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

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)
 
X
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
 
 
For the Quarterly Period Ended June 30, 2018
 
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
 
1-35747
ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, LLC
(a Texas limited liability company)
1600 Perdido Street
New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
Telephone (504) 670-3700
82-2212934
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1-10764
ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.
(an Arkansas corporation)
425 West Capitol Avenue
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
Telephone (501) 377-4000
71-0005900
 
1-34360
ENTERGY TEXAS, INC.
(a Texas corporation)
10055 Grogans Mill Road
The Woodlands, Texas 77380
Telephone (409) 981-2000
61-1435798
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1-32718
ENTERGY LOUISIANA, LLC
(a Texas limited liability company)
4809 Jefferson Highway
Jefferson, Louisiana 70121
Telephone (504) 576-4000
47-4469646
 
1-09067
SYSTEM ENERGY RESOURCES, INC.
(an Arkansas corporation)
1340 Echelon Parkway
Jackson, Mississippi 39213
Telephone (601) 368-5000
72-0752777
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1-31508
ENTERGY MISSISSIPPI, INC.
(a Mississippi corporation)
308 East Pearl Street
Jackson, Mississippi 39201
Telephone (601) 368-5000
64-0205830
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
__________________________________________________________________________________________


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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrants have submitted electronically and posted on Entergy’s corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrants were required to submit and post such files).  Yes þ No o

Indicate by check mark whether each registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 
Large
accelerated
filer
 
Accelerated
filer
 
Non-
accelerated
filer
 
Smaller
reporting
company
 
Emerging
growth
company
Entergy Corporation
ü
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Entergy Arkansas, Inc.
 
 
 
 
ü
 
 
 
 
Entergy Louisiana, LLC
 
 
 
 
ü
 
 
 
 
Entergy Mississippi, Inc.
 
 
 
 
ü
 
 
 
 
Entergy New Orleans, LLC
 
 
 
 
ü
 
 
 
 
Entergy Texas, Inc.
 
 
 
 
ü
 
 
 
 
System Energy Resources, Inc.
 
 
 
 
ü
 
 
 
 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrants have elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrants are shell companies (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ
Common Stock Outstanding
 
Outstanding at July 31, 2018
Entergy Corporation
($0.01 par value)
180,855,032

Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Inc., Entergy Louisiana, LLC, Entergy Mississippi, Inc., Entergy New Orleans, LLC, Entergy Texas, Inc., and System Energy Resources, Inc. separately file this combined Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.  Information contained herein relating to any individual company is filed by such company on its own behalf.  Each company reports herein only as to itself and makes no other representations whatsoever as to any other company.  This combined Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q supplements and updates the Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the calendar year ended December 31, 2017 and the Quarterly Report for Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, filed by the individual registrants with the SEC, and should be read in conjunction therewith.



Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
Page Number
 
 
 
 
Part I. Financial Information
 
 
Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Financial Statements
 
Note 13. Revenue Recognition
Entergy Arkansas, Inc. and Subsidiaries
 
Entergy Louisiana, LLC and Subsidiaries
 

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Page Number
 
 
Entergy Mississippi, Inc.
 
Entergy New Orleans, LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Entergy Texas, Inc. and Subsidiaries
 
System Energy Resources, Inc.
 
 
 
Part II.   Other Information
 
 

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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 in the Form 10-K, (b) Management’s Financial Discussion and Analysis in the Form 10-K and in this report, and (c) the following factors (in addition to others described elsewhere in this combined report and in subsequent securities filings):

resolution of pending and future rate cases, formula rate proceedings and related negotiations, including various performance-based rate discussions, Entergy’s utility supply plan, and recovery of fuel and purchased power costs;
long-term risks and uncertainties associated with the termination of the System Agreement in 2016, including the potential absence of federal authority to resolve certain issues among the Utility operating companies and their retail regulators;
regulatory and operating challenges and uncertainties and economic risks associated with the Utility operating companies’ participation in MISO, including the benefits of continued MISO participation, the effect of current or projected MISO market rules and market and system conditions in the MISO markets, the allocation of MISO system transmission upgrade costs, and the effect of planning decisions that MISO makes with respect to future transmission investments by the Utility operating companies;
changes in utility regulation, including with respect to retail and wholesale competition, the ability to recover net utility assets and other potential stranded costs, and the application of more stringent transmission reliability requirements or market power criteria by the FERC or the U.S. Department of Justice;
changes in the regulation or regulatory oversight of Entergy’s nuclear generating facilities and nuclear materials and fuel, including with respect to the planned, potential, or actual shutdown of nuclear generating facilities owned or operated by Entergy Wholesale Commodities, and the effects of new or existing safety or environmental concerns regarding nuclear power plants and nuclear fuel;
resolution of pending or future applications, and related regulatory proceedings and litigation, for license renewals or modifications or other authorizations required of nuclear generating facilities and the effect of public and political opposition on these applications, regulatory proceedings, and litigation;
the performance of and deliverability of power from Entergy’s generation resources, including the capacity factors at Entergy’s nuclear generating facilities;
increases in costs and capital expenditures that could result from the commitment of substantial human and capital resources required for the operation and maintenance of Entergy’s 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 merchant generating facilities and the ability to hedge, meet credit support requirements for hedges, sell power forward or otherwise reduce the market price risk associated with those facilities, including the Entergy Wholesale Commodities nuclear plants, especially in light of the planned shutdown or sale of each of these nuclear plants;
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;

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FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION (Continued)

volatility and changes in markets for electricity, natural gas, uranium, emissions allowances, and other energy-related commodities, and the effect of those changes on Entergy and its customers;
changes in law resulting from federal or state energy legislation or legislation subjecting energy derivatives used in hedging and risk management transactions to governmental regulation;
changes in environmental laws and regulations, agency positions or associated litigation, including requirements for reduced emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, greenhouse gases, mercury, particulate matter, heat, and other regulated air and water emissions, requirements for waste management and disposal and for the remediation of contaminated sites, wetlands protection and permitting, and changes in costs of compliance with these environmental laws and regulations;
changes in laws and regulations, agency positions, or associated litigation related to protected species and associated critical habitat designations;
the effects of changes in federal, state or local laws and regulations, and other governmental actions or policies, including changes in monetary, fiscal, tax, environmental, trade/tariff, or energy policies;
uncertainty regarding the establishment of interim or permanent sites for spent nuclear fuel and nuclear waste storage and disposal and the level of spent fuel and nuclear waste disposal fees charged by the U.S. government or other providers related to such sites;
variations in weather and the occurrence of hurricanes and other storms and disasters, including uncertainties associated with efforts to remediate the effects of hurricanes, ice storms, or other weather events and the recovery of costs associated with restoration, including accessing funded storm reserves, federal and local cost recovery mechanisms, securitization, and insurance;
effects of climate change, including the potential for increases in sea levels or coastal land and wetland loss;
changes in the quality and availability of water supplies and the related regulation of water use and diversion;
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;
the economic climate, and particularly economic conditions in Entergy’s Utility service area and the northern United States and events and circumstances that could influence economic conditions in those areas, including power prices, and the risk that anticipated load growth may not materialize;
federal income tax reform, including the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and its intended and unintended consequences on financial results and future cash flows, including the potential impact to credit ratings, which may affect Entergy’s ability to borrow funds or increase the cost of borrowing in the future;
the effects of Entergy’s strategies to reduce tax payments, especially in light of federal income tax reform;
changes in the financial markets and regulatory requirements for the issuance of securities, particularly as they affect access to capital and Entergy’s ability to refinance existing securities, execute share repurchase programs, 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;
changes in technology, including (i) Entergy’s ability to implement new technologies, (ii) the impact of changes relating to new, developing, or alternative sources of generation such as distributed energy and energy storage, energy efficiency, demand side management, and other measures that reduce load, and (iii) competition from other companies offering products and services to our customers based on new or emerging technologies;
the effects, including increased security costs, of threatened or actual terrorism, cyber-attacks or data security breaches, natural or man-made electromagnetic pulses that affect transmission or generation infrastructure, accidents, and war or a catastrophic event such as a nuclear accident or a natural gas pipeline explosion;
Entergy’s ability to attract and retain talented management, directors, and employees with specialized skills;
changes in accounting standards and corporate governance;
declines in the market prices of marketable securities and resulting funding requirements and the effects on benefits costs for Entergy’s defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans;

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FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION (Concluded)

future wage and employee benefit costs, including changes in discount rates and returns on benefit plan assets;
changes in decommissioning trust fund values or earnings or in the timing of, requirements for, or cost to decommission Entergy’s nuclear plant sites and the implementation of decommissioning of such sites following shutdown;
the decision to cease merchant power generation at all Entergy Wholesale Commodities nuclear power plants by mid-2022, including the implementation of the planned shutdowns of Pilgrim, Indian Point 2, Indian Point 3, and Palisades;
the effectiveness of Entergy’s risk management policies and procedures and the ability and willingness of its counterparties to satisfy their financial and performance commitments;
factors that could lead to impairment of long-lived assets; and
the ability to successfully complete strategic transactions Entergy may undertake, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, or restructurings, regulatory or other limitations imposed as a result of any such strategic transaction, and the success of the business following any such strategic transaction.


