   Statements of Cash Flows For the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007,
     and 2006

Part II. Item 8.

353

   Balance Sheets, December 31, 2008 and 2007

Part II. Item 8.

354

   Statements of Retained Earnings for the Years Ended December 31, 2008,
     2007, and 2006

Part II. Item 8.

356

   Selected Financial Data - Five-Year Comparison

Part II. Item 6.

357

Entergy Texas, Inc.

   

   Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

Part II. Item 7.

358

       Jurisdictional Separation of Entergy Gulf States, Inc. into Entergy
        Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Texas

358

      Hurricane Ike

 

359

      Results of Operations

 

359

      Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

363

      Transition to Retail Competition in Texas

 

367

      State and Local Rate Regulation

 

369

      Federal Regulation

 

371

      Industrial and Commercial Customers

 

371

      Environmental Risks

 

371

      Critical Accounting Estimates

 

371

      New Accounting Pronouncements

 

373

   Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

374

   Consolidated Income Statements For the Years Ended December 31, 2008,
     2007, and 2006

Part II. Item 8.

375

   Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows For the Years Ended December 31,
     2008, 2007, and 2006

Part II. Item 8.

377

   Consolidated Balance Sheets, December 31, 2008 and 2007

Part II. Item 8.

378

   Consolidated Statements of Retained Earnings, Comprehensive Income, and
     Paid-in Capital for the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006

Part II. Item 8.

380

   Selected Financial Data - Five-Year Comparison

Part II. Item 6.

381

System Energy Resources, Inc.

   

   Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

Part II. Item 7.

382

      Results of Operations

 

382

      Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

382

      Nuclear Matters

 

385

      Environmental Risks

 

385

      Critical Accounting Estimates

 

385

      New Accounting Pronouncements

 

387

   Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

388

   Income Statements For the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006

Part II. Item 8.

389

   Statements of Cash Flows For the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007,
     and 2006

Part II. Item 8.

391

   Balance Sheets, December 31, 2008 and 2007

Part II. Item 8.

392

   Statements of Retained Earnings for the Years Ended December 31, 2008,
     2007, and 2006

Part II. Item 8.

394

   Selected Financial Data - Five-Year Comparison

Part II. Item 6.

395

Properties

Part I. Item 2.

396

Legal Proceedings

Part I. Item 3.

396

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

Part I. Item 4.

396

Executive Officers of Entergy Corporation

Part I and Part III. Item 10.

396

Market for Registrants' Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

Part II. Item 5.

398

Selected Financial Data

Part II. Item 6.

399

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
  Operations

Part II. Item 7.

399

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Part II. Item 7A.

400

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Part II. Item 8.

400

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial
  Disclosure

Part II. Item 9.

400

Controls and Procedures

Part II. Item 9A.

400

Attestation Report of Registered Public Accounting Firm

Part II. Item 9A.

402

Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrants

Part III. Item 10.

410

Executive Compensation

Part III. Item 11.

415

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

Part III. Item 12.

469

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence

Part III. Item 13.

473

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Part III. Item 14.

474

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

Part IV. Item 15.

477

Signatures

 

478

Consents of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

486

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

487

Index to Financial Statement Schedules

 

S-1

Exhibit Index

 

E-1

This combined Form 10-K is separately filed by Entergy Corporation and its seven "Registrant Subsidiaries": Entergy Arkansas, Inc., Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, L.L.C., Entergy Louisiana, LLC, Entergy Mississippi, Inc., Entergy New Orleans, Inc., Entergy Texas, Inc. and System Energy Resources, Inc. Information contained herein relating to any individual company is filed by such company on its own behalf. Each company makes representations only as to itself and makes no other representations whatsoever as to any other company.

The report should be read in its entirety as it pertains to each respective reporting company. No one section of the report deals with all aspects of the subject matter. Separate Item 6, 7, and 8 sections are provided for each reporting company, except for the Notes to the financial statements. The Notes to the financial statements for all of the reporting companies are combined. All Items other than 6, 7, and 8 are combined for the reporting companies.

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 "may," "will," "could," "project," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "estimate," "continue," "potential," "plan," "predict," "forecast," and other similar words or 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, (b) Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis, and (c) the following factors (in addition to others described elsewhere in this combined report and in subsequent securities filings):

  • resolution of pending and future rate cases and negotiations, including various performance-based rate discussions and implementation of Texas restructuring legislation, and other regulatory proceedings, including those related to Entergy's System Agreement, Entergy's utility supply plan, recovery of storm costs, and recovery of fuel and purchased power costs
  • changes in utility regulation, including the beginning or end of retail and wholesale competition, the ability to recover net utility assets and other potential stranded costs, the operations of the independent coordinator of transmission that includes Entergy's utility service territory, and the application of more stringent transmission reliability requirements or market power criteria by the FERC
  • changes in regulation of nuclear generating facilities and nuclear materials and fuel, including possible shutdown of nuclear generating facilities, particularly those owned or operated by the Non-Utility Nuclear business
  • resolution of pending or future applications for license extensions or modifications of nuclear generating facilities
  • the performance of Entergy's generating plants, and particularly the capacity factors at its nuclear generating facilities
  • Entergy's ability to develop and execute on a point of view regarding future prices of electricity, natural gas, and other energy-related commodities
  • prices for power generated by Entergy's non-utility generating facilities, the ability to hedge, sell power forward or otherwise reduce the market price risk associated with those facilities, including the Non-Utility Nuclear plants, and the prices and availability of fuel and power Entergy must purchase for its utility customers, and Entergy's ability to meet credit support requirements for fuel and power supply contracts
  • volatility and changes in markets for electricity, natural gas, uranium, and other energy-related commodities
  • changes in law resulting from federal or state energy legislation
  • changes in environmental, tax, and other laws, including requirements for reduced emissions of sulfur, nitrogen, carbon, mercury, and other substances
  • uncertainty regarding the establishment of interim or permanent sites for spent nuclear fuel and nuclear waste storage and disposal
  • variations in weather and the occurrence of hurricanes and other storms and disasters, including uncertainties associated with efforts to remediate the effects of hurricanes and ice storms (including most recently, Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike and the January 2009 ice storm in Arkansas) and recovery of costs associated with restoration, including accessing funded storm reserves, federal and local cost recovery mechanisms, securitization, and insurance
  • Entergy's ability to manage its capital projects and operation and maintenance costs
  • Entergy's ability to purchase and sell assets at attractive prices and on other attractive terms

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION (Concluded)

  • the economic climate, and particularly growth in Entergy's Utility service territory and the Northeast United States
  • the effects of Entergy's strategies to reduce tax payments
  • changes in the financial markets, particularly those affecting the availability of capital and Entergy's ability to refinance existing debt, execute its share repurchase program, and fund investments and acquisitions
  • actions of rating agencies, including changes in the ratings of debt and preferred stock, changes in general corporate ratings, and changes in the rating agencies' ratings criteria
  • changes in inflation and interest rates
  • the effect of litigation and government investigations or proceedings
  • advances in technology
  • the potential effects of threatened or actual terrorism and war
  • Entergy's ability to attract and retain talented management and directors
  • changes in accounting standards and corporate governance
  • declines in the market prices of marketable securities and resulting funding requirements for Entergy's defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans
  • changes in the results of decommissioning trust fund earnings or in the timing of or cost to decommission nuclear plant sites
  • the ability to successfully complete merger, acquisition, or divestiture plans, regulatory or other limitations imposed as a result of merger, acquisition, or divestiture, and the success of the business following a merger, acquisition, or divestiture
  • and the risks inherent in the contemplated Non-Utility Nuclear spin-off, joint venture, and related transactions.  Entergy Corporation cannot provide any assurances that the spin-off or any of the proposed transactions related thereto will be completed, nor can it give assurances as to the terms on which such transactions will be consummated. The transaction is subject to certain conditions precedent, including regulatory approvals and the final approval by the Board.

DEFINITIONS

Certain abbreviations or acronyms used in the text and notes 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

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

CDBG

Community Development Block Grant

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

Entergy

Entergy Corporation and its direct and indirect subsidiaries

Entergy Corporation

Entergy Corporation, a Delaware corporation

Entergy Gulf States, Inc.

Predecessor company for financial reporting purposes to Entergy Gulf States Louisiana that included the assets and business operations of both Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Texas

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, L.L.C., a company formally created in connection with the jurisdictional separation of Entergy Gulf States, Inc. and the successor company to Entergy Gulf States, Inc. for financial reporting purposes. The term is also used to refer to the Louisiana jurisdictional business of Entergy Gulf States, Inc., as the context requires.

Entergy-Koch

Entergy-Koch, LP, a joint venture equally owned by subsidiaries of Entergy and Koch Industries, Inc. Entergy-Koch's pipeline and trading businesses were sold in 2004.

Entergy Texas

Entergy Texas, Inc., a company formally created as part of the jurisdictional separation of Entergy Gulf States, Inc. The term is also used to refer to the Texas jurisdictional business of Entergy Gulf States, Inc., as the context requires.

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 LD

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

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

Independence

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

i

DEFINITIONS (Continued)

   

IRS

Internal Revenue Service

ISO

Independent System Operator

kV

Kilovolt

kW

Kilowatt

kWh

Kilowatt-hour(s)

LDEQ

Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality

LPSC

Louisiana Public Service Commission

Mcf

1,000 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, 70% of which is co-owned by Entergy Gulf States Louisiana (57.5%) and Entergy Texas (42.5%)

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

Non-Utility Nuclear

Entergy's business segment that owns and operates six nuclear power plants and sells electric power produced by those plants 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 Louisiana, L.L.C., Entergy Louisiana, LLC, Entergy Mississippi, Inc., Entergy New Orleans, Inc., Entergy Texas, 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 Louisiana

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 Utility operating companies relating to the sharing of generating capacity and other power resources

System Energy

System Energy Resources, Inc.

System Fuels

System Fuels, Inc.

ii

DEFINITIONS (Concluded)

Abbreviation or Acronym

Term

   

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 asset is unavailable, the seller is not liable to the buyer for any damages

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 Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, and Entergy Texas

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 effects of deviations from normal weather

White Bluff

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

iii

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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ENTERGY'S BUSINESS

Entergy is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail electric distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 MW of aggregate electric generating capacity, and Entergy is the second-largest nuclear power generator in the United States. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Entergy generated annual revenues of $13.1 billion in 2008 and had approximately 14,700 employees as of December 31, 2008.

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

  • Utility generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power in a four-state service territory that includes portions of Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, and Louisiana, including the City of New Orleans; and operates a small natural gas distribution business.
  • Non-Utility Nuclear owns and operates six nuclear power plants located in the northern United States and sells the electric power produced by those plants primarily to wholesale customers. This business also provides services to other nuclear power plant owners. As discussed further in "Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis," in November 2007, the Board approved a plan to pursue a separation of the Non-Utility Nuclear business from Entergy through a tax-free spin-off of Non-Utility Nuclear to Entergy shareholders.

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. Such opportunities are evaluated consistent with Entergy's market-based point-of-view.

1

OPERATING INFORMATION
For the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006
             
    Utility (a)   Non-Utility
 Nuclear
  Entergy
Consolidated (a)
    (In Thousands)
2008            
Operating revenues   $10,318,630    $2,558,378    $13,093,756 
Operating expenses   $9,078,502    $1,434,425    $10,810,589 
Other income   $161,512    $46,360    $169,287 
Interest and other charges   $442,523    $53,926    $628,890 
Income taxes   $371,281    $319,107    $602,998 
Net income   $587,837    $797,280    $1,220,566 
             
2007            
Operating revenues   $9,255,075    $2,029,666    $11,484,398 
Operating expenses   $7,910,659    $1,312,577    $9,428,030 
Other income   $164,383    $87,256    $255,055 
Interest and other charges   $444,067    $34,738    $662,157 
Income taxes   $382,025    $230,407    $514,417 
Net income   $682,707    $539,200    $1,134,849 
             
2006            
Operating revenues   $9,150,030    $1,544,873    $10,932,158 
Operating expenses   $7,852,754    $1,082,743    $9,126,798 
Other income   $155,651    $99,449    $348,587 
Interest and other charges   $428,662    $47,424    $577,805 
Income taxes   $333,105    $204,659    $443,044 
Loss from discontinued operations   $-    $-    ($496)
Net income   $691,160    $309,496    $1,132,602 
             
CASH FLOW INFORMATION
For the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006
             
    Utility (a)   Non-Utility
Nuclear
  Entergy
Consolidated (a)
    (In Thousands)
2008      
Net cash flow provided by operating activities   $2,379,258    $1,255,284    $3,324,328 
Net cash flow used in investing activities   ($2,845,157)   ($471,590)   ($2,590,096)
Net cash flow provided by (used in) financing activities   $250,309   ($799,861)   ($70,757)
             
2007            
Net cash flow provided by operating activities   $1,807,769    $879,940    $2,559,770 
Net cash flow used in investing activities   ($1,238,487)   ($883,397)   ($2,117,731)
Net cash flow provided by (used in) financing activities   ($368,909)   $47,705   ($221,586)
             
2006            
Net cash flow provided by operating activities   $2,592,433    $833,318    $3,447,839 
Net cash flow used in investing activities   ($1,592,933)   ($450,219)   ($1,927,573)
Net cash flow used in financing activities   ($736,693)   ($211,544)   ($1,083,727)
             
FINANCIAL POSITION INFORMATION
As of December 31, 2008 and 2007
             
    Utility (a)   Non-Utility
Nuclear
  Entergy
Consolidated (a)
    (In Thousands)
2008            
Current assets   $3,067,301    $1,737,474    $5,160,389 
Other property and investments   $2,089,231    $1,697,893    $3,237,544 
Property, plant and equipment - net   $18,595,892    $3,592,359    $22,429,114 
Deferred debits and other assets   $5,057,723    $820,469    $5,789,771 
Current liabilities   $3,635,614    $318,082    $3,765,894 
Non-current liabilities   $18,497,739    $3,359,490    $24,884,332 
Shareholders' equity   $6,676,794    $4,170,623    $7,966,592 
             
2007            
Current assets   $2,821,336    $1,009,453    $3,958,247 
Other property and investments   $1,579,688    $1,935,432    $3,689,395 
Property, plant and equipment - net   $17,363,142    $3,365,131    $20,974,270 
Deferred debits and other assets   $4,409,993    $704,468    $5,021,090 
Current liabilities   $2,561,564    $476,772    $3,256,754 
Non-current liabilities   $17,053,293    $3,064,919    $22,523,577 
Shareholders' equity   $6,559,302    $3,472,793    $7,862,671 
             
(a) In addition to the two operating segments presented here, Entergy Consolidated also includes Entergy Corporation (parent company), other business activity, and intercompany eliminations, 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 reported Entergy New Orleans' results under the equity method of accounting for 2006. On May 7, 2007, the bankruptcy judge entered an order confirming Entergy New Orleans' plan of reorganization. With confirmation of the plan of reorganization, Entergy reconsolidated Entergy New Orleans in the second quarter of 2007, retroactive to January 1, 2007.

2

The following shows the principal subsidiaries and affiliates within Entergy's business segments. Companies that file reports and other information with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are identified in bold-faced type.

       


Entergy Corporation

   
                   
                   
                   
                 

Utility

 

Non-Utility Nuclear

 

Other Businesses

                     
 

Entergy Arkansas, Inc.

   

Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

   

Entergy-Koch, LP

   

Non-Nuclear Wholesale Assets

 

EGS Holdings, Inc.

   

Entergy Nuclear Finance, LLC

   

(50% ownership)

     
 

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, L.L.C.

   

Entergy Nuclear Generation Co. (Pilgrim)

             
 

Entergy Louisiana Holdings, Inc

   

Entergy Nuclear FitzPatrick LLC

         

Entergy Asset Management, Inc.

 

Entergy Louisiana, LLC

   

Entergy Nuclear Indian Point 2, LLC

         

Entergy Power, Inc.

 

Entergy Mississippi, Inc.

   

Entergy Nuclear Indian Point 3, LLC

             
 

Entergy New Orleans, Inc.

   

Entergy Nuclear Palisades, LLC

           
 

Entergy Texas, Inc.

   

Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, LLC

           
 

System Energy Resources, Inc.

   

Entergy Nuclear, Inc.

         
 

Entergy Operations, Inc.

   

Entergy Nuclear Fuels Company

             
 

Entergy Services, Inc.

   

Entergy Nuclear Nebraska LLC

       
 

System Fuels, Inc.

   

Entergy Nuclear Power Marketing LLC

       

Strategy

Entergy aspires to achieve industry-leading total shareholder returns in an environmentally responsible fashion by leveraging the scale and expertise inherent in its core nuclear and utility operations.  Entergy's scope includes electricity generation, transmission and distribution as well as natural gas transportation and distribution.  Entergy focuses on operational excellence with an emphasis on safety, reliability, customer service, sustainability, cost efficiency, and risk management.  Entergy also focuses on portfolio management to make periodic buy, build, hold, or sell decisions based upon its analytically-derived points of view, which are updated as market conditions evolve.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Availability of SEC filings and other information on Entergy's website

Entergy electronically files reports with the SEC, including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxies, and amendments to such reports. The public may read and copy any materials that Entergy files with the SEC at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. The SEC also maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Additionally, information about Entergy, including its reports filed with the SEC, is available without charge through its website, http://www.entergy.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed electronically with the SEC. Entergy is providing the address to its Internet site solely for the information of investors. Entergy does not intend the address to be an active link or to otherwise incorporate the contents of the website into this report.

Part I, Item 1 is continued on page 188.

3

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

REPORT OF MANAGEMENT

Management of Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries has prepared and is responsible for the financial statements and related financial information included in this document. To meet this responsibility, management establishes and maintains a system of internal controls designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. This system includes communication through written policies and procedures, an employee Code of Entegrity, and an organizational structure that provides for appropriate division of responsibility and training of personnel. This system is also tested by a comprehensive internal audit program.

Entergy management assesses the effectiveness of Entergy's internal control over financial reporting on an annual basis. In making this assessment, management uses the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control - Integrated Framework. Management acknowledges, however, that all internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations and can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.

Entergy Corporation and the Registrant Subsidiaries' independent registered public accounting firm, Deloitte & Touche LLP, has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of Entergy's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, which is included herein on pages 402 through 409.

In addition, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, composed solely of independent Directors, meets with the independent auditors, internal auditors, management, and internal accountants periodically to discuss internal controls, and auditing and financial reporting matters. The Audit Committee appoints the independent auditors annually, seeks shareholder ratification of the appointment, and reviews with the independent auditors the scope and results of the audit effort. The Audit Committee also meets periodically with the independent auditors and the chief internal auditor without management present, providing free access to the Audit Committee.

Based on management's assessment of internal controls using the COSO criteria, management believes that Entergy and each of the Registrant Subsidiaries maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008. Management further believes that this assessment, combined with the policies and procedures noted above, provides reasonable assurance that Entergy's and each of the Registrant Subsidiaries' financial statements are fairly and accurately presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.


J. WAYNE LEONARD
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Entergy Corporation


LEO P. DENAULT
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Entergy Corporation


HUGH T. MCDONALD
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Entergy Arkansas, Inc.


E. RENAE CONLEY
Chair of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Entergy Louisiana, LLC; Chair of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, L.L.C.


HALEY R. FISACKERLY
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Entergy Mississippi, Inc.


RODERICK K. WEST
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Entergy New Orleans, Inc.


JOSEPH F. DOMINO
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Entergy Texas, Inc.


MICHAEL R. KANSLER
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of System Energy Resources, Inc.


THEODORE H. BUNTING, JR.
Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (and acting principal financial officer) of Entergy Arkansas, Inc., Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, L.L.C., Entergy Louisiana, LLC, Entergy Mississippi, Inc., Entergy New Orleans, Inc., and Entergy Texas, Inc.


WANDA C. CURRY
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of System Energy Resources, Inc.

 

4

 

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

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

  • Utility generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power in a four-state service territory that includes portions of Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, and Louisiana, including the City of New Orleans; and operates a small natural gas distribution business.
  • Non-Utility Nuclear owns and operates six nuclear power plants located in the northern United States and sells the electric power produced by those plants primarily to wholesale customers. This business also provides services to other nuclear power plant owners.

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. Such opportunities are evaluated consistent with Entergy's market-based point-of-view.

Following are the percentages of Entergy's consolidated revenues and net income generated by its operating segments and the percentage of total assets held by them:

   

% of Revenue

 

% of Net Income

 

% of Total Assets

Segment

 

2008

 

2007

 

2006

 

2008

 

2007

 

2006

 

2008

 

2007

 

2006

                                     

Utility

 

79

 

80

 

84

 

48 

 

60 

 

61 

 

79

 

78

 

81

Non-Utility Nuclear

 

19

 

18

 

14

 

65 

 

48 

 

27 

 

21

 

21

 

17

Parent Company &
Other Business Segments

 


2

 


2

 


2

 


(13)

 


(8)

 


12 

 


-

 


1

 


2

Plan to Pursue Separation of Non-Utility Nuclear

In November 2007, the Board approved a plan to pursue a separation of the Non-Utility Nuclear business from Entergy through a tax-free spin-off of the Non-Utility Nuclear business to Entergy shareholders. Upon completion of the Board-approved spin-off plan, Enexus Energy Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Entergy, would be a new, separate, and publicly-traded company. In addition, under the plan, Enexus and Entergy are expected to enter into a nuclear services business joint venture, EquaGen LLC, with 50% ownership by Enexus and 50% ownership by Entergy. The EquaGen board of managers would be comprised of equal membership from both Entergy and Enexus.

