Retirement and Other Postretirement Benefits

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Retirement and Other Postretirement Benefits [Abstract]

RETIREMENTAND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

NOTE 6. RETIREMENT AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy)

Components of Net Pension Cost

     Entergy’s qualified pension cost, including amounts capitalized, for the second quarters of 2011 and 2010, included the following components:

	2011			2010
	(In Thousands)
Service cost — benefits earned during the period	$	30,490		$	26,239
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation		59,248			57,802
Expected return on assets		(75,319	)		(64,902	)
Amortization of prior service cost		838			1,164
Amortization of loss		23,244			16,475
Net pension costs	$	38,501		$	36,778

     Entergy’s qualified pension cost, including amounts capitalized, for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, included the following components:

	2011			2010
	(In Thousands)
Service cost — benefits earned during the period	$	60,980		$	52,478
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation		118,496			115,604
Expected return on assets		(150,638	)		(129,804	)
Amortization of prior service cost		1,676			2,328
Amortization of loss		46,488			32,950
Net pension costs	$	77,002		$	73,556

     The Registrant Subsidiaries’ qualified pension cost, including amounts capitalized, for the second quarters of 2011 and 2010, included the following components:

				Entergy
	Entergy			Gulf States			Entergy			Entergy			Entergy			Entergy			System
2011	Arkansas			Louisiana			Louisiana			Mississippi			New Orleans			Texas			Energy
	(In Thousands)
Service cost — benefits earned during the period	$	4,518		$	2,462		$	2,886		$	1,327		$	561		$	1,197		$	1,235
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation		12,991			5,928			8,159			3,909			1,762			3,993			2,939
Expected return on assets		(15,609	)		(8,339	)		(9,716	)		(5,038	)		(2,114	)		(5,501	)		(3,784	)
Amortization of prior service cost		115			20			70			38			9			16			4
Amortization of loss		6,421			2,279			4,497			1,680			1,166			1,394			1,321
Net pension cost	$	8,436		$	2,350		$	5,896		$	1,916		$	1,384		$	1,099		$	1,715

				Entergy
	Entergy			Gulf States			Entergy			Entergy			Entergy			Entergy			System
	Arkansas			Louisiana			Louisiana			Mississippi			New Orleans			Texas			Energy
2010	(In Thousands)
Service cost — benefits earned during the period	$	3,944		$	2,116		$	2,443		$	1,163		$	516		$	1,067		$	1,033
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation		12,319			6,094			7,135			3,807			1,510			3,967			2,252
Expected return on assets		(12,659	)		(7,688	)		(8,194	)		(4,313	)		(1,809	)		(5,137	)		(2,952	)
Amortization of prior service cost		196			75			119			79			44			59			8
Amortization of loss		4,126			1,906			2,151			1,091			636			802			132
Net pension cost	$	7,926		$	2,503		$	3,654		$	1,827		$	897		$	758		$	473

     The Registrant Subsidiaries’ qualified pension cost, including amounts capitalized, for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, included the following components:

				Entergy
	Entergy			Gulf States			Entergy			Entergy			Entergy			Entergy			System
2011	Arkansas			Louisiana			Louisiana			Mississippi			New Orleans			Texas			Energy
	(In Thousands)
Service cost — benefits earned during the period	$	9,036		$	4,924		$	5,772		$	2,654		$	1,122		$	2,394		$	2,470
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation		25,982			11,856			16,318			7,818			3,524			7,986			5,878
Expected return on assets		(31,218	)		(16,678	)		(19,432	)		(10,076	)		(4,228	)		(11,002	)		(7,568	)
Amortization of prior service cost		230			40			140			76			18			32			8
Amortization of loss		12,842			4,558			8,994			3,360			2,332			2,788			2,642
Net pension cost	$	16,872		$	4,700		$	11,792		$	3,832		$	2,768		$	2,198		$	3,430