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DEFINITIONS

Certain abbreviations or acronyms used in the text and notes are defined below:
Abbreviation or Acronym
Term
 
 
ALJ
Administrative Law Judge
ANO 1 and 2
Units 1 and 2 of Arkansas Nuclear One (nuclear), owned by Entergy Arkansas
APSC
Arkansas Public Service Commission
ASU
Accounting Standards Update issued by the FASB
Board
Board of Directors of Entergy Corporation
Cajun
Cajun Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.
capacity factor
Actual plant output divided by maximum potential plant output for the period
City Council
Council of the City of New Orleans, Louisiana
D.C. Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
DOE
United States Department of Energy
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 Louisiana limited liability company formally created as part of 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. Effective October 1, 2015, the business of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana was combined with Entergy Louisiana.
Entergy Louisiana
Entergy Louisiana, LLC, a Texas limited liability company formally created as part of the combination of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and the company formerly known as Entergy Louisiana, LLC (Old Entergy Louisiana) into a single public utility company and the successor to Old Entergy Louisiana for financial reporting purposes.
Entergy Texas
Entergy Texas, Inc., a Texas corporation 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.
Entergy Wholesale Commodities
Entergy’s non-utility business segment primarily comprised of the ownership, operation, and decommissioning of nuclear power plants, the ownership of interests in non-nuclear power plants, and the sale of the electric power produced by its operating power plants to wholesale customers
EPA
United States Environmental Protection Agency
FASB
Financial Accounting Standards Board
FERC
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
FitzPatrick
James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant (nuclear), previously owned by an Entergy subsidiary in the Entergy Wholesale Commodities business segment, which was sold in March 2017
Form 10-K
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the calendar year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the SEC by Entergy Corporation and its Registrant Subsidiaries
Grand Gulf
Unit No. 1 of Grand Gulf Nuclear 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, LLC

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DEFINITIONS (Continued)
Abbreviation or Acronym
Term
 
 
Indian Point 2
Unit 2 of Indian Point Energy Center (nuclear), owned by an Entergy subsidiary in the Entergy Wholesale Commodities business segment
Indian Point 3
Unit 3 of Indian Point Energy Center (nuclear), owned by an Entergy subsidiary in the Entergy Wholesale Commodities business segment
IRS
Internal Revenue Service
ISO
Independent System Operator
kW
Kilowatt, which equals one thousand watts
kWh
Kilowatt-hour(s)
LPSC
Louisiana Public Service Commission
MISO
Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc., a regional transmission organization
MMBtu
One million British Thermal Units
MPSC
Mississippi Public Service Commission
MW
Megawatt(s), which equals one thousand kilowatts
MWh
Megawatt-hour(s)
Net debt to net capital 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
NRC
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
NYPA
New York Power Authority
Palisades
Palisades Nuclear Plant (nuclear), owned by an Entergy subsidiary in the Entergy Wholesale Commodities business segment
Parent & Other
The portions of Entergy not included in the Utility or Entergy Wholesale Commodities segments, primarily consisting of the activities of the parent company, Entergy Corporation
Pilgrim
Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station (nuclear), owned by an Entergy subsidiary in the Entergy Wholesale Commodities business segment
PPA
Purchased power agreement or power purchase agreement
PUCT
Public Utility Commission of Texas
Registrant Subsidiaries
Entergy Arkansas, Inc., Entergy Louisiana, LLC, Entergy Mississippi, Inc., Entergy New Orleans, LLC, Entergy Texas, Inc., and System Energy Resources, Inc.
River Bend
River Bend Station (nuclear), owned by Entergy Louisiana
SEC
Securities and Exchange Commission
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. The agreement terminated effective August 2016.
System Energy
System Energy Resources, Inc.
TWh
Terawatt-hour(s), which equals one billion kilowatt-hours
Unit Power Sales Agreement
Agreement, dated as of June 10, 1982, as amended and approved by the 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
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 Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, and Entergy Texas

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DEFINITIONS (Concluded)
Abbreviation or Acronym
Term
 
 
Vermont Yankee
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (nuclear), owned by an Entergy subsidiary in the Entergy Wholesale Commodities business segment, which ceased power production in December 2014
Waterford 3
Unit No. 3 (nuclear) of the Waterford Steam Electric 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

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ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

MANAGEMENT’S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Entergy operates primarily through two business segments: Utility and Entergy Wholesale Commodities.

The Utility business segment includes the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electric power in portions of Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, and Louisiana, including the City of New Orleans; and operation of a small natural gas distribution business.  
The Entergy Wholesale Commodities business segment includes the ownership, operation, and decommissioning of nuclear power plants located in the northern United States and the sale of the electric power produced by its operating plants to wholesale customers.  Entergy Wholesale Commodities also provides services to other nuclear power plant owners and owns interests in non-nuclear power plants that sell the electric power produced by those plants to wholesale customers. See “Entergy Wholesale Commodities Exit from the Merchant Power Business” below and in the Form 10-K for discussion of the operation and planned shutdown or sale of each of the Entergy Wholesale Commodities nuclear power plants.

See Note 7 to the financial statements herein for financial information regarding Entergy’s business segments.

Results of Operations

Second Quarter 2018 Compared to Second Quarter 2017

Following are income statement variances for Utility, Entergy Wholesale Commodities, Parent & Other, and Entergy comparing the second quarter 2018 to the second quarter 2017 showing how much the line item increased or (decreased) in comparison to the prior period:
 
 

Utility
 
Entergy
Wholesale
Commodities
 

Parent &
Other (a)
 

Entergy
 
 
(In Thousands)
2nd Quarter 2017 Consolidated Net Income (Loss)
 

$246,382

 

$223,886

 

($56,900
)
 

$413,368

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net revenue (operating revenue less fuel expense, purchased power, and other regulatory charges/credits)
 
(179,032
)
 
22,121

 
(2
)
 
(156,913
)
Other operation and maintenance
 
31,127

 
8,895

 
5,114

 
45,136

Asset write-offs, impairments, and related charges
 

 
(124,628
)
 

 
(124,628
)
Taxes other than income taxes
 
1,796

 
3,465

 
22

 
5,283

Depreciation and amortization
 
13,564

 
(13,350
)
 
(57
)
 
157

Other income
 
(11,092
)
 
(3,715
)
 
(1,151
)
 
(15,958
)
Interest expense
 
5,208

 
2,410

 
7,174

 
14,792

Other expenses
 
(2,656
)
 
(2,963
)
 

 
(5,619
)
Income taxes
 
(371,175
)
 
424,800

 
2,891

 
56,516

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2nd Quarter 2018 Consolidated Net Income (Loss)
 

$378,394

 

($56,337
)
 

($73,197
)
 

$248,860


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

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

Second quarter 2018 results of operations includes impairment charges of $69 million ($54 million net-of-tax) due to costs being charged directly to expense as a result of the impaired value of the Entergy Wholesale Commodities

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Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

nuclear plants’ long-lived assets due to the significantly reduced remaining estimated operating lives associated with management’s strategy to reduce the size of the Entergy Wholesale Commodities’ merchant fleet and a $52 million income tax benefit recognized by Entergy Louisiana, as a result of the settlement of the 2012-2013 IRS audit, associated with the Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita contingent sharing obligation associated with the Louisiana Act 55 financing. See “MANAGEMENT’S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Entergy Wholesale Commodities Exit from the Merchant Power Business” below and in the Form 10-K for a discussion of management’s strategy to reduce the size of the Entergy Wholesale Commodities’ merchant fleet. See Note 10 to the financial statements herein for discussion of the IRS audit settlement.

Second quarter 2017 results of operations include a reduction of income tax expense, net of unrecognized tax benefits, of $373 million as a result of a change in the tax classification of legal entities that own Entergy Wholesale Commodities nuclear power plants and $194 million ($126 million net-of-tax) of impairment charges due to costs being charged directly to expense as a result of the impaired value of the Entergy Wholesale Commodities nuclear plants’ long-lived assets due to the significantly reduced remaining estimated operating lives associated with management’s strategy to reduce the size of the Entergy Wholesale Commodities’ merchant fleet. See Note 3 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for additional discussion of the tax elections and “MANAGEMENT’S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Entergy Wholesale Commodities Exit from the Merchant Power Business” below and in the Form 10-K for a discussion of management’s strategy to reduce the size of the Entergy Wholesale Commodities’ merchant fleet.

Net Revenue

Utility

Following is an analysis of the change in net revenue comparing the second quarter 2018 to the second quarter 2017:
 
Amount
 
(In Millions)
2017 net revenue

$1,549

Return of unprotected excess accumulated deferred income taxes to customers
(278
)
Grand Gulf recovery
(17
)
Retail electric price
(2
)
Volume/weather
101

Other
17

2018 net revenue

$1,370

    
The return of unprotected excess accumulated deferred income taxes to customers resulted from activity at Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and System Energy in response to the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.  There is no effect on net income as the reductions in net revenue were offset by reductions in income tax expense.  Entergy New Orleans will begin returning its unprotected excess accumulated deferred income taxes in the third quarter 2018 and Entergy Texas’s proposal for the return of its unprotected excess accumulated deferred income taxes is pending.  See Note 2 to the financial statements herein and in the Form 10-K for further discussion of regulatory activity regarding the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. 

The Grand Gulf recovery variance is primarily due to recovery of lower operating costs.

The retail electric price variance is primarily due to regulatory charges recorded in the second quarter 2018 to reflect the effects of regulatory agreements to return the benefits of the lower income tax rate in 2018 to customers in Louisiana and New Orleans. The decrease was substantially offset by the following:


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Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

an increase in formula rate plan rates effective with the first billing cycle of January 2018 at Entergy Arkansas, as approved by the APSC;
higher storm damage rider revenues at Entergy Mississippi;
an increase in energy efficiency revenues; and
increases in the distribution cost recovery factor rider rate in September 2017 at Entergy Texas, as approved by the PUCT.

See Note 2 to the financial statements herein and in the Form 10-K for further discussion of the regulatory proceedings discussed above.

The volume/weather variance is primarily due to an increase of 479 GWh, or 2%, in billed electricity usage, including the effect of more favorable weather on residential and commercial sales and the effect of more favorable weather during the unbilled sales period.