Under the Board-approved plan, the spin-off would result in Entergy Corporation's shareholders owning 100% of the common stock in both Enexus and Entergy. Also under the Board-approved plan, Enexus' business would be substantially comprised of Non-Utility Nuclear's assets, including its six nuclear power plants, and Non-Utility Nuclear's power marketing operation. Entergy Corporation's remaining business would primarily be comprised of the Utility business. EquaGen would operate the nuclear assets owned by Enexus under the Board-approved plan, and provide certain services to the Utility's nuclear operations. EquaGen would also be expected to offer nuclear services to third parties, including decommissioning, plant relicensing, plant operations, and ancillary services.

5

 

Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc., the current NRC-licensed operator of the Non-Utility Nuclear plants, filed an application in July 2007 with the NRC seeking indirect transfer of control of the operating licenses for the six Non-Utility Nuclear power plants, and supplemented that application in December 2007 to incorporate the planned business separation. Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc., which is expected to be wholly-owned by EquaGen, would remain the operator of the plants after the separation.  Entergy Operations, Inc., the current NRC-licensed operator of Entergy's five Utility nuclear plants, would remain a wholly-owned subsidiary of Entergy and would continue to be the operator of the Utility nuclear plants. In the December 2007 supplement to the NRC application, Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. provided additional information regarding the spin-off transaction, organizational structure, technical and financial qualifications, and general corporate information. The NRC published a notice in the Federal Register establishing a period for the public to submit a request for hearing or petition to intervene in a hearing proceeding. The NRC notice period expired on February 5, 2008 and two petitions to intervene in the hearing proceeding were filed before the deadline. Each of the petitions opposes the NRC's approval of the license transfer on various grounds, including contentions that the approval request is not adequately supported regarding the basis for the proposed structure, the adequacy of decommissioning funding, and the adequacy of financial qualifications. Entergy submitted answers to the petitions on March 31 and April 8. On August 22, 2008, the NRC issued an order denying all of the petitions to intervene based upon the petitioners' failure to demonstrate the requisite standing to pursue their hearing requests. One of the petitioner groups filed a motion for reconsideration on September 4, 2008 and on September 15, 2008, Entergy filed a response opposing the motion for reconsideration. On September 23, 2008, the NRC issued an order denying the motion for reconsideration based upon several procedural errors.

Because resolution of any hearing requests is not a prerequisite to obtaining the required NRC approval, on July 28, 2008, the NRC staff approved the license transfers associated with the proposed new ownership structure of EquaGen, the proposed licensed operator, as well as the transfers to Enexus of the ownership of Big Rock Point, FitzPatrick, Indian Point Units 1, 2 and 3, Palisades, Pilgrim, and Vermont Yankee. The approval for the proposed new ownership structure is effective through July 28, 2009, and Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. can ask to extend the effective period. The review conducted by the NRC staff included matters such as the financial and technical qualifications of the new organizations, as well as decommissioning funding assurance. In connection with the NRC approvals, Enexus agreed to enter into a financial support agreement with the entities that own the nuclear power plants in the total amount of $700 million to provide financial support, if needed, for the operating costs of the six operating nuclear power plants.

Pursuant to Federal Power Act Section 203, on February 21, 2008, an application was filed with the FERC requesting approval for the indirect disposition and transfer of control of jurisdictional facilities of a public utility. In June 2008 the FERC issued an order authorizing the requested indirect disposition and transfer of control.

On January 28, 2008, Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, LLC and Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. requested approval from the Vermont Public Service Board (VPSB) for the indirect transfer of control, consent to pledge assets, issue guarantees and assign material contracts, amendment to certificate of public good, and replacement of guaranty and substitution of a credit support agreement for Vermont Yankee. Several parties intervened in the proceeding. Discovery has been completed in this proceeding, in which parties could ask questions about or request the production of documents related to the transaction.

In addition, the Vermont Department of Public Service (VDPS), which is the public advocate in proceedings before the VPSB, prefiled its initial and rebuttal testimony in the case in which the VDPS takes the position that Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee and Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. have not demonstrated that the restructuring promotes the public good because its benefits do not outweigh the risks, raising concerns that the target rating for Enexus' debt is below investment grade and that the company may not have the financial capability to withstand adverse financial developments, such as an extended outage. The VDPS testimony also expresses concern about the EquaGen joint venture structure and Enexus' ability, under the operating agreement between Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee and Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc., to ensure that Vermont Yankee is well-operated. Two distribution utilities that buy Vermont Yankee power prefiled testimony that also expresses concerns about the structure but found that there was a small net benefit to the restructuring. The VPSB conducted hearings on July 28-30, 2008, during which it considered the testimony prefiled by Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc., the VDPS, and the two distribution utilities. Post-hearing briefing is complete and a decision from the VPSB is pending.

6

 

On January 28, 2008, Entergy Nuclear FitzPatrick, LLC, Entergy Nuclear Indian Point 2, LLC, Entergy Nuclear Indian Point 3, LLC, and Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc., and Enexus filed a petition with the New York Public Service Commission (NYPSC) requesting a declaratory ruling regarding corporate reorganization or in the alternative an order approving the transaction and an order approving debt financing. Petitioners also requested confirmation that the corporate reorganization will not have an effect on Entergy Nuclear FitzPatrick's, Entergy Nuclear Indian Point 2's, Entergy Nuclear Indian Point 3's, and Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.'s status as lightly regulated entities in New York, given that they will continue to be competitive wholesale generators. The New York State Attorney General's Office, Westchester County, and other intervenors have filed objections to the business separation and to the transfer of the FitzPatrick and Indian Point Energy Center nuclear power plants, arguing that the debt associated with the spin-off could threaten access to adequate financial resources for those nuclear power plants and because the New York State Attorney General's Office believes Entergy must file an environmental impact statement assessing the proposed corporate restructuring. In addition to the New York State Attorney General's Office, several other parties have also requested to be added to the service list for this proceeding.

On May 23, 2008, the NYPSC issued its Order Establishing Further Procedures in this matter. In the order, the NYPSC determined that due to the nuclear power plants' unique role in supporting the reliability of electric service in New York, and their large size and unique operational concerns, a more searching inquiry of the transaction will be conducted than if other types of lightly-regulated generation were at issue. Accordingly, the NYPSC assigned an ALJ to preside over this proceeding and prescribed a sixty (60) day discovery period. The order provided that after at least sixty (60) days, the ALJ would establish when the discovery period would conclude. The NYPSC stated that the scope of discovery will be tightly bounded by the public interest inquiry relevant to this proceeding; namely, adequacy and security of support for the decommissioning of the New York nuclear facilities; financial sufficiency of the proposed capital structure in supporting continued operation of the facilities; and, arrangements for managing, operating and maintaining the facilities. The NYPSC also stated that during the discovery period, the NYPSC Staff may conduct technical conferences to assist in the development of a full record in this proceeding.

On July 23, 2008, the ALJs issued a ruling concerning discovery and seeking comments on a proposed process and schedule. In the ruling, the ALJs proposed a process for completing a limited, prescribed discovery process, to be followed three weeks later by the filing of initial comments addressing defined issues, with reply comments due two weeks after the initial comment deadline. Following receipt of all comments, a ruling will be made on whether, and to what extent, an evidentiary hearing is required. The ALJs asked the parties to address three specific topic areas: (1) the financial impacts related to the specific issues previously outlined by the NYPSC; (2) other obligations associated with the arrangement for managing, operating and maintaining the facilities; and (3) the extent that New York Power Authority (NYPA) revenues from value sharing payments under the value sharing agreements between Entergy and NYPA would decrease. The ALJs have indicated that the potential financial effect of the termination of the value sharing payments on NYPA and New York electric consumers are factors the ALJs believe should be considered by the NYPSC in making its public interest determination.

In August 2008, Non-Utility Nuclear entered into a resolution of a dispute with NYPA over the applicability of the value sharing agreements to the FitzPatrick and Indian Point 3 nuclear power plants after the separation. Under the resolution, Non-Utility Nuclear agreed not to treat the separation as a "Cessation Event" that would terminate its obligation to make the payments under the value sharing agreements. As a result, after the separation, Enexus would continue to be obligated to make payments to NYPA due under the amended and restated value sharing agreements described above. For further discussion of the value sharing agreements, see Note 15 to the financial statements herein.

Entergy continues to seek regulatory approval from the NYPSC in a timely manner. On October 23, 2008, the ALJs issued notification to all parties that from their review of the submissions, all issues of fact and policy material to the relief requested by the petitioners have been

7

 

thoroughly addressed by the parties, an adequate record for decision is available to the NYPSC, and no further formal proceedings are warranted. On December 11, 2008, notice was provided that the parties intended to conduct a settlement discussion which to date has not yielded an agreement. If the parties do not agree to a settlement, the ALJs will submit a recommendation to the NYPSC with respect to the transaction.

In connection with the separation, Enexus is currently expected to incur up to $4.5 billion of debt prior to completion of the separation. Currently, the debt is expected to be incurred in the following transactions:

  • Enexus is expected to issue up to $3.0 billion of debt securities in partial consideration of Entergy's transfer to it of the Non-Utility Nuclear business.
  • These debt securities are expected to be exchanged for up to $3.0 billion of debt securities that Entergy plans to issue prior to the separation. If the exchange occurs, the holders of the debt securities that Entergy plans to issue prior to the separation would become holders of up to $3.0 billion of Enexus debt securities.
  • Enexus is expected to issue up to $1.5 billion of debt securities to third parties.

Out of the proceeds Enexus would receive from the issuance of debt securities to third parties, it expects to retain approximately $500 million, which it intends to use for working capital and other general corporate purposes. All of the remaining proceeds are expected to be transferred to Entergy to settle Enexus' intercompany indebtedness owed to Entergy, including indebtedness that Entergy will transfer to Enexus in the separation. Enexus will not receive any proceeds from either the issuance of the up to $3.0 billion of its debt securities or the exchange of its debt securities for Entergy debt securities. Entergy expects to use the proceeds that it receives from the issuance of its debt securities to reduce outstanding Entergy debt, repurchase Entergy common shares, or for other corporate purposes. The amount to be paid to Entergy, the amount and term of the debt Enexus would incur, and the type of debt and entity that would incur the debt have not been finally determined, but would be determined prior to the separation. A number of factors could affect this final determination, and the amount of debt ultimately incurred could be different from the amount disclosed.

Enexus executed a $1.175 billion credit facility in December 2008. Enexus is not permitted to draw on the $1.175 billion facility unless certain conditions are met on or prior to October 1, 2009, including consummation of the spin-off. Enexus may enter into other financing arrangements meant to support Enexus' working capital and general corporate needs and credit support obligations arising from hedging and normal course of business requirements.

Due to the condition of the financial markets, it is uncertain whether financing fundamental to the spin-off transaction can be effected in the near-term. Entergy and Enexus intend to launch the financing after requisite regulatory approvals are received and when market conditions are favorable for such an issuance. Entergy expects the transaction to qualify for tax-free treatment for U.S. federal income tax purposes for both Entergy and its shareholders, and Entergy has received a private letter ruling from the IRS regarding the tax free treatment. Final terms of the transactions and spin-off completion are subject to several conditions, including the final approval of the Board.

Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike

In September 2008, Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike caused catastrophic damage to portions of Entergy's service territories in Louisiana and Texas, and to a lesser extent in Arkansas and Mississippi. The storms resulted in widespread power outages, significant damage to distribution, transmission, and generation infrastructure, and the loss of sales during the power outages. Total restoration costs for the repair and/or replacement of Entergy's electric facilities damaged by Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike are estimated to be in the range of $1.295 billion to $1.360 billion, as follows:

8

 


Company

Hurricane Gustav Restoration Costs

Hurricane Ike Restoration Costs

(In Millions)

Entergy Arkansas

 

$17-20

 

$14-15

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana

 

220-230

 

20-25

Entergy Louisiana

 

370-380

 

20-25

Entergy Mississippi

 

18-20

 

3-5

Entergy New Orleans

 

25-30

 

3-5

Entergy Texas

 

15

 

570-590

Total

 

$665-695

 

$630-665

The Utility operating companies are considering all reasonable avenues to recover storm-related costs from Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike, including, but not limited to, accessing funded storm reserves; federal and local cost recovery mechanisms, including requests for Community Development Block Grant funding; securitization; and insurance, to the extent deductibles are met. In October 2008, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, and Entergy New Orleans drew a total of $229 million from their funded storm reserves. Entergy Arkansas requested and has received APSC approval for a surcharge to recover $22 million of its 2008 storm restoration costs, as discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements, and the other affected Utility operating companies expect to file for recovery of their storm restoration costs no later than the spring 2009. Entergy is currently evaluating the amount of the losses covered by insurance for Entergy and each of the affected Utility operating companies. Because most of the Hurricane Gustav damage was to distribution and transmission facilities that are generally not covered by property insurance, Entergy does not expect to meet its deductibles for that storm. Because Hurricane Ike caused more damage by flooding and also caused more damage to generation facilities as compared to Hurricane Gustav, it is more likely that Entergy will meet its deductibles for that storm.

Entergy has recorded the estimated costs incurred, including payments already made, that were necessary to return customers to service. Entergy has recorded approximately $746 million against its storm damage provisions or as regulatory assets and approximately $484 million in construction expenditures. Entergy recorded the regulatory assets in accordance with its accounting policies and based on the historic treatment of such costs in its service territories (except for Entergy Arkansas, which deferred $19 million of its costs pursuant to an APSC order, because it discontinued regulatory storm reserve accounting in July 2007 as a result of an earlier APSC order), because management believes that recovery through some form of regulatory mechanism is probable. Because Entergy has not gone through the regulatory process regarding these storm costs, however, there is an element of risk, and Entergy is unable to predict with certainty the degree of success it may have in its recovery initiatives, the amount of restoration costs that it may ultimately recover, or the timing of such recovery.

Entergy Arkansas January 2009 Ice Storm

In January 2009 a severe ice storm caused significant damage to Entergy Arkansas' transmission and distribution lines, equipment, poles, and other facilities. The preliminary cost estimate for the damage caused by the ice storm is approximately $165 million to $200 million, of which approximately $80 million to $100 million is estimated to be operating and maintenance type costs and the remainder is estimated to be capital investment. On January 30, 2009, the APSC issued an order inviting and encouraging electric public utilities to file specific proposals for the recovery of extraordinary storm restoration expenses associated with the ice storm. Although Entergy Arkansas has not yet filed a proposal for the recovery of its costs, on February 16, 2009, it did file a request with the APSC requesting an accounting order authorizing deferral of the operating and maintenance cost portion of Entergy Arkansas' ice storm restoration costs pending their recovery.

9

 

Entergy New Orleans Bankruptcy

As a result of the effects of Hurricane Katrina and the effect of extensive flooding that resulted from levee breaks in and around the New Orleans area, on September 23, 2005, Entergy New Orleans filed a voluntary petition in bankruptcy court seeking reorganization relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. 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. See Note 18 to the financial statements for additional discussion of Entergy New Orleans' bankruptcy proceedings.

With confirmation of the plan of reorganization, Entergy reconsolidated 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 does not affect the amount of net income that Entergy recorded from Entergy New Orleans' operations for the current or prior periods, but does result in Entergy New Orleans' financial results being included in each individual income statement line item in 2007, rather than only its net income being presented as "Equity in earnings of unconsolidated equity affiliates," as remains the case for 2006.

Results of Operations

2008 Compared to 2007

Following are income statement variances for Utility, Non-Utility Nuclear, Parent & Other business segments, and Entergy comparing 2008 to 2007 showing how much the line item increased or (decreased) in comparison to the prior period:

 


Utility

 

Non-Utility
Nuclear

 

Parent & Other


Entergy

(In Thousands)

2007 Consolidated Net Income (Loss)

 

$682,707 

 

$539,200 

 

($87,058)

$1,134,849 

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

 



(29,234)



495,199 



(8,717)



457,248 

Other operation and maintenance expenses

 

10,877 

13,289 

68,942 

93,108 

Taxes other than income taxes

 

1,544 

9,137 

(2,787)

7,894 

Depreciation and amortization

 

38,898 

27,351 

899 

67,148 

Other income

 

(2,871)

(40,896)

(42,001)

(85,768)

Interest charges

 

(1,544)

19,188 

(50,911)

(33,267)

Other (including discontinued operations)

 

23,734 

38,558 

62,299 

Income taxes

 

(10,744)

88,700 

10,625 

88,581 

2008 Consolidated Net Income (Loss)

 

$587,837 

 

$797,280 

 

($164,551)

$1,220,566 

Refer to "SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA - FIVE-YEAR COMPARISON OF ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES" which accompanies Entergy Corporation's financial statements in this report for further information with respect to operating statistics.

Earnings were negatively affected in the fourth quarter 2007 by expenses of $52 million ($32 million net-of-tax) recorded in connection with a nuclear operations fleet alignment. This process was undertaken with the goals of eliminating redundancies, capturing economies of scale, and

10

 

clearly establishing organizational governance. Most of the expenses related to the voluntary severance program offered to employees. Approximately 200 employees from the Non-Utility Nuclear business and 150 employees in the Utility business accepted the voluntary severance program offers.

Net Revenue

Utility

Following is an analysis of the change in net revenue comparing 2008 to 2007.

  

 

Amount

  

 

(In Millions)

     

2007 net revenue

 

$4,618 

Purchased power capacity

 

(25)

Volume/weather

 

(14)

Retail electric price

 

Other

 

2008 net revenue

 

$4,589 

The purchased power capacity variance is primarily due to higher capacity charges. 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.

The volume/weather variance is primarily due to the effect of less favorable weather compared to the same period in 2007 and decreased electricity usage primarily during the unbilled sales period. Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike, which hit the Utility's service territories in September 2008, contributed an estimated $46 million to the decrease in electricity usage. Industrial sales were also depressed by the continuing effects of the hurricanes and, especially in the latter part of the year, because of the overall decline of the economy, leading to lower usage in the latter part of the year affecting both the large customer industrial segment as well as small and mid-sized industrial customers. The decreases in electricity usage were partially offset by an increase in residential and commercial customer electricity usage that occurred during the periods of the year not affected by the hurricanes.

The retail electric price variance is primarily due to:

  • an increase in the Attala power plant costs recovered through the power management rider by Entergy Mississippi. The net income effect of this recovery is limited to a portion representing an allowed return on equity with the remainder offset by Attala power plant costs in other operation and maintenance expenses, depreciation expenses, and taxes other than income taxes;
  • a storm damage rider that became effective in October 2007 at Entergy Mississippi; and
  • an Energy Efficiency rider that became effective in November 2007 at Entergy Arkansas.

The establishment of the storm damage rider and the Energy Efficiency rider results in an increase in rider revenue and a corresponding increase in other operation and maintenance expense with no impact on net income. The retail electric price variance was partially offset by:

  • the absence of interim storm recoveries through the formula rate plans at Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana which ceased upon the Act 55 financing of storm costs in the third quarter 2008; and
  • a credit passed on to customers as a result of the Act 55 storm cost financings.

Refer to "Liquidity and Capital Resources - Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita" below and Note 2 to the financial statements for a discussion of the interim recovery of storm costs and the Act 55 storm cost financings.

11

 

Non-Utility Nuclear

Following is an analysis of the change in net revenue comparing 2008 to 2007.

  

 

Amount

  

 

(In Millions)

     

2007 net revenue

 

$1,839 

Realized price changes

 

309 

Palisades acquisition

 

98 

Volume variance (other than Palisades)

 

73 

Fuel expenses (other than Palisades)

 

(19)

Other

 

34 

2008 net revenue

 

$2,334 

As shown in the table above, net revenue for Non-Utility Nuclear increased by $495 million, or 27%, in 2008 compared to 2007 primarily due to higher pricing in its contracts to sell power, additional production available from the acquisition of Palisades in April 2007, and fewer outage days. In addition to the refueling outages shown in the table below, 2007 was affected by a 28 day unplanned outage. Included in the Palisades net revenue is $76 million and $50 million of amortization of the Palisades purchased power agreement in 2008 and 2007, respectively, which is non-cash revenue and is discussed in Note 15 to the financial statements. Following are key performance measures for 2008 and 2007:

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

Net MW in operation at December 31

 

4,998

 

4,998

Average realized price per MWh

 

$59.51

 

$52.69

GWh billed

 

41,710

 

37,570

Capacity factor

 

95%

 

89%

Refueling Outage Days:

   FitzPatrick

26

-

   Indian Point 2

26

-

   Indian Point 3

-

24

   Palisades

-

42

   Pilgrim

-

33

   Vermont Yankee

22

24

Realized Price per MWh

When Non-Utility Nuclear acquired its six nuclear power plants it also entered into purchased power agreements with each of the sellers. For four of the plants, the 688 MW Pilgrim, 838 MW FitzPatrick, 1,028 MW Indian Point 2, and 1,041 MW Indian Point 3 plants, the original purchased power agreements with the sellers expired in 2004. The purchased power agreement with the seller of the 605 MW Vermont Yankee plant extends into 2012, and the purchased power agreement with the seller of the 798 MW Palisades plant extends into 2022. Market prices in the New York and New England power markets, where the four plants with original purchased power agreements that expired in 2004 are located, increased since the purchase of these plants, and the contracts that Non-Utility Nuclear entered into after the original contracts expired, as well as realized day ahead and spot market sales, have generally been at higher prices than the original contracts. Non-Utility Nuclear's annual average realized price per MWh increased from $39.40 for 2003 to $59.51 for 2008. In addition, as shown in the contracted sale of energy table in "Market and Credit Risk Sensitive Instruments," Non-Utility Nuclear has sold forward 86% of its

12

 

planned energy output for 2009 for an average contracted energy price of $61 per MWh. Power prices increased in the period from 2003 through 2008 primarily because of increases in the price of natural gas. Natural gas prices increased in the period from 2003 through 2008 primarily because of rising production costs and limited imports of liquefied natural gas, both caused by global demand and increases in the price of crude oil. In addition, increases in the price of power during this period were caused secondarily by rising heat rates, which in turn were caused primarily by load growth outpacing new unit additions. The majority of the existing long-term contracts for power from these four plants expire by the end of 2011. Recent trends in the energy commodity markets have resulted in lower natural gas prices and consequently current prevailing market prices for electricity in the New York and New England power regions are generally below the prices in Non-Utility Nuclear's existing contracts in those regions. Therefore, it is uncertain whether Non-Utility Nuclear will continue to experience increases in its annual realized price per MWh.