				Entergy
	Entergy			Gulf States			Entergy			Entergy			Entergy			Entergy			System
2010	Arkansas			Louisiana			Louisiana			Mississippi			New Orleans			Texas			Energy
	(In Thousands)
Service cost — benefits earned during the period	$	7,888		$	4,232		$	4,886		$	2,326		$	1,032		$	2,134		$	2,066
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation		24,638			12,188			14,270			7,614			3,020			7,934			4,504
Expected return on assets		(25,318	)		(15,376	)		(16,388	)		(8,626	)		(3,618	)		(10,274	)		(5,904	)
Amortization of prior service cost		392			150			238			158			88			118			16
Amortization of loss		8,252			3,812			4,302			2,182			1,272			1,604			264
Net pension cost	$	15,852		$	5,006		$	7,308		$	3,654		$	1,794		$	1,516		$	946

     Entergy recognized $4.9 million and $11.5 million in pension cost for its non-qualified pension plans in the second quarters of 2011 and 2010, respectively. In the second quarter 2010, Entergy recognized a $6.9 million settlement charge related to the payment of lump sum benefits out of the plan that is included in the non-qualified pension cost above. Entergy recognized $9.8 million and $16.1 million in pension cost for its non-qualified pension plans for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, including the $6.9 million settlement charge recognized in the second quarter 2010.

     The Registrant Subsidiaries recognized the following pension cost for their non-qualified pension plans in the second quarters of 2011 and 2010:

			Entergy
	Entergy		Gulf States		Entergy		Entergy		Entergy		Entergy
	Arkansas		Louisiana		Louisiana		Mississippi		New Orleans		Texas
	(In Thousands)
Non-qualified pension cost second quarter 2011	$	115	$	42	$	4	$	48	$	16	$	192
Non-qualified pension cost second quarter 2010	$	189	$	41	$	6	$	51	$	6	$	175
Settlement charge recognized in the second quarter 2010 included in cost above	$	86	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	5

     The Registrant Subsidiaries recognized the following pension cost for their non-qualified pension plans for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010:

			Entergy
	Entergy		Gulf States		Entergy		Entergy		Entergy		Entergy
	Arkansas		Louisiana		Louisiana		Mississippi		New Orleans		Texas
	(In Thousands)
Non-qualified pension cost six months ended June 30, 2011	$	230	$	84	$	8	$	96	$	32	$	384
Non-qualified pension cost six months ended June 30, 2010	$	290	$	82	$	12	$	101	$	13	$	345
Settlement charge recognized in the six months ended June 30, 2010 included in cost above	$	86	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	5

Components of Net Other Postretirement Benefit Cost

     Entergy’s other postretirement benefit cost, including amounts capitalized, for the second quarters of 2011 and 2010, included the following components:

	2011			2010
	(In Thousands)
Service cost — benefits earned during the period	$	14,835		$	13,078
Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation (APBO)		18,631			19,020
Expected return on assets		(7,369	)		(6,553	)
Amortization of transition obligation		796			932
Amortization of prior service cost		(3,518	)		(3,015	)
Amortization of loss		5,298			4,317
Net other postretirement benefit cost	$	28,673		$	27,779

     Entergy’s other postretirement benefit cost, including amounts capitalized, for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, included the following components:

	2011			2010
	(In Thousands)
Service cost — benefits earned during the period	$	29,670		$	26,156
Interest cost on APBO		37,262			38,040
Expected return on assets		(14,738	)		(13,106	)
Amortization of transition obligation		1,592			1,864
Amortization of prior service cost		(7,036	)		(6,030	)
Amortization of loss		10,596			8,634
Net other postretirement benefit cost	$	57,346		$	55,558

     The Registrant Subsidiaries’ other postretirement benefit cost, including amounts capitalized, for the second quarters of 2011 and 2010, included the following components:

				Entergy
	Entergy			Gulf States			Entergy			Entergy			Entergy			Entergy			System
2011	Arkansas			Louisiana			Louisiana			Mississippi			New Orleans			Texas			Energy
	(In Thousands)
Service cost — benefits earned during the period	$	2,013		$	1,540		$	1,635		$	658		$	362		$	769		$	661
Interest cost on APBO		3,436			2,075			2,192			1,093			806			1,486			667
Expected return on assets		(2,882	)		—			—			(977	)		(800	)		(1,874	)		(529	)
Amortization of transition obligation		205			60			96			88			298			47			2
Amortization of prior service cost		(133	)		(206	)		(62	)		(35	)		10			(107	)		(147	)
Amortization of loss		1,610			723			698			540			241			700			369
Net other postretirement benefit cost	$	4,249		$	4,192		$	4,559		$	1,367		$	917		$	1,021		$	1,023