Entergy Wholesale Commodities

Following is an analysis of the change in net revenue comparing the second quarter 2018 to the second quarter 2017:
 
Amount
 
(In Millions)
2017 net revenue

$250

Nuclear volume
61

Nuclear realized price changes
(38
)
Other
(1
)
2018 net revenue

$272


As shown in the table above, net revenue for Entergy Wholesale Commodities increased by $22 million in the second quarter 2018 as compared to the second quarter 2017 primarily due to higher volume in the Entergy Wholesale Commodities nuclear fleet resulting from fewer refueling outage days in the second quarter 2018 as compared to the second quarter 2017. The increase was partially offset by lower realized wholesale energy prices and the effect of rising forward power prices on electricity derivative instruments that are not designated as hedging instruments, partially offset by higher capacity prices.

Following are key performance measures for Entergy Wholesale Commodities for the second quarter 2018 and 2017:
 
2018
 
2017
Owned capacity (MW)
3,962
 
3,962
GWh billed
7,281
 
6,019
 
 
 
 
Entergy Wholesale Commodities Nuclear Fleet
 
 
 
Capacity factor
86%
 
59%
GWh billed
6,713
 
5,393
Average energy and capacity revenue per MWh
$41.82
 
$51.76
Refueling outage days:
 
 
 
Indian Point 2
20
 
Indian Point 3
 
47
Pilgrim
 
43
Palisades
 
27


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Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

Other Income Statement Items

Utility

Other operation and maintenance expenses increased from $598 million for the second quarter 2017 to $629 million for the second quarter 2018 primarily due to:

an increase of $17 million in fossil-fueled generation expenses primarily due to an overall higher scope of work performed during outages in second quarter 2018 as compared to second quarter 2017;
an increase of $5 million in energy efficiency costs; and
an increase of $5 million in storm damage provisions, primarily at Entergy Mississippi. See Note 2 to the financial statements herein and in the Form 10-K for a discussion of storm cost recovery.

Depreciation and amortization expenses increased primarily due to additions to plant in service.

Other income decreased primarily due to changes in decommissioning trust fund investment activity, including portfolio rebalancing of certain of the decommissioning trust funds in the second quarter 2017. The decrease was partially offset by an increase in the allowance for equity funds used during construction due to higher construction work in progress in 2018, which included the St. Charles Power Station project.

Entergy Wholesale Commodities
    
The asset write-offs, impairments, and related charges variance is primarily due to impairment charges of $69 million ($54 million net-of-tax) in the second quarter 2018 compared to impairment charges of $194 million ($126 million net-of-tax) in the second quarter 2017. The impairment charges are due to nuclear fuel spending, nuclear refueling outage spending, and expenditures for capital assets being charged to expense as incurred as a result of the impaired value of the Entergy Wholesale Commodities nuclear plants’ long-lived assets due to the significantly reduced remaining estimated operating lives associated with management’s strategy to reduce the size of the Entergy Wholesale Commodities’ merchant fleet. The decrease in impairment charges in second quarter 2018 is primarily due to Palisades expenditures incurred after September 30, 2017 no longer being charged to expense as incurred but recorded as assets and depreciated or amortized and the timing of nuclear refueling outage spending at the remaining impaired Entergy Wholesale Commodities nuclear plants. See “MANAGEMENT’S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Entergy Wholesale Commodities Exit from the Merchant Power Business” below and in the Form 10-K for a discussion of management’s strategy to reduce the size of the Entergy Wholesale Commodities’ merchant fleet. See Note 14 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of impairment of long-lived assets.

Depreciation and amortization expenses decreased primarily due to the decision in the third quarter 2017 to continue operating Palisades until May 31, 2022. See “MANAGEMENT’S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Entergy Wholesale Commodities Exit from the Merchant Power Business” in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the planned shutdown of Palisades.    

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate was 884.2% for the second quarter 2018. The difference in the effective income tax rate for the second quarter 2018 versus the federal statutory rate of 21% was primarily due to amortization of excess accumulated deferred income taxes and an IRS audit settlement for the 2012-2013 tax returns. See Notes 2 and 10 to the financial statements herein and Notes 2 and 3 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the effects and regulatory activity regarding the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. See Note 10 to the financial statements herein for a discussion of the IRS audit settlement.

The effective income tax rate was (442.1%) for the second quarter 2017. The difference in the effective income tax rate for the second quarter 2017 versus the federal statutory rate of 35% was primarily due to a change in the tax

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Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

classification of legal entities that own Entergy Wholesale Commodities nuclear power plants, which resulted in both permanent and temporary differences under the income tax accounting standards. See Note 3 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for further discussion of the change in tax classification.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2017

Following are income statement variances for Utility, Entergy Wholesale Commodities, Parent & Other, and Entergy comparing the six months ended June 30, 2018 to the six months ended June 30, 2017 showing how much the line item increased or (decreased) in comparison to the prior period:
 
 

Utility
 
Entergy
Wholesale
Commodities
 

Parent &
Other (a)
 

Entergy
 
 
(In Thousands)
2017 Consolidated Net Income (Loss)
 

$414,005

 

$196,689

 

($111,274
)
 

$499,420

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net revenue (operating revenue less fuel expense, purchased power, and other regulatory charges/credits)
 
(123,626
)
 
(90,167
)
 
(12
)
 
(213,805
)
Other operation and maintenance
 
61,999

 
(85,218
)
 
5,081

 
(18,138
)
Asset write-offs, impairments, and related charges
 

 
(263,495
)
 

 
(263,495
)
Taxes other than income taxes
 
17,089

 
(3,112
)
 
172

 
14,149

Depreciation and amortization
 
27,672

 
(27,794
)
 

 
(122
)
Gain on sale of assets
 

 
(16,270
)
 

 
(16,270
)
Other income
 
458

 
(61,088
)
 
(1,839
)
 
(62,469
)
Interest expense
 
7,192

 
4,232

 
10,979

 
22,403

Other expenses
 
(2,005
)
 
(23,392
)
 

 
(25,397
)
Income taxes
 
(417,443
)
 
502,059

 
7,801

 
92,417

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2018 Consolidated Net Income (Loss)
 

$596,333

 

($74,116
)
 

($137,158
)
 

$385,059


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

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

Results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2018 include impairment charges of $142 million ($112 million net-of-tax) due to costs being charged directly to expense as a result of the impaired value of the Entergy Wholesale Commodities nuclear plants’ long-lived assets due to the significantly reduced remaining estimated operating lives associated with management’s strategy to reduce the size of the Entergy Wholesale Commodities’ merchant fleet and a $52 million income tax benefit recognized by Entergy Louisiana, as a result of the settlement of the 2012-2013 IRS audit, associated with the Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita contingent sharing obligation associated with the Louisiana Act 55 financing. See “MANAGEMENT’S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Entergy Wholesale Commodities Exit from the Merchant Power Business” below and in the Form 10-K for a discussion of management’s strategy to reduce the size of the Entergy Wholesale Commodities’ merchant fleet. See Note 10 to the financial statements herein for discussion of the IRS audit settlement.

Results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2017 include impairment charges of $405 million ($263 million net-of-tax) due to costs being charged directly to expense as a result of the impaired value of the Entergy Wholesale Commodities nuclear plants’ long-lived assets due to the significantly reduced remaining estimated operating lives associated with management’s strategy to reduce the size of the Entergy Wholesale Commodities’ merchant fleet and a reduction of income tax expense, net of unrecognized tax benefits, of $373 million as a result of a change in the

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Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

tax classification of legal entities that own Entergy Wholesale Commodities nuclear power plants. See “MANAGEMENT’S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Entergy Wholesale Commodities Exit from the Merchant Power Business” below and in the Form 10-K for a discussion of management’s strategy to reduce the size of the Entergy Wholesale Commodities’ merchant fleet and Note 3 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for additional discussion of the tax elections.

Net Revenue

Utility

Following is an analysis of the change in net revenue comparing the six months ended June 30, 2018 to the six months ended June 30, 2017:
 
Amount
 
(In Millions)
2017 net revenue

$2,954

Return of unprotected excess accumulated deferred income taxes to customers
(278
)
Grand Gulf recovery
(35
)
Retail electric price
5

Volume/weather
159

Other
25

2018 net revenue

$2,830


The return of unprotected excess accumulated deferred income taxes to customers resulted from activity at Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and System Energy in response to the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.  There is no effect on net income as the reductions in net revenue were offset by reductions in income tax expense.  Entergy New Orleans will begin returning its unprotected excess accumulated deferred income taxes in the third quarter 2018 and Entergy Texas’s proposal for the return of its unprotected excess accumulated deferred income taxes is pending.  See Note 2 to the financial statements herein and in the Form 10-K for further discussion of regulatory activity regarding the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. 

The Grand Gulf recovery variance is primarily due to recovery of lower operating costs.

The retail electric price variance is primarily due to:

an increase in formula rate plan rates effective with the first billing cycle of January 2018 at Entergy Arkansas, as approved by the APSC;
an increase in energy efficiency revenues;
higher storm damage rider revenues at Entergy Mississippi; and
increases in the distribution cost recovery factor rider rate in September 2017 at Entergy Texas, as approved by the PUCT.

The increase was partially offset by regulatory charges recorded in 2018 to reflect the effects of regulatory agreements to return the benefits of the lower income tax rate in 2018 to customers in Louisiana and New Orleans. See Note 2 to the financial statements herein and in the Form 10-K for further discussion of the regulatory proceedings discussed above.

The volume/weather variance is primarily due to an increase of 2,725 GWh, or 5%, in billed electricity usage, including the effect of more favorable weather on residential and commercial sales and an increase in industrial usage. The increase in industrial usage is primarily due to a new customer in the primary metals industry.