Other Income Statement Items

Utility

Other operation and maintenance expenses increased from $1,856 million for 2007 to $1,867 million for 2008. The variance includes:

  • the write-off in the fourth quarter 2008 of $52 million of costs previously accumulated in Entergy Arkansas's storm reserve and $16 million of removal costs associated with the termination of a lease, both in connection with the December 2008 Arkansas Court of Appeals decision in Entergy Arkansas's base rate case.  The base rate case is discussed in more detail in Note 2 to the financial statements;
  • a decrease of $39 million in payroll-related and benefits costs;
  • a decrease of $21 million related to expenses recorded in 2007 in connection with the nuclear operations fleet alignment, as discussed above;
  • a decrease of approximately $23 million as a result of the deferral or capitalization of storm restoration costs for Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike, which hit the Utility's service territories in September 2008;
  • an increase of $18 million in storm damage charges as a result of several storms hitting Entergy Arkansas' service territory in 2008, including Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike in the third quarter 2008. Entergy Arkansas discontinued regulatory storm reserve accounting beginning July 2007 as a result of the APSC order issued in Entergy Arkansas' base rate case. As a result, non-capital storm expenses of $41 million were charged in 2008 to other operation and maintenance expenses. In December 2008, $19 million of these storm expenses were deferred per an APSC order and will be recovered through revenues in 2009. See Note 2 to the financial statements for discussion of the APSC order; and
  • an increase of $17 million in fossil plant expenses due to the Ouachita plant acquisition in 2008.

Depreciation and amortization expenses increased primarily due to:

  • a revision in the third quarter 2007 related to depreciation on storm cost-related assets. Recoveries of the costs of those assets are now through the Act 55 financing of storm costs, as approved by the LPSC in the third quarter 2007. See "Liquidity and Capital Resources - Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita" below and Note 2 to the financial statements for a discussion of the Act 55 storm cost financing;
  • a revision in the fourth quarter 2008 of estimated depreciable lives involving certain intangible assets in accordance with formula rate plan treatment; and
  • an increase in plant in service.

Other income increased primarily due to dividends earned of $29.5 million by Entergy Louisiana and $10.3 million by Entergy Gulf States Louisiana on investments in preferred membership interests of Entergy Holdings Company. This increase was substantially offset by the cessation of carrying charges on storm restoration costs as a result of the Act 55 storm cost financing in 2007 and lower interest earned on the decommissioning trust funds. The dividends on preferred stock are eliminated in consolidation and have no effect on net income since the investment is in another Entergy subsidiary.

13

Non-Utility Nuclear

Other operation and maintenance expenses increased from $760 million in 2007 to $773 million in 2008. This increase was primarily due to deferring costs for amortization from three refueling outages in 2008 compared to four refueling outages in 2007 and to a $34 million increase associated with owning the Palisades plant, which was acquired in April 2007, for the entire period. The increase was partially offset by a decrease of $29 million related to expenses recorded in 2007 in connection with the nuclear operations fleet alignment, as discussed above.

Depreciation and amortization expenses increased from $99 million in 2007 to $126 million in 2008 as a result of the acquisition of Palisades in April 2007, which contributed $12 million to the increase, as well as other increases in plant in service.

Other income decreased primarily due to $50 million in charges to interest income in 2008 resulting from the recognition of impairments of certain securities held in Non-Utility Nuclear's decommissioning trust funds that are not considered temporary.

Other expenses increased due to increases of $23 million in nuclear refueling outage expenses and $15 million in decommissioning expenses that primarily resulted from the acquisition of Palisades in April 2007.

Parent & Other

Other operation and maintenance expenses increased for the parent company, Entergy Corporation, primarily due to outside services costs of $69 million related to the planned spin-off of the Non-Utility Nuclear business.

Interest charges decreased primarily due to lower interest rates on borrowings under Entergy Corporation's revolving credit facility.

Other income decreased primarily due to the elimination for consolidation purposes of dividends earned of $29.5 million by Entergy Louisiana and $10.3 million by Entergy Gulf States Louisiana on investments in preferred membership interests of Entergy Holdings Company, as discussed above.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate for 2008 was 32.7%. The reduction in the effective income tax rate versus the federal statutory rate of 35% in 2008 is primarily due to:

  • a capital loss recognized for income tax purposes on the liquidation of Entergy Power Generation, LLC in the third quarter 2008, which resulted in an income tax benefit of approximately $79.5 million. Entergy Power Generation, LLC was a holding company in Entergy's non-nuclear wholesale assets business;
  • recognition of tax benefits of $44.3 million associated with the loss on sale of stock of Entergy Asset Management, Inc., a non-nuclear wholesale subsidiary, as a result of a settlement with the IRS; and
  • an adjustment to state income taxes for Non-Utility Nuclear to reflect the effect of a change in the methodology of computing Massachusetts state income taxes resulting from legislation passed in the third quarter 2008, which resulted in an income tax benefit of approximately $18.8 million.

These factors were partially offset by:

  • income taxes recorded by Entergy Power Generation, LLC, prior to its liquidation, resulting from the redemption payments it received in connection with its investment in Entergy Nuclear Power Marketing, LLC during the third quarter 2008, which resulted in an income tax expense of approximately $16.1 million; and
  • book and tax differences for utility plant items and state income taxes at the Utility operating companies, including the flow-through treatment of Arkansas write-offs discussed above.

14

 

The effective income tax rate for 2007 was 30.7%. The reduction in the effective income tax rate versus the federal statutory rate of 35% in 2007 is primarily due to:

  • a reduction in income tax expense due to a step-up in the tax basis on the Indian Point 2 non-qualified decommissioning trust fund resulting from restructuring of the trusts, which reduced deferred taxes on the trust fund and reduced current tax expense;
  • the resolution of tax audit issues involving the 2002-2003 audit cycle;
  • an adjustment to state income taxes for Non-Utility Nuclear to reflect the effect of a change in the methodology of computing New York state income taxes as required by that state's taxing authority;
  • book and tax differences related to the allowance for equity funds used during construction; and
  • the amortization of investment tax credits.

These factors were partially offset by book and tax differences for utility plant items and state income taxes at the Utility operating companies.

See Note 3 to the financial statements for a reconciliation of the federal statutory rate of 35.0% to the effective income tax rates, and for additional discussion regarding income taxes.

2007 Compared to 2006

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

 


Utility

 

Non-Utility
Nuclear

 

Parent & Other


Entergy

(In Thousands)

2006 Consolidated Net Income

 

$691,160 

 

$309,496 

 

$131,946 

$1,132,602 

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

 



346,753 



451,374 



(62,994)



735,133 

Other operation and maintenance expenses

 

207,468 

122,511 

(15,689)

314,290 

Taxes other than income taxes

 

42,553 

16,265 

1,679 

60,497 

Depreciation and amortization

 

46,307 

27,510 

2,103 

75,920 

Other income

 

8,732 

(12,193)

(90,071)

(93,532)

Interest charges

 

15,405 

(12,686)

81,633 

84,352 

Other (including discontinued operations)

 

(3,285)

(30,129)

492 

(32,922)

Income taxes

 

48,920 

25,748 

(3,295)

71,373 

2007 Consolidated Net Income (Loss)

 

$682,707 

 

$539,200 

 

($87,058)

$1,134,849 

Refer to "SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA - FIVE-YEAR COMPARISON OF ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES" which accompanies Entergy Corporation's financial statements in this report for further information with respect to operating statistics.

Earnings were negatively affected in the fourth quarter 2007 by expenses of $52 million ($32 million net-of-tax) recorded in connection with a nuclear operations fleet alignment. This process was undertaken with the goals of eliminating redundancies, capturing economies of scale, and clearly establishing organizational governance. Most of the expenses related to the voluntary severance program offered to employees. Approximately 200 employees from the Non-Utility Nuclear business and 150 employees in the Utility business accepted the voluntary severance program offers.

15

 

As discussed above, Entergy New Orleans was reconsolidated retroactive to January 1, 2007 and its results are included in each individual income statement line item for 2007. The variance explanations for the Utility for 2007 compared to 2006 in "Results of Operations" reflect the 2006 results of operations of Entergy New Orleans as if it were reconsolidated in 2006, consistent with the 2007 presentation including the results in each individual income statement line item. Entergy's as-reported results for 2006, which had Entergy New Orleans deconsolidated, and the amounts needed to reconsolidate Entergy New Orleans, which include intercompany items, are set forth in the table below.

 

For the Year Ended December 31, 2006

  

Entergy Corporation
and Subsidiaries
(as reported)

 

Entergy
New Orleans adjustment*

 

(In Thousands)

Operating Revenues

$10,932,158 

 

$305,077 

Operating Expenses:

     

   Fuel, fuel-related, and gas purchased for resale and purchased power

5,282,310 

 

113,888 

   Other operation and maintenance

2,335,364 

 

100,094 

   Taxes other than income taxes

428,561 

 

34,953 

   Depreciation and amortization

887,792 

 

31,465 

   Other regulatory charges (credits) - net

(122,680)

 

4,160 

   Other operating expenses

315,451 

 

169 

Total Operating Expenses

$9,126,798 

 

$284,729 

Other Income

$348,587 

 

($8,244)

Interest and Other Charges

$577,805 

 

$7,053 

Income From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes

$1,576,142 

 

$5,051 

Income Taxes

$443,044 

 

$5,051 

Consolidated Net Income

$1,132,602 

 

$ - 

*

Reflects the adjustment needed to reconsolidate Entergy New Orleans for 2006. The adjustment includes intercompany eliminations.

Net Revenue

Utility

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

  

 

Amount

  

 

(In Millions)

2006 net revenue (includes $187 million for Entergy New Orleans)

 


$4,458 

   Retail electric price

 

90 

   Volume/weather

 

89 

   Fuel recovery

 

52 

   Transmission revenue

 

38 

   Purchased power capacity

 

(90)

   Net wholesale revenue

 

(59)

   Other

 

40 

   2007 net revenue

 

$4,618 

16

 

The retail electric price 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. The formula rate plan filing is discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements.

The volume/weather variance resulted primarily from increased electricity usage in the residential and commercial sectors, including increased usage during the unbilled sales period. Billed retail electricity usage increased by a total of 1,591 GWh, an increase of 1.6%. See "Critical Accounting Estimates" herein and Note 1 to the financial statements for a discussion of the accounting for unbilled revenues.

The fuel recovery variance is primarily due to the inclusion of Grand Gulf costs in Entergy New Orleans' fuel recoveries effective July 1, 2006. In June 2006, the City Council approved the recovery of Grand Gulf costs through the fuel adjustment clause, without a corresponding change in base rates (a significant portion of Grand Gulf costs was previously recovered through base rates). The increase is also due to purchased power costs deferred at Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans as a result of the re-pricing, retroactive to 2003, of purchased power agreements among Entergy system companies as directed by the FERC.

The transmission revenue variance is due to higher rates and the addition of new transmission customers in late-2006.

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.

The net wholesale revenue variance is due primarily to 1) more energy available for resale at Entergy New Orleans in 2006 due to the decrease in retail usage caused by customer losses following Hurricane Katrina and 2) the inclusion in 2006 revenue of sales into the wholesale market of Entergy New Orleans' share of the output of Grand Gulf, pursuant to City Council approval of measures proposed by Entergy New Orleans to address the reduction in Entergy New Orleans' retail customer usage caused by Hurricane Katrina and to provide revenue support for the costs of Entergy New Orleans' share of Grand Gulf. The net wholesale revenue variance is partially offset by the effect of lower wholesale revenues in the third quarter 2006 due to an October 2006 FERC order requiring Entergy Arkansas to make a refund to a coal plant co-owner resulting from a contract dispute.

Non-Utility Nuclear

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

  

 

Amount

  

 

(In Millions)

     

2006 net revenue

 

$1,388 

Realized price changes

 

264 

Palisades acquisition

 

209 

Volume variance (other than Palisades)

 

(56)

Other

 

34 

2007 net revenue

 

$1,839 

As shown in the table above, net revenue increased for Non-Utility Nuclear by $451 million, or 33%, for 2007 compared to 2006 primarily due to higher pricing in its contracts to sell power and additional production available resulting from the acquisition of the Palisades plant in April 2007. Included in the Palisades net revenue is $50 million of amortization of the Palisades purchased power agreement in 2007, which is non-cash revenue and is discussed in Note 15 to the financial statements. The increase was partially offset by the effect on revenues of four refueling outages in 2007 compared to two in 2006. Following are key performance measures for Non-Utility Nuclear for 2007 and 2006:

17

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

Net MW in operation at December 31

 

4,998

 

4,200

Average realized price per MWh

 

$52.69

 

$44.33

GWh billed

 

37,570

 

34,847

Capacity factor

 

89%

 

95%

Refueling Outage Days:

   FitzPatrick

-

27

   Indian Point 2

-

31

   Indian Point 3

24

-

   Palisades

42

-

   Pilgrim

33

-

   Vermont Yankee

24

-

Parent & Other

Net revenue decreased for Parent & Other from $114 million for 2006 to $51 million for 2007 primarily due to the sale of the non-nuclear wholesale asset business' remaining interest in a power development project in the second quarter 2006, which resulted in a $14.1 million gain ($8.6 million net-of-tax). Also contributing to the decrease were higher natural gas prices in 2007 compared to the same period in 2006 as well as lower production as a result of an additional plant outage in 2007 compared to the same period in 2006. A substantial portion of the effect on net income of this decline is offset by a related decrease in other operation and maintenance expenses.

Other Income Statement Items

Utility

Other operation and maintenance expenses increased from $1,749 million for 2006 to $1,855 million for 2007 primarily due to:

  • an increase of $34 million in nuclear expenses primarily due to non-refueling outages, increased nuclear labor and contract costs, and higher NRC fees;
  • an increase of $21 million related to expenses in the fourth quarter 2007 in connection with the nuclear operations fleet alignment, as discussed above;
  • an increase of $20 million in transmission expenses, including independent coordinator of transmission expenses and transmission line and substation maintenance;
  • an increase of $16 million as a result of higher insurance premiums in addition to the timing of premium payments compared to 2006;
  • an increase of $16 million in fossil plant expenses due to differing outage schedules and scopes from 2006 to 2007 and the return to normal operations work in 2007 versus storm restoration activities in 2006 as a result of Hurricane Katrina;
  • an increase of $11 million due to a provision for storm-related bad debts; and
  • an increase of $10 million in distribution expenses, including higher contract labor costs, increases in vegetation maintenance costs, and the return to normal operations work in 2007 versus storm restoration activities in 2006 as a result of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. This increase is net of an environmental liability credit of $8 million for resolution of a pollution loss provision.

The increase is partially offset by a decrease of $23 million in payroll, payroll-related, and benefits costs.

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Depreciation and amortization expenses increased from $835 million for 2006 to $850 million for 2007 primarily due to an increase in plant in service and a revision made in the first quarter 2006 to estimated depreciable lives involving certain intangible assets. The increase was partially offset by a revision in the third quarter 2007 related to depreciation previously recorded on storm-related assets. Recovery of the cost of those assets will now be through the securitization of storm costs approved by the LPSC in the third quarter 2007. The securitization approval is discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements.

Non-Utility Nuclear

Other operation and maintenance expenses increased from $637 million for 2006 to $760 million for 2007 primarily due to the acquisition of the Palisades plant in April 2007 and expenses of $29 million in the fourth quarter 2007 in connection with the nuclear operations fleet alignment.

Other expenses increased due to increases of $14.4 million in nuclear refueling outage expense and $15.7 million in decommissioning expense that resulted almost entirely from the acquisition of Palisades in April 2007.

Parent & Other

Interest charges increased from $101 million for 2006 to $183 million for 2007 primarily due to additional borrowings under Entergy Corporation's revolving credit facilities.

Other income decreased from $93 million for 2006 to $3 million for 2007 primarily due to a gain of approximately $55 million (net-of-tax) in the fourth quarter of 2006 related to the Entergy-Koch investment. In 2004, Entergy-Koch sold its energy trading and pipeline businesses to third parties. At that time, Entergy received $862 million of the sales proceeds in the form of a cash distribution by Entergy-Koch. Due to the November 2006 expiration of contingencies on the sale of Entergy-Koch's trading business, and the corresponding release to Entergy-Koch of sales proceeds held in escrow, Entergy received additional cash distributions of approximately $163 million during the fourth quarter of 2006 and recorded a gain of approximately $55 million (net-of-tax). Entergy expects future distributions upon liquidation of the partnership will be less than $35 million.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate for 2007 was 30.7%. The reduction in the effective income tax rate versus the federal statutory rate of 35% in 2007 is primarily due to:

  • a reduction in income tax expense due to a step-up in the tax basis on the Indian Point 2 non-qualified decommissioning trust fund resulting from restructuring of the trusts, which reduced deferred taxes on the trust fund and reduced current tax expense;
  • the resolution of tax audit issues involving the 2002-2003 audit cycle;
  • an adjustment to state income taxes for Non-Utility Nuclear to reflect the effect of a change in the methodology of computing New York state income taxes as required by that state's taxing authority;
  • book and tax differences related to the allowance for equity funds used during construction; and
  • the amortization of investment tax credits.

These factors were partially offset by book and tax differences for utility plant items and state income taxes at the Utility operating companies.

The effective income tax rate for 2006 was 27.6%. The reduction in the effective income tax rate versus the federal statutory rate of 35% in 2006 is primarily due to tax benefits, net of reserves, resulting from the tax capital loss recognized in connection with the liquidation of Entergy Power International Holdings, Entergy's holding company for Entergy-Koch. Also contributing to the lower rate for 2006 is an IRS audit settlement that allowed Entergy to release from its tax reserves settled issues relating to 1996-1998 audit cycle.

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See Note 3 to the financial statements for a reconciliation of the federal statutory rate of 35.0% to the effective income tax rates, and for additional discussion regarding income taxes.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

This section discusses Entergy's capital structure, capital spending plans and other uses of capital, sources of capital, and the cash flow activity presented in the cash flow statement.

Hurricane Gustav, Hurricane Ike, Arkansas Ice Storm, and Other Short-term Liquidity Sources and Uses

As discussed above, Entergy is currently evaluating various sources of recovering its Hurricane Gustav, Hurricane Ike, and Arkansas ice storm restoration costs. Entergy believes its total liquidity is sufficient to meet its current obligations, including the effects associated with Hurricane Gustav, Hurricane Ike, and the Arkansas ice storm. Nevertheless, each Utility operating company is responsible for its storm restoration cost obligations and for recovering its storm-related costs. In October 2008, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, and Entergy New Orleans drew all of their funded storm reserves, a total of $229 million. As of December 31, 2008, Entergy had $1.9 billion of cash and cash equivalents on hand on a consolidated basis, and believes that it has sufficient financing authority, subject to debt covenants, to meet its anticipated obligations.

Entergy's and the Utility's short-term financing authorizations and credit facilities are discussed in more detail in Note 4 to the financial statements. As of December 31, 2008, Entergy had undrawn revolving credit facility capacity of $195 million at Entergy Corporation, $100 million at Entergy Arkansas, $100 million at Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, $200 million at Entergy Louisiana, and $50 million at Entergy Mississippi, subject to debt covenants. Entergy Texas was fully drawn under its $100 million revolving credit facility. Entergy Corporation's revolving credit facility requires it to maintain a consolidated debt ratio of 65 percent or less of its total capitalization. Some of the Utility operating company credit facilities have similar covenants. The Entergy Arkansas and Entergy Mississippi revolving credit facilities expire in April and May 2009, respectively. These facilities are generally renewed on an annual basis. The remaining Utility operating company credit facilities and the Entergy Corporation credit facility expire in 2012. Entergy anticipates that operating cash flow in excess of storm restoration spending will remain a source of liquidity.

Long-term debt maturities in 2009 occur in the fourth quarter and include $219 million at the Utility, $30 million at Non-Utility Nuclear, and $267 million at Entergy Corporation. In January 2009, Entergy Texas issued $500 million of long-term debt and used a portion of the proceeds to repay its $160 million note payable to Entergy Corporation, to repay the $100 million outstanding on its credit facility, and to repay short-term borrowings under the Entergy System money pool. Entergy Texas intends to use the remaining proceeds to repay on or prior to maturity approximately $70 million of obligations that had been assumed by Entergy Texas under the debt assumption agreement with Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and for other general corporate purposes. In February 2009, Entergy Corporation was unable to remarket successfully $500 million of notes associated with its equity units. The note holders therefore put the notes to Entergy, Entergy retired the notes, and Entergy issued 6.6 million shares of common stock to the note holders. See Note 5 to the financial statements for details regarding long-term debt.

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 2007 to 2008 is primarily the result of additional borrowings under Entergy Corporation's revolving credit facilities. The increase in the debt to capital percentage from 2006 to 2007 is primarily the result of additional borrowings under Entergy Corporation's revolving credit facility, along with a decrease in shareholders' equity primarily due to repurchases of common stock. The increases in the debt to capital percentages are in line with Entergy's financial and risk management aspirations.

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2008

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net debt to net capital at the end of the year

 

55.6%

 

54.7%

 

49.4%

Effect of subtracting cash from debt

 

4.1%

 

2.9%

 

2.9%

Debt to capital at the end of the year

 

59.7%

 

57.6%

 

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, 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.