				Entergy
	Entergy			Gulf States			Entergy		Entergy			Entergy			Entergy			System
2010	Arkansas			Louisiana			Louisiana		Mississippi			New Orleans			Texas			Energy
	(In Thousands)
Service cost — benefits earned during the period	$	1,843		$	1,370		$	1,371	$	550		$	347		$	697		$	563
Interest cost on APBO		3,629			2,144			2,269		1,093			900			1,582			641
Expected return on assets		(2,445	)		—			—		(888	)		(725	)		(1,718	)		(468	)
Amortization of transition obligation		205			60			96		88			415			66			2
Amortization of prior service cost		(197	)		(77	)		117		(62	)		90			19			(191	)
Amortization of loss		1,690			663			609		476			274			752			325
Net other postretirement benefit cost	$	4,725		$	4,160		$	4,462	$	1,257		$	1,301		$	1,398		$	872

     The Registrant Subsidiaries’ other postretirement benefit cost, including amounts capitalized, for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, included the following components:

				Entergy
	Entergy			Gulf States			Entergy			Entergy			Entergy			Entergy			System
2011	Arkansas			Louisiana			Louisiana			Mississippi			New Orleans			Texas			Energy
	(In Thousands)
Service cost — benefits earned during the period	$	4,026		$	3,080		$	3,270		$	1,316		$	724		$	1,538		$	1,322
Interest cost on APBO		6,872			4,150			4,384			2,186			1,612			2,972			1,334
Expected return on assets		(5,764	)		—			—			(1,954	)		(1,600	)		(3,748	)		(1,058	)
Amortization of transition obligation		410			120			192			176			596			94			4
Amortization of prior service cost		(266	)		(412	)		(124	)		(70	)		20			(214	)		(294	)
Amortization of loss		3,220			1,446			1,396			1,080			482			1,400			738
Net other postretirement benefit cost	$	8,498		$	8,384		$	9,118		$	2,734		$	1,834		$	2,042		$	2,046

				Entergy
	Entergy			Gulf States			Entergy		Entergy			Entergy			Entergy			System
2010	Arkansas			Louisiana			Louisiana		Mississippi			New Orleans			Texas			Energy
	(In Thousands)
Service cost — benefits earned during the period	$	3,686		$	2,740		$	2,742	$	1,100		$	694		$	1,394		$	1,126
Interest cost on APBO		7,258			4,288			4,538		2,186			1,800			3,164			1,282
Expected return on assets		(4,890	)		—			—		(1,776	)		(1,450	)		(3,436	)		(936	)
Amortization of transition obligation		410			120			192		176			830			132			4
Amortization of prior service cost		(394	)		(154	)		234		(124	)		180			38			(382	)
Amortization of loss		3,380			1,326			1,218		952			548			1,504			650
Net other postretirement benefit cost	$	9,450		$	8,320		$	8,924	$	2,514		$	2,602		$	2,796		$	1,744

Employer Contributions

     Based on current assumptions, Entergy expects to contribute $400.5 million to its qualified pension plans in 2011. As of the end of June 2011, Entergy had contributed $275.1 million to its pension plans. Therefore, Entergy presently anticipates contributing an additional $125.4 million to fund its qualified pension plans in 2011.

     Based on current assumptions, the Registrant Subsidiaries expect to contribute the following to qualified pension plans in 2011:

			Entergy
	Entergy		Gulf States		Entergy		Entergy		Entergy		Entergy		System
	Arkansas		Louisiana		Louisiana		Mississippi		New Orleans		Texas		Energy
	(In Thousands)
Expected 2011 pension contributions	$	120,400	$	27,318	$	60,597	$	29,169	$	12,160	$	18,235	$	28,351
Pension contributions made through June 2011	$	88,004	$	17,912	$	42,207	$	21,169	$	8,419	$	11,651	$	20,546
Remaining estimated pension contributions to be made in 2011	$	32,396	$	9,406	$	18,390	$	8,000	$	3,741	$	6,584	$	7,805