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Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

Entergy Wholesale Commodities

Following is an analysis of the change in net revenue comparing the six months ended June 30, 2018 to the six months ended June 30, 2017:
 
Amount
 
(In Millions)
2017 net revenue

$744

FitzPatrick reimbursement agreement
(98
)
Nuclear realized price changes
(11
)
Nuclear volume
35

Other
(16
)
2018 net revenue

$654


As shown in the table above, net revenue for Entergy Wholesale Commodities decreased by $90 million in the six months ended June 30, 2018 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2017 primarily due to:

a decrease resulting from the reimbursement agreement with Exelon pursuant to which Exelon reimbursed Entergy in the first quarter 2017 for specified out-of-pocket costs associated with preparing for the refueling and operation of FitzPatrick that otherwise would have been avoided had Entergy shut down FitzPatrick in January 2017. Revenues received from Exelon under the reimbursement agreement were offset by other operation and maintenance expenses and taxes other than income taxes and had no effect on net income. See Note 14 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for discussion of the sale of FitzPatrick and the reimbursement agreement with Exelon; and
lower realized wholesale energy prices, partially offset by higher capacity prices.

The decrease was partially offset by higher volume in the Entergy Wholesale Commodities nuclear fleet resulting from fewer refueling outage days, partially offset by a larger exercise of resupply options, in the six months ended June 30, 2017, provided for in purchase power agreements where Entergy Wholesale Commodities may elect to supply power from another source when the plant is not running.

Following are key performance measures for Entergy Wholesale Commodities for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017:
 
2018
 
2017
Owned capacity (MW)
3,962
 
3,962
GWh billed
14,277
 
14,382
 
 
 
 
Entergy Wholesale Commodities Nuclear Fleet
 
 
 
Capacity factor
85%
 
71%
GWh billed
13,121
 
13,228
Average energy and capacity revenue per MWh
$49.21
 
$53.79
Refueling outage days:
 
 
 
FitzPatrick
 
42
Indian Point 2
33
 
Indian Point 3
 
66
Pilgrim
 
43
Palisades
 
27


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Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

Other Income Statement Items

Utility

Other operation and maintenance expenses increased from $1,155 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 to $1,217 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 primarily due to:

an increase of $23 million in fossil-fueled generation expenses primarily due to an overall higher scope of work performed during outages in 2018 as compared to 2017;
an increase of $13 million in nuclear generation expenses primarily due to a higher scope of work performed during plant outages in 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017 and higher nuclear labor costs, including contract labor, to position the nuclear fleet to meet its operational goals;
an increase of $13 million in energy efficiency costs;
an increase of $12 million in storm damage provisions, primarily at Entergy Mississippi. See Note 2 to the financial statements herein and in the Form 10-K for discussion of storm cost recovery; and
an increase of $8 million in vegetation maintenance costs.

The increase was partially offset by higher nuclear insurance refunds of $15 million.

Taxes other than income taxes increased primarily due to increases in ad valorem taxes, local franchise taxes, and payroll taxes. Ad valorem taxes increased primarily due to higher assessments. Local franchise taxes increased primarily due to higher revenues in 2018 as compared to 2017.

Depreciation and amortization expenses increased primarily due to additions to plant in service.

Entergy Wholesale Commodities

Other operation and maintenance expenses decreased from $476 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 to $391 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 primarily due to the absence of other operation and maintenance expenses from the FitzPatrick plant, which was sold to Exelon in March 2017. See Note 14 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for discussion of the sale of FitzPatrick.

The asset write-offs, impairments, and related charges variance is primarily due to impairment charges of $142 million ($112 million net-of-tax) in the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to impairment charges of $405 million ($263 million net-of-tax) in the six months ended June 30, 2017. The impairment charges are due to nuclear fuel spending, nuclear refueling outage spending, and expenditures for capital assets being charged to expense as incurred as a result of the impaired value of the Entergy Wholesale Commodities nuclear plants’ long-lived assets due to the significantly reduced remaining estimated operating lives associated with management’s strategy to reduce the size of the Entergy Wholesale Commodities’ merchant fleet. The decrease in impairment charges in 2018 is primarily due to Palisades expenditures incurred after September 30, 2017 no longer being charged to expense as incurred but recorded as assets and depreciated or amortized and the timing of nuclear refueling outage spending and nuclear fuel spending at the remaining impaired Entergy Wholesale Commodities nuclear plants. See “MANAGEMENT’S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Entergy Wholesale Commodities Exit from the Merchant Power Business” below and in the Form 10-K for a discussion of management’s strategy to reduce the size of the Entergy Wholesale Commodities’ merchant fleet. See Note 14 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of impairment of long-lived assets.

Depreciation and amortization expenses decreased primarily due to the decision in third quarter 2017 to continue operating Palisades until May 31, 2022. See “MANAGEMENT’S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Entergy Wholesale Commodities Exit from the Merchant Power Business” in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the planned shutdown of Palisades.


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The gain on sale of assets resulted from the sale in March 2017 of the 838 MW FitzPatrick plant to Exelon. Entergy sold the FitzPatrick plant for approximately $110 million, which included a $10 million non-refundable signing fee paid in August 2016, in addition to the assumption by Exelon of certain liabilities related to the FitzPatrick plant, resulting in a pre-tax gain of $16 million on the sale. See Note 14 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for discussion of the sale of FitzPatrick.
    
Other income decreased primarily due to losses on the decommissioning trust fund investments in the six months ended June 30, 2018 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2017, including unrealized losses on equity investments, which, prior to 2018, were recorded to other comprehensive income. See Note 9 to the financial statements herein for discussion of the implementation of ASU No. 2016-01 “Financial Instruments (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” effective January 1, 2018.

Other expenses decreased primarily due to the absence of decommissioning expense from the FitzPatrick plant after it was sold to Exelon in March 2017 and a reduction in deferred refueling outage amortization costs related to the impairments of the Indian Point 3, Indian Point 2, and Palisades plants and related assets. See Note 14 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for discussion of the sale of FitzPatrick and impairments and related charges.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate was (160%) for the six months ended June 30, 2018. The difference in the effective income tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2018 versus the federal statutory rate of 21% was primarily due to amortization of excess accumulated deferred income taxes and an IRS audit settlement for the 2012-2013 tax returns. See Notes 2 and 10 to the financial statements herein and Notes 2 and 3 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the effects and regulatory activity regarding the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. See Note 10 to the financial statements herein for a discussion of the IRS audit settlement.

The effective income tax rate was (193.7%) for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The difference in the effective income tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2017 versus the federal statutory rate of 35% was primarily due to a change in the tax classification of legal entities that own Entergy Wholesale Commodities nuclear power plants, which resulted in both permanent and temporary differences under the income tax accounting standards and the re-determined tax basis of the FitzPatrick plant as a result of its sale on March 31, 2017. See Note 3 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for further discussion of the change in tax classification and the tax benefit associated with the sale of FitzPatrick.

Income Tax Legislation

See “MANAGEMENT’S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Income Tax Legislation” in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted in December 2017.  

See Note 2 to the financial statements herein and in the Form 10-K for discussion of proceedings commenced or other responses by Entergy’s regulators to the Tax Act.

Entergy Wholesale Commodities Exit from the Merchant Power Business

See “MANAGEMENT’S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Entergy Wholesale Commodities Exit from the Merchant Power Business” in the Form 10-K for a discussion of management’s strategy to reduce the size of the Entergy Wholesale Commodities’ merchant fleet.  Following are updates to that discussion.

Shutdown and Planned Sale of Vermont Yankee

As discussed in the Form 10-K, in December 2014 the Vermont Yankee plant ceased power production and entered its decommissioning phase, and in November 2016, Entergy entered into an agreement to sell 100% of the

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membership interests in Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, LLC to a subsidiary of NorthStar. In March 2018, Entergy and NorthStar entered into a settlement agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding with State of Vermont agencies and other interested parties that set forth the terms on which the agencies and parties support the Vermont Public Utility Commission’s approval of the transaction. The agreements provide additional financial assurance for decommissioning, spent fuel management and site restoration, and detail the site restoration standards that will apply to protect the environment and the health and safety of workers and the public. The provisions of the agreements will become effective upon approval of the transaction by the Vermont Public Utility Commission consistent with the agreements’ terms, the NRC’s approval of the license transfer application, and the closing of the transaction. The Vermont Public Utility Commission and the NRC are expected to issue their decisions in the third or fourth quarter of 2018.

Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee has an outstanding credit facility with borrowing capacity of $145 million to pay for dry fuel storage costs. This credit facility is guaranteed by Entergy Corporation. At or before closing, a subsidiary of Entergy will assume the obligations under the existing credit facility or enter into a new credit facility, and Entergy will guarantee the credit facility. At the closing of the sale transaction, NorthStar will pay $1,000 for the membership interests in Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, and NorthStar will cause Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee to issue a promissory note to an Entergy affiliate. The amount of the promissory note issued will be equal to the amount drawn under the credit facility or the amount drawn under the new credit facility, plus borrowing fees and costs incurred by Entergy in connection with such facility. The principal amount drawn under the outstanding credit facility was $108 million as of June 30, 2018. The transaction is expected to result in a loss based on the difference between Entergy’s net investment in Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee and the sale price plus any agreed adjustments. As of June 30, 2018, the adjusted net investment in Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee was $245 million. The primary variables in the ultimate loss are the values of the nuclear decommissioning trusts and the asset retirement obligations at closing, financial results from the plant until the closing, and any changes in Entergy’s investment in Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee before closing.