Long-term debt, including the currently maturing portion, makes up substantially all of Entergy's total debt outstanding. Following are Entergy's long-term debt principal maturities and estimated interest payments as of December 31, 2008. To estimate future interest payments for variable rate debt, Entergy used the rate as of December 31, 2008. The figures below include payments on the Entergy Louisiana and System Energy sale-leaseback transactions, which are included in long-term debt on the balance sheet.

Long-term debt maturities and estimated interest payments

 


2009

 


2010

 


2011

 


2012-2013

 


after 2013

(In Millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Utility

 

$661

 

$887

 

$708

 

$1,686

 

$7,572

Non-Utility Nuclear

 

36

 

37

 

36

 

53

 

82

Parent Company and Other
  Business Segments

 


417

 


401

 


662

 


3,278

 


-

Total

 

$1,114

 

$1,325

 

$1,406

 

$5,017

 

$7,654

Note 5 to the financial statements provides more detail concerning long-term debt.

Entergy Corporation has a revolving credit facility that expires in August 2012 and has a borrowing capacity of $3.5 billion. Entergy Corporation also has the ability to issue letters of credit against the total borrowing capacity of the credit facility. The facility fee is currently 0.09% of the commitment amount. Facility fees and interest rates on loans under the credit facility can fluctuate depending on the senior unsecured debt ratings of Entergy Corporation. The weighted average interest rate as of December 31, 2008 was 2.171% on the drawn portion of the facility.

As of December 31, 2008, amounts outstanding and capacity available under the $3.5 billion credit facility are:


Capacity

 


Borrowings

 

Letters
of Credit

 

Capacity
Available

(In Millions)

             

$3,500 

 

$3,237 

 

$68 

 

$195

Under covenants contained in Entergy Corporation's credit facility and in the indenture governing Entergy Corporation's senior notes, Entergy is required to maintain a consolidated debt ratio of 65% or less of its total capitalization.  The calculation of this debt ratio under Entergy Corporation's credit facility and in the indenture governing the Entergy Corporation senior notes is different than the calculation of the debt to capital ratio above. Entergy is currently in compliance with this covenant. If Entergy fails to meet this ratio, or if Entergy or one of the Utility

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operating companies (except Entergy New Orleans) defaults on other indebtedness or is in bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, an acceleration of the Entergy Corporation credit facility's maturity date may occur and there may be an acceleration of amounts due under Entergy Corporation's senior notes.

Capital lease obligations, including nuclear fuel leases, are a minimal part of Entergy's overall capital structure, and are discussed further in Note 10 to the financial statements. Following are Entergy's payment obligations under those leases:

 

2009

 

2010

 

2011

 

2012-2013

 

after 2013

 

(In Millions)

Capital lease payments, including nuclear fuel leases


$162

 


$307

 


$3

 


$5

 


$28

Notes payable includes borrowings outstanding on credit facilities with original maturities of less than one year. Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy Texas each had credit facilities available as of December 31, 2008 as follows:


Company

 


Expiration Date

 

Amount of
Facility

 

Interest
Rate (a)

 

Amount Drawn as
of Dec. 31, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entergy Arkansas

 

April 2009

 

$100 million (b)

 

2.75%

 

-

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana

 

August 2012

 

$100 million (c)

 

0.84563%

 

-

Entergy Louisiana

 

August 2012

 

$200 million (d)

 

0.84563%

 

-

Entergy Mississippi

 

May 2009

 

$30 million (e)

 

1.71125%

 

-

Entergy Mississippi

 

May 2009

 

$20 million (e)

 

1.71125%

 

-

Entergy Texas

 

August 2012

 

$100 million (f)

 

2.285%

 

$100 million

(a)

The interest rate is the weighted average interest rate as of December 31, 2008 applied or that would be applied to the outstanding borrowings under the facility.

(b)

The credit facility requires Entergy Arkansas to maintain a debt ratio of 65% or less of its total capitalization.

(c)

The credit facility allows Entergy Gulf States Louisiana to issue letters of credit against the borrowing capacity of the facility. As of December 31, 2008, no letters of credit were outstanding. The credit facility requires Entergy Gulf States Louisiana to maintain a consolidated debt ratio of 65% or less of its total capitalization. Pursuant to the terms of the credit agreement, the amount of debt assumed by Entergy Texas ($770 million as of December 31, 2008 and $1.079 billion as of December 31, 2007) is excluded from debt and capitalization in calculating the debt ratio.

(d)

The credit facility allows Entergy Louisiana to issue letters of credit against the borrowing capacity of the facility. As of December 31, 2008, no letters of credit were outstanding. The credit agreement requires Entergy Louisiana to maintain a consolidated debt ratio of 65% or less of its total capitalization.

(e)

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

(f)

The credit facility allows Entergy Texas to issue letters of credit against the borrowing capacity of the facility. As of December 31, 2008, no letters of credit were outstanding. The credit facility requires Entergy Texas to maintain a consolidated debt ratio of 65% or less of its total capitalization. Pursuant to the terms of the credit agreement, the transition bonds issued by Entergy Gulf States Reconstruction Funding I, LLC are excluded from debt and capitalization in calculating the debt ratio.

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Operating Lease Obligations and Guarantees of Unconsolidated Obligations

Entergy has a minimal amount of operating lease obligations and guarantees in support of unconsolidated obligations. Entergy's guarantees in support of unconsolidated obligations are not likely to have a material effect on Entergy's financial condition or results of operations. Following are Entergy's payment obligations as of December 31, 2008 on non-cancelable operating leases with a term over one year:

 

2009

 

2010

 

2011

 

2012-2013

 

after 2013

 

(In Millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating lease payments

$90

 

$114

 

$53

 

$73

 

$119

The operating leases are discussed more thoroughly in Note 10 to the financial statements.

Summary of Contractual Obligations of Consolidated Entities

Contractual Obligations

 

2009

 

2010-2011

 

2012-2013

 

after 2013

 

Total

 

 

(In Millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt (1)

 

$1,114

 

$2,731

 

$5,017

 

$7,654

 

$16,516

Capital lease payments (2)

 

$162

 

$310

 

$5

 

$28

 

$505

Operating leases (2)

 

$90

 

$166

 

$73

 

$119

 

$448

Purchase obligations (3)

 

$1,548

 

$2,791

 

$1,381

 

$3,530

 

$9,250

(1)

Includes estimated interest payments. Long-term debt is discussed in Note 5 to the financial statements.

(2)

Capital lease payments include nuclear fuel leases. Lease obligations are discussed in Note 10 to the financial statements.

(3)

Purchase obligations represent the minimum purchase obligation or cancellation charge for contractual obligations to purchase goods or services. Almost all of the total are fuel and purchased power obligations.

In addition to the contractual obligations, Entergy expects to make payments of approximately $243 million for the years 2009-2011 related to Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Gustav, and Hurricane Ike restoration work, including approximately $104 million of continued gas rebuild work at Entergy New Orleans. Entergy Arkansas estimates that it will pay $165 million to $200 million for ice storm restoration costs incurred in January 2009. Also, Entergy expects to contribute $140 million to its pension plans and $76 million to other postretirement plans in 2009. Guidance pursuant to the Pension Protection Act of 2006 rules, effective for the 2008 plan year and beyond, continues to evolve, be interpreted through technical corrections bills, and discussed within the industry and congressional lawmakers. Any changes to the Pension Protection Act as a result of these discussions and efforts may affect the level of Entergy's pension contributions in the future.

Also in addition to the contractual obligations, Entergy has $1.825 billion of unrecognized tax benefits and interest for which the timing of payments beyond 12 months cannot be reasonably estimated due to uncertainties in the timing of effective settlement of tax positions. See Note 3 to the financial statements for additional information regarding unrecognized tax benefits.

Capital Funds Agreement

Pursuant to an agreement with certain creditors, Entergy Corporation has agreed to supply System Energy with sufficient capital to:

  • maintain System Energy's equity capital at a minimum of 35% of its total capitalization (excluding short-term debt);
  • permit the continued commercial operation of Grand Gulf;

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  • pay in full all System Energy indebtedness for borrowed money when due; and
  • enable System Energy to make payments on specific System Energy debt, under supplements to the agreement assigning System Energy's rights in the agreement as security for the specific debt.

Capital Expenditure Plans and Other Uses of Capital

Following are the amounts of Entergy's planned construction and other capital investments by operating segment for 2009 through 2011:

Planned construction and capital investments

 

2009

 

2010

 

2011

 

 

 

(In Millions)

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

Maintenance Capital:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Utility

 

$738

 

$715

 

$713

 

Non-Utility Nuclear

 

90

 

84

 

94

 

Parent and Other

 

8

 

8

 

8

 

 

 

836

 

807

 

815

Capital Commitments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Utility

 

806

 

993

 

1,074

 

Non-Utility Nuclear

 

357

 

277

 

262

 

 

 

1,163

 

1,270

 

1,336

Total

 

$1,999

$2,077 

$2,151

Maintenance Capital refers to amounts Entergy plans to spend on routine capital projects that are necessary to support reliability of its service, equipment, or systems and to support normal customer growth.

Capital Commitments refers to non-routine capital investments for which Entergy is either contractually obligated, has Board approval, or otherwise expects to make to satisfy regulatory or legal requirements. Amounts reflected in this category include the following:

  • The currently planned construction or purchase of additional generation supply sources within the Utility's service territory through the Utility's supply plan initiative, including Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana's Little Gypsy Unit 3 repowering project, which is discussed below.
  • Entergy Louisiana's Waterford 3 steam generators replacement project, which is discussed below.
  • Transmission improvements and upgrades designed to provide improved transmission flexibility in the Entergy System.
  • Initial development costs for potential new nuclear development at the Grand Gulf and River Bend sites, including licensing and design activities. This project is in the early stages, and several issues remain to be addressed over time before significant additional capital would be committed to this project. In addition, Entergy is temporarily suspending reviews of the two license applications for the sites and will explore alternative nuclear technologies for this project.
  • Nuclear dry cask spent fuel storage, license renewal projects, and a potential approximately 178 MW uprate of the Grand Gulf nuclear plant that is currently estimated to cost System Energy $247 million for the 2009-2011 period.
  • Environmental compliance spending, including approximately $206 million for the 2009-2011 period for installation of scrubbers and low NOx burners at Entergy Arkansas' White Bluff coal plant, which under current environmental regulations must be operational by September 2013. The project is still in the planning stages and has not been designed, but the latest conceptual cost estimate indicates Entergy Arkansas' share of the project could cost approximately $630 million. Entergy continues to review potential environmental spending needs and financing alternatives for any such spending, and future spending estimates could change based on the results of this continuing analysis.
  • NYPA value sharing costs.

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The Utility's generating capacity remains short of customer demand, and its supply plan initiative will continue to seek to transform its generation portfolio with new or repowered generation resources. Opportunities resulting from the supply plan initiative, including new projects or the exploration of alternative financing sources, could result in increases or decreases in the capital expenditure estimates given above. In addition, the planned construction and capital investments estimates shown above do not include the potentially significant costs associated with the ultimate decision on Entergy Texas' qualified power region proceeding that is discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements. Estimated capital expenditures are also subject to periodic review and modification and may vary based on the ongoing effects of business restructuring, regulatory constraints, environmental regulations, business opportunities, market volatility, economic trends, and the ability to access capital.

Little Gypsy Repowering Project

In April 2007, Entergy Louisiana announced that it intended to pursue the solid fuel repowering of a 538 MW unit at its Little Gypsy plant, and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana filed subsequently with the LPSC seeking certification to participate in one-third of the project.  Petroleum coke and coal would be the unit's primary fuel sources.  In July 2007, Entergy Louisiana filed with the LPSC for approval of the repowering project. In addition to seeking a finding that the project is in the public interest, the filing with the LPSC asked that Entergy Louisiana be allowed to recover a portion of the project's financing costs during the construction period. Hearings were held in October 2007, and the LPSC approved the certification of the project in November 2007 (the Phase I order), subject to several conditions. One of the conditions is the development and approval of a construction monitoring plan. A decision regarding whether to allow Entergy Louisiana to recover a portion of the project's financing costs during the construction period was deferred to Phase II of the proceedings.

The LPSC Phase I order has been appealed to the state district court in Baton Rouge, Louisiana by a group led by the Sierra Club and represented by the Tulane Environmental Law Clinic. A status conference in the Phase I appeal was held December 3, 2008, and the parties agreed to a procedural schedule that includes oral argument before the judge on April 9, 2009.

The preconstruction and operating air permits for the Little Gypsy repowering project were issued by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) in November 2007 under then-effective federal and state air regulations, including the EPA's Clean Air Mercury Rule that had been issued in 2005 (CAMR 2005). As discussed in more detail in Part I, Item 1, "Environmental Regulation, Clean Air Act and Subsequent Amendments, Hazardous Air Pollutants", in February 2008 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit struck down CAMR 2005. The D.C. Circuit decision requires utilities that have not yet begun construction of the facility in question to undergo before beginning construction a case-by-case Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) analysis for construction or reconstruction of emission units pursuant to the Clean Air Act. The Little Gypsy project as currently configured is expected to meet MACT standards. Little Gypsy received its construction permit before a formal MACT analysis was required, however, and Entergy Louisiana sought a MACT determination from the LDEQ. The LDEQ issued the new air permit in February 2009. Onsite construction of the project was scheduled to begin in July 2008, but obtaining the MACT determination caused a delay in the start of construction, which Entergy Louisiana now expects will not begin before mid-year 2009. Currently, the commercial operation date of the project is not expected to be before mid-year 2013. Entergy Louisiana continues to make its quarterly monitoring plan filings with the LPSC. These reports are intended to inform the LPSC and its staff of the construction status and cost of the project as well as the ongoing economic viability of the project compared to other alternatives.

The LPSC had approved the temporary suspension of Phase II of the Little Gypsy proceedings because Entergy Louisiana needed to update its estimated project cost and schedule in order to support the request to recover cash earnings on its construction work in progress (CWIP) costs. On October 16, 2008, Entergy Louisiana, together with Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, filed an application to resume Phase II of the proceeding. The Phase II filing seeks certification for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana to participate in a one-third ownership share in the repowering project. In addition, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana seek recovery of approximately 79% of their construction financing costs through the recovery of cash earnings on CWIP costs. The LPSC previously found that the recovery of CWIP for

25

 

a large baseload project may be in the public interest as cash earnings may be needed to protect the utility's financial integrity, maintain an acceptable credit rating, prevent an undue increase in the utility's cost of capital, or to accomplish phasing in of the cost of a large capital project for the benefit of customers. In Phase II, the LPSC would rule on Entergy Gulf States Louisiana's certification request, determine the appropriate amount of CWIP costs, if any, to be recovered and would develop the allocation, accounting and rate recovery mechanisms for such recovery. The LPSC also would determine the appropriate procedure or mechanism for synchronizing base rate recovery of Little Gypsy's fixed or non-fuel costs with its commercial in-service date. In addition, the LPSC consolidated, into the Little Gypsy Phase II proceeding, the issue of whether Entergy Louisiana would be permitted to recover cash earnings on its CWIP costs for the Waterford 3 Steam Generator Replacement Project discussed below. After a status conference in November 2008, a procedural schedule was established for Phase II that includes a hearing on April 28-30, 2009. Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana have requested that the case be decided in time to permit the recovery of cash earnings on CWIP beginning in July 2009.

Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana currently expect that the project would cost $1.76 billion (including AFUDC), including $1.1 billion for the 2009-2011 period.

Waterford 3 Steam Generator Replacement Project

Entergy Louisiana plans to replace the Waterford 3 steam generators, along with the reactor vessel closure head and control element drive mechanisms, in 2011. Replacement of these components is common to pressurized water reactors throughout the nuclear industry.  The nuclear industry continues to address susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking of certain materials associated with these components within the reactor coolant system.  The issue is applicable to Waterford 3 and is managed in accordance with standard industry practices and guidelines.  Routine inspections of the steam generators during Waterford 3's Fall 2006 refueling outage identified additional degradation of certain tube spacer supports in the steam generators that required repair beyond that anticipated prior to the outage.  Corrective measures were successfully implemented to permit continued operation of the steam generators. While potential future replacement of these components had been contemplated, additional steam generator tube and component degradation necessitates replacement of the steam generators as soon as reasonably achievable.  The earliest the new steam generators can be manufactured and delivered for installation is 2011. A mid-cycle outage performed in 2007 supports Entergy Louisiana's 2011 replacement strategy. The reactor vessel head and control element drive mechanisms will be replaced at the same time, utilizing the same reactor building construction opening that is necessary for the steam generator replacement. 

In June 2008, Entergy Louisiana filed with the LPSC for approval of the project, including full cost recovery. The petition seeks relief in two phases. Phase I seeks certification within 120 days that the public convenience and necessity would be served by undertaking this project. Among other relief requested, Entergy Louisiana is also seeking approval for a procedure to synchronize permanent base rate recovery when the project is placed in service, either by a formula rate plan or base rate filing. In Phase II, Entergy Louisiana will seek cash earnings on construction work in progress.

Following discovery and the filing of testimony by the LPSC staff and an intervenor, the parties entered into a stipulated settlement of the proceeding. The LPSC unanimously approved the settlement in November 2008. The settlement resolved the following issues: 1) the accelerated degradation of the steam generators is not the result of any imprudence on the part of Entergy Louisiana; 2) the decision to undertake the replacement project at the current estimated cost of $511 million is in the public interest, is prudent, and would serve the public convenience and necessity; 3) the scope of the replacement project is in the public interest; 4) undertaking the replacement project at the target installation date during the 2011 refueling outage is in the public interest; and 5) the jurisdictional costs determined to be prudent in a future prudence review are eligible for cost recovery, either in an extension or renewal of the formula rate plan or in a full base rate case including necessary proformas. Upon completion of the replacement project, the LPSC will undertake a prudence review with regard to the following aspects of the replacement project: 1) project management; 2) cost controls; 3) success in achieving stated objectives; 4) the costs of the replacement project; and 5) the outage length and replacement power costs. The settlement also provides that Phase II of the proceeding will be consolidated with Phase II of the Little Gypsy proceeding, and the LPSC has consolidated them.

26

 

Entergy Louisiana estimates that it will spend approximately $511 million on this project, including $377 million over the 2009-2011 period.

Dividends and Stock Repurchases

Declarations of dividends on Entergy's common stock are made at the discretion of the Board. Among other things, the Board evaluates the level of Entergy's common stock dividends based upon Entergy's earnings, financial strength, and future investment opportunities. At its January 2009 meeting, the Board declared a dividend of $0.75 per share, which is the same quarterly dividend per share that Entergy has paid since third quarter 2007. Entergy paid $573 million in 2008 and $507 million in 2007 in cash dividends on its common stock.

In accordance with Entergy's stock-based compensation plan, Entergy periodically grants stock options to its key employees, which may be exercised to obtain shares of Entergy's common stock. According to the plan, these shares can be newly issued shares, treasury stock, or shares purchased on the open market. Entergy's management has been authorized by the Board to repurchase on the open market shares up to an amount sufficient to fund the exercise of grants under the plans.

In addition to the authority to fund grant exercises, in January 2007 the Board approved a program under which Entergy is authorized to repurchase up to $1.5 billion of its common stock. In January 2008, the Board authorized an incremental $500 million share repurchase program to enable Entergy to consider opportunistic purchases in response to equity market conditions. Entergy expects to complete both of these programs in 2009. As of December 31, 2008, $1.4 billion of share repurchases have been made pursuant to these programs. Entergy's financial aspirations following the consummation of the planned Non-Utility Nuclear spin-off include a potential new share repurchase program targeted at $2.5 billion, $0.5 billion of which has already been authorized by the Entergy Board of Directors, with the balance to be authorized and to commence following completion of spin-off. The amount of this potential program to follow completion of the spin-off is expected to be reduced by the amount of repurchases made pursuant to the January 2008 incremental program.

The amount of repurchases may vary as a result of material changes in business results or capital spending or new investment opportunities, or if recent limitations in the credit markets continue for a prolonged period.

The Board had previously approved a program under which Entergy was authorized to repurchase up to $1.5 billion of its common stock through 2006. Entergy completed this program in the fourth quarter 2006.

Entergy New Orleans Debtor-in-Possession Credit Facility

On September 26, 2005, Entergy New Orleans, as borrower, and Entergy Corporation, as lender, entered into a debtor-in-possession credit facility to provide funding to Entergy New Orleans during its business restoration efforts. The credit facility provided for up to $200 million in loans. The interest rate on borrowings under the credit facility was the average interest rate of borrowings outstanding under Entergy Corporation's revolving credit facility. With the confirmation of Entergy New Orleans' plan of reorganization in May 2007, Entergy New Orleans repaid to Entergy Corporation, in full, in cash, the $67 million of outstanding borrowings under the debtor-in-possession credit facility.

Sources of Capital

Entergy's sources to meet its capital requirements and to fund potential investments include:

  • internally generated funds;
  • cash on hand ($1.92 billion as of December 31, 2008);
  • securities issuances;
  • bank financing under new or existing facilities; and
  • sales of assets.

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Circumstances such as weather patterns, fuel and purchased power price fluctuations, and unanticipated expenses, including unscheduled plant outages and storms, could affect the timing and level of internally generated funds in the future.

Provisions within the Articles of Incorporation or pertinent indentures and various other agreements relating to the long-term debt and preferred stock of certain of Entergy Corporation's subsidiaries restrict the payment of cash dividends or other distributions on their common and preferred stock. As of December 31, 2008, Entergy Arkansas and Entergy Mississippi had restricted retained earnings unavailable for distribution to Entergy Corporation of $461.6 million and $121.6 million, respectively. All debt and common and preferred equity issuances by the Registrant Subsidiaries require prior regulatory approval and their preferred equity and debt issuances are also subject to issuance tests set forth in corporate charters, bond indentures, and other agreements. Entergy believes that the Registrant Subsidiaries have sufficient capacity under these tests to meet foreseeable capital needs.

The FERC has jurisdiction over securities issuances by the Utility operating companies and System Energy (except securities with maturities longer than one year issued by Entergy Arkansas and Entergy New Orleans, which are subject to the jurisdiction of the APSC and the City Council, respectively). No approvals are necessary for Entergy Corporation to issue securities. The FERC has issued orders (FERC Short-Term Orders) approving the short-term borrowing limits of the Utility operating companies and System Energy through March 31, 2010 (except Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Texas, which are effective through November 8, 2009, as established by an earlier FERC order). Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy Texas, and System Energy have obtained long-term financing authorization from the FERC, and Entergy Arkansas has obtained long-term financing authorization from the APSC. The long-term securities issuances of Entergy New Orleans are limited to amounts authorized by the City Council, and the current authorization extends through August 2010. In addition to borrowings from commercial banks, the FERC Short-Term Orders authorized the Registrant Subsidiaries to continue as participants in the Entergy System money pool. The money pool is an intercompany borrowing arrangement designed to reduce Entergy's subsidiaries' dependence on external short-term borrowings. Borrowings from the money pool and external short-term borrowings combined may not exceed authorized limits. As of December 31, 2008, Entergy's subsidiaries' aggregate money pool and external short-term borrowings authorized limit was $2.1 billion, the aggregate outstanding borrowing from the money pool was $436.2 million, and Entergy's subsidiaries' had no outstanding short-term borrowings from external sources. See Notes 4 and 5 to the financial statements for further discussion of Entergy's borrowing limits and authorizations.

In January 2009, Entergy Texas issued $500 million of 7.125% Series Mortgage Bonds due February 2019. Entergy Texas used a portion of the proceeds to repay Entergy Corporation on a $160 million note for money advanced in December 2008, to repay the $100 million outstanding on its credit facility, and to repay short-term borrowings under the Entergy System money pool. Entergy Texas intends to use the remaining proceeds to repay on or prior to maturity approximately $70 million of obligations that had been assumed by Entergy Texas under the debt assumption agreement with Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and for other general corporate purposes.

Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita

In August and September 2005, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused catastrophic damage to large portions of the Utility's service territories in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, including the effect of extensive flooding that resulted from levee breaks in and around the greater New Orleans area. The storms and flooding resulted in widespread 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 the destruction of homes and businesses. Entergy has pursued a broad range of initiatives to recover storm restoration and business continuity costs, including obtaining reimbursement of certain costs covered by insurance and pursuing recovery through existing or new rate mechanisms regulated by the FERC and local regulatory bodies, including the issuance of securitization bonds. Following are updates regarding Entergy's cost recovery efforts.

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Storm Cost Financings

In March 2008, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, and the Louisiana Utilities Restoration Corporation (LURC), an instrumentality of the State of Louisiana, filed at the LPSC an application requesting that the LPSC grant financing orders authorizing the financing of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana storm costs, storm reserves, and issuance costs pursuant to Act 55 of the Louisiana Legislature (Act 55 financings). The Act 55 financings are expected to produce additional customer benefits as compared to Act 64 traditional securitization.  Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana also filed an application requesting LPSC approval for ancillary issues including the mechanism to flow charges and savings to customers via a Storm Cost Offset rider.  On April 3, 2008, the Louisiana State Bond Commission granted preliminary approval for the Act 55 financings.  On April 8, 2008, the Louisiana Public Facilities Authority (LPFA), which is the issuer of the bonds pursuant to the Act 55 financings, approved requests for the Act 55 financings.  On April 10, 2008, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana and the LPSC Staff filed with the LPSC an uncontested stipulated settlement that includes Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana's proposals under the Act 55 financings, which includes a commitment to pass on to customers a minimum of $10 million and $30 million of customer benefits, respectively, through prospective annual rate reductions of $2 million and $6 million for five years. On April 16, 2008, the LPSC approved the settlement and issued two financing orders and one ratemaking order intended to facilitate implementation of the Act 55 financings.  In May 2008, the Louisiana State Bond Commission granted final approval of the Act 55 financings.

On July 29, 2008, the LPFA issued $687.7 million in bonds under the aforementioned Act 55. From the $679 million of bond proceeds loaned by the LPFA to the LURC, the LURC deposited $152 million in a restricted escrow account as a storm damage reserve for Entergy Louisiana and transferred $527 million directly to Entergy Louisiana. From the bond proceeds received by Entergy Louisiana from the LURC, Entergy Louisiana invested $545 million, including $17.8 million that was withdrawn from the restricted escrow account as approved by the April 16, 2008 LPSC orders, in exchange for 5,449,861.85 Class A preferred, non-voting, membership interest units of Entergy Holdings Company LLC, a company wholly-owned and consolidated by Entergy, that carry a 10% annual distribution rate. Distributions are payable quarterly commencing on September 15, 2008 and have a liquidation price of $100 per unit. The preferred membership interests are callable at the option of Entergy Holdings Company LLC after ten years. The terms of the membership interests include certain financial covenants to which Entergy Holdings Company LLC is subject, including the requirement to maintain a net worth of at least $1 billion.

On August 26, 2008, the LPFA issued $278.4 million in bonds under the aforementioned Act 55. From the $274.7 million of bond proceeds loaned by the LPFA to the LURC, the LURC deposited $87 million in a restricted escrow account as a storm damage reserve for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and transferred $187.7 million directly to Entergy Gulf States Louisiana. From the bond proceeds received by Entergy Gulf States Louisiana from the LURC, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana invested $189.4 million, including $1.7 million that was withdrawn from the restricted escrow account as approved by the April 16, 2008 LPSC orders, in exchange for 1,893,918.39 Class A preferred, non-voting, membership interest units of Entergy Holdings Company LLC, a company wholly-owned and consolidated by Entergy, that carry a 10% annual distribution rate. Distributions are payable quarterly commencing on September 15, 2008 and have a liquidation price of $100 per unit. The preferred membership interests are callable at the option of Entergy Holdings Company LLC after ten years. The terms of the membership interests include certain financial covenants to which Entergy Holdings Company LLC is subject, including the requirement to maintain a net worth of at least $1 billion.

Entergy, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, and Entergy Louisiana do not report the bonds on their balance sheets because the bonds are the obligation of the LPFA, and there is no recourse against Entergy, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana or Entergy Louisiana in the event of a bond default.

Insurance Claims

See Note 8 to the financial statements for a discussion of Entergy's conventional property insurance program. Entergy has received a total of $277 million as of December 31, 2008 on its Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita insurance claims, including the settlements of its Hurricane

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Katrina claims with each of its two excess insurers. Entergy currently expects to receive payment for any remaining insurance recovery related to Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita in 2009.

Community Development Block Grants

In December 2005, the U.S. Congress passed the Katrina Relief Bill, a hurricane aid package that includes $11.5 billion in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) (for the states affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma) that allows state and local leaders to fund individual recovery priorities. The bill includes language that permits funding to be provided for infrastructure restoration.

New Orleans

In March 2006, Entergy New Orleans provided a justification statement to state and local officials in connection with its pursuit of CDBG funds to mitigate Hurricane Katrina restoration costs that otherwise would be borne by customers. The statement included all the estimated costs of Hurricane Katrina damage, as well as a lost customer base component intended to help offset the need for storm-related rate increases. In October 2006, the Louisiana Recovery Authority Board endorsed a resolution proposing to allocate $200 million in CDBG funds to Entergy New Orleans to defray gas and electric utility system repair costs in an effort to provide rate relief for Entergy New Orleans customers. The proposal was developed as an action plan amendment and published for public comment. State lawmakers approved the action plan in December 2006, and the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development approved it in February 2007. Entergy New Orleans filed applications seeking City Council certification of its storm-related costs incurred through December 2006. Entergy New Orleans supplemented this request to include the estimated future cost of the gas system rebuild.

In March 2007, the City Council certified that Entergy New Orleans 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 its gas system rebuild. In April 2007, Entergy New Orleans executed an agreement with the Louisiana Office of Community Development (OCD) 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 has received $180.8 million of the funds as of December 31, 2008. Entergy New Orleans has submitted additional costs and awaits reimbursement in accordance with the contract covering disbursement of the funds.

Mississippi

In March 2006, the Governor of Mississippi signed a law that established a mechanism by which the MPSC could authorize and certify an electric utility financing order and the state could issue bonds to finance the costs of repairing damage caused by Hurricane Katrina to the systems of investor-owned electric utilities.  Because of the passage of this law and the possibility of Entergy Mississippi obtaining CDBG funds for Hurricane Katrina storm restoration costs, in March 2006, the MPSC issued an order approving a Joint Stipulation between Entergy Mississippi and the Mississippi Public Utilities Staff that provided for a review of Entergy Mississippi's total storm restoration costs in an Application for an Accounting Order proceeding.  In June 2006, the MPSC issued an order certifying Entergy Mississippi's Hurricane Katrina restoration costs incurred through March 31, 2006 of $89 million, net of estimated insurance proceeds. Two days later, Entergy Mississippi filed a request with the Mississippi Development Authority for $89 million of CDBG funding for reimbursement of its Hurricane Katrina infrastructure restoration costs. Entergy Mississippi also filed a Petition for Financing Order with the MPSC for authorization of state bond financing of $169 million for Hurricane Katrina restoration costs and future storm costs. The $169 million amount included the $89 million of Hurricane Katrina restoration costs plus $80 million to build Entergy Mississippi's storm damage reserve for the future. Entergy Mississippi's filing stated that the amount actually financed through the state bonds would be net of any CDBG funds that Entergy Mississippi received.

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In October 2006, the Mississippi Development Authority approved for payment and Entergy Mississippi received $81 million in CDBG funding for Hurricane Katrina costs. The MPSC then issued a financing order authorizing the issuance of state bonds to finance $8 million of Entergy Mississippi's certified Hurricane Katrina restoration costs and $40 million for an increase in Entergy Mississippi's storm damage reserve. $30 million of the storm damage reserve was set aside in a restricted account. A Mississippi state entity issued the bonds in May 2007, and Entergy Mississippi received proceeds of $48 million. Entergy Mississippi does not report the bonds on its balance sheet because the bonds are the obligation of the state entity, and there is no recourse against Entergy Mississippi in the event of a bond default.

Cash Flow Activity

As shown in Entergy's Statements of Cash Flows, cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006 were as follows:

     

2008

 

2007

 

2006

     

(In Millions)

               

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

$1,253 

 

$1,016 

 

$583 

             

Effect of reconsolidating Entergy New Orleans in 2007

 

 

17  

 

             

Cash flow provided by (used in):

           
 

Operating activities

 

 3,324 

 

 2,560 

 

 3,448 

 

Investing activities

 

(2,590)

 

(2,118)

 

(1,928)

 

Financing activities

 

(70)

 

(222)

 

(1,084)

Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

(3)

 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

667 

 

220 

 

433 

               

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$1,920 

 

$1,253 

 

$1,016

Operating Cash Flow Activity

2008 Compared to 2007

Entergy's cash flow provided by operating activities increased by $765 million in 2008 compared to 2007. Following are cash flows from operating activities by segment:

  • Utility provided $2,379 million in cash from operating activities in 2008 compared to providing $1,809 million in 2007 primarily due to proceeds of $954 million received from the Louisiana Utilities Restoration Corporation as a result of the Louisiana Act 55 storm cost financings. The Act 55 storm cost financings are discussed in more detail in Note 2 to the financial statements. A decrease in income tax payments of $290 million also contributed to the increase. Offsetting these factors were the net effect of Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike which reduced operating cash flow by $444 million in 2008 as a result of costs associated with system repairs and lower revenues due to customer outages, the receipt of $181 million of Community Development Block Grant funds by Entergy New Orleans in 2007, and a $100 million increase in pension contributions in 2008.
  • Non-Utility Nuclear provided $1,255 million in cash from operating activities in 2008 compared to providing $880 million in 2007, primarily due to an increase in net revenue, partially offset by an increase in operation and maintenance costs, both of which are discussed in "Results of Operations."
  • Parent & Other used $310 million in cash in operating activities in 2008 compared to using $129 million in 2007 primarily due to an increase in income taxes paid of $69 million and outside services costs of $69 million related to the planned spin-off of the Non-Utility Nuclear business.

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2007 Compared to 2006

Entergy's cash flow provided by operating activities decreased by $888 million in 2007 compared to 2006. Following are cash flows from operating activities by segment:

Entergy Corporation received a $344 million income tax refund (including $71 million attributable to Entergy New Orleans) as a result of net operating loss carryback provisions contained in the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005. The Gulf Opportunity Zone Act was enacted in December 2005.  The Act contains provisions that allow a public utility incurring a net operating loss as a result of Hurricane Katrina to carry back the casualty loss portion of the net operating loss ten years to offset previously taxed income.  The Act also allows a five-year carry back of the portion of the net operating loss attributable to Hurricane Katrina repairs expense and first year depreciation deductions, including 50% bonus depreciation, on Hurricane Katrina capital expenditures. In accordance with Entergy's intercompany tax allocation agreement, $273 million of the refund was distributed to the Utility (including Entergy New Orleans) in April 2006, with the remainder distributed primarily to Non-Utility Nuclear.

Investing Activities

2008 Compared to 2007

Net cash used in investing activities increased by $472 million in 2008 compared to 2007. The following activity is notable in comparing 2008 to 2007:

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2007 Compared to 2006

Net cash used in investing activities increased by $190 million in 2007 compared to 2006. The following activity is notable in comparing 2007 to 2006:

Financing Activities

2008 Compared to 2007

Net cash used in financing activities decreased $151 million in 2008 compared to 2007. The following activity is notable in comparing 2008 to 2007:

2007 Compared to 2006

Net cash used in financing activities decreased by $862 million in 2007 compared to 2006. The following activity is notable in comparing 2007 to 2006:

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Rate, Cost-recovery, and Other Regulation

State and Local Rate Regulation and Fuel-Cost Recovery

The rates that the Utility operating companies and System Energy charge for their services significantly influence Entergy's financial position, results of operations, and liquidity. These companies are regulated and the rates charged to their customers are determined in regulatory proceedings. Governmental agencies, including the APSC, the City Council, the LPSC, the MPSC, the PUCT, and the FERC, are primarily responsible for approval of the rates charged to customers. Following is a summary of base rate and related proceedings, and proceedings involving Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita cost recovery. These proceedings are discussed in more detail in Note 2 to the financial statements.

Company

 

Authorized
ROE

 

Pending Proceedings/Events

 

 

 

 

Entergy Arkansas

 

9.9%

 

  • In August 2006, Entergy Arkansas filed with the APSC a request for a change in base rates. In June 2007, after hearings on the filing, the APSC ordered Entergy Arkansas to reduce its annual rates by $5 million, and set a return on common equity of 9.9% with a hypothetical common equity level lower than Entergy Arkansas' actual capital structure. The base rate change was implemented August 29, 2007, effective for bills rendered after June 15, 2007. On appeal the Arkansas Court of Appeals upheld almost all aspects of the APSC decision. On January 5, 2009, Entergy Arkansas filed a petition for review of the Court of Appeals decision with the Supreme Court of Arkansas.
  • Base rates at the previous level had been in effect since 1998.

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Entergy Texas

 

10.95%
(settlement pending before the PUCT stipulates that 10.0% is a reasonable ROE)

 

  • Entergy Texas made a rate filing in September 2007 with the PUCT requesting an annual rate increase. On December 19, 2008, the ALJs approved Entergy Texas' request to implement interim rates reflecting the settlement agreement reached December 16, 2008 with the PUCT Staff and the other active participants in the rate case. The agreement includes a $46.7 million base rate increase, among other provisions. Under the ALJs' interim order, Entergy Texas will implement interim rates, subject to refund and surcharge, reflecting the rates established through the settlement. These rates will be effective with bills rendered on and after January 28, 2009, for usage on and after December 19, 2008. In addition, the existing recovery mechanism for incremental purchased power capacity costs will cease as of January 28, 2009, with purchased power capacity costs then subsumed within the base rates set in this proceeding. The settlement is subject to approval by the PUCT; however, the interim rates will be in effect until the PUCT acts. Certain Texas municipalities have exercised their original jurisdiction and taken final action to approve rates consistent with the interim rates approved by the ALJs.
  • Base rates were previously set at rates approved by the PUCT in June 1999.
  • On June 29, 2007, Entergy Gulf States Reconstruction Funding I, LLC, a company wholly-owned and consolidated by Entergy Texas, issued $329.5 million of senior secured transition (securitization) bonds. Entergy Texas began cost recovery through a transition charge in July 2007, and the transition charge is expected to remain in place over a 15-year period.

 

 

 

 

 

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana

 

9.9%-11.4% Electric; 10.5% Gas

 

  • A formula rate plan was in place with an ROE mid-point of 10.65% for the initial three-year term of the plan. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana made its first formula rate plan (FRP) filing in June 2005 for the 2004 test year. The FRP was subsequently extended for one year. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana is currently in discussions with the LPSC staff regarding a possible additional extension of the FRP.
  • The 2007 test year filing made in May 2008 indicated a 9.3% earned ROE. In September 2008, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana implemented a $20.7 million FRP decrease that removed interim storm cost recovery of $10.5 million and the interim storm reserve accrual of $11.8 million to reflect the completion of securitization of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita costs. The rate implemented also included a $5.6 million increase to move Entergy Gulf States Louisiana 60% toward the earnings bandwidth and a $4.1 million decrease to reflect lower additional capacity costs.
  • In August 2008, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana completed securitization of $187 million of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita storm restoration costs and established $87 million as a reserve for future storms. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana drew all of this storm reserve following Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike.

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Entergy Louisiana

 

9.45%-
11.05%

 

  • A three-year formula rate plan was in place with an ROE mid-point of 10.25% for the initial three-year term of the plan. Entergy Louisiana made its first formula rate plan (FRP) filing under this plan in May 2006 based on a 2005 test year. Entergy Louisiana is currently in discussions with the LPSC staff regarding a possible extension of the FRP.
  • The 2007 test year filing made in May 2008 indicated a 9.04% earned ROE. In August 2008, Entergy Louisiana implemented an FRP decrease of $43.9 million that removed interim storm cost recovery of $24.2 million and the interim storm reserve accrual of $19.7 million to reflect the completion of securitization of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita costs. In September 2008, Entergy Louisiana implemented a $16.9 million FRP increase, subject to refund, including $4.3 million to move Entergy Louisiana 60% toward the earnings bandwidth and $12.6 million for recovery of additional capacity costs.
  • Entergy Louisiana continues to seek resolution of its 2007 and 2006 test year FRP filings. The 2006 test year filing made in May 2007 indicated a 7.6% earned ROE. On September 27, 2007, Entergy Louisiana implemented an $18.4 million increase, subject to refund, consisting of $23.8 million representing a 60% adjustment to reach the bottom of the FRP band, net of $5.4 million for reduced capacity costs. The LPSC will allow Entergy Louisiana to defer the difference between the $39.8 million requested for unrecovered fixed costs for extraordinary customer losses associated with Hurricane Katrina and the $23.8 million 60% adjustment as a regulatory asset, pending ultimate LPSC resolution of the 2006 FRP filing. A hearing on the 2006 test year filing was held in late-September/early-October 2008.
  • On October 29, 2007, Entergy Louisiana implemented a $7.1 million FRP decrease which is primarily due to the reclassification of certain franchise fees from base rates to collection via a line item on customers' bills pursuant to a LPSC order.
  • In June 2008, Entergy Louisiana completed securitization of $545 million of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita storm restoration costs and established $152 million as a reserve for future storms. Entergy Louisiana drew all of this storm reserve following Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike.

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Entergy Mississippi

 

9.46%-
12.24%

 

  • An annual formula rate plan (FRP) is in place. The FRP allows Entergy Mississippi's earned ROE to increase or decrease within a bandwidth with no change in rates; earnings outside the bandwidth are allocated 50% to customers and 50% to Entergy Mississippi, but on a prospective basis only. The plan also provides for performance incentives that can increase or decrease the benchmark ROE by as much as 100 basis points.
  • In March 2008, Entergy Mississippi made its annual scheduled formula rate plan filing for the 2007 test year with the MPSC.  The filing showed that a $10.1 million increase in annual electric revenues is warranted. In June 2008, Entergy Mississippi reached a settlement with the Mississippi Public Utilities Staff that would result in a $3.8 million rate increase. In January 2009 the MPSC rejected the settlement and left the current rates in effect. Entergy Mississippi appealed the MPSC's decision to the Mississippi Supreme Court.
  • The Mississippi Development Corporation, an entity created by the state, issued securitization bonds. Entergy Mississippi received proceeds in the amount of $48 million on May 31, 2007, reflecting recovery of $8 million of storm restoration costs and $40 million to increase Entergy Mississippi's storm reserve. To service the bonds, Entergy Mississippi is collecting a system restoration charge on behalf of the state and remitting collections to the state. In October 2006, Entergy Mississippi received $81 million in CDBG funding, pursuant to MPSC orders approving recovery of $89 million storm restoration costs.