Planned Sales of Pilgrim and Palisades

On July 30, 2018, Entergy entered into purchase and sale agreements with Holtec International to sell to a Holtec subsidiary (i) 100% of the equity interests in Entergy Nuclear Generation Company, the owner of Pilgrim, and (ii) 100% of the equity interests in Entergy Nuclear Palisades, LLC, the owner of Palisades and the Big Rock Point Site. The sales of Entergy Nuclear Generation Company and Entergy Nuclear Palisades will include the transfer of each entity’s nuclear decommissioning trust and obligation for spent fuel management and plant decommissioning. At the closing of each sale transaction, the Holtec subsidiary will pay $1,000 each (subject to adjustment for net liabilities and other amounts) for the equity interests in Entergy Nuclear Generation Company and Entergy Nuclear Palisades.

The Pilgrim transaction is subject to certain closing conditions, including: the permanent shutdown of Pilgrim and the transfer of all nuclear fuel from the reactor vessel to the spent nuclear fuel pool; NRC approval for the transfer of the operating and the independent spent fuel storage installation licenses; FERC approval for the change in control of the switchyard; receipt of a favorable private letter ruling from the IRS; the market value of the nuclear decommissioning trust for Pilgrim, less the hypothetical income tax on the aggregate unrealized gain of such fund assets at closing, equals or exceeds a specified minimum amount; and, the Palisades purchase and sale agreement has not been terminated due to a breach by Holtec or its subsidiary.

The Palisades transaction is subject to certain closing conditions, including: the permanent shutdown of Palisades and the transfer of all nuclear fuel from the reactor vessel to the spent nuclear fuel pool; NRC regulatory approval for the transfer of the Palisades and Big Rock Point operating and independent spent fuel storage installation licenses; receipt of a favorable private letter ruling from the IRS; the market value of the nuclear decommissioning trust for Palisades, less the hypothetical income tax on the aggregate unrealized gain of such fund assets at closing, equals or exceeds a specified minimum amount; and, the Pilgrim transaction has closed.


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Subject to the above conditions, the Pilgrim transaction is expected to close by the end of 2019 and the Palisades transaction is expected to close by the end of 2022. Each transaction is expected to result in a loss based on the difference between Entergy’s net investment in each subsidiary and the sale price plus any agreed adjustments. As of June 30, 2018, the adjusted net investment in Entergy Nuclear Generation Company was $557 million and the adjusted net investment in Entergy Nuclear Palisades was $131 million. The primary variables in the ultimate loss are the values of the nuclear decommissioning trusts and the asset retirement obligations at closing, financial results from plant operations until the closing, and the level of any deferred tax balances at closing.

Costs Associated with Entergy Wholesale Commodities Strategic Transactions

Entergy expects to incur employee retention and severance expenses associated with management’s strategy to reduce the size of the Entergy Wholesale Commodities’ merchant fleet of approximately $155 million in 2018, of which $60 million has been incurred as of June 30, 2018, and a total of approximately $215 million from 2019 through mid-2022. In addition, Entergy Wholesale Commodities incurred impairment charges related to nuclear fuel spending, nuclear refueling outage spending, and expenditures for capital assets of $69 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and $142 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018. These costs were charged to expense as incurred as a result of the impaired value of certain of the Entergy Wholesale Commodities nuclear plants’ long-lived assets due to the significantly reduced remaining estimated operating lives associated with management’s strategy to reduce the size of the Entergy Wholesale Commodities’ merchant fleet. Entergy expects to continue to incur costs associated with nuclear fuel-related spending and expenditures for capital assets and, except for Palisades, expects to continue to charge these costs to expense as incurred because Entergy expects the value of the plants to continue to be impaired.

Entergy Wholesale Commodities Authorizations to Operate Indian Point

See “MANAGEMENT’S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Entergy Wholesale Commodities Authorizations to Operate Indian Point” in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the NRC operating licensing proceedings for Indian Point 2 and Indian Point 3 and the settlement reached with New York State in January 2017.  Following are updates to that discussion.

In April 2018 the NRC issued a supplement to the final supplemental environmental impact statement, and in August 2018 the NRC issued a supplemental safety evaluation report. The supplements update the environmental record and safety record related to the Indian Point license renewal. The NRC is expected to issue its decision in the Indian Point 2 and Indian Point 3 license renewal proceedings in fourth quarter 2018.

As discussed in the Form 10-K, operations may be extended up to four additional years for each unit by mutual agreement of Entergy and New York State based on an exigent reliability need for Indian Point generation. In accordance with the FERC-approved tariff of the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), Entergy submitted to the NYISO a notice of generator deactivation based on the dates in the settlement (no later than April 30, 2020 for Indian Point 2 and April 30, 2021 for Indian Point 3). In December 2017 the NYISO issued a report stating there will not be a system reliability need following the deactivation of Indian Point. In April 2018 the NYISO issued a determination that the retirement of Indian Point was economically justified and, therefore, did not raise competition concerns.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

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

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Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

Capital Structure

Entergy’s debt to capital ratio is shown in the following table. The increase in the debt to capital ratio for Entergy as of June 30, 2018 is primarily due to the net issuance of debt in 2018.
 
June 30,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
Debt to capital
68.5
%
 
67.1
%
Effect of excluding securitization bonds
(0.6
%)
 
(0.8
%)
Debt to capital, excluding securitization bonds (a)
67.9
%
 
66.3
%
Effect of subtracting cash
(1.0
%)
 
(1.1
%)
Net debt to net capital, excluding securitization bonds (a)
66.9
%
 
65.2
%

(a)
Calculation excludes the Arkansas, Louisiana, New Orleans, and Texas securitization bonds, which are non-recourse to Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy New Orleans, and Entergy Texas, respectively.

Net debt consists of debt less cash and cash equivalents.  Debt consists of notes payable and commercial paper, capital lease obligations, and long-term debt, including the currently maturing portion.  Capital consists of debt, common shareholders’ equity, and subsidiaries’ preferred stock without sinking fund.  Net capital consists of capital less cash and cash equivalents.  Entergy uses the debt to capital ratios excluding securitization bonds in analyzing its financial condition and believes they provide useful information to its investors and creditors in evaluating Entergy’s financial condition because the securitization bonds are non-recourse to Entergy, as more fully described in Note 5 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K.  Entergy also uses the net debt to net capital ratio excluding securitization bonds in analyzing its financial condition and believes it provides useful information to its investors and creditors in evaluating Entergy’s financial condition because net debt indicates Entergy’s outstanding debt position that could not be readily satisfied by cash and cash equivalents on hand.
    
Entergy Corporation has in place a credit facility that has a borrowing capacity of $3.5 billion and expires in August 2022.  The facility includes fronting commitments for the issuance of letters of credit against $20 million of the total borrowing capacity of the credit facility.  The commitment fee is currently 0.225% of the undrawn commitment amount.  Commitment 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 for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was 3.34% on the drawn portion of the facility. Following is a summary of the borrowings outstanding and capacity available under the facility as of June 30, 2018:
Capacity
 
Borrowings
 
Letters
of Credit
 
Capacity
Available
(In Millions)
$3,500
 
$390
 
$6
 
$3,104

A covenant in Entergy Corporation’s credit facility requires Entergy to maintain a consolidated debt ratio, as defined, of 65% or less of its total capitalization.  The calculation of this debt ratio under Entergy Corporation’s credit facility is different than the calculation of the debt to capital ratio above. One such difference is that it excludes the effects, among other things, of certain impairments related to the Entergy Wholesale Commodities nuclear generation assets.  Entergy is currently in compliance with the covenant and expects to remain in compliance with this covenant.  If Entergy fails to meet this ratio, or if Entergy or one of the Utility operating companies (except Entergy New Orleans) defaults on other indebtedness or is in bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, an acceleration of the facility’s maturity date may occur.  See Note 4 to the financial statements herein for additional discussion of the Entergy Corporation credit facility and discussion of the Registrant Subsidiaries’ credit facilities.

Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee has a credit facility guaranteed by Entergy Corporation with a borrowing capacity of $145 million that expires in November 2020. As of June 30, 2018, $108 million in cash borrowings were outstanding under the credit facility. The weighted average interest rate for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was

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3.26% on the drawn portion of the facility. See Note 4 to the financial statements herein for additional discussion of the Vermont Yankee facility.

Entergy Corporation has a commercial paper program with a Board-approved program limit of up to $2 billion. As of June 30, 2018, Entergy Corporation had approximately $1,945 million of commercial paper outstanding. The weighted-average interest rate for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was 2.31%.

Equity Forward Sale Agreements

In June 2018, Entergy marketed an equity offering of 15.3 million shares of common stock. In lieu of issuing equity at the time of the offering, Entergy entered into forward sale agreements with several counterparties. Settlement of the forward sale agreements is expected to occur on or prior to June 7, 2019. See Note 3 to the financial statements herein for discussion of the equity forwards.

Capital Expenditure Plans and Other Uses of Capital

See the table and discussion in the Form 10-K under “MANAGEMENT’S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Liquidity and Capital Resources - Capital Expenditure Plans and Other Uses of Capital,” that sets forth the amounts of planned construction and other capital investments by operating segment for 2018 through 2020. Following are updates to the discussion.

New Orleans Power Station
 
As discussed in the Form 10-K, in June 2016, Entergy New Orleans filed an application with the City Council seeking a public interest determination and authorization to construct the New Orleans Power Station, a 226 MW advanced combustion turbine in New Orleans, Louisiana, at the site of the existing Michoud generating facility. In July 2017, Entergy New Orleans submitted a supplemental and amending application to the City Council seeking approval to construct either the originally proposed 226 MW advanced combustion turbine, or alternatively, a 128 MW unit composed of natural gas-fired reciprocating engines and a related cost recovery plan. In March 2018 the City Council adopted a resolution approving construction of the 128 MW unit. The targeted commercial operation date is January 2020, subject to receipt of all necessary permits. In April 2018 intervenors opposing the construction of the New Orleans Power Station filed with the City Council a request for rehearing, which was subsequently denied, and a petition for judicial review of the City Council’s decision, and also filed a lawsuit challenging the City Council’s approval based on Louisiana’s open meeting law. In May 2018 the City Council announced that it would initiate an investigation into allegations that Entergy New Orleans, Entergy, or some other entity paid or participated in paying certain attendees and speakers in support of the New Orleans Power Station to attend or speak at certain meetings organized by the City Council. In June 2018, Entergy New Orleans produced documents in response to a City Council resolution relating to this investigation. The City Council issued a request for qualifications for an investigator and in June 2018 selected two investigators and is in the process of contracting with them to conduct the investigation.

Washington Parish Energy Center

As discussed in the Form 10-K, in April 2017, Entergy Louisiana signed an agreement with a subsidiary of Calpine Corporation for the construction and purchase of a peaking plant. In May 2017, Entergy Louisiana filed an application with the LPSC seeking certification of the plant. In April 2018 the parties reached a settlement recommending certification and cost recovery through the additional capacity mechanism of the formula rate plan, consistent with prior LPSC precedent with respect to the certification and recovery of plants previously acquired by Entergy Louisiana. The LPSC issued an order approving the settlement in May 2018.


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Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

Dividends

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 earnings per share from the Utility operating segment and the Parent and Other portion of the business, financial strength, and future investment opportunities.  At its July 2018 meeting, the Board declared a dividend of $0.89 per share, which is the same quarterly dividend per share that Entergy has paid since the fourth quarter 2017.

Cash Flow Activity

As shown in Entergy’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:
 
2018
 
2017
 
(In Millions)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

$781

 

$1,188

 
 
 
 
Cash flow provided by (used in):
 

 
 

Operating activities
1,080

 
820

Investing activities
(1,929
)
 
(1,770
)
Financing activities
881

 
697

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
32

 
(253
)
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$813

 

$935


Operating Activities

Net cash flow provided by operating activities increased by $260 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2017 primarily due to:

a decrease of $126 million in spending on nuclear refueling outages in 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017;
severance and retention payments of $92 million in 2017. See Note 7 to the financial statements herein for a discussion of severance and retention costs in connection with management’s strategy to manage and reduce the risk of the Entergy Wholesale Commodities business;
a refund to customers in January 2017 of approximately $71 million as a result of the settlement approved by the LPSC related to the Waterford 3 replacement steam generator project. See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for discussion of the settlement and refund;
the effect of favorable weather on billed Utility sales in 2018; and
a decrease of $16 million in pension contributions 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017. See MANAGEMENT’S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - “Critical Accounting Estimates” in the Form 10-K and Note 6 to the financial statements herein for a discussion of qualified pension and other postretirement benefits funding.

The increase was partially offset by:

lower Entergy Wholesale Commodities net revenue in 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017 (except for the revenues resulting from the FitzPatrick reimbursement agreement with Exelon), as discussed above. See Note 14 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for discussion of the reimbursement agreement;

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Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries
Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

the return of unprotected excess accumulated deferred income taxes to Utility customers. See Note 2 to the financial statements herein and in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the regulatory activity regarding the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act;
an increase of $28 million in interest paid in 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017 resulting from an increase in interest expense;
income tax payments of $14 million in 2018 compared to income tax refunds of $15 million in 2017. Entergy made income tax payments in 2018 for estimated federal income taxes. Entergy received income tax refunds in 2017 resulting from the carryback of net operating losses; and
proceeds of $23 million received in 2017 from the DOE resulting from litigation regarding spent nuclear fuel storage costs that were previously expensed. See Note 8 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for discussion of the spent nuclear fuel litigation.

Investing Activities

Net cash flow used in investing activities increased $159 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2017 primarily due to:

an increase of $166 million in construction expenditures, primarily in the Utility business. The increase in construction expenditures in the Utility business is primarily due to an increase of $123 million in fossil-fueled generation construction expenditures primarily due to higher spending in 2018 on the Lake Charles Power Station project and an increase of $39 million in nuclear construction expenditures primarily due to a higher scope of work performed on Grand Gulf outage projects in 2018;
proceeds of $100 million from the sale in March 2017 of the FitzPatrick plant to Exelon. See Note 14 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the sale of FitzPatrick; and
proceeds of $25 million received in 2017 from the DOE resulting from litigation regarding spent nuclear fuel storage costs that were previously capitalized. See Note 8 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for discussion of the DOE litigation.

The increase was partially offset by a decrease of $119 million in nuclear fuel purchases due to variations from year to year in the timing and pricing of fuel reload requirements, material and services deliveries, and the timing of cash payments during the nuclear fuel cycle.

Financing Activities

Net cash flow provided by financing activities increased $184 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2017 primarily due to long-term debt activity providing approximately $790 million of cash in 2018 compared to providing approximately $170 million in 2017. Borrowings and repayments of borrowings on Entergy’s long-term credit facility are included in long-term debt activity. The increase was partially offset by a decrease of $324 million in net issuances of commercial paper in 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 and a net decrease of $104 million in 2018 in short-term borrowings by the nuclear fuel company variable interest entities. For the details of Entergy’s commercial paper program, the nuclear fuel company variable interest entities’ short-term borrowings, and long-term debt, see Note 4 to the financial statements herein and Note 5 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K.

Rate, Cost-recovery, and Other Regulation

See “MANAGEMENT’S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Rate, Cost-recovery, and Other Regulation” in the Form 10-K for discussions of rate regulation, federal regulation, and related regulatory proceedings.


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Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

State and Local Rate Regulation and Fuel-Cost Recovery

See Note 2 to the financial statements herein for updates to the discussion in the Form 10-K regarding these proceedings.

Federal Regulation

See Note 2 to the financial statements herein for updates to the discussion in the Form 10-K regarding federal regulatory proceedings.

Market and Credit Risk Sensitive Instruments

Commodity Price Risk

Power Generation

As a wholesale generator, Entergy Wholesale Commodities’ core business is selling energy, measured in MWh, to its customers.  Entergy Wholesale Commodities enters into forward contracts with its customers and also sells energy in the day ahead or spot markets.  Entergy Wholesale Commodities also sells unforced capacity, which allows load-serving entities to meet specified reserve and related requirements placed on them by the ISOs in their respective areas.  Entergy Wholesale Commodities’ forward physical 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 Entergy Wholesale Commodities to deliver MWh of energy, make capacity available, or both.  In addition to its forward physical power contracts, Entergy Wholesale Commodities also uses a combination of financial contracts, including swaps, collars, and options, to manage forward commodity price risk.  Certain hedge volumes have price downside and upside relative to market price movement.  The contracted minimum, expected value, and sensitivities are provided in the table below to show potential variations.  The sensitivities may not reflect the total maximum upside potential from higher market prices.  The information contained in the following table represents projections at a point in time and will vary over time based on numerous factors, such as future market prices, contracting activities, and generation.  Following is a summary of Entergy Wholesale Commodities’ current forward capacity and generation contracts as well as total revenue projections based on market prices as of June 30, 2018 (2018 represents the remainder of the year):


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Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

Entergy Wholesale Commodities Nuclear Portfolio
 
 
2018
 
2019
 
2020
 
2021
 
2022
Energy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Percent of planned generation under contract (a):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unit-contingent (b)
 
98%
 
94%
 
81%
 
84%
 
67%
Firm LD (c)
 
9%
 
—%
 
—%
 
—%
 
—%
Offsetting positions (d)
 
(9%)
 
—%
 
—%
 
—%
 
—%
Total
 
98%
 
94%
 
81%
 
84%
 
67%
Planned generation (TWh) (e) (f)
 
14.1
 
25.5
 
17.8
 
9.7
 
2.8
Average revenue per MWh on contracted volumes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Expected based on market prices as of June 30, 2018
 
$33.1
 
$40.2
 
$41.7
 
$57.9
 
$58.8
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capacity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Percent of capacity sold forward (g):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bundled capacity and energy contracts (h)
 
22%
 
25%
 
37%
 
68%
 
97%
Capacity contracts (i)
 
45%
 
16%
 
—%
 
—%
 
—%
Total
 
67%
 
41%
 
37%
 
68%
 
97%
Planned net MW in operation (average) (f)
 
3,568
 
3,167
 
2,195
 
1,158
 
338
Average revenue under contract per kW per month (applies to capacity contracts only)
 
$8.8
 
$7.7
 
$—
 
$—
 
$—
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Energy and Capacity Revenues (j)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Expected sold and market total revenue per MWh
 
$45.8
 
$46.5
 
$47.3
 
$56.3
 
$47.6
Sensitivity: -/+ $10 per MWh market price change
 
$45.8
 
$45.9-$47.0
 
$45.8-$48.9
 
$54.6-$57.9
 
$44.3-$50.9

(a)
Percent of planned generation output sold or purchased forward under contracts, forward physical contracts, forward financial contracts, or options that mitigate price uncertainty that may require regulatory approval or approval of transmission rights. Positions that are not classified as hedges are netted in the planned generation under contract.
(b)
Transaction under which power is supplied from a specific generation asset; if the asset is not operating, the seller is generally not liable to the buyer for any damages. Certain unit-contingent sales include a guarantee of availability. Availability guarantees provide 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.
(c)
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, a portion of which may be capped through the use of risk management products. This also includes option transactions that may expire without being exercised.
(d)
Transactions for the purchase of energy, generally to offset a Firm LD transaction.
(e)
Amount of output expected to be generated by Entergy Wholesale Commodities resources considering plant operating characteristics, outage schedules, and expected market conditions that affect dispatch.
(f)
Assumes the planned shutdown of Pilgrim on May 31, 2019, planned shutdown of Indian Point 2 on April 30, 2020, planned shutdown of Indian Point 3 on April 30, 2021, and planned shutdown of Palisades on May 31, 2022. Assumes NRC license renewals for two units, as follows (with current license expirations in parentheses):

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Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

Indian Point 2 (September 2013 and now operating under its period of extended operations while its application is pending) and Indian Point 3 (December 2015 and now operating under its period of extended operations while its application is pending). For a discussion regarding the planned shutdown of the Pilgrim, Indian Point 2, Indian Point 3, and Palisades plants, see “Entergy Wholesale Commodities Exit from the Merchant Power Business” in the Form 10-K. For a discussion regarding the license renewals for Indian Point 2 and Indian Point 3, see “Entergy Wholesale Commodities Authorizations to Operate Indian Point” herein and in the Form 10-K.
(g)
Percent of planned qualified capacity sold to mitigate price uncertainty under physical or financial transactions.
(h)
A contract for the sale of installed capacity and related energy, priced per megawatt-hour sold.
(i)
A contract for the sale of an installed capacity product in a regional market.
(j)
Includes assumptions on converting a portion of the portfolio to contracted with fixed price cost or discount and excludes non-cash revenue from the amortization of the Palisades below-market purchased power agreement, mark-to-market activity, and service revenues.

Entergy estimates that a positive $10 per MWh change in the annual average energy price in the markets in which the Entergy Wholesale Commodities nuclear business sells power, based on June 30, 2018 market conditions, planned generation volumes, and hedged positions, would have a corresponding effect on pre-tax income of $34 thousand for the remainder of 2018. As of June 30, 2017, a positive $10 per MWh change would have had a corresponding effect on pre-tax income of $19 million for the remainder of 2017.  A negative $10 per MWh change in the annual average energy price in the markets based on June 30, 2018 market conditions, planned generation volumes, and hedged positions, would have a corresponding effect on pre-tax income of ($34) thousand for the remainder of 2018. As of June 30, 2017, a negative $10 per MWh change would have had a corresponding effect on pre-tax income of ($17) million for the remainder of 2017.

Some of the agreements to sell the power produced by Entergy Wholesale Commodities’ power plants contain provisions that require an Entergy subsidiary to provide credit support to secure its obligations under the agreements.  The Entergy subsidiary is required to provide credit support based upon the difference between the current market prices and contracted power prices in the regions where Entergy Wholesale Commodities sells power.  The primary form of credit support to satisfy these requirements is an Entergy Corporation guaranty.  Cash and letters of credit are also acceptable forms of credit support.  At June 30, 2018, based on power prices at that time, Entergy had liquidity exposure of $117 million under the guarantees in place supporting Entergy Wholesale Commodities transactions and $17 million of posted cash collateral.  In the event of a decrease in Entergy Corporation’s credit rating to below investment grade, based on power prices as of June 30, 2018, Entergy would have been required to provide approximately $48 million of additional cash or letters of credit under some of the agreements. As of June 30, 2018, the liquidity exposure associated with Entergy Wholesale Commodities assurance requirements, including return of previously posted collateral from counterparties, would increase by $339 million for a $1 per MMBtu increase in gas prices in both the short- and long-term markets.

As of June 30, 2018, substantially all of the credit exposure associated with the planned energy output under contract for Entergy Wholesale Commodities nuclear plants through 2022 is with counterparties or their guarantors that have public investment grade credit ratings.

Nuclear Matters

See “MANAGEMENT’S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – Nuclear Matters” in the Form 10-K for a discussion of nuclear matters. The following are updates to that discussion.

ANO

See Note 8 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for discussion of the NRC’s decision in March 2015 to move ANO into the “multiple/repetitive degraded cornerstone column,” or Column 4, of the NRC’s Reactor Oversight Process Action Matrix, and the resulting significant additional NRC inspection activities at the ANO site. In June 2018

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Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

the NRC moved ANO 1 and ANO 2 into the “licensee response column,” or Column 1, of the NRC’s Reactor Oversight Process Action Matrix. This action followed NRC inspections to review ANO 1’s and ANO 2’s performance in addressing issues that had previously resulted in classification in Column 4.

Grand Gulf

As discussed in the Form 10-K, in November 2016 the NRC placed Grand Gulf in the “regulatory response column,” or Column 2, of its Reactor Oversight Process Action Matrix. In August 2018 the NRC moved Grand Gulf into Column 1 of the NRC’s Reactor Oversight Process Action Matrix. This action followed NRC inspections to review Grand Gulf’s performance in addressing issues that had previously resulted in classification in Column 2.

Critical Accounting Estimates

See “MANAGEMENT’S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Critical Accounting Estimates” in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the estimates and judgments necessary in Entergy’s accounting for nuclear decommissioning costs, utility regulatory accounting, unbilled revenue, impairment of long-lived assets and trust fund investments, taxation and uncertain tax positions, qualified pension and other postretirement benefits, and other contingencies.

New Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 1 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for discussion of new accounting pronouncements. The following is an update to that discussion.

In February 2016 the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842).”  The ASU’s core principle is that “a lessee should recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from leases.” The ASU considers that “all leases create an asset and a liability,” and accordingly requires recording the assets and liabilities related to all leases with a term greater than 12 months.  In January 2018 the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-01, “Leases (Topic 842): Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842,” providing entities the option to elect not to evaluate existing land easements that are not currently accounted for under the previous lease standard. In July 2018 the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-11, “Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements,” which is intended to simplify the transition requirements giving entities the option to apply the transition provisions of the new standard at the date of adoption instead of at the earliest comparative period presented and provides a practical expedient for the separation of lease and nonlease components for lessors. Entergy plans to adopt ASU 2016-02 along with the practical expedients provided by ASU 2018-01 and 2018-11 when they become effective for Entergy in the first quarter 2019.  Entergy expects that ASU 2016-02 will affect its financial position by increasing the assets and liabilities recorded relating to its operating leases.  Entergy is evaluating ASU 2016-02 for other effects on its results of operations, financial position, cash flows, and financial statement disclosures, as well as the potential to elect various other practical expedients permitted by the standards.


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ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS
For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 and 2017
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
(In Thousands, Except Share Data)
OPERATING REVENUES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Electric

$2,330,225

 

$2,271,220

 

$4,578,486

 

$4,262,960

Natural gas
29,943

 
30,075

 
86,638

 
73,426

Competitive businesses
308,602

 
317,255

 
727,526

 
870,622

TOTAL
2,668,770

 
2,618,550

 
5,392,650

 
5,207,008

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OPERATING EXPENSES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operation and Maintenance:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fuel, fuel-related expenses, and gas purchased for resale
465,802

 
395,947

 
909,098

 
813,513

Purchased power
417,034

 
416,497

 
813,058

 
774,264

Nuclear refueling outage expenses
35,360

 
38,288

 
78,120

 
80,853

Other operation and maintenance
840,103

 
794,967

 
1,623,687

 
1,641,825

Asset write-offs, impairments, and related charges
68,943

 
193,571

 
141,867

 
405,362

Decommissioning
97,605

 
100,296

 
192,005

 
214,669

Taxes other than income taxes
158,547

 
153,264

 
323,765

 
309,616

Depreciation and amortization
350,485

 
350,328

 
697,471

 
697,593

Other regulatory charges (credits)
143,294

 
6,553

 
186,319

 
(78,749
)
TOTAL
2,577,173

 
2,449,711

 
4,965,390

 
4,858,946

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gain on sale of assets

 

 

 
16,270

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OPERATING INCOME
91,597

 
168,839

 
427,260

 
364,332

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OTHER INCOME
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Allowance for equity funds used during construction
31,670

 
22,376

 
60,014

 
41,384

Interest and investment income
71,134

 
80,097

 
88,005

 
136,646

Miscellaneous - net
(48,491
)
 
(32,202
)
 
(79,849
)
 
(47,391
)
TOTAL
54,313

 
70,271

 
68,170

 
130,639

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INTEREST EXPENSE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense
192,314

 
173,377

 
375,237

 
344,466

Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction
(14,668
)
 
(10,523
)
 
(27,933
)
 
(19,565
)
TOTAL
177,646

 
162,854

 
347,304

 
324,901

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES
(31,736
)
 
76,256

 
148,126

 
170,070

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income taxes
(280,596
)
 
(337,112
)
 
(236,933
)
 
(329,350
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME
248,860

 
413,368

 
385,059

 
499,420

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries
3,439

 
3,446

 
6,878

 
6,892

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ENTERGY CORPORATION

$245,421

 

$409,922

 

$378,181

 

$492,528

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per average common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic

$1.36

 

$2.28

 

$2.09

 

$2.75

Diluted

$1.34

 

$2.27

 

$2.08

 

$2.74

Dividends declared per common share

$0.89

 

$0.87

 

$1.78

 

$1.74

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic average number of common shares outstanding
180,823,203

 
179,475,346

 
180,765,708

 
179,405,592

Diluted average number of common shares outstanding
182,982,630

 
180,234,694

 
182,208,328

 
180,032,233

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
See Notes to Financial Statements.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 and 2017
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
(In Thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Income

$248,860

 

$413,368

 

$385,059

 

$499,420


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flow hedges net unrealized gain (loss) (net of tax expense (benefit) of ($17,312), $10,684, $8,037, and $10,325)
(65,068
)
 
19,949

 
30,359

 
19,421

Pension and other postretirement liabilities (net of tax expense of $4,225, $5,839, $8,793, and $12,216)
15,565

 
10,916

 
32,139

 
19,548

Net unrealized investment gain (loss) (net of tax expense (benefit) of ($2,842), $2,870, $2,533, and $42,164)
(2,641
)
 
11,696

 
(35,497
)
 
49,523

Foreign currency translation (net of tax benefit of $-, $403, $-, and $403)

 
(748
)
 

 
(748
)
Other comprehensive income (loss)
(52,144
)
 
41,813

 
27,001

 
87,744


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comprehensive Income
196,716

 
455,181

 
412,060

 
587,164

Preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries
3,439

 
3,446

 
6,878

 
6,892

Comprehensive Income Attributable to Entergy Corporation

$193,277

 

$451,735

 

$405,182

 

$580,272

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
See Notes to Financial Statements.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 and 2017
(Unaudited)
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
(In Thousands)
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
 
Consolidated net income
 

$385,059

 

$499,420

Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization
 
1,027,609

 
1,042,671

Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued
 
88,732

 
(324,227
)
Asset write-offs, impairments, and related charges
 
51,503

 
220,828

Gain on sale of assets
 

 
(16,270
)
Changes in working capital:
 
 
 
 
Receivables
 
(45,515
)
 
6,091

Fuel inventory
 
8,512

 
6,213

Accounts payable
 
97,464

 
9,687

Taxes accrued
 
(8,092
)
 
(2,202
)
Interest accrued
 
(2,056
)
 
(3,947
)
Deferred fuel costs
 
(132,263
)
 
(127,945
)
Other working capital accounts
 
(134,982
)
 
(91,505
)
Changes in provisions for estimated losses
 
27,443

 
(7,340
)
Changes in other regulatory assets
 
106,712

 
62,612

Changes in other regulatory liabilities
 
(247,239
)
 
(8,250
)
Changes in pensions and other postretirement liabilities
 
(181,278
)
 
(180,346
)
Other
 
38,314

 
(265,807
)
Net cash flow provided by operating activities
 
1,079,923

 
819,683

 
 
 
 
 
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
 
Construction/capital expenditures
 
(1,885,419
)
 
(1,719,712
)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction
 
60,335

 
41,877

Nuclear fuel purchases
 
(90,321
)
 
(209,756
)
Proceeds from sale of assets
 
9,163

 
100,000

Insurance proceeds received for property damages
 
10,523

 
26,157

Changes in securitization account
 
4,754

 
10,028

Payments to storm reserve escrow account
 
(2,744
)
 
(1,124
)
Receipts from storm reserve escrow account
 

 
8,836

Decrease (increase) in other investments
 
(10,769
)
 
1,705

Litigation proceeds for reimbursement of spent nuclear fuel storage costs
 

 
25,493

Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales
 
1,801,170

 
1,462,698

Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust funds
 
(1,826,384
)
 
(1,516,406
)
Net cash flow used in investing activities
 
(1,929,692
)
 
(1,770,204
)
 
 
 
 
 
See Notes to Financial Statements.
 
 
 
 

22

Table of Contents

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 and 2017
(Unaudited)
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
(In Thousands)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from the issuance of:
 
 
 
 
Long-term debt
 
3,359,193

 
1,036,529

Treasury stock
 
3,691

 
7,819

Retirement of long-term debt
 
(2,569,131
)
 
(866,337
)
Changes in credit borrowings and commercial paper - net
 
405,795

 
833,957

Other
 
10,434

 
4,305

Dividends paid:
 
 
 
 
Common stock
 
(321,821
)
 
(312,209
)
Preferred stock
 
(6,878
)
 
(6,892
)
Net cash flow provided by financing activities
 
881,283

 
697,172


 
 
 
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 
31,514

 
(253,349
)

 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
 
781,273

 
1,187,844


 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 

$812,787

 

$934,495

 
 
 
 
 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
 
 
 
 
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
 
 
 
 
Interest - net of amount capitalized
 

$362,629

 

$334,555

Income taxes
 

$14,145

 

($14,673
)
 
 
 
 
 
See Notes to Financial Statements.
 
 
 
 


23

Table of Contents

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
ASSETS
June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017
(Unaudited)
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
(In Thousands)
CURRENT ASSETS
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents:
 
 
 
 
Cash
 

$55,197

 

$56,629

Temporary cash investments
 
757,590

 
724,644

Total cash and cash equivalents
 
812,787

 
781,273

Accounts receivable:
 
 
 
 
Customer
 
662,746

 
673,347

Allowance for doubtful accounts
 
(14,545
)
 
(13,587
)
Other
 
150,084

 
169,377

Accrued unbilled revenues
 
460,181

 
383,813

Total accounts receivable
 
1,258,466

 
1,212,950

Deferred fuel costs
 
114,293

 
95,746

Fuel inventory - at average cost
 
174,131

 
182,643

Materials and supplies - at average cost
 
752,520

 
723,222

Deferred nuclear refueling outage costs
 
172,608

 
133,164

Prepayments and other
 
249,645

 
156,333

TOTAL
 
3,534,450

 
3,285,331

 
 
 
 
 
OTHER PROPERTY AND INVESTMENTS
 
 
 
 
Investment in affiliates - at equity
 
198

 
198

Decommissioning trust funds
 
7,217,298

 
7,211,993

Non-utility property - at cost (less accumulated depreciation)
 
294,548

 
260,980

Other
 
434,066

 
441,862

TOTAL
 
7,946,110

 
7,915,033

 
 
 
 
 
PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT
 
 
 
 
Electric
 
47,805,468

 
47,287,370

Property under capital lease
 
620,419

 
620,544

Natural gas
 
477,715

 
453,162

Construction work in progress
 
2,559,790

 
1,980,508

Nuclear fuel
 
866,229

 
923,200

TOTAL PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT
 
52,329,621

 
51,264,784

Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization
 
21,817,508

 
21,600,424

PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT - NET
 
30,512,113

 
29,664,360

 
 
 
 
 
DEFERRED DEBITS AND OTHER ASSETS
 
 
 
 
Regulatory assets:
 
 
 
 
Other regulatory assets (includes securitization property of $427,427 as of June 30, 2018 and $485,031 as of December 31, 2017)
 
4,828,973

 
4,935,689

Deferred fuel costs
 
239,397

 
239,298

Goodwill
 
377,172

 
377,172

Accumulated deferred income taxes
 
17,768

 
178,204

Other
 
166,666

 
112,062

TOTAL
 
5,629,976

 
5,842,425

 
 
 
 
 
TOTAL ASSETS
 

$47,622,649

 

$46,707,149

 
 
 
 
 
See Notes to Financial Statements.
 
 
 
 

24

Table of Contents

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017
(Unaudited)
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
(In Thousands)
CURRENT LIABILITIES
 
 
 
 
Currently maturing long-term debt
 

$1,016,908

 

$760,007

Notes payable and commercial paper
 
1,984,103

 
1,578,308

Accounts payable
 
1,459,432

 
1,452,216

Customer deposits
 
404,880

 
401,330

Taxes accrued
 
206,874

 
214,967

Interest accrued
 
185,916

 
187,972

Deferred fuel costs
 
32,904

 
146,522

Obligations under capital leases
 
1,442

 
1,502

Pension and other postretirement liabilities
 
61,580

 
71,612

Current portion of unprotected excess accumulated deferred income taxes
 
710,108

 

Other
 
167,926

 
221,771

TOTAL
 
6,232,073

 
5,036,207

 
 
 
 
 
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
 
 
 
 
Accumulated deferred income taxes and taxes accrued
 
4,434,308

 
4,466,503

Accumulated deferred investment tax credits
 
215,369

 
219,634

Obligations under capital leases
 
21,263

 
22,015

Regulatory liability for income taxes-net
 
1,901,043

 
2,900,204

Other regulatory liabilities
 
1,630,335

 
1,588,520

Decommissioning and asset retirement cost liabilities
 
6,398,980

 
6,185,814

Accumulated provisions
 
505,764

 
478,273

Pension and other postretirement liabilities
 
2,739,407

 
2,910,654

Long-term debt (includes securitization bonds of $483,242 as of June 30, 2018 and $544,921 as of December 31, 2017)
 
14,857,686

 
14,315,259

Other
 
466,189

 
393,748

TOTAL
 
33,170,344

 
33,480,624

 
 
 
 
 
Commitments and Contingencies
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Subsidiaries' preferred stock without sinking fund
 
197,771

 
197,803

 
 
 
 
 
COMMON EQUITY
 
 
 
 
Common stock, $.01 par value, authorized 500,000,000 shares; issued 254,752,788 shares in 2018 and in 2017
 
2,548

 
2,548

Paid-in capital
 
5,429,404

 
5,433,433

Retained earnings
 
8,578,276

 
7,977,702

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
(613,642
)
 
(23,531
)
Less - treasury stock, at cost (73,911,771 shares in 2018 and 74,235,135 shares in 2017)
 
5,374,125

 
5,397,637

TOTAL
 
8,022,461

 
7,992,515

 
 
 
 
 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 

$47,622,649

 

$46,707,149

 
 
 
 
 
See Notes to Financial Statements.
 
 
 
 


25

Table of Contents

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 and 2017
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 



Common Shareholders’ Equity


 
Subsidiaries’ Preferred Stock
 
Common
Stock
 
Treasury
Stock
 
Paid-in
Capital
 
Retained Earnings
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Total
 
(In Thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2016

$—

 

$2,548

 

($5,498,584
)
 

$5,417,245

 

$8,195,571

 

($34,971
)
 

$8,081,809

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated net income (a)
6,892

 

 

 

 
492,528

 

 
499,420

Other comprehensive income