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Entergy New Orleans

 

10.75% -Electric; 10.75% -Gas

 

  • In October 2006, the City Council approved a settlement agreement that resolved Entergy New Orleans' rate and storm-related rider filings by providing for phased-in rate increases, while taking into account with respect to storm restoration costs the anticipated receipt of CDBG funding. The settlement provided for a 0% increase in electric base rates through December 2007, with a $3.9 million increase implemented in January 2008. Recovery of all Grand Gulf costs through the fuel adjustment clause was continued. Gas base rates increased by $4.75 million in November 2006 and increased by additional $1.5 million in March 2007 and an additional $4.75 million in November 2007. The settlement called for Entergy New Orleans to file a base rate case by July 31, 2008.
  • The settlement agreement discontinued the formula rate plan and the generation performance-based plan but permits Entergy New Orleans to file an application to seek authority to implement formula rate plan mechanisms no sooner than six months following the effective date of the implementation of the base rates resulting from the July 31, 2008 base rate case. Any storm costs in excess of CDBG funding and insurance proceeds will be addressed in that base rate case.
  • The settlement also authorized a $75 million storm reserve for damage from future storms, which will be created over a ten-year period through a storm reserve rider beginning in March 2007. These storm reserve funds will be held in a restricted escrow account.
  • In January 2008, Entergy New Orleans voluntarily implemented a 6.15% base rate credit for electric customers, which returned $11.3 million to electric customers in 2008. Entergy New Orleans was able to implement this credit because the recovery of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina has been occurring faster than expected.
  • On July 31, 2008, Entergy New Orleans filed an electric and gas base rate case with the City Council. The filing requests an 11.75% return on common equity. On November 13, 2008, Entergy New Orleans amended its rate filing, calling for an $18.2 million electric rate reduction, which includes keeping the recovery credit in effect, as well as realigning recovery of approximately $12.3 million of capacity costs from the fuel adjustment clause to electric base rates. The amended filing also calls for an $8.4 million increase in gas base rates to fund ongoing operations. This request is unrelated to the ongoing rebuild of Entergy New Orleans' natural gas system. On January 16, 2009, the City Council Advisors filed rebuttal testimony calling for rate reductions of approximately $31 million for electric operations and $4.8 million for gas operations. The procedural schedule calls for a hearing on the filing to commence in April 2009 with a decision by the City Council on or before May 15, 2009.
  • 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 has received $180.8 million of the funds as of December 31, 2008. Entergy New Orleans has submitted additional costs and awaits reimbursement in accordance with the contract covering disbursement of the funds.

 

 

 

 

 

System Energy

 

10.94%

 

  • ROE approved by July 2001 FERC order. No cases pending before the FERC.

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In addition to the regulatory scrutiny connected with base rate proceedings, the Utility operating companies' fuel and purchased power costs recovered from customers are subject to regulatory scrutiny. The Utility operating companies' significant fuel and purchased power cost proceedings are described in Note 2 to the financial statements.

Federal Regulation

The FERC regulates wholesale rates (including Entergy Utility intrasystem energy exchanges pursuant to the System Agreement) and interstate transmission of electricity, as well as rates for System Energy's sales of capacity and energy from Grand Gulf to Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy New Orleans pursuant to the Unit Power Sales Agreement.

System Agreement Proceedings

Production Cost Equalization Proceeding Commenced by the LPSC

The Utility operating companies historically have engaged in the coordinated planning, construction, and operation of generating and bulk transmission facilities under the terms of the System Agreement, which is a rate schedule that has been approved by the FERC. The LPSC has been pursuing litigation involving the System Agreement at the FERC. The proceeding includes challenges to the allocation of costs as defined by the System Agreement and raises questions of imprudence by the Utility operating companies in their execution of their obligations under the System Agreement.

In June 2005, the FERC issued a decision in the System Agreement litigation that had been commenced by the LPSC, and essentially affirmed its decision in a December 2005 order on rehearing. The FERC decision concluded, among other things, that:

The FERC's decision reallocates total production costs of the Utility operating companies whose relative total production costs expressed as a percentage of Entergy System average production costs are outside an upper or lower bandwidth. Under the current circumstances, this will be accomplished by payments from Utility operating companies whose production costs are more than 11% below Entergy System average production costs to Utility operating companies whose production costs are more than the Entergy System average production cost, with payments going first to those Utility operating companies whose total production costs are farthest above the Entergy System average.

Assessing the potential effects of the FERC's decision requires assumptions regarding the future total production cost of each Utility operating company, which assumptions include the mix of solid fuel and gas-fired generation available to each company and the costs of natural gas and purchased power.  Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Texas, and Entergy Mississippi are more dependent upon gas-fired generation sources than Entergy Arkansas or Entergy New Orleans. Of these, Entergy Arkansas is the least dependent upon gas-fired

39

 

generation sources.  Therefore, increases in natural gas prices likely will increase the amount by which Entergy Arkansas' total production costs are below the Entergy System average production costs.

The LPSC, APSC, MPSC, and the AEEC appealed the FERC's decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Entergy and the City of New Orleans intervened in the various appeals. The D.C. Circuit issued its decision in April 2008. The D.C. Circuit affirmed the FERC's decision in most respects, but remanded the case to the FERC for further proceedings and reconsideration of its conclusion that it was prohibited from ordering refunds and its determination to implement the bandwidth remedy commencing with calendar year 2006 production costs (with the first payments/receipts commencing in June 2007), rather than commencing the remedy on June 1, 2005. The D.C. Circuit concluded the FERC had failed so far in the proceeding to offer a reasoned explanation regarding these issues. On July 17, 2008, the Utility operating companies filed with FERC a motion proposing additional procedures on the remanded issues. The proceeding is pending at the FERC.

Entergy's Utility Operating Companies' Compliance Filing

In April 2006, the Utility operating companies filed with the FERC their compliance filing to implement the provisions of the FERC's decision. The filing amended the System Agreement to provide for the calculation of production costs, average production costs, and payments/receipts among the Utility operating companies to the extent required to maintain rough production cost equalization pursuant to the FERC's decision. The FERC accepted the compliance filing in November 2006, with limited modifications. The Utility operating companies filed a revised compliance plan in December 2006 implementing the provisions of the FERC's November order. In accordance with the FERC's order, the first payments/receipts were based on calendar year 2006 production costs, with the payments/receipts among the affected Utility operating companies made in seven monthly installments commencing in June 2007.

Various parties filed requests for rehearing of the FERC's order accepting the compliance filing. Among other things, the LPSC requested rehearing of the FERC's decision to have the first payments commence in June 2007, rather than earlier; to not require interest on the unpaid balance, and the FERC's decision with regard to the re-pricing of energy from the Vidalia hydroelectric project for purposes of calculating production cost disparities. Various Arkansas parties requested rehearing of the FERC's decision (1) to require payments be made over seven months, rather than 12; (2) on the application of the +/- 11% bandwidth; and (3) to reject various accounting allocations proposed by the Utility operating companies. In April 2007, the FERC denied the requests for rehearing, 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 further below in this section under "Interruptible Load Proceeding." The LPSC appealed the decision to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Utility operating companies and the APSC intervened in that appeal. The LPSC raised three issues in its appeal: the inclusion of interruptible loads in the calculation of production costs, the repricing of energy from the Vidalia hydroelectric project, and the timing of the implementation of the remedy. Briefing in this proceeding is scheduled during the first quarter 2009.

Rough Production Cost Equalization Rates

2007 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2006 Production Costs

In May 2007 Entergy filed with the FERC the rates to implement the FERC's orders in the System Agreement proceeding. The filing shows the following payments/receipts among the Utility operating companies for 2007, based on calendar year 2006 production costs, commencing for service in June 2007, are necessary to achieve rough production cost equalization as defined by the FERC's orders:

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Payments or
(Receipts)

 

(In Millions)

   

Entergy Arkansas

$252

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana (includes
  ($30) million related to Entergy Texas)

($120)

Entergy Louisiana

($91)

Entergy Mississippi

($41)

Entergy New Orleans

$0

Entergy Texas

($30)

Several parties intervened in the rate proceeding at the FERC, including the APSC, the MPSC, the Council, and the LPSC, which have also filed protests. The PUCT also intervened. Intervenor testimony was filed in which the intervenors and also the FERC Staff advocate a number of positions on issues that affect the level of production costs the individual Utility operating companies are permitted to reflect in the bandwidth calculation, including the level of depreciation and decommissioning expense for nuclear facilities. The effect of the various positions would be to reallocate costs among the Utility operating companies. Additionally, the APSC, while not taking a position on whether Entergy Arkansas was imprudent for not exercising its right of first refusal to repurchase a portion of the Independence plant in 1996 and 1997 as alleged by the LPSC, alleges that if the FERC finds Entergy Arkansas to be imprudent for not exercising this option, the FERC should disallow recovery from customers by Entergy of approximately $43 million of increased costs. The Utility operating companies filed rebuttal testimony refuting the allegations of imprudence concerning the decision not to acquire the portion of the Independence plant, explaining why the bandwidth payments are properly recoverable under the AmerenUE contract, and explaining why the positions of FERC Staff and intervenors on the other issues should be rejected. A hearing in this proceeding concluded in July 2008, and the ALJ issued an initial decision in September 2008. The ALJ's initial decision concludes, among other things, that: (1) the decisions to not exercise Entergy Arkansas' option to purchase the Independence plant in 1996 and 1997 were prudent; (2) Entergy Arkansas properly flowed a portion of the bandwidth payments through to AmerenUE in accordance with the wholesale power contract; and (3) the level of nuclear depreciation and decommissioning expense reflected in the bandwidth calculation should be calculated based on NRC-authorized license life, rather than the nuclear depreciation and decommissioning expense authorized by the retail regulators for purposes of retail ratemaking. Following briefing by the parties, the matter was submitted to the FERC for decision.

The Utility operating companies also filed with the FERC during 2007 certain proposed modifications to the rough production cost equalization calculation. The FERC rejected certain of the proposed modifications, accepted certain of the proposed modifications without further proceedings, and set two of the proposed modifications for hearing and settlement procedures. With respect to the proceeding involving changes to the functionalization of costs to the production function, a hearing was held in March 2008 and the ALJ issued an Initial Decision in June 2008 finding the modifications proposed by the Utility operating companies to be just and reasonable. The matter is now pending before the FERC for decision. In the second proceeding, a contested settlement supported by the Utility operating companies is now pending before the FERC. In conjunction with the second proceeding, the LPSC has appealed to the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit the FERC's determination that changes proposed by the Utility operating companies and accepted by the FERC can become effective for the next bandwidth calculation even though such bandwidth calculation may include production costs incurred prior to the date the change is proposed by the Utility operating companies. In August 2008, the D.C. Circuit dismissed the LPSC's appeal.

The intervenor AmerenUE has argued that its current wholesale power contract with Entergy Arkansas, pursuant to which Entergy Arkansas sells power to AmerenUE, does not permit Entergy Arkansas to flow through to AmerenUE any portion of Entergy Arkansas' bandwidth payment.  According to AmerenUE, Entergy Arkansas has sought to collect from AmerenUE approximately $14.5 million of the 2007 Entergy Arkansas bandwidth payment.  The AmerenUE contract is scheduled to expire in August 2009. In April 2008, AmerenUE filed a complaint

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with the FERC seeking refunds of this amount, plus interest, in the event the FERC ultimately determines that bandwidth payments are not properly recovered under the AmerenUE contract.

On March 31, 2008, the LPSC filed a complaint with the FERC seeking, among other things, three amendments to the rough production cost equalization bandwidth formula. On April 22, 2008, the Utility operating companies filed an answer to the LPSC complaint urging the FERC to reject two of the proposed amendments and not opposing the third. On July 2, 2008, the FERC issued an order that, among other things, ordered the Utility operating companies to implement the LPSC's proposed amendment that they did not oppose and setting two of the LPSC's proposed amendments for hearing and settlement proceedings. Settlement procedures have been terminated, and a hearing is set for March 2009.

Entergy Arkansas paid $36 million per month to Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, and Entergy Mississippi for seven months, beginning in June 2007. Management believes that any changes in the allocation of production costs resulting from the FERC's decision and related retail proceedings should result in similar rate changes for retail customers. The APSC has approved a production cost allocation rider for recovery from customers of the retail portion of the costs allocated to Entergy Arkansas, but set a termination date of December 31, 2008 for the rider. In December 2007, the APSC issued a subsequent order stating the production cost allocation rider will remain in effect, and any future termination of the rider will be subject to eighteen months advance notice by the APSC, which would occur following notice and hearing. See "Fuel and purchased power cost recovery, Entergy Texas," in Note 2 to the financial statements for discussion of a PUCT decision that Entergy Texas is currently challenging regarding the rough production cost equalization payments that could result in $18.6 million of trapped costs between Entergy's Texas and Louisiana jurisdictions.

Based on the FERC's April 27, 2007 order on rehearing that is discussed above, in the second quarter 2007 Entergy Arkansas recorded accounts payable and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy Texas recorded accounts receivable to reflect the rough production cost equalization payments and receipts required to implement the FERC's remedy based on calendar year 2006 production costs. Entergy Arkansas recorded a corresponding regulatory asset for its right to collect the payments from its customers, and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy Texas recorded corresponding regulatory liabilities for their obligations to pass the receipts on to their customers. The regulatory asset and liabilities are shown as "System Agreement cost equalization" on the respective balance sheets.

In April 2007, the LPSC filed a complaint with the FERC in which it sought to have the FERC order the following modifications to Entergy's 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 filed an intervention and protest in this proceeding. In May 2007 the FERC denied the LPSC's complaint. The LPSC has requested rehearing, and FERC consideration of that request is still pending.

2008 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2007 Production Costs

In May 2008, Entergy filed with the FERC the rates for the second year to implement the FERC's orders in the System Agreement proceeding. The filing, as amended in August 2008, shows the following payments/receipts among the Utility operating companies for 2008, based on calendar year 2007 production costs, commencing for service in June 2008, are necessary to achieve rough production cost equalization under the FERC's orders:

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Payments or
(Receipts)

 

(In Millions)

Entergy Arkansas

$252

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana

($124)

Entergy Louisiana

($36)

Entergy Mississippi

($20)

Entergy New Orleans

($7)

Entergy Texas

($65)

Several parties intervened in the proceeding at the FERC, including the APSC, the LPSC, and AmerenUE, which have also filed protests. Several other parties, including the MPSC and the City Council, have intervened in the proceeding without filing a protest. On July 29, 2008, the FERC set the proceeding for hearing and settlement procedures. Settlement procedures were terminated on October 22, 2008. In direct testimony filed on January 9, 2009, certain intervenors and also the FERC staff advocate a number of positions on issues that affect the level of production costs the individual Utility operating companies are permitted to reflect in the bandwidth calculation, including the level of depreciation and decommissioning expense for the nuclear and fossil-fueled generating facilities. The effect of these various positions would be to reallocate costs among the Utility operating companies. In addition, three issues were raised alleging imprudence by the Utility operating companies, including whether the Utility operating companies had properly reflected generating units' minimum operating levels for purposes of making unit commitment and dispatch decisions, whether Entergy Arkansas' sales to third parties from its retained share of the Grand Gulf nuclear facility were reasonable, prudent, and non-discriminatory, and whether Entergy Louisiana's long-term Evangeline gas purchase contract was prudent and reasonable. Reply testimony is due beginning March 6, 2009, and a hearing in the proceeding is scheduled for June 2009.

Entergy Arkansas paid $36 million per month for seven months in 2008, and began making the payments in June 2008. As discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements, the APSC has approved a production cost allocation rider for recovery from customers of the retail portion of the costs allocated to Entergy Arkansas.

Calendar Year 2008 Production Costs

The liabilities and assets for the preliminary estimate of the payments and receipts required to implement the FERC's remedy based on calendar year 2008 production costs were recorded in December 2008, based on certain year-to-date information.  The preliminary estimate was recorded based on the following estimate of the payments/receipts among the Utility operating companies for 2009:

 

Payments or
(Receipts)

 

(In Millions)

   

Entergy Arkansas

$394

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana

($67)

Entergy Louisiana

($156)

Entergy Mississippi

($23)

Entergy New Orleans

($-)

Entergy Texas

($148)

The actual payments/receipts for 2009, based on calendar year 2008 production costs, will not be calculated until the Utility operating companies' FERC Form 1s have been filed. Once the calculation is completed, it will be filed at the FERC. The level of any payments and receipts is significantly affected by a number of factors, including, among others, weather, the price of alternative fuels, the operating

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characteristics of the Entergy System generating fleet, and multiple factors affecting the calculation of the non-fuel related revenue requirement components of the total production costs, such as plant investment.

Interruptible Load Proceeding

In April 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. The FERC issued its order on remand in September 2007, in which it directs Entergy to make a compliance filing removing all interruptible load from the computation of peak load responsibility commencing April 1, 2004 and to issue any necessary refunds to reflect this change. In addition, the order directs the Utility operating companies to make refunds for the period May 1995 through July 1996. Entergy, the APSC, the MPSC, and the City Council requested rehearing of the FERC's order on remand. The FERC granted the Utility operating companies' request to delay the payment of refunds for the period May 1995 through July 1996 until 30 days following a FERC order on rehearing. The FERC issued in September 2008 an order denying rehearing. The refunds were made by the Utility operating companies that owed refunds to the Utility operating companies that were due a refund on October 15, 2008. The APSC and the Utility operating companies appealed the FERC decisions to the D.C. Circuit. The procedural schedule calls for briefing during the first half of 2009. Because of its refund obligation to customers as a result of this proceeding and a related LPSC proceeding, Entergy Louisiana recorded provisions during 2008 of approximately $16 million, including interest, for rate refunds.

Entergy Arkansas Notice of Termination of System Agreement Participation and Related APSC Investigation

Citing its concerns that the benefits of its continued participation in the current form of the System Agreement have been seriously eroded, in December 2005, Entergy Arkansas submitted its notice that it will terminate its participation in the current System Agreement effective ninety-six (96) months from the date of the notice or such earlier date as authorized by the FERC. Entergy Arkansas indicated, however, that a properly structured replacement agreement could be a viable alternative. The APSC had previously commenced an investigation, in 2004, into whether Entergy Arkansas' continued participation in the System Agreement is in the best interests of its customers. More than once in the investigation proceeding Entergy Arkansas and its president, Hugh McDonald, filed testimony with the APSC in response to requests by the APSC. In addition, Mr. McDonald has appeared before the APSC on more than one occasion at public hearings for questioning. In December 2007, the APSC ordered Mr. McDonald to file testimony each month with the APSC detailing progress toward development of successor arrangements, beginning in March 2008, and Mr. McDonald has done so.

The APSC had also previously commenced investigations concerning Entergy Louisiana's Vidalia purchased power contract and Entergy Louisiana's then pending acquisition of the Perryville power plant. Entergy Arkansas has provided information to the APSC in these investigations and no further activity has occurred in them.

Entergy Mississippi Notice of Termination of System Agreement Participation

In October 2007 the MPSC issued a letter confirming its belief that Entergy Mississippi should exit the System Agreement in light of the recent developments involving the System Agreement. The MPSC letter also requested that Entergy Mississippi advise the MPSC regarding the status of the Utility operating companies' effort to develop successor arrangements to the System Agreement and advise the MPSC regarding Entergy Mississippi's position with respect to withdrawal from the System Agreement. In November 2007, pursuant to the provisions of the System Agreement, Entergy Mississippi provided its written notice to terminate its participation in the System Agreement effective ninety-six (96) months from the date of the notice or such earlier date as authorized by the FERC.

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On February 2, 2009, Entergy Arkansas and Entergy Mississippi filed with the FERC their notices of cancellation to effectuate the termination of their participation in the Entergy System Agreement, effective December 18, 2013 and November 7, 2015, respectively. While the FERC had indicated previously that the notices should be filed 18 months prior to Entergy Arkansas' termination (approximately mid-2012), the filing explains that resolving this issue now, rather than later, is important to ensure that informed long-term resource planning decisions can be made during the years leading up to Entergy Arkansas' withdrawal and that all of the Utility operating companies are properly positioned to continue to operate reliably following Entergy Arkansas' and, eventually, Entergy Mississippi's, departure from the System Agreement. Entergy Arkansas and Entergy Mississippi request that the FERC accept the proposed notices of cancellation without further proceedings.

LPSC and City Council Action Related to the Entergy Arkansas and Entergy Mississippi Notices of Termination

In light of the notices of Entergy Arkansas and Entergy Mississippi to terminate participation in the current System Agreement, in January 2008 the LPSC unanimously voted to direct the LPSC Staff to begin evaluating the potential for a new agreement. Likewise, the New Orleans City Council opened a docket to gather information on progress towards a successor agreement.

Independent Coordinator of Transmission

In 2000, the FERC issued an order encouraging utilities to voluntarily place their transmission facilities under the control of independent RTOs (regional transmission organizations). Delays in implementing the FERC RTO order occurred due to a variety of reasons, including the fact that utility companies, other stakeholders, and federal and state regulators have had to work to resolve various issues related to the establishment of such RTOs.

In November 2006, after nearly a decade of effort, including filings, orders, technical conferences, and proceedings at the FERC, the Utility operating companies installed the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) as their Independent Coordinator of Transmission (ICT). The installation does not transfer control of Entergy's transmission system to the ICT, but rather vests with the ICT responsibility for:

  • granting or denying transmission service on the Utility operating companies' transmission system.
  • administering the Utility operating companies' OASIS node for purposes of processing and evaluating transmission service requests and ensuring compliance with the Utility operating companies' obligation to post transmission-related information.
  • developing a base plan for the Utility operating companies' transmission system that will result in the ICT making the determination on whether costs of transmission upgrades should be rolled into the Utility operating companies' transmission rates or directly assigned to the customer requesting or causing an upgrade to be constructed. This should result in a transmission pricing structure that ensures that the Utility operating companies' retail native load customers are required to pay for only those upgrades necessary to reliably serve their needs.
  • serving as the reliability coordinator for the Entergy transmission system.
  • overseeing the operation of the weekly procurement process (WPP).
  • evaluating interconnection-related investments already made on the Entergy System for purposes of determining the future allocation of the uncredited portion of these investments, pursuant to a detailed methodology. The ICT agreement also clarifies the rights that customers receive when they fund a supplemental upgrade.

The initial term of the ICT is four years, and Entergy is precluded from terminating the ICT prior to the end of the four-year period.

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After the FERC issued its April 2006 order approving the ICT proposal, the Utility operating companies made a series of compliance filings with the FERC that were protested by various parties. The FERC has accepted the compliance filings and denied various requests for rehearing, although appeals of the FERC's ICT orders are currently pending in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. As stated above, SPP was installed as the ICT in November 2006.

In October 2006 the Utility operating companies filed revisions to their Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) with the FERC to establish a mechanism to recover from their wholesale transmission customers the (1) costs incurred to develop or join an RTO and to develop the ICT; and (2) on-going costs that will be incurred under the ICT agreement. Several parties intervened opposing the proposed tariff revisions. In December 2006 the FERC accepted for filing Entergy's proposed tariff revisions, and set them for hearing and settlement procedures. In its Order, the FERC concluded that each of the Utility operating companies "should be allowed the opportunity to recover its start up costs associated with its formation of the ICT and its participation in prior failed attempts to form an RTO," and also that the proposed tariffs raised issues of fact that are more properly addressed through hearing and settlement procedures. In June 2007 the Utility operating companies reached a settlement-in-principle with the parties to the proceeding and the FERC approved the settlement in November 2007.

In the FERC's April 2006 order that approved Entergy's ICT proposal, the FERC stated that the 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. The Utility operating companies have filed status reports with the FERC notifying the FERC that, due to unexpected issues with the development of the WPP software and testing, the WPP is still not operational. The Utility operating companies also filed various tariff revisions with the FERC in 2007 and 2008 to address issues identified during the testing of the WPP and changes to the effective date of the WPP. On October 10, 2008, the FERC issued an order accepting a tariff amendment establishing that the WPP shall take effect at a date to be determined, after completion of successful simulation trials and the ICT's endorsement of the WPP's implementation. On January 16, 2009, the Utility operating companies filed a compliance filing with the FERC that included the ICT's endorsement of the WPP implementation, subject to the FERC's acceptance of certain additional tariff amendments and the completion of simulation testing and certain other items. The Utility operating companies filed the tariff amendments supported by the ICT on the same day. The amendments propose to further amend the WPP to (a) limit supplier offers in the WPP to on-peak periods and (b) eliminate the granting of certain transmission service through the WPP. The Utility operating companies noted that Entergy and the ICT believe that, if the FERC approves the compliance and tariff filings by March 17, 2009, the WPP can be implemented by the week of March 23, 2009.

In March 2004, the APSC initiated a proceeding to review Entergy's proposal and compare the benefits of such a proposal to the alternative of Entergy joining the SPP RTO. The APSC sought comments from all interested parties on this issue. Various parties, including the APSC General Staff, filed comments opposing the ICT proposal. A public hearing has not been scheduled by the APSC at this time, although Entergy Arkansas has responded to various APSC data requests. In May 2004, Entergy Mississippi filed a petition for review with the MPSC requesting MPSC support for the ICT proposal. A hearing in that proceeding was held in August 2004, and the MPSC has taken no further action. Entergy New Orleans appeared before the Utility Committee of the City Council in June 2005 to provide information on the ICT proposal, and the Council has taken no further action. Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana filed an application with the LPSC requesting that the LPSC find that the ICT proposal is a prudent and appropriate course of action. A hearing in the LPSC proceeding on the ICT proposal was held in October 2005, and the LPSC voted to approve the ICT proposal in July 2006.

Interconnection Orders

The Utility operating companies (except Entergy New Orleans) have been parties to several proceedings before the FERC in which independent generation entities (GenCos) seek refunds of monies that the GenCos had previously paid to the Entergy companies for facilities necessary to connect the GenCos' generation facilities to Entergy's transmission system. To the extent the Utility operating companies have been ordered to provide refunds, or may in the future be ordered to provide additional refunds, the majority of these costs will qualify for

46

 

inclusion in the Utility operating companies' rates. The recovery of these costs is not automatic, however, especially at the retail level, where the majority of the cost recovery would occur. With respect to the facilities that the GenCos have funded, the ICT recently completed a report evaluating the classification of a portion of facilities that either are receiving refunds or eligible for refunds. Following the issuance of the report, the Utility operating companies filed proposed modifications to the respective interconnection agreements seeking to implement the ICT's classifications and thereby reduce the amount of refunds not yet credited against transmission charges. The FERC has accepted the amended interconnection agreements that have been filed. The ICT is continuing to review additional facilities and will issue subsequent reports evaluating the classification of such transmission upgrades.

Market and Credit Risk Sensitive Instruments

Market risk is the risk of changes in the value of commodity and financial instruments, or in future operating results or cash flows, in response to changing market conditions. Entergy holds commodity and financial instruments that are exposed to the following significant market risks:

  • The commodity price risk associated with the sale of electricity by Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business.
  • The interest rate and equity price risk associated with Entergy's investments in pension and other postretirement benefit trust funds. See Note 11 to the financial statements for details regarding Entergy's pension and other postretirement benefit trust funds.
  • The interest rate and equity price risk associated with Entergy's investments in decommissioning trust funds, particularly in the Non-Utility Nuclear business. See Note 17 to the financial statements for details regarding Entergy's decommissioning trust funds.
  • The interest rate risk associated with changes in interest rates as a result of Entergy's issuances of debt. Entergy manages its interest rate exposure by monitoring current interest rates and its debt outstanding in relation to total capitalization. See Notes 4 and 5 to the financial statements for the details of Entergy's debt outstanding.

Entergy's commodity and financial instruments are also exposed to credit risk. Credit risk is the risk of loss from nonperformance by suppliers, customers, or financial counterparties to a contract or agreement. Credit risk also includes potential demand on liquidity due to credit support requirements within supply or sales agreements.

Commodity Price Risk

Power Generation

As a wholesale generator, Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business's core business is selling energy, measured in MWh, to its customers. Non-Utility Nuclear enters into forward contracts with its customers and sells energy in the day ahead or spot markets. In addition to selling the energy produced by its plants, Non-Utility Nuclear sells unforced capacity to load-serving entities, which allows those companies to meet specified reserve and related requirements placed on them by the ISOs in their respective areas. Non-Utility Nuclear's forward fixed price power contracts consist of contracts to sell energy only, contracts to sell capacity only, and bundled contracts in which it sells both capacity and energy. While the terminology and payment mechanics vary in these contracts, each of these types of contracts requires Non-Utility Nuclear to deliver MWh of energy to its counterparties, make capacity available to them, or both. The following is a summary as of December 31, 2008 of the amount of Non-Utility Nuclear's nuclear power plants' planned energy output that is sold forward under physical or financial contracts:

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2009

 

2010

 

2011

 

2012

 

2013

Non-Utility Nuclear:

                   

Percent of planned generation sold forward:

                   
 

Unit-contingent

 

48%

 

31%

 

29%

 

18%

 

12%

 

Unit-contingent with guarantee of availability (1)

 

38%

 

35%

 

17%

 

7%

 

6%

 

Total

 

86%

 

66%

 

46%

 

25%

 

18%

Planned generation (TWh)

 

41

 

40

 

41

 

41

 

40

Average contracted price per MWh (2)

 

$61

 

$60

 

$56

 

$54

 

$50

(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.

(2)

The Vermont Yankee acquisition included a 10-year PPA under which the former owners will buy most of the power produced by the plant, which is 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, beginning in November 2005, if power market prices drop below PPA prices, which has not happened thus far and is not expected in the foreseeable future.

Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business' purchase of the FitzPatrick and Indian Point 3 plants from NYPA included value sharing agreements with NYPA. In October 2007, NYPA and the subsidiaries that own the FitzPatrick and Indian Point 3 plants amended and restated the value sharing agreements to clarify and amend certain provisions of the original terms. Under the amended value sharing agreements, Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business agreed to make annual payments to NYPA based on the generation output of the Indian Point 3 and FitzPatrick plants from January 2007 through December 2014. Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business will pay NYPA $6.59 per MWh for power sold from Indian Point 3, up to an annual cap of $48 million, and $3.91 per MWh for power sold from FitzPatrick, up to an annual cap of $24 million. The annual payment for each year is due by January 15 of the following year. In August 2008, Non-Utility Nuclear entered into a resolution of a dispute with NYPA over the applicability of the value sharing agreements to its FitzPatrick and Indian Point 3 nuclear power plants after the planned spin-off of the Non-Utility Nuclear business. Under the resolution, Non-Utility Nuclear agreed not to treat the separation as a "Cessation Event" that would terminate its obligation to make the payments under the value sharing agreements. As a result, after the spin-off transaction, Non-Utility Nuclear will continue to be obligated to make payments to NYPA under the amended and restated value sharing agreements.

Non-Utility Nuclear will record its liability for payments to NYPA as power is generated and sold by Indian Point 3 and FitzPatrick. Non-Utility Nuclear recorded a $72 million liability for generation in both 2008 and 2007. An amount equal to the liability will be recorded to the plant asset account as contingent purchase price consideration for the plants. This amount will be depreciated over the expected remaining useful life of the plants.

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 collateral to satisfy these requirements is an Entergy Corporation guaranty.  Cash and letters of credit are also acceptable forms of collateral.  At December 31, 2008, based on power prices at that time, Entergy had in place as collateral $536 million of Entergy Corporation guarantees for wholesale transactions, including $60 million of guarantees that support letters of credit and $2 million of cash collateral. As of December 31, 2008, the assurance requirement associated with Non-Utility Nuclear is estimated to increase by an amount of up to $216 million if gas prices increase $1 per MMBtu in both the short- and long-term markets. In the event of a decrease in Entergy

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Corporation's credit rating to below investment grade, based on power prices as of December 31, 2008, Entergy would have been required under some of the agreements to replace approximately $76 million of the Entergy Corporation guarantees with cash or letters of credit.

For the planned energy output under contract through 2013 as of December 31, 2008, 68% of the planned energy output is under contract with counterparties with public investment grade credit ratings; 31% is with counterparties with public non-investment grade credit ratings, primarily a utility from which Non-Utility Nuclear purchased one of its power plants and entered into a long-term fixed-price purchased power agreement; and 1% is with load-serving entities without public credit ratings.

In addition to selling the power produced by its plants, the Non-Utility Nuclear business sells unforced 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:

   

2009

 

2010

 

2011

 

2012

 

2013

Non-Utility Nuclear:

                   

Percent of capacity sold forward:

                   
 

Bundled capacity and energy contracts

 

26%

 

26%

 

26%

 

19%

 

16%

 

Capacity contracts

 

47%

 

34%

 

26%

 

9%

 

0%

 

Total

 

73%

 

60%

 

52%

 

28%

 

16%

Planned net MW in operation

 

4,998

 

4,998

 

4,998

 

4,998

 

4,998

Average capacity contract price per kW per month

 

$2.1

 

$3.4

 

$3.4

 

$3.2

 

$-

Blended Capacity and Energy (based on revenues)

                   

% of planned generation and capacity sold forward

 

86%

 

64%

 

43%

 

21%

 

14%

Average contract revenue per MWh

 

$63

 

$62

 

$59

 

$55

 

$50

Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of Entergy's financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to apply appropriate accounting policies and to make estimates and judgments that can have a significant effect on reported financial position, results of operations, and cash flows. Management has identified the following accounting policies and estimates as critical because they are based on assumptions and measurements that involve a high degree of uncertainty, and the potential for future changes in the assumptions and measurements that could produce estimates that would have a material effect on the presentation of Entergy's financial position or results of operations.

Nuclear Decommissioning Costs

Entergy owns a significant number of nuclear generation facilities in both its Utility and Non-Utility Nuclear business units. Regulations require Entergy to decommission its nuclear power plants after each facility is taken out of service, and money is collected and deposited in trust funds during the facilities' operating lives in order to provide for this obligation. Entergy conducts periodic decommissioning cost studies to estimate the costs that will be incurred to decommission the facilities. The following key assumptions have a significant effect on these estimates:

  • Cost Escalation Factors - Entergy's decommissioning revenue requirement studies include an assumption that decommissioning costs will escalate over present cost levels by annual factors ranging from approximately CPI-U to 5.5%. A 50 basis point change in this assumption could change the ultimate cost of decommissioning a facility by as much as 11%.
  • Timing - In projecting decommissioning costs, two assumptions must be made to estimate the timing of plant decommissioning. First, the date of the plant's retirement must be estimated. The expiration of the plant's operating license is typically used for this purpose, but the assumption may be made that the plant's license will be renewed and operate for some time beyond the original license term. Second, an assumption must be made whether decommissioning will begin immediately upon plant retirement, or whether the plant will be held in "safestore" status for later decommissioning, as permitted by applicable regulations. While the effect of these assumptions cannot be determined with precision, assuming either license renewal or use of a "safestore" status can possibly change the present value of these obligations. Future revisions to appropriately reflect changes needed to the estimate of decommissioning costs will affect net income, only to the extent that the estimate of any reduction in the liability exceeds the amount of the undepreciated asset retirement cost at the date of the revision, for unregulated portions of Entergy's business. Any increases in the liability recorded due to such changes are capitalized and depreciated over the asset's remaining economic life in accordance with SFAS 143.

49

 

In the third quarter 2008, Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business recorded an increase of $13.7 million in decommissioning liabilities for certain of its plants as a result of revised decommissioning cost studies. The revised estimates resulted in the recognition of a $13.7 million asset retirement obligation asset that will be depreciated over the remaining life of the units.

In the fourth quarter of 2007, Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business recorded an increase of $100 million in decommissioning liabilities for certain of its plants as a result of revised decommissioning cost studies. The revised estimates resulted in the recognition of a $100 million asset retirement obligation asset that will be depreciated over the remaining life of the units.

In the third quarter of 2006, Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business recorded a reduction of $27 million in decommissioning liability for a plant as a result of a revised decommissioning cost study and changes in assumptions regarding the timing of when decommissioning of the plant will begin. The revised estimate resulted in miscellaneous income of $27 million ($16.6 million net-of-tax), reflecting the excess of the reduction in the liability over the amount of undepreciated asset retirement cost recorded at the time of adoption of SFAS 143.

Unbilled Revenue

As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, Entergy records an estimate of the revenues earned for energy delivered since the latest customer billing. Each month the estimated unbilled revenue amounts are recorded as revenue and a receivable, and the prior month's estimate is reversed. The difference between the estimate of the unbilled receivable at the beginning of the period and the end of the period is the amount of unbilled revenue recognized during the period. The estimate recorded is primarily based upon an estimate of customer usage during the unbilled period and the billed price to customers in that month, including fuel price. Therefore, revenue recognized may be affected by the estimated price and usage at the beginning and end of each period and fuel price fluctuations, in addition to changes in certain components of the calculation.

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Impairment of Long-lived Assets and Trust Fund Investments

Entergy has significant investments in long-lived assets in all of its segments, and Entergy evaluates these assets against the market economics and under the accounting rules for impairment whenever there are indications that impairments may exist. This evaluation involves a significant degree of estimation and uncertainty, and these estimates are particularly important in Entergy's Utility business and the non-nuclear wholesale assets business. In the Utility business, portions of River Bend and Grand Gulf are not included in rate base, which could reduce the revenue that would otherwise be recovered for the applicable portions of those units' generation. In the non-nuclear wholesale assets business, Entergy's investments in merchant generation assets are subject to impairment if adverse market conditions arise.

In order to determine if Entergy should recognize an impairment of a long-lived asset that is to be held and used, accounting standards require that the sum of the expected undiscounted future cash flows from the asset be compared to the asset's carrying value. If the expected undiscounted future cash flows exceed the carrying value, no impairment is recorded; if such cash flows are less than the carrying value, Entergy is required to record an impairment charge to write the asset down to its fair value. If an asset is held for sale, an impairment is required to be recognized if the fair value (less costs to sell) of the asset is less than its carrying value.

These estimates are based on a number of key assumptions, including:

  • Future power and fuel prices - Electricity and gas prices have been very volatile in recent years, and this volatility is expected to continue. This volatility necessarily increases the imprecision inherent in the long-term forecasts of commodity prices that are a key determinant of estimated future cash flows.
  • Market value of generation assets - Valuing assets held for sale requires estimating the current market value of generation assets. While market transactions provide evidence for this valuation, the market for such assets is volatile and the value of individual assets is impacted by factors unique to those assets.
  • Future operating costs - Entergy assumes relatively minor annual increases in operating costs. Technological or regulatory changes that have a significant impact on operations could cause a significant change in these assumptions.

As disclosed in Note 1 to the financial statements, unrealized losses that are not considered temporarily impaired are recorded in earnings for Non-Utility Nuclear.  Non-Utility Nuclear recorded charges to interest income of $50 million in 2008 and $5 million in 2007 resulting from the recognition of impairments of certain securities held in its decommissioning trust funds that are not considered temporary.  No impairments were recorded in 2006.  Given the current market events and volatility in the debt and equity markets, additional impairments could be recorded in 2009 to the extent that then current  market conditions change the evaluation of recoverability of unrealized losses.  

Qualified Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

Entergy sponsors qualified, defined benefit pension plans which cover substantially all employees. Additionally, Entergy currently provides postretirement health care and life insurance benefits for substantially all employees who reach retirement age while still working for Entergy. Entergy's reported costs of providing these benefits, as described in Note 11 to the financial statements, are impacted by numerous factors including the provisions of the plans, changing employee demographics, and various actuarial calculations, assumptions, and accounting mechanisms. Because of the complexity of these calculations, the long-term nature of these obligations, and the importance of the assumptions utilized, Entergy's estimate of these costs is a critical accounting estimate for the Utility and Non-Utility Nuclear segments.

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Assumptions

Key actuarial assumptions utilized in determining these costs include:

  • Discount rates used in determining the future benefit obligations;
  • Projected health care cost trend rates;
  • Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets; and
  • Rate of increase in future compensation levels.

Entergy reviews these assumptions on an annual basis and adjusts them as necessary. The falling interest rate environment and worse-than-expected performance of the financial equity markets in previous years have impacted Entergy's funding and reported costs for these benefits. In addition, these trends have caused Entergy to make a number of adjustments to its assumptions.

In selecting an assumed discount rate to calculate benefit obligations, Entergy reviews market yields on high-quality corporate debt and matches these rates with Entergy's projected stream of benefit payments. Based on recent market trends, Entergy increased its discount rate used to calculate benefit obligations from 6.5% in 2007 to 6.75% for pension and 6.7% for other postretirement benefits in 2008. Entergy's assumed discount rate used to calculate the 2006 benefit obligations was 6.00%. Entergy reviews actual recent cost trends and projected future trends in establishing health care cost trend rates. Based on this review, Entergy's health care cost trend rate assumption used in calculating the December 31, 2008 accumulated postretirement benefit obligation was an 8.5% increase in health care costs in 2009 gradually decreasing each successive year, until it reaches a 4.75% annual increase in health care costs in 2015 and beyond.

In determining its expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, Entergy reviews past long-term performance, asset allocations, and long-term inflation assumptions. Entergy targets an asset allocation for its pension plan assets of roughly 65% equity securities and 35% fixed-income securities. The target allocation for Entergy's other postretirement benefit assets is 51% equity securities and 49% fixed-income securities. Entergy's expected long-term rate of return on pension plan and non-taxable other postretirement assets used were 8.5% in 2008, 2007 and 2006. Entergy's expected long-term rate of return on taxable other postretirement assets were 5.5% in 2008 and 2007 and 2006. The assumed rate of increase in future compensation levels used to calculate benefit obligations was 4.23 % in 2008 and 2007 and 3.25% in 2006.

Cost Sensitivity

The following chart reflects the sensitivity of qualified pension cost to changes in certain actuarial assumptions (dollars in thousands):



Actuarial Assumption

 


Change in
Assumption

 

Impact on 2008
Qualified Pension Cost

 

Impact on Qualified Projected
Benefit Obligation

 

 

Increase/(Decrease)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discount rate

 

(0.25%)

 

$10,797

 

$111,953

Rate of return on plan assets

 

(0.25%)

 

$6,781

 

-

Rate of increase in compensation

 

0.25%

 

$5,593

 

$29,424

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The following chart reflects the sensitivity of postretirement benefit cost to changes in certain actuarial assumptions (dollars in thousands):



Actuarial Assumption

 


Change in
Assumption

 


Impact on 2008
Postretirement Benefit Cost

 

Impact on Accumulated
Postretirement Benefit
Obligation

 

 

Increase/(Decrease)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Health care cost trend

 

0.25%

 

$6,151

 

$29,047

Discount rate

 

(0.25%)

 

$4,018

 

33,496

Each fluctuation above assumes that the other components of the calculation are held constant.

Accounting Mechanisms

In September 2006, FASB issued SFAS 158, "Employer's Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements Nos. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R)," to be effective December 31, 2006. SFAS 158 requires an employer to recognize in its balance sheet the funded status of its benefit plans. Refer to Note 11 to the financial statements for a further discussion of SFAS 158 and Entergy's funded status.

In accordance with SFAS No. 87, "Employers' Accounting for Pensions," Entergy utilizes a number of accounting mechanisms that reduce the volatility of reported pension costs. Differences between actuarial assumptions and actual plan results are deferred and are amortized into expense only when the accumulated differences exceed 10% of the greater of the projected benefit obligation or the market-related value of plan assets. If necessary, the excess is amortized over the average remaining service period of active employees.

Entergy calculates the expected return on pension and other postretirement benefit plan assets by multiplying the long-term expected rate of return on assets by the market-related value (MRV) of plan assets.  Entergy determines the MRV of pension plan assets by calculating a value that uses a 20-quarter phase-in of the difference between actual and expected returns.  For other postretirement benefit plan assets Entergy uses fair value when determining MRV.

Costs and Funding

In 2008, Entergy's total qualified pension cost was $98 million. Entergy anticipates 2009 qualified pension cost to be $86 million. Pension funding was $287.8 million for 2008. Entergy's contributions to the pension trust are currently estimated to be $140 million in 2009, although market conditions occurring in 2008 could have impacts to that expected amount, as further described below. Guidance pursuant to the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (Pension Protection Act) rules, effective for the 2008 plan year and beyond, continues to evolve, be interpreted through technical corrections bills, and discussed within the industry and congressional lawmakers. Any changes to the Pension Protection Act as a result of these discussions and efforts may affect the level of Entergy's pension contributions in the future.

The Pension Protection Act of 2006 was signed by the President on August 17, 2006. The intent of the legislation is to require companies to fund 100% of their pension liability; and then for companies to fund, on a going-forward basis, an amount generally estimated to be the amount that the pension liability increases each year due to an additional year of service by the employees eligible for pension benefits.

The recent decline in stock market prices will affect Entergy's planned levels of contributions in the future.  Minimum required funding calculations as determined under Pension Protection Act guidance are performed annually as of January 1 of each year and are based on measurements of the market-related values of assets and funding liabilities as measured at that date.  An excess of the funding liability over the market-related value of assets, results in a funding shortfall which, under the Pension Protection Act, must be funded over a seven-year rolling

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period.  Entergy's minimum required contributions for the 2009 plan year are generally payable in installments throughout 2009 and 2010 and will be based on the funding calculations as of January 1, 2009.  The final date at which 2009 plan year contributions may be made is September 15, 2010.  Given the decline in the stock market, the minimum required contributions for the 2009 plan year, payable in 2009 or 2010, will increase although the level of increase or timing of that increase cannot be determined until the January 1, 2009 valuation is completed by April 2009. Entergy, however, does not currently expect the contributions to increase materially over and above historical levels of pension contributions.

Total postretirement health care and life insurance benefit costs for Entergy in 2008 were $93.4 million, including $24.7 million in savings due to the estimated effect of future Medicare Part D subsidies. Entergy expects 2009 postretirement health care and life insurance benefit costs to be $105.2 million. This includes a projected $24 million in savings due to the estimated effect of future Medicare Part D subsidies. Entergy expects to contribute $76 million in 2009 to its other postretirement plans.

Other Contingencies

As a company with multi-state domestic utility operations and a history of international investments, Entergy is subject to a number of federal, state, and international laws and regulations and other factors and conditions in the areas in which it operates, which potentially subject it to environmental, litigation, and other risks. Entergy periodically evaluates its exposure for such risks and records a reserve for those matters which are considered probable and estimable in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Environmental

Entergy must comply with environmental laws and regulations applicable to the handling and disposal of hazardous waste. Under these various laws and regulations, Entergy could incur substantial costs to restore properties consistent with the various standards. Entergy conducts studies to determine the extent of any required remediation and has recorded reserves based upon its evaluation of the likelihood of loss and expected dollar amount for each issue. Additional sites could be identified which require environmental remediation for which Entergy could be liable. The amounts of environmental reserves recorded can be significantly affected by the following external events or conditions:

  • Changes to existing state or federal regulation by governmental authorities having jurisdiction over air quality, water quality, control of toxic substances and hazardous and solid wastes, and other environmental matters.
  • The identification of additional sites or the filing of other complaints in which Entergy may be asserted to be a potentially responsible party.
  • The resolution or progression of existing matters through the court system or resolution by the EPA.

Litigation

Entergy has been named as defendant in a number of lawsuits involving employment, ratepayer, and injuries and damages issues, among other matters. Entergy periodically reviews the cases in which it has been named as defendant and assesses the likelihood of loss in each case as probable, reasonably estimable, or remote and records reserves for cases which have a probable likelihood of loss and can be estimated. Notes 2 and 8 to the financial statements include more detail on ratepayer and other lawsuits and management's assessment of the adequacy of reserves recorded for these matters. Given the environment in which Entergy operates, and the unpredictable nature of many of the cases in which Entergy is named as a defendant, however, the ultimate outcome of the litigation Entergy is exposed to has the potential to materially affect the results of operations of Entergy, or its operating company subsidiaries.

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Uncertain Tax Positions

Entergy's operations, including acquisitions and divestitures, require Entergy to evaluate risks such as the potential tax effects of a transaction, or warranties made in connection with such a transaction. Entergy believes that it has adequately assessed and provided for these types of risks, where applicable. Any reserves recorded for these types of issues, however, could be significantly affected by events such as claims made by third parties under warranties, additional transactions contemplated by Entergy, or completion of reviews of the tax treatment of certain transactions or issues by taxing authorities. Entergy does not expect a material adverse effect on earnings from these matters.

New Accounting Pronouncements

The FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141(R), "Business Combinations" (SFAS 141(R)) during the fourth quarter 2007. The significant provisions of SFAS 141R are that: (i) assets, liabilities and non-controlling (minority) interests will be measured at fair market value; (ii) costs associated with the acquisition such as transaction-related costs or restructuring costs will be separately recorded from the acquisition and expensed as incurred; (iii) any excess of fair market value of the assets, liabilities and minority interests acquired over the fair market value of the purchase price will be recognized as a bargain purchase and a gain recorded at the acquisition date; and (iv) contractual contingencies resulting in potential future assets or liabilities may be recorded at fair market value at the date of acquisition if certain criteria are met. SFAS 141(R) applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. An entity may not apply SFAS 141(R) before that date.

The FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 160, "Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements" (SFAS 160) during the fourth quarter 2007. SFAS 160 enhances disclosures and affects the presentation of minority interests in the balance sheet, income statement and statement of comprehensive income. SFAS 160 will also require a parent to record a gain or loss when a subsidiary in which it retains a minority interest is deconsolidated from the parent company. SFAS 160 applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. An entity may not apply SFAS 160 before that date. Pursuant to SFAS 160, beginning in 2009, Entergy will prospectively reclassify as equity its subsidiary preferred stock without sinking fund.

In March 2008 the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161 "Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133" (SFAS 161), which requires enhanced disclosures about an entity's derivative and hedging activities. SFAS 161 requires qualitative disclosures about objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts of and gains and losses on derivative instruments, and disclosures about credit-risk-related contingent features in derivative agreements. SFAS 161 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008.

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ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES  
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA - FIVE-YEAR COMPARISON  
                       
    2008   2007   2006   2005   2004  
    (In Thousands, Except Percentages and Per Share Amounts)  
                       
Operating revenues   $13,093,756   $11,484,398   $10,932,158   $10,106,247   $9,685,521  
Income from continuing operations   $1,220,566   $1,134,849   $1,133,098   $943,125   $909,565 (1)
Earnings per share from continuing operations:                      
  Basic   $6.39   $5.77   $5.46   $4.49   $4.01  
  Diluted   $6.20   $5.60   $5.36   $4.40   $3.93  
Dividends declared per share   $3.00   $2.58   $2.16   $2.16   $1.89  
Return on common equity   15.42%   14.13%   14.21%   11.20%   10.70%  
Book value per share, year-end   $42.07   $40.71   $40.45   $37.31   $38.25  
Total assets   $36,616,818   $33,643,002   $31,082,731   $30,857,657   $28,310,777  
Long-term obligations (2)   $11,517,382   $9,948,573   $8,996,620   $9,013,448   $7,180,291  
                       
(1) Before cumulative effect of accounting changes.                      
(2) Includes long-term debt (excluding currently maturing debt), preferred stock with sinking fund, and noncurrent capital lease obligations.  
                       
    2008   2007   2006   2005   2004  
    (Dollars In Millions)  
Utility Electric Operating Revenues:                      
  Residential   $3,610   $3,228   $3,193   $2,912   $2,842  
  Commercial   2,735   2,413   2,318   2,041   2,045  
  Industrial   2,933   2,545   2,630   2,419   2,311  
  Governmental   248   221   155   141   200  
     Total retail   9,526   8,407   8,296   7,513   7,398  
  Sales for resale (1)   325   393   612   656   390  
  Other   222   246   155   278   145  
     Total   $10,073   $9,046   $9,063   $8,447   $7,933  
Utility Billed Electric Energy Sales (GWh):                      
  Residential   33,047   33,281   31,665   31,569   32,897  
  Commercial   27,340   27,408   25,079   24,401   26,468  
  Industrial   37,843   38,985   38,339   37,615   40,293  
  Governmental   2,379   2,339   1,580   1,568   2,568  
     Total retail   100,609   102,013   96,663   95,153   102,226  
  Sales for resale (1)   5,401   6,145   10,803   11,459   8,623  
     Total   106,010   108,158   107,466   106,612   110,849  
                       
Non-Utility Nuclear:                      
Operating Revenues   $2,558   $2,030   $1,545   $1,422   $1,342  
Billed Electric Energy Sales (GWh)   41,710   37,570   34,847   33,641   32,613  
                       
(1) Includes sales to Entergy New Orleans, which was deconsolidated in 2006 and 2005. See Note 18 to the financial statements.  
 
                       

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders
Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries (the "Corporation") as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of income; of retained earnings, comprehensive income, and paid-in capital; and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Corporation's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Corporation's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 27, 2009 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Corporation's internal control over financial reporting.

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

New Orleans, Louisiana
February 27, 2009

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ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
    For the Years Ended December 31,
    2008   2007   2006
    (In Thousands, Except Share Data)
             
OPERATING REVENUES            
Electric   $10,073,160    $9,046,301    $9,063,135 
Natural gas   241,856    206,073    84,230 
Competitive businesses   2,778,740    2,232,024    1,784,793 
TOTAL   13,093,756    11,484,398    10,932,158 
             
OPERATING EXPENSES            
Operating and Maintenance:            
  Fuel, fuel-related expenses, and            
   gas purchased for resale   3,577,764    2,934,833    3,144,073 
  Purchased power   2,491,200    1,986,950    2,138,237 
  Nuclear refueling outage expenses   221,759    180,971    169,567 
  Other operation and maintenance   2,742,762    2,649,654    2,335,364 
Decommissioning   189,409    167,898    145,884 
Taxes other than income taxes   496,952    489,058    428,561 
Depreciation and amortization   1,030,860    963,712    887,792 
Other regulatory charges (credits) - net   59,883    54,954    (122,680)
TOTAL   10,810,589    9,428,030    9,126,798 
             
OPERATING INCOME   2,283,167    2,056,368    1,805,360 
             
OTHER INCOME            
Allowance for equity funds used during construction   44,523    42,742    39,894 
Interest and dividend income   148,216    233,997    198,835 
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated equity affiliates   (11,684)   3,176    93,744 
Miscellaneous - net   (11,768)   (24,860)   16,114 
TOTAL   169,287    255,055    348,587 
             
INTEREST AND OTHER CHARGES            
Interest on long-term debt   500,898    506,089    498,451 
Other interest - net   133,290    155,995    75,502 
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction   (25,267)   (25,032)   (23,931)
Preferred dividend requirements and other   19,969    25,105    27,783 
TOTAL   628,890    662,157    577,805 
             
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES   1,823,564    1,649,266    1,576,142 
             
Income taxes   602,998    514,417    443,044 
             
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS   1,220,566    1,134,849    1,133,098 
             
LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (net of income tax            
 expense of $67)       (496)
             
CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME   $1,220,566    $1,134,849    $1,132,602 
             
             
Basic earnings per average common share:            
  Continuing operations   $6.39    $5.77    $5.46 
  Discontinued operations      
  Basic earnings per average common share   $6.39    $5.77    $5.46 
Diluted earnings per average common share:            
  Continuing operations   $6.20    $5.60    $5.36 
  Discontinued operations      
  Diluted earnings per average common share   $6.20    $5.60    $5.36 
Dividends declared per common share   $3.00    $2.58    $2.16 
             
Basic average number of common shares outstanding   190,925,613    196,572,945    207,456,838 
Diluted average number of common shares outstanding   201,011,588    202,780,283    211,452,455 
             
See Notes to Financial Statements.            

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ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
    For the Years Ended December 31,
    2008   2007   2006
    (In Thousands)
   
OPERATING ACTIVITIES            
Consolidated net income   $1,220,566    $1,134,849    $1,132,602 
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow            
provided by operating activities:            
  Reserve for regulatory adjustments   (8,285)   (15,574)   36,352 
  Other regulatory charges (credits) - net   59,883    54,954    (122,680)
  Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning   1,220,269    1,131,610    1,035,153 
  Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued   333,948    476,241    738,643 
  Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated equity affiliates - net of dividends   11,684    (3,176)   4,436 
  Changes in working capital:            
    Receivables   78,653    (62,646)   408,042 
    Fuel inventory   (7,561)   (10,445)   13,097 
    Accounts payable   (23,225)   (103,048)   (83,884)
    Taxes accrued   75,210    (187,324)   (835)
    Interest accrued   (652)   11,785    5,975 
    Deferred fuel   (38,500)   912    582,947 
    Other working capital accounts   (72,372)   (73,269)   64,479 
  Provision for estimated losses and reserves   12,462    (59,292)   39,822 
  Changes in other regulatory assets   (324,211)   254,736    (454,458)
  Changes in pensions and other postretirement liabilities   828,160    (56,224)   333,381 
  Other   (41,701)   65,681    (285,233)
Net cash flow provided by operating activities   3,324,328    2,559,770    3,447,839 
             
INVESTING ACTIVITIES            
Construction/capital expenditures   (2,212,255)   (1,578,030)   (1,633,268)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction   44,523    42,742    39,894 
Nuclear fuel purchases   (423,951)   (408,732)   (326,248)
Proceeds from sale/leaseback of nuclear fuel   297,097    169,066    135,190 
Proceeds from sale of assets and businesses   30,725    13,063    77,159 
Payment for purchase of plant   (266,823)   (336,211)   (88,199)
Insurance proceeds received for property damages   130,114    83,104    18,828 
Changes in transition charge account   7,211    (19,273)  
NYPA value sharing payment   (72,000)    
Decrease (increase) in other investments   (72,833)   41,720    (6,353)
Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales   1,652,277    1,583,584    777,584 
Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust funds   (1,704,181)   (1,708,764)   (884,123)
Other regulatory investments       (38,037)
Net cash flow used in investing activities   (2,590,096)   (2,117,731)   (1,927,573)
             
See Notes to Financial Statements.            
             
             

60

             
             
ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
 
    For the Years Ended December 31,
    2008   2007   2006
    (In Thousands)
     
FINANCING ACTIVITIES            
Proceeds from the issuance of:            
  Long-term debt   3,456,695    2,866,136    1,837,713 
  Preferred equity     10,000    73,354 
  Common stock and treasury stock   34,775    78,830    70,455 
Retirement of long-term debt   (2,486,806)   (1,369,945)   (1,804,373)
Repurchase of common stock   (512,351)   (1,215,578)   (584,193)
Redemption of preferred stock     (57,827)   (183,881)
Changes in short term borrowings - net   30,000      (15,000)
Dividends paid:            
  Common stock   (573,045)   (507,327)   (448,954)
  Preferred equity   (20,025)   (25,875)   (28,848)
Net cash flow used in financing activities   (70,757)   (221,586)   (1,083,727)
             
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents   3,288    30    (3,207)
             
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents   666,763    220,483    433,332 
             
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   1,253,728    1,016,152    582,820 
             
Effect of the reconsolidation of Entergy New Orleans on cash and cash equivalents     17,093   
             
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $1,920,491    $1,253,728    $1,016,152 
             
             
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:            
  Cash paid/(received) during the period for:            
    Interest - net of amount capitalized   $612,288    $611,197    $514,189 
    Income taxes   $137,234    $376,808    ($147,435)
             
See Notes to Financial Statements.            
             

61

 

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
ASSETS
 
    December 31,
    2008   2007
    (In Thousands)
         
CURRENT ASSETS        
Cash and cash equivalents:        
  Cash   $115,876    $126,652 
  Temporary cash investments - at cost,        
   which approximates market   1,804,615    1,127,076 
     Total cash and cash equivalents   1,920,491    1,253,728 
Securitization recovery trust account   12,062    19,273 
Accounts receivable:        
  Customer   734,204    610,724 
  Allowance for doubtful accounts   (25,610)   (25,789)
  Other   206,627    303,060 
  Accrued unbilled revenues   282,914    288,076 
     Total accounts receivable   1,198,135    1,176,071 
Deferred fuel costs   167,092   
Accumulated deferred income taxes   7,307    38,117 
Fuel inventory - at average cost   216,145    208,584 
Materials and supplies - at average cost   776,170    692,376 
Deferred nuclear refueling outage costs   221,803    172,936 
System agreement cost equalization   394,000    268,000 
Prepayments and other   247,184    129,162 
TOTAL   5,160,389    3,958,247 
         
OTHER PROPERTY AND INVESTMENTS        
Investment in affiliates - at equity   66,247    78,992 
Decommissioning trust funds   2,832,243    3,307,636 
Non-utility property - at cost (less accumulated depreciation)   231,115    220,204 
Other   107,939    82,563 
TOTAL   3,237,544    3,689,395 
          
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT        
Electric   34,495,406    32,959,022 
Property under capital lease   745,504    740,095 
Natural gas   303,769    300,767 
Construction work in progress   1,712,761    1,054,833 
Nuclear fuel under capital lease   465,374    361,502 
Nuclear fuel   636,813    665,620 
TOTAL PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT   38,359,627    36,081,839 
Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization   15,930,513    15,107,569 
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT - NET   22,429,114    20,974,270 
         
DEFERRED DEBITS AND OTHER ASSETS        
Regulatory assets:        
  SFAS 109 regulatory asset - net   581,719    595,743 
  Other regulatory assets   3,615,104    2,971,399 
  Deferred fuel costs   168,122    168,122 
Goodwill   377,172    377,172 
Other   1,047,654    908,654 
TOTAL   5,789,771    5,021,090 
         
TOTAL ASSETS   $36,616,818    $33,643,002 
         
See Notes to Financial Statements.        
 
62
 
 
ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
    December 31,
    2008   2007
    (In Thousands)
         
CURRENT LIABILITIES        
Currently maturing long-term debt   $544,460    $996,757 
Notes payable   55,034    25,037 
Accounts payable   1,475,745    1,031,300 
Customer deposits   302,303    291,171 
Taxes accrued   75,210    -  
Interest accrued   187,310    187,968 
Deferred fuel costs   183,539    54,947 
Obligations under capital leases   162,393    152,615 
Pension and other postretirement liabilities   46,288    34,795 
System agreement cost equalization   460,315    268,000 
Other   273,297    214,164 
TOTAL   3,765,894    3,256,754 
         
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES        
Accumulated deferred income taxes and taxes accrued   6,565,770    6,379,679 
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits   325,570    343,539 
Obligations under capital leases   343,093    220,438 
Other regulatory liabilities   280,643    490,323 
Decommissioning and asset retirement cost liabilities   2,677,495    2,489,061 
Accumulated provisions   147,452    133,406 
Pension and other postretirement liabilities   2,177,993    1,361,326 
Long-term debt   11,174,289    9,728,135 
Other   880,998    1,066,508 
TOTAL   24,573,303    22,212,415 
         
Commitments and Contingencies        
         
Preferred stock without sinking fund   311,029    311,162 
         
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY        
Common stock, $.01 par value, authorized 500,000,000        
 shares; issued 248,174,087 shares in 2008 and in 2007   2,482    2,482 
Paid-in capital   4,869,303    4,850,769 
Retained earnings   7,382,719    6,735,965 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)   (112,698)   8,320 
Less - treasury stock, at cost (58,815,518 shares in 2008 and        
 55,053,847 shares in 2007)   4,175,214    3,734,865 
TOTAL   7,966,592    7,862,671 
         
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY   $36,616,818    $33,643,002 
         
See Notes to Financial Statements.        

63

 

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF RETAINED EARNINGS, COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, AND PAID-IN CAPITAL
         
         
                             
        For the Years Ended December 31,
        2008   2007   2006
        (In Thousands)
                             
RETAINED EARNINGS                            
                             
Retained Earnings - Beginning of period       $6,735,965        $6,113,042        $5,433,931     
                             
  Add:                            
    Consolidated net income       1,220,566    $1,220,566    1,134,849    $1,134,849    1,132,602    $1,132,602 
    Adjustment related to FIN 48 implementation             (4,600)          
      Total       1,220,566        1,130,249        1,132,602     
                             
  Deduct:                            
    Dividends declared on common stock       573,924        507,326        448,572     
    Capital stock and other expenses       (112)             4,919     
      Total       573,812        507,326        453,491     
                             
Retained Earnings - End of period       $7,382,719        $6,735,965        $6,113,042     
                             
                             
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)                            
Balance at beginning of period:                            
  Accumulated derivative instrument fair value changes       ($12,540)       ($105,578)       ($392,614)    
                             
  Pension and other postretirement liabilities       (107,145)       (105,909)          
                             
  Net unrealized investment gains       121,611        104,551        67,923     
                             
  Foreign currency translation       6,394        6,424        3,217     
                             
  Minimum pension liability       -        -        (22,345)    
      Total       8,320        (100,512)       (343,819)    
                             
                             
Net derivative instrument fair value changes arising during                            
  the period (net of tax expense of $78,837, $57,185 and $187,462)       133,370    133,370    93,038    93,038    287,036    287,036 
                             
Pension and other postretirement liabilities (net of tax expense
 (benefit) of ($68,076), $29,994 and ($92,419))
      (125,087)   (125,087)   (1,236)   (1,236)   (75,805)  
                             
Net unrealized investment gains (net of tax expense (benefit) of
 ($108,049), $23,562, and $28,428)
      (126,013)   (126,013)   17,060    17,060    36,628    36,628 
                             
Foreign currency translation (net of tax expense (benefit) of
 ($1,770), (16), and $1,